The 17th AORTIC Conference 2025 was held in Tunis, Tunisia, from November 1 to 5, bringing together oncologists, researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals from across Africa and around the world. As the premier event of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), the conference provided a dynamic platform for sharing the latest scientific breakthroughs, clinical insights, and strategies to strengthen cancer care on the continent.
The program offered a rich mix of plenary sessions, workshops, and interactive discussions covering a wide spectrum of oncology topics, from innovative treatments and early detection strategies to health equity, policy implementation, and capacity building. Highlights included keynote lectures from global leaders, panel debates on multidisciplinary cancer management, and sessions dedicated to precision medicine, pediatric oncology, and supportive care.
With hundreds of abstracts presented and participants from diverse regions, AORTIC 2025 underscored collaboration, innovation, and education as central to advancing oncology in Africa. Special sessions focused on early-career researchers, emphasizing mentorship and opportunities for the next generation of oncology leaders.
As a cornerstone in the global oncology calendar, AORTIC 2025 reinforced its mission to improve cancer outcomes across Africa through research, knowledge exchange, and patient-centered care.
Our team at OncoDaily handpicked 15 posts you must not miss from AORTIC 2025. Scroll down to explore the highlights, catch up on key insights, and hear directly from the experts who drove progress in cancer care across the continent.
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO):
“We are honored to be a part of the AORTIC- Africa 2025 International Cancer Conference in Hammamet, Tunisia. Thank you to AORTIC Leadership and all those who have worked to bring this important event to life.”
“Guess who I bumped into on the flight to ?!! Christian Ntizimira
Proud to be joining fellow global cancer KOLs at AORTIC2025 LOC
And most importantly, to the launch of our Lancet Oncology Commission report”
“There’s something deeply moving about watching hope take shape, not as a speech or slogan, but as people coming together to build the ancercare Africa deserves.
Day one in Tunisia at the AORTIC- Africa conference was a reminder of why we gather.
Not just to share research or policies, but to share a purpose anchored in the belief that every African deserves access to safe, timely, and affordable cancer care.
From the opening ceremony, standing alongside the representative of the Minister and Director of Public Health, I felt the weight and wonder of this journey. The energy in the room was electric: curiosity, courage, and collaboration intertwined.
The conversations were rich, from surgical oncology to clinical trials to how we can make science serve people better. Every session, every exchange carried a shared truth: Africa’s strength lies in its people, its partnerships, and its persistence.
To every delegate who traveled across borders (and through a few airport delays), THANK YOU.
Your patience and presence are the heartbeat of this conference.
As we move into the next few days, may we carry this same spirit, learning from one another, lifting one another, and remembering that what we’re building here goes far beyond medicine. It’s about hope. It’s about dignity. It’s about all of us.”
“Day 3 AORTIC2025 Tunisia
So many highlights for World Radiotherapy Awareness Day today.
1. The impressive Miriam Mutebi, MD,MSc,FACS President AORTIC- Africa visited to express her ongoing support
2. Survivors pledging support with stories of hardship, endurance and generosity to others
3. Growing list of regional champions & supporter sign-ups”
“It was an honor for our MD Anderson Cancer Center team to be a part of AORTIC2025 this week. While meeting with our collaborators and delegates from across Africa, we had the opportunity to discuss the ways we can further improve cancer research, education, training and patient outcomes at local and systemic levels. Our team enjoyed making new connections, while also connecting with our collaborators from Zambia, Mozambique and UICC.
I offer my thanks to the AORTIC 2025 Local Organizing Committee, led by Dr. Karim Khallout, for their warm welcome and their efforts in bringing the delegation together, as well as AORTIC President Miriam Mutebi for her exceptional leadership and collaboration over the years, and Belmira Rodrigues and team for their stellar collaboration.
And a heartfelt congratulations to Cesaltina Lorenzoni, President-Elect of AORTIC. We look forward to the opportunities to continue our work together.
It was uplifting seeing attendees sign MD Anderson’s strikethrough wall demonstrating their resolve to address the burden of cancer in their individual countries and around the world. It exemplified that the mission to End Cancer has no borders, and I feel inspired to see the momentum we continue to have as a global community toward this critical effort.”
“We are excited to be part of AORTIC 2025!
It is a great pleasure to connect with professionals and share our innovative solutions in the fight against cancer across Africa. We are showing adaptive radiotherapy technologies and the Elekta ONE ecosystem, shaping the future of treatment.
Together for a better future because Nobody does adaptive like Elekta.”
“Heading back from the AORTIC- Africa (African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer) 2025 Conference in Hammamet, Tunisia.
We held a symposium providing an overview of current findings from AWACAN-ED (see https://awacan.online), our NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research)-funded research programme, and next steps for encouraging early diagnosis of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer in sub Saharan Africa.
Great to catch up with the AWACAN-ED team and meet many new researchers with a passion for early cancer diagnosis.”
“So happy to be in beautiful Hammamet, Tunisia for AORTIC 2025. The theme this year, “Advancing Cancer Care Across Africa: Equity Through Empowering Research and Education-Harnessing African Partnerships to Drive Quality of Cancer Care and Patient Outcomes,” is inspiring! It’s been amazing learning from experts, connecting with colleagues from all over Africa (and beyond!), and seeing just how much passion there is for improving cancer care on the continent. Excited for what’s still to come! ”
” Ten years ago, I was living in Rwanda working as a data analyst, supporting Partners In Health clinical teams. One of the fiercest teams was the oncology group based at Butaro Hospital in the Northern part of the country – I was so inspired by them that I decided to pursue doctoral training in cancer epidemiology.
Given this, it’s been such a delight to reconnect with many former colleagues at AORTIC2025, make new connections, and deliver our geospatial data analysis training in person to a motivated and curious group of African oncology researchers. For those watching from afar, a self-paced, free version is available through the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Harvard Chan Zhu Family Center for Global Cancer Prevention Center. Big thank you to Tara Friebel-Klingner, PhD, MPH for co-instructing, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Rutgers Global Health Institute for supporting this course.”
“Day 2 at AORTIC2025 was excellent. Our MD Anderson colleagues, Kathleen Schmeler and Elizabeth Chiao, led a wonderful session on HIV-Maligancies – long-term research partnerships for advancing science and building capacity.
I enjoyed connecting with so many colleagues and friends at our MD Anderson booth and at the UICC networking event. Thank you to everyone who came by to say hello and to learn more about Global Oncology at MD Anderson. It is a privilege to share about and contribute to the impactful work to EndCancer.”
” AORTIC2025 — One of my best professional experiences!
The people who came were simply astonishing — full of passion, purpose, and brilliance.
Africa is incredibly beautiful — with its rich resources, deep history, and inspiring diversity.
Good vibes. Great science. Genuine human connections.
Hey world — AFRICA IS COMING! ”
“Great start to hashtag AORTIC2025 Hammamet Tunisia! More to come!”
“Strength in Unity, Impact in Action. What an inspiring day at AORTIC2025 in Hammamet, Tunisia, where the VOICE (Voices of Impact for Cancer Equity) workshop brought together 17 passionate advocates from across sub-Saharan Africa — each driving change for women’s cancers in their countries.Facilitated by Global Focus on Cancer (GFC) and the VOICE Steering Committee, the workshop moved from insight to impact — refining National Advocacy Action Plans (NAAPs), aligning regional priorities, and building pathways for sustainable policy change. The energy in the room was incredible — advocates shared experiences, learned from one another, and strengthened a regional community of practice that’s amplifying the voices of women affected by cancer.Huge thanks to everyone who made this day possible — our partners, facilitators, and especially the advocates whose commitment continues to shape a more equitable future for cancer care in Africa.”
“Day 1 Highlights at AORTIC2025!
The iCCaRE and CaPTC teams had an incredible time engaging in discussions. Here, we have an AORTIC participant using ViRA.
We’re proud to contribute to advancing cancer research and care across the continent through collaboration, data sharing, and innovation.”
“Yesterday, we presented findings from our research on Universal Health Coverage for Cancer in Nigeria and the Cancer Patient Journey Map, focusing on breast and cervical cancer patients, at the AORTIC- Africa 2025 Conference in Tunisia.
These studies stem from our ongoing work with the Lancet Commission on Cancer and Health Systems.
Our findings revealed key barriers and opportunities across the cancer care pathway and proposed strategies to make the patient journey smoother, improve prognosis, and strengthen existing services and institutions while expanding coverage.
Huge thanks to Dr. Mojisola Morenike Oluwasanu for leading the study, as well as other co-authors: Racheal Ogundipe, MPH, Tanaya Raj, Yijia Sun, Hesham Gaafar, and others.”
Written by Nare Hovhannisyan, MD