A one-day event showcasing the latest cutting-edge research on the modelling, biology and treatment of paediatric cancers in the context of their developmental origins.
The aim of the meeting is to bring together researchers at the interface of stem cell, developmental and cancer biology with translational and clinical researchers in order to foster exchange of ideas, collaborations and networking opportunities.
Major themes include:
- Development of novel in vitro and in vivo models of paediatric cancers and insights gained from their use
- Risk factors/genetic drivers
- Tumour dependencies and implications for therapy
Further information about the symposium
- Florian Halbritter, CCRI, Vienna
- Chris Jones, ICR, London
- Majlinda Lako, Newcastle University
- Katrin Ottersbach, University of Edinburgh
- Ruth Palmer, University of Gothenburg
- Steve Pollard, University of Edinburgh
09:55 Welcome
Chairs: Karen Liu/Sally George
10:00-10:30 Florian Halbritter, CCRI, Vienna: Modelling paediatric tumour development – human pluripotent stem cell approaches
10:30-10.45 Natalie Andersson, Lund/Sanger: Clonal Bottlenecks in Normal and Predisposed Paediatric Liver Development
10.45-11.00 Caleb Reagor, Rockefeller University/Karolinska Institutet: Self-Supervised Learning Uncovers a Shared Mesenchymal Landscape across Development and Cancer
11.00-11.15 Lena Kutscher, Heidelberg: Developmental Determinants of Male Bias in Group 3/4 Medulloblastoma
11.15-11.45 Majlinda Lako, Newcastle University: Modelling paediatric tumour development –human pluripotent stem cell approaches
11:45-12 Flash talks:
- Thomas Eckhardt, St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute: A New Human Stem Cell-Derived Sympathoadrenal Linegae Organoid Model to Study Neuroblastoma Initiation
- Charlie Jones, University of Edinburgh: Dismantling cPRC1 Complexes to Inform Targeting of Diffuse Midline Glioma
- Isabella Scott, ICR: Targeting Chromatin Remodelers in MYCN-amplified Neuroblastoma
- Justas Stanislovas, UCL: Osteosarcoma Cells Undergo Transient Cell Cycle Arrest and Transcriptional Rewiring which Enable their Survival in Response to Map Chemotherapy in vitro
12:15-13.30 Lunch and posters
Chair: Anestis Tsakiridis
13:30-14.00 Steve Pollard, University of Edinburgh: Tumour dependencies and implications for therapy
14:00-14.15 Sumana Shrestha – UCL/ICR: Mapping the MYCN-driven Oncogenic Transformation of Neuroepithelial Stem Cells to Embryonal Tumour with Multilayered Rosettes (ETMR)
14.15-14.30 Harry Leitch, UCL GOS: On the Developmental Origins of Paediatric Germ Cell Tumours
14:30-15.00 Katrin Ottersbach, University of Edinburgh: Modelling paediatric tumour development –in vivo models
15:00 Coffee break/posters
Chair: Deb Tweddle
15:30-16:00 Ruth Palmer, University of Gothenburg: Tumour dependencies and implications for therapy
16:00-16.15 Irina Poverennaya, Medical University Vienna: RNA Modifications Connect Fate Selection in Neural Crest and Prognosis in Neuroblastoma
16:15-16.30 Jessica Taylor, Cambridge: FOXO3 Suppression Underlies Subtype Diversity in WNT-Medulloblastoma
16:30-17.00 Chris Jones, ICR: Risk factors and drivers of paediatric tumours
17:00-18.00: Prize announcements/ Drinks reception and posters
- John Anderson, UCL, London
- James Briscoe, The Francis Crick Institute, London
- Sally George, ICR, London
- Karen Liu, KCL, London
- Anestis Tsakiridis, University of Sheffield
- Deborah Tweddle, Newcastle University
Book your place today
We gratefully acknowledge the support of:
Neuroblastoma UK
Share your research: call for abstracts
We welcome abstracts on basic, translation and clinical research on the symposium theme of 'developmental origins of paediatric cancer'. There will be an award for best oral presentation and best poster. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your work to the research community. All abstracts will be scored based on the criteria objective/background, method, results, conclusion relevance and impact.
Abstract submissions now open
Deadline: Extended to Midnight, 20 March 2026
If you would like to submit an abstract to be considered for oral or poster presentation, please submit an abstract online using our grant management system, FlexiGrant. If you have not used this system before, you will need to register a new account.
Abstract submission information
All abstracts will be scored based on the following criteria:
- Objective/Background
- Method
- Results
- Conclusion, impact and relevance
- Applicants must be able to attend the CCLG Developmental Origins of Paediatric Cancer Symposium (8 June 2026 in London) and will be expected to register at the prevailing conference fee once notification of acceptance for oral or poster presentation has been given
- If submitting for poster presentation, applicants must be able to provide their work in printed poster format (specifications to be provided) for display during the Annual Conference.
- The applicant must be the first or last author and presenting author of the submitted abstract
Please note: if your abstract is accepted, it is expected that you register for the conference at your own expense (early bird discounts will be available).
- Each abstract will undergo a review process by the judging panel
- Acceptance will be based on the achieved abstract scores and final decision will be made by a review panel consisting of the organising committee as well as external research review panel members
- The successful candidates will be notified in April if their abstract has been accepted for presentation
- No correspondence on the judges’ decision can be initiated by the author(s)
- Use the standard headings 'Introduction/background', 'Methods', 'Results', 'Conclusions/Implications' to construct your abstract
- Type your abstract in English using Word
- Maximum 500 words – does not include title, author list or references
- Include a title, author list and affiliations
- Your abstract should fit on one side of A4
- You can enter more than one abstract
- Submission of an abstract acknowledges your acceptance for the abstract to be published in any official conference publications eg. conference app, member website
- The presenting author is required to ensure that all co-authors are aware of the content of the abstract and agree to its submission before submitting the abstract
Deadline extended: The deadline for receipt of abstracts is now 20 March 2026 at midnight.
Abstracts should be submitted online via FlexiGrant and we will acknowledge receipt of your application. You will need to create an online account on FlexiGrant and follow the instructions. Drafts can be saved on the system until you complete the submission.
Please make sure your submission is showing as completed on our online system by the deadline as we cannot accept any draft applications.