CancersScape: Spatial Biology of the Tumor Ecosystem
the chairs
Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of MDPI and the journal Cancers, we would like to invite you to participate in the conference “Cancers 2025 – CancersScape: Spatial Biology of the Tumor Ecosystem”, to be held in Barcelona, Spain, from November 5–7, 2025.
This two-and-a-half day-conference will bring together researchers and experts in the field of multi-omics and spatial biology from academia and biotech companies to discuss the latest development, and the application of these platforms to explore and dissect the tumor ecosystem. It is a must-attend conference for anyone who are interested in applying the spatial biology platforms in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
We invite you to participate in this dynamic, interdisciplinary forum by submitting abstracts for posters or short talks related to the conference themes. Cancers 2025 promises a stimulating environment where you can present your research, engage in insightful discussions, and connect with fellow experts.
We look forward to welcoming you to Barcelona.
Sincerely,
Dr. Sammy Ferri-Borgogno, Professor Samuel C. Mok & Dr. Eduard Porta-Pardo
Cancers 2025 Chairs
Conference Secretariat
Ms. Raquel Sellés
Ms. Jovana Vanovac
Dr. Elena Gonzalez
Email: cancers2025@mdpi.com
Join us on LinkedIn Events!
If you want to stay updated with the latest information, or if you want to connect with your fellow researchers before, during, and after the event, then be sure to join the CancersScape: Spatial Biology of the Tumor Ecosystem LinkedIn Event.
See you over there!
Follow the conversation on X with #Cancers2025
Meet the Event Chairs
Important Dates
- Abstract submission deadlineSep 14, 2025
- Abstract acceptance notificationSep 16, 2025
- Registration end dateOct 31, 2025
- Conference Dinner Registration end dateOct 26, 2025
- Early bird registration deadlineSep 21, 2025
- Regular registration deadlineOct 31, 2025
Meet Our Speakers
Prof. Jared Burks
Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA - https://faculty.mdanderson.org/profiles/jared_burks.html;
Jared K. Burks, Ph.D. is a prominent molecular biologist and technologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he serves as a Professor and Associate Director of Shared Resources for the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG). Recognized by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a Research Specialist in Spatial Biology (R50 award), he specializes in spatial biology and has introduced several innovative technologies such as live cell imaging, eight-color TSA imaging, mass cytometry (suspension and imaging), and sequential immunofluorescence.
Dr. Burks earned his Ph.D. in Biology from Texas A&M University, focusing on protein folding and trafficking under the National Academy member, Dr. Max D. Summers. He furthered his research at Baylor College of Medicine before joining MD Anderson, where he has directed a core facility for 14 years and founded the Innovation Nexus. The Innovation Nexus focusing on early adoption of novel technologies and has secured $5 million in novel technology partnerships within the last 18 months leading to multiple publications and funded grant awards.
His current work involves developing methods for data integration to enhance understanding of cellular communications in tumors. He regularly serves as a Key Opinion Leader for various technology companies. Most recently he established the Lunaphore Comet sequential immunofluorescence system and introduced STOmics spatial transcriptomics. Through these technologies Dr Burks helped create a pipeline to combine spatial metabolomics, glycomics, pepidomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, and microbiome data in 3D to understand the functional interactions that occur in unique spatial niche. These efforts were driven to support a now funded U01 HTAN grant. Dr. Burks’ expertise in emerging technologies drives collaborative efforts that lead to significant advancements in cancer research and biology.
Prof. Dr. Nils Gehlenborg
Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA - https://hidivelab.org/team/members/nils-gehlenborg/?;
Nils Gehlenborg, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School and directs the Humans in Data Integration, Visualization, and Exploration (HIDIVE) Lab. In addition to his research role, he is Director of the Master in Biomedical Informatics program and Director of the NIH-funded Biomedical Informatics and Data Science Research Training (BIRT) program. Nils formerly co-chaired the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee at Harvard Medical School.
The goal of Nils’ research is to improve human health by developing visual interfaces and computational techniques that enable scientists, clinicians, and patients to efficiently interact with biomedical data. Tight integration of algorithmic and machine learning approaches from biomedical informatics with advanced data visualization techniques is central to his efforts, as is close collaboration with end users. His efforts methods are designed to support sense-making in biology and medicine and to support reproducible, collaborative research.
Nils was a predoctoral fellow at the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and received his PhD from the University of Cambridge in 2010. He completed his postdoctoral training as a Research Associate in the Center for Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School in 2015.
Nils is a co-founder, former general chair and steering committee chair of BioVis, the Symposium on Biological Data Visualization, and co-founder of VIZBI, the annual workshop on Visualizing Biological Data. Nils has served on the program committees of several international bioinformatics and data visualization conferences and held multiple editorial roles, including his current role as associate editor of BMC Bioinformatics. He has also contributed to the “Points of View” data visualization column in Nature Methods. Nils is a co-founder and advisor of Datavisyn, which is a company that provides visualization solutions for applications in pharmaceutical and biomedical R&D.
Sessions
Explore more details
- Thursday, 6 November 2025 | 09:45-10:15, 13:00-14:00
- Posters can be set up from Wednesday morning (before 14:00) and must be removed by 13:00 on Friday.
Guidelines:
- Please print your poster before the conference and bring it with you. We will not provide on-site printing services or print it for you in advance.
- Posters should not be hung up or taken down during sessions with ongoing presentations. Please do so only during breaks, before sessions begin.
- Each presenter will be provided with a vertical poster board. Note that the maximum poster size is limited to A0: 84 x 120 cm / 33 x 47 in (width x height) in vertical orientation (portrait).
The list of posters, along with the poster numbers, titles, and presenting author, can be found below. Please contact us if the poster presenter's name is incorrect in this list (last updated on 6 October 2025).
By clicking on the button below, you can view and download the list of posters.
Participants of Cancers 2025 are cordially invited to submit full manuscripts for a dedicated Special Issue in the journal Cancers with a 20% discount on the publication fees. Please note that no other discounts will be applicable.
This Special Issue, titled "CancersScape: Spatial Biology of the Tumor Ecosystem" will showcase cutting-edge research presented at the conference. It is an excellent platform to share your findings with a broad readership in the plant science community.
We are excited to announce that the Conference Dinner will be held at the prestigious Gallery Hotel, located in the heart of Barcelona. Enjoy a delightful evening in a vibrant setting next to iconic landmarks such as La Pedrera, Passeig de Gràcia, Casa Batlló, and Plaça Catalunya.
When? Thursday, 6 November 2025 at 7:00 pm CET
Location: Gallery Hotel. C/ del Rosselló, 249, 08008 Barcelona
Main Course Options: Meat (Beef) or Vegetarian
Curious About the Dinner Option? Here's How to Reserve Your Seat:
The dinner costs an additional 55 EUR, which can be added during registration. Simply select the dinner option along with your registration category (Academic, Student, etc.). If you have already registered without the dinner, you can register again, choosing only the dinner category. Please indicate your main course preference and any allergies or dietary restrictions (in the comment box) when registering. Note that onsite registration will not be possible.
Join us for an unforgettable dining experience in one of Barcelona's most renowned locations. We look forward to seeing you there!
Travel
Barcelona is a vibrant and accessible city with excellent transportation links. Whether you're arriving by plane, train, or other means, there are convenient options to reach your destination. Below, you'll find detailed guidance to ensure a smooth journey to the conference venue.
By plane:
The international airport of Barcelona, Barcelona-El Prat, is located 10 km from the city center. It is well connected to major airport hubs in Europe and various locations worldwide. For more information about the airport and flights, please visit the official website: https://www.aena.es. Once you arrive at the airport, you have several options to reach the venue:
- By train: Take the TRAIN R2 NORD (https://rodalies.gencat.cat). Disembark at Barcelona Sants station. From there, you can either take METRO L5 (get off at Diagonal) or a taxi, available just outside the station. The train from the airport costs EUR 4.60, and the metro costs EUR 2.55. Tickets can be purchased at train stations and metro stops, respectively. A taxi from the station to the conference venue costs approximately EUR 10.
- By metro: Take LINE L9 (https://www.tmb.cat). which connects Barcelona Airport (both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2) to the city. Disembark at Collblanc station, and from there, transfer to METRO L5 (get off at Diagonal). The metro from the airport costs EUR 5.50, and the city metro costs EUR 2.55.
- By taxi: Taxis are readily available just outside the arrivals area. A taxi from the airport to the conference venue costs approximately EUR 30–35. Alternatively, VTC apps like Bolt and Cabify also operate in Barcelona and might offer more competitive rates.
By train:
Barcelona Sants is the city's largest train station, providing rail services for Barcelona, the rest of Spain, and international destinations. For more information about the station and train services, please visit the official website: https://www.renfe.com. Once you arrive at the station, you have the following options to reach the venue:
- By metro: Take LINE L5 (https://www.tmb.cat) and get off at Diagonal.
- By taxi: axis are available just outside the station. A taxi from the station to the conference venue costs approximately EUR 10.
Accommodation
We want your stay in Barcelona during the conference to be as comfortable as possible. With that in mind, we have agreed on a discount with several hotels to make your choice of accommodations easier. Please book your accommodation online and contact the hotels directly with any issues or requests related to accommodation bookings.
We are delighted to announce that the following hotels will offer a discounted price for all Cancers 2025 attendees:
Hotel |
Description |
How to book |
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Oriente Atiram and Meson Castilla Atiram: Located in Las Ramblas, they have a fantastic central location next to Plaza Catalunya and the famous Boqueria market. Arenas Atiram: The Arenas Atiram Hotel offers a highly personalized service together with very friendly, elegant facilities. Tres Torres Atiram: Located in the center of one of Barcelona's best residential neighborhoods, next to the distinguished commercial and leisure districts, Diagonal Avenue. |
Click the button below to make your booking and add the 10% discount code "CANCERS2025":
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A 3-star boutique hotel located next to the emblematic Avenida Diagonal and Paseo de Gracia, the city's most chic shopping area and just 5 minutes on foot from the conference venue. The hotel has a terrace with an outdoor swimming pool and gym, parking, a restaurant, and a museum room dedicated to the Catalan illustrator Ricard Opisso. |
Click below to complete your booking and add the 10% discount code ‘CANCERS25’.
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Stay in the heart of Barcelona's Eixample district at the Catalonia Diagonal Centro hotel, just a 1-minute walk from the conference venue. Located next to Passeig de Gràcia and close to the city's Modernist architecture route, the hotel offers excellent connections to various public transport options, making it easy to explore Barcelona for both tourism and business. |
Click below to make a reservation with a 10% discount for Catalonia Diagonal Centro or use the code "CATALONIABCN".
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These accommodations have been carefully chosen to provide comfort and convenience for our guests while ensuring affordability through negotiated rates. Prepare to make the most of your conference experience with our exclusive lodging options designed to enhance your stay.
Beware of Unauthorized Registration and Hotel Solicitations!
Note that Sciforum is the only official registration platform to register to Cancers 2025 and that we are not associated with any hotel agency. While other hotel resellers and travel agencies may contact you with offers for your trip, they are not endorsed by or affiliated with Cancers 2025 or Sciforum. Beware that entering into financial agreements with non-endorsed companies can have costly consequences.
Sponsoring
As organizers, we are excited to create an immersive and insightful conference, and we invite you to be a vital part of Cancers 2025. Your support is instrumental in making this event a success. Explore our sponsorship opportunities and join us in shaping the future of materials-related research and innovation.
Find the perfect sponsorship package tailored to your budget and desired exposure in our sponsorship brochure. Simply click on the icon below to access it.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us via email at cancers2025@mdpi.com. We appreciate your consideration!
Society Collaboration
Are you part of a society that isn't partnering with the conference? Contact us via email at cancers2025@mdpi.com to discuss a possible partnership! Noteworthy detail: Members from partnering societies are granted a 20% discount on all registration fees.