The Lung Cancer Europe Conference 2026, held in Vienna from April 22 to 24, brings together member organizations from across the continent at a time when coordinated advocacy in lung cancer is more critical than ever. As disparities in access, awareness, and outcomes continue to shape the European landscape, this meeting serves as a focused platform for aligning priorities and strengthening collective action.
Designed specifically for its member network, the conference emphasizes practical exchange over theory creating space for organizations to share real-world experiences, discuss challenges, and identify strategies that can translate into measurable impact. Beyond education, the gathering highlights the importance of collaboration, reinforcing a unified voice to advance lung cancer advocacy and improve patient outcomes across Europe.
Here are key highlights you shouldn’t miss, featuring important insights, research developments, and perspectives shared during Lung Cancer Europe Conference 2026.
“The first ever Lung Cancer Europe Conference is underway in Vienna.
This morning, President Debra Montague opened the Annual General Meeting with her President’s Annual Report, addressing Lung Cancer Europe members from across Europe.
“We are in the most exciting period lung cancer has ever seen. But breakthroughs only matter if people can reach them. And right now, too many people across Europe cannot.”
Elections are now underway. The full new Board details will be confirmed on Saturday.
Three days. 140 attendees including members and special guests. One purpose.”
“The opening plenary that set the tone for day 2 at the Lung Cancer Europe 2026 Conference in Vienna.
Power, innovation, fair access and patient voice in lung cancer care across Europe. The panel explored how global shifts – with the US and China leading in clinical trials and pricing negotiations – translate into concrete challenges: delayed treatment access, missing trials, unaffordable therapies, and growing disparities between countries.
Professor Kostas Syrigos was passionate and direct: people living with lung cancer are waiting far too long. Penilla Gunther, Elena Petelos and Mihai Iulian Rotaru brought perspectives from the European Commission, research and industry on who holds the levers and whether the system is moving fast enough.
Participants left with practical advocacy messages and actions to take back to their home countries.
Moderated by Michaela Regan. ”
“Professor of Medicine and Medical Oncology, University of Athens School of Medicine, GR Visiting Professor of Thoracic Oncology, Yale School of Medicine, CT, USA
13h • Edited •
Connect
Great discussion on european lung cancer policy in Vienna.
I am really grateful to Debra Montague and Angeliki Souri for the kind invitation and the opportunity to contribute to the Lung Cancer Europe Annual Conference.
It’s time for Europe to move forward with a shared healthpolicy-one that brings together prevention and healthcare under a unified, high-standard, people-centred framework.
We’re at a point where patients should have a stronger, more consistent voice in decisions that affect them:
in clinical trial design
in the development of new treatments
in the evaluation of healthcare services
in shaping national and european prevention strategies
Together-healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, and society-we need to move from a hospital-centered to a people-centered healthcare system.”
“Thank you Debra Montague and Lung Cancer Europe for inviting me to Vienna for your conference!
Great to have the opportunity to give a keynote about what European Union is doing, as well as what Hugo R. Soares and Elisabetta Zanon did yesterday, and many others also today.
The panel I had the pleasure to be in, was represented by HCPs, industry and research and I think it’s necessary to think cross-boarder also within healthcare and Life Science in all diagnoses areas, not only cancer of course.”
“What a privilege to be part of the inaugural Lung Cancer Europe Conference, held in Vienna!
This is what we hoped to see: the spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility in one room.
Thank you to all speakers, special guests, physicians, supporters, researchers, policymakers.
And a huge thank you to all our members from the lung cancer patient community across Europe!”
“Our Chair Nicola Cowland and I as part of EGFR Positive UK were privileged to join the first Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE) conference in Vienna. Over the last two days, more than 140 people from across Europe came together to learn, connect, and push for better outcomes for people living with lung cancer. Today, during the members’ meeting, we were also proud to present our Breathe Strong podcast, developed along with HASAG, sharing another way we can raise awareness, support patients, and amplify voices across the lung cancer community. The Numbers Tell the Story * 49,300 people are diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK every year – that is more than 130 every single day. * 32,800 people die from lung cancer in the UK each year – 90 lives lost every single day. Together, we continue to build momentum for change ”
“Two days down. And what a two days!
This is the first-ever Lung Cancer Europe Conference in a single photo. Over 140 people from across Europe who came to Vienna to learn, connect and push for better outcomes for people living with lung cancer.
As some of our delegates head home tonight, a genuine thank you to every single person who was part of these two days. The conversations, the expertise, the energy you brought to every session made this everything we hoped it would be and more.
Tomorrow our member organisations stay on for a quieter, more intimate day together. Sharing what is working, what is hard, and what comes next. A different pace but in many ways the heart of what we do.”
“What an amazing conference! All these people connecting and engage. Sharing their stories and lived experiences. People with a personal mission to improve the lives of patients with lung cancer. Amazing, thank you for letting me be part of that! ”
“The Lung Cancer Europe Conference 2026 in Vienna…
Was brilliantly organised, in a beautiful location & was attended by amazing people from across Europe who care about lung cancer.
Research, screening, early detection, patient support, advocacy, clinical trials, policy, AI, education, survivorship, building relationships, making important connections – the list was endless.
I was grateful to represent ALK Positive Lung Cancer UK alongside fellow patients Jade Perry & Geoff Otterman who have also become valuable & supportive friends.
I learnt a lot & I will do my best to put that to good use in whatever way I can.”
” I’m on my way to Vienna to represent ALK Positive Lung Cancer UK at Lung Cancer Europe’s first ever conference.
It’s a real honour to represent ALK+ UK, an incredible charity that I’m very grateful for and make a huge difference to many, many others too.
This week will be about patient advocacy, learning, discussing and sharing my pride in ALK+ UK’s impact.
Balancing work, life and patient advocacy isn’t where I imagined my career in my 30s would be, but I’m here and determined to make the most of it.
*On my way already because I try hard to avoid flying for many reasons, maybe more on that soon!”
“Day 1 of the inaugural Lung Cancer Europe Conference brought together over 140 people in Vienna for the conversation people in Europe affected by lung cancer have been waiting for.
Six outstanding keynote speakers set the tone starting with our President Debra Montague, then Hugo R. Soares, Elisabetta Zanon, Cecilia Pompili MD PhD FACS, and joining us virtually, Nikos Papandreou MEP and Dr Mary Bussell, PhD – covering everything from national cancer mission hubs and Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, to what it genuinely means to put lived experinece at the centre of care. The commitment to this mission clearly knows no borders.
A huge thank you to every speaker who gave their time, expertise and energy to Day 1. And to our brilliant facilitator Sarah-Taïssir Bencharif, MD for keeping the conversation sharp, inclusive and moving forward throughout.
Day 2 is already underway. More to come…”
” The Lung Cancer Europe conference had a fantastic lineup of experts across topics as varied as EU cancer policy, how lung cancer is treated, and emerging AI issues.
Met some wonderful people – a cross section of current lung cancer patients, academics, and health care professionals.
Made for a great setting to enable better advocacy efforts and give background for my own lung cancer journey.
Had time for a tour around Vienna along with some fellow patients, including fellow ALK-Positive patients Jade Perry and Emma Britton.”
“AI is already changing lung cancer care. But is it reaching the people who need it most?
On Day 2 of the first-ever Lung Cancer Europe Conference in Vienna, three sessions tackled the most pressing questions around AI and data in lung cancer head on.
Professor REVEL Marie-pierre opened with a clear-eyed look at what AI in lung cancer screening actually delivers in practice, drawing on the CASCADE study. The technology holds real promise. But it is only as good as the equity, transparency and trust built into it.
Elena Petelos explored the journey from evidence to access. How does a promising AI innovation move from research into real-world care? And how can the patient voice help ensure it gets there responsibly?
Dr Nadja Kartschmit and Omnia Bilal brought the conversation to federated data and real-world evidence, and what the European Health Data Space means in practice for patient advocates and policymakers.
Better data, used well, means better decisions for people living with lung cancer.
Three sessions. Three different lenses. One shared question: how do we make sure innovation in lung cancer care works for everyone, not just those lucky enough to be in the right place?”
” Thank you to lung cancer europe for the invitation to participate in this conference, where I had the opportunity to speak about the role of AI in lung cancer screening. The letter of support from Luce was instrumental in securing funding for the CASCADE study led by AP-HP, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris
The conference was also a valuable opportunity to meet inspiring persons and attend impactful lectures. There is still much to be done to improve the patient journey, and shared decision-making must become a reality.”
” Celebrating From Testing to Targeted Treatments (FT3) Member Lung Cancer Europe at the Lung Cancer Europe Conference 2026. We confirmed that the challenge of patient access is a whole system issue, due to limited access to testing, increasingly complex diagnostics, fragmented healthcare structures, and rapidly evolving innovation. Collaboration is critical for patients who could benefit.”
” Vienna | Annual Conference of Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE)
Pleased to be in Vienna for the Annual Meeting of hashtag#LuCE, a key European network bringing together patient organisations to strengthen the patient voice and support more equitable hashtag#lungcancer care across Europe.
The day opened with an important plenary on the future of hashtag#lungcancercare in hashtag#Europe, focusing on power, innovation, fair access and the patient voice.
The session was moderated by Michaela Regan, LUCE, EU Policy and Engagement Manager, and featured contributions from:
Professor Kostas Syrigos, Professor of Medicine and Medical Oncology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Elena Petelos, Senior Researcher, University of Crete; Lecturer, hashtag#MaastrichtUniversity
Penilla Gunther, Member, Cancer Mission Board, European Commission
Mihai Rotaru, Director Market Access, EFPIA – European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations
It was particularly meaningful to see Greek experts actively contributing to this important European dialogue.
A key message stood out clearly: innovation alone is not enough ensuring equitable and timely access to care remains one of the greatest challenges across Europe.
Our expert panel concludes with a powerful call to action: advocates must evolve from being mere observers to becoming strategic partners who use data, law, and cross-border collaboration to hold decision-makers accountable.
Closing Insights
Kostas Syrigos
Demand to be there everywhere important decisions are taken. Don’t be happy with a symbolic presence request that your opinion is in the results and the outcome. We need to move from ‘active participation’ to a presence that is meaningful, where we are not just invited to the table, but our input is reflected in the final policy.
Elena Petelos
Knowing the legislation gives you a different kind of voice. It starts with reading know your rights, understand the new policies, and find the commonalities with other patient groups. Knowledge is the key to entering the room as an equal.
Mihai Iulian Rotaru
The professionalization of the patient advocacy voice is a great thing to notice. Keep doing what you’re doing, because political pressure on access comes from better information sharing across countries and showing that we are a united front.
Penilla Gunther
Policy makers need to have the knowledge and understanding as well. Be prepared, have your ‘list’ ready, and invest in policy training so you can make the most of their time and ensure they walk away with a clear solution.
These reflections capture a clear and shared direction: patient advocacy is evolving into a more structured, evidence-informed, and impactful force within EHP.
Valuable to be present in this space of exchange, where perspectives, experience and shared priorities come together with a common focus: improving outcomes for patients.”
“We are delighted to announce that the second Lung Cancer Europe Conference will take place in Warsaw, Poland in April 2027.
Creating Change. Driving Impact.
This week in Vienna proved beyond doubt that when this community comes together, the conversations are sharper, the connections are stronger and the commitment to better outcomes for people living with lung cancer across Europe is unshakeable.
Warsaw 2027 will be bigger. The planning starts here.”
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Written by Nare Hovhannisyan,MD