On World Cancer Day, 4 February 2026, the world comes together for one purpose: to improve cancer care—everywhere.
Oncothon 2026: 24 Hours to Improve Cancer Care is a global, 24-hour digital telethon organized by OncoDaily in collaboration with the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). It is designed to mobilize worldwide attention, leadership, and funding to strengthen cancer control across health systems—particularly where the gaps are greatest.
For 24 continuous hours, global health leaders, clinicians, researchers, policymakers, patient advocates, and industry partners will convene across time zones to confront the most urgent challenges in cancer care and spotlight scalable solutions. This edition follows OncoThon 2024 and OncoThon 2025, continuing a growing global effort in cancer care. Discussions will span the full cancer continuum—from early detection and diagnosis to treatment access, workforce development, and health system infrastructure.
Despite scientific progress, millions of people worldwide still lack access to timely diagnosis, quality treatment, and essential cancer services. Oncothon 2026 exists to close that gap—by converting global awareness into tangible investment.
Funds raised during Oncothon 2026 will directly support UICC member organizations in strengthening the continuum of oncology care, including:Pathology and diagnostic capacity; Cancer and donor registries and health information systems; Workforce education and training; People-centred cancer care models; Access to essential medicines and life-saving technologies; Every contribution fuels practical, locally driven solutions that improve outcomes and build sustainable cancer systems.
Oncothon 2026 serves as a launchpad—amplifying the work of UICC members and enabling them to scale impact nationally and regionally. The result: stronger health systems, smarter investment, and better cancer care for millions of people worldwide.
For 24 hours, the world’s attention turns to cancer care.
Oncothon: 24 Hours to Improve Cancer Care
SPEAKERS
| Images | Name |
|---|---|
 | HRH Princess Dina Mired of JordanThe Patron of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) Honorary President of the EORTC Research Fund Honorary Ambassador of Harvard Global Health Win-Win Initiative Her Royal Highness is the Past President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Former Director-General of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation. |
 | HE Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu (Nigeria)
UICC President-Elect of 2024-2026Founder and CEO, Medicaid Cancer Foundation |
 | Prof. Evis Sala (Albania)Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Albania |
 | Alberto Costa (Italy)Chief Executive Officer, European School of Oncology |
 | Ahmed Elzawawy (Egypt)Chair, Win-Win Initiative Co-founder and Chair, Board of Directors, Global Oncology -Implementing Science program (GOIS) Founder, President, ICEDOC & ICEDOC’s Experts in Cancer Without Borders Past President of AORTIC ( African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer) Co-founder and Co-President, SEMCO |
 | Akira Nakagawara (Japan)Chairman of the Executive Council of the Asian Pacific Hematology and Oncology Group (APHOG) |
 | Andre Ilbawi (USA)Technical Lead for Cancer Control, World Health Organization (WHO) |
 | Asem Mansour (Jordan)Chief Executive Officer/Director General, King Hussein Cancer Center Board Member, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) |
 | Cary Adams (Switzerland)Chief Executive Officer, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) |
 | Carolina Goic Boroevic (Chile)Executive Director, Center for Cancer Prevention and Control (CECAN), Chile |
 | Cesare Spadoni (Italy)Founder, Chief Operating Officer of OncoHeroes Biosciences |
 | Ching-Tien Peng (Taiwan)Professor of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology China Medical University Children’s Hospital (CMUCH) Board Member, Taiwan Childhood Cancer Foundation Executive Board Member, Taiwan Society of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology SIOP Asia Ambassador Council Member, Asia-Pacific Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis Former President, Taiwan Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis Former Superintendent of CMUCH |
 | Christopher Jackson (New Zealand)Co-lead, Cancer National Clinical NetworkBoard Member, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) |
 | CS Pramesh (India)Director of Tata Memorial Hospital, Convener for the National Cancer Grid Board Member for the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) |
 | Daiming Fan (China)President, World Association for Integrative Oncology(WAIO) President, Asian Oncology Society(AOS) President, China Anti-Cancer Association (CACA) |
 | David Kerr (UK)Professor of Cancer Medicine, University of Oxford Board Member, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) |
 | Dilyara Kaidarova (Kazakhstan)President, Kazakhstan Cancer Society (KazCS) Active member of The National Academy of Sciences of The Republic of Kazakhstan First Vice-Rector Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University |
 | Elena Risteska (Macedonia)Singer, songwriter Founder of ERA COSMETICS |
 | Emily Barsito (Kenya)Head of Directorate: Strategy, Planning, Partnerships and Resource Mobilization, National Cancer Institute of Kenya |
 | Eric Bouffet (Canada)Director, Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at The Hospital for Sick Children Vice President, French African Group of Paediatric Oncology (GFAOP) Member of the Board of Director, UICC Chair, My Child Matters Expert Committee |
 | Gevorg Tamamyan (Armenia)
|
 | Gilberto Lopes (USA)
Chief of the Medical Oncology Division, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer CenterBoard Member, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Chair, ATOM Coalition Editor-in-Chief emeritus, JCO Global Oncology |
 | Gonzalo López Cuevas (Mexico)
Treasurer of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) |
 | Guillermo Chantada (Argentina)Past President, International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) |
 | Hadi Mohamad Abu Rasheed (Qatar)Scientific Advisor, Head of the Professional Development and Scientific Research Department, Qatar Cancer Society |
 | Hana Chaar Choueib (Lebanon)General Manager, Children's Cancer Center Lebanon (CCCL) Member of the Board of Directors, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) |
 | Ikram Eseghir (Morocco)Founder and President, NABD-BC2 |
 | Ishtar Espejo (Spain)CEO of Fundación Aladina |
 | Islam Belaribi (Algeria)Founder & President of Hope Dose Foundation |
 | Jayasree Iyer (The Netherlands)CEO, Access to Medicine Foundation |
 | Jennifer Buell (USA)Chairman, Executive Council, and Director, AgenusPresident and CEO, MiNK Therapeutics |
 | Julie R. Gralow (USA)
Executive Vice President and Chief Medical OfficerAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Association for Clinical Oncology |
 | Kathleen Schmeler (USA)
Associate Vice President, Global Oncology, Cancer NetworkBoard Member for the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) |
 | Khaled Ghanem (Syria)Medical Director, BASMA Pediatrics Oncology Unit, Damascus |
 | Krystal Barter (Australia)
CEO, Humanise Health |
 | Larry Norton (USA)Senior Vice President, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ASCO Past President |
 | Lawrence Faulkner (Italy)Medical Director, Cure2Children Foundation, Florence-Italy, and Sankalp India Foundation, Bangalore-India Consultant, DKMS Group, Tübingen-Germany Chair, Outreach Subcommittee, Pediatric Diseases Working Party - European Blood and Marrow Transplantation Group |
 | Leslie Lehmann (USA)Director, Clinical Stem Cell Transplantation Program Medical Director, International Hematology/Oncology/BMT |
 | Loizos Loizou (Cyprus)SIOP Europe Ambassador for Children with Cancer Professor at Medical School of University of Nicosia |
 | Mahmoud Hammad (Egypt)Chair, Education and Training SIOP Africa Professor of Pediatric Hem/Onc & Stem Cell Transplantation National Cancer Institute, Cairo University |
 | Mane Gizhlaryan (Armenia)Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist, Stem Cell Transplant Specialist Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center, MH |
 | Matti Aapro (Switzerland)President, Sharing Progress in Cancer Care (SPCC) Past-President of the European Cancer Organisation (ECO) Member of the Board of Directors, Genolier Cancer Center (Switzerland) |
 | Maria de San Martin (Argentina)Executive Director, Donde Quiero Estar Foundation |
 | Marion Saville (Australia)Executive Director, Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer |
 | Miriam Mutebi (Kenya)Breast Surgical Oncologist, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital |
 | Manette Le Grange (France)
Corporate Social Responsibility Lead, Servier’s ICONIC Initiative |
 | Natasha Madsen Shah (Switzerland)Executive Director of the Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition |
 | Paco Arango (Spain)President and Founder, Fundación Aladina Director and CEO, Producciones CALCON |
 | Rakesh Jalali (India)
Medical Director, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC)Professor and Head, Dept of Radiation Oncology Senior Consultant & Lead, Neuro Oncology Cancer Management Team (CMT) Chair, Senior Advisory Council, Indian Society of Neuro Oncology (ISNO) President-Elect, Asian Society for Neuro Oncology (ASNO) President, Immuno-Oncology Society of India (IOSI) |
 | Ricardo Garcia (USA)Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Member of the Board of Directors, OncoHeroes Biosciences |
 | Richard Sullivan (UK)Director, Institute of Cancer Policy Co-Director, Centre for Conflict and Health Research at King's College London |
 | Rob Pieters (The Netherlands)
President, International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) Chief Maxima International, Executive Committee, Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology |
 | Robert P. Gale (USA)Emmy award-winning hematologist, Editor-in-chief of Leukemia |
 | Scott Howard (USA)Deputy Director, Yeolyan Hematology/Oncology Center, Armenia Global Development Officer, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu Barcelona, Spain CEO, Resonance |
 | Stephen D. Nimer (USA)Director, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Executive Dean for research, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine |
 | Shushan Hovsepyan (Armenia)Editor-in-Chief, OncoDaily Medical JournalCo-Chair SIOP GHN Research and Innovation working group Innovation and Development Director, Immune Oncology Research Institute Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Hematology and Pediatric Oncology, Yerevan State Medical University Senior VP of P53 Inc. (OncoDaily, CancerWorld) |
 | Tezer Kutluk (Turkey)Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Oncology, Hacettepe UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Cancer Institute Past-President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Past-President of the European Cancer Leagues (ECL) |
 | Todd Harper (Australia)Director, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)CEO, Cancer Council Victoria Chair, NCD Alliance Grant Oversight Sub-Committee |
 | Ulrika Årehed Kågström (Sweden)President, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)Secretary General, Swedish Cancer Society/Cancerfonden Member of the Swedish Government’s Life Science Advisory Group Board Member, NCU (Nordic Cancer Union) |
 | Valerie Buhagiar (Canada)Maltese-Canadian actress and film director |
 | Vicki Durston (Australia)Director of Policy and Advocacy, Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) |
 | Yehoda Martei (USA)Assistant Professor of Medicine, Hematology - Oncology Division, University of Pennsylvania |