Vi-CaN Symposium 2026

Cachexia at the Crossroads: Where Metabolism, Immunity and Cancer Meet

Cachexia remains a devastating disease with little to no effective treatment options for affected patients. Cachexia affects multiple biological systems and is regarded as a multi-organ syndrome. The first Vi-CaN Symposium aims to open up individual research perspectives to look more comprehensively at cancer-associated cachexia. Thus, we aim to bring together clinicians, researchers, and trainees, all dedicated to advancing science and care in cancer, metabolism, immunology, and allied interdisciplinary research fields. Together, we aim to synergise our resources to address key research questions in cachexia research, to bridge preclinical research to clinical and palliative care application and to accelerate translational impact.

Save-the-date (Please click the link to view and download the flyer.)

When and Where?

• Date: October 8, 2026
• Time: 13:00–19:00
• Venue: Van Swieten Saal, Medical University of Vienna

For whom?

We call on all scientists, researchers, clinicians and trainees working in science and care in cancer, immunology, metabolism, endocrinology, nutrition, neuroscience, psychology to share their expertise in studying aspects related to the development of cancer-associated cachexia. More specifically, this call is open for:

• Basic scientists studying the pathomechanisms of cancer and cancer-associated syndromes
  • We also explicitly invite researchers from other fields who work on systemic metabolism, behavioural science, nutritional states
• Translational scientists developing new diagnostic tools and/or further our understanding of drug mechanisms, efficacies and development for oncological diseases
• Clinical scientists and care workers working with and treating cancer and/or cachectic patients

What awaits you?

• Keynote lectures from world renown experts
• Poster Presentations
• Networking Opportunities

Important Dates

June 30^th, 2026: Deadline Poster Abstract Submission (for more information, click here)

July 17^th, 2026: Notification of Acceptance

Tentative Programme

12:00-13:00: Registration & Poster Hanging

13:00-13:15: Introduction

13:15-14:00: Keynote lecture - Eduardo Bruera, MD Anderson Cancer Center

14:00-14:45: Keynote lecture - Maria Rohm, Helmholtz Center Munich

14:45-16:00: Coffee Break & Poster Session

16:00-16:45: Keynote lecture - Sheng ‘Tony’ Hui, Harvard University

16:45-17:30: Keynote lecture - Vickie Baracos, University of Alberta

17:30-19:00: Closing remarks & Networking

What else?

To stay up-to-date with all the latest developments of the Vi-CaN community and sign up to the Vi-CaN Newsletter. 

Our Institutional Supporters at the Medical University and Beyond

• Research Platform Metabolism (RPM)
• Center of Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology (CePII)
• Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy
• Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC)
• Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics (PBG)
• Immunology Research Cluster (IRC)
• Research Center for Molecular Medicine (CeMM)
• Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW)
• Austrian Association of Palliative Care (OPG)

Our Sponsors