Cancer Research Summer School 2026

Cancer Research Summer School 2026 – Advanced Methods in Cancer Research will take place on 20–21 August, at Auditorium SN201 Snellmania building, Kuopio Campus. 

The program will highlight state-of-the-art methods for studying cancer biology. The scientific scope includes advanced in vitro techniques, cutting-edge in vivo approaches, and the rapidly evolving area of spatial and single-cell technologies in both genomics and proteomics. In addition, the program will address computational and AI-assisted methods that are increasingly integral to modern cancer research.

COURSE PROGRAM

Day 1 Thursday 20.8.

9.00–9.30 Registration, poster set up

9.30–9.40 Opening of the course Anna-Liisa Levonen-Harju

Session 1: In vivo models for cancer research, chair Ahmed Al-Samadi 

09.40–10.20 Arafath Kaja Najumudeen (University of Helsinki): Genetically engineered mouse models in cancer research: From tumour initiation to metabolic vulnerabilities

10.20–10.50 Ahmed Al-Samadi/Henriikka Hakomäki (University of Eastern Finland): Zebrafish xenograft models to study chemotherapy response 

10.50–11.20 Jussi Rytkönen (IQVIA Laboratories Finland Oy) Patient-derived xenografts and translational imaging in rodent models of cancer

Short presentations from abstracts:

11.20–11.35 Anna Novokreshchenova (University of Oulu): Exploring the diagnostic value of sweat-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in mouse cancer models

11.35-11.50 Sire Sutinen (University of Eastern Finland): Glucocorticoid receptor expression declines during colorectal tumorigenesis and exhibits distinct patterns across mismatch repair subtypes

11.50–12.40 Lunch break (at own expense)

Session 2: Advanced in vitro models to study cancer, chair Leena Latonen

12.40–13.10 Yafei Wang (University of Helsinki): Modeling high-grade serous carcinoma with patient-derived organoids  

13.10–13.40 Caroline Heckman (University of Helsinki): Harnessing patient-derived models to predict and overcome drug resistance

13.40–14.10 Juha Rantala (Misvik Biology Oy): Utilizing patient derived tumor models in drug development 

Short presentation from abstracts:

14.10–14.25 Minna Niittykoski (University of Eastern Finland): Hunting for ways to tackle glioblastoma – new models, targets, therapies and biomarkers

14.25–15.15 Coffee break and posters

Session 3: Single cell and spatial technologies in cancer research, chair Sanna Pasonen-Seppänen

15.15–15.45 Anna Vähärautio (University of Helsinki): Tracing back primed resistance in cancer via sister cells

15.45–16.15 Minna Kaikkonen-Määttä (University of Eastern Finland): Spatial transcriptomics and single cell genomics techniques at UEF

16.15–16.45 Mikko Gynther (University of Eastern Finland): Quantitative proteomics in cancer research and drug development

Short presentations from abstracts:

16.45–17.00 Erika Aikio (University of Eastern Finland): Characterizing the anti-androgen response in prostate cancer cells with multi-modal proteomics: uncovering mechanisms enabling residual disease

17.00–17.15 Anna Hämäläinen (University of Turku): Characteristics of cancer stem cells in ovarian cancer revealed by mass cytometry
 

19.00 Evening program 

Day 2 Friday 21.8.

Session 4: Computational systems medicine and AI approaches in cancer research, chair Anna-Liisa Levonen-Harju

9.00–9.30 Tero Aittokallio (University of Helsinki): Predictive modelling of drug combination responses using single-cell data

9.30–10.00 Mariike Kuijjer (University of Helsinki/University of Oslo): Multi-omic data analysis and integration for precision medicine  

10.00–10.30 Vittorio Fortino (University of Eastern Finland): Artificial Intelligence for molecular patient stratification and precision therapeutics 

Short presentation from abstracts:

10.30–10.45 Joonas Vornanen (CSC - IT Center for Science): Chipster: Easy access to R/Bioconductor tools for non-coding scientists

10.45–11.45 Lunch break (at own expense) and posters 

Session 5: Biobanks enabling translational cancer research, chair Arto Mannermaa

11.45–12.15 Juha Väyrynen (University of Oulu): Multiplex immunofluorescence for tumor immune biomarker discovery

12.15–12.45 Raju Gudhe (University of Eastern Finland): From mammograms to genomics: trustworthy AI for breast cancer—insights from Biobank of Eastern Finland Data (presentation via Teams)

12.45–13.15 Piia Mikkonen (Finnish Biobanks FINBB): Transforming cancer research with Biobanks and industry

13.15–13.45 Sahar Ardabili, Niklas Petersen (Visiopharm): Visiopharm platform overview: from tissue images to quantitative insights (presentation via Teams)

Short presentation from abstracts:

13.45–14.00 Maiju Saari (University of Jyväskylä): Heterogeneity and spatial distribution of cancer-associated fibroblasts in colorectal cancer

14.00- 14.10 Closing remarks 

Program, pdf
 

Cancer Research Summer School is organized jointly by Cancer RC and Biobank of Eastern Finland, and it is open for students, postdocs, and anyone interested in the latest's advancements in modern biomedical techniques.

Registration for the Summer School is closed.

Further information

For more information, please contact Maarit Sillanpää, maarit.sillanpaa (at) uef.fi or Anna-Liisa Levonen-Harju, anna-liisa.levonen-harju (at) uef.fi.