We are honoured to co-convene the 2026 COSA Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) to be held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney from Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 November 2026, with pre-conference workshops being held on Tuesday 10 November.
The theme for the 2026 COSA ASM is
The precision generation:
From prevention to personalised care
This theme reflects how far cancer care has evolved; from a one-size-fits-all rigid approach, to care that is increasingly tailored to the individual, across the entire cancer journey.
The disease theme will have a strong focus on lung cancers, alongside sessions addressing head and neck cancers, early-onset cancers such as colorectal cancer, and brain cancer, including both primary and metastatic disease. As always, equity will be embedded throughout the program, reflecting COSA’s ongoing commitment to improving outcomes for all people affected by cancer.
It has been almost a decade since the COSA ASM was held in Sydney, so we are excited to bring it back to showcase the remarkable advances that have transformed cancer care over this time, including the molecular biomarker realm and the evolution of novel transformative therapeutics.
Australia has developed deep expertise across clinical care, research and clinical trials, implementation and policy, and the program will highlight this local leadership alongside contributions from international experts in the fields of drug development, precision oncology, pharmacogenomics and palliative and supportive care.
Our invited international experts include:
Dr Ishwaria Subbiah, Executive Director, Cancer Equity and Professional Wellness, Sarah Cannon Research Institute Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Dr Vivek Subbiah, Associate Professor in the Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, Chief, Early-Phase Drug Development, Sarah Cannon Research Institute Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Jessica Keen, Oncologist Pharmacist Prescriber, Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
The COSA ASM program reflects our multidisciplinary society membership. Together with the Program Committee, we have developed an exciting and educational program designed to be engaging, practical and relevant whether you work in clinical care, research, education, policy, industry or consumer advocacy.
We have kept the following key points top of mind:
Personalised cancer care across the continuum from prevention to diagnosis, treatment and survivorship, is critical to enabling optimal outcomes
Adequate personalisation of treatment extends beyond the now backbone of tumour informed molecular biomarkers, to holistic patient tailored treatment and survivorship; catering to frailty, sarcopenia, malnutrition, obesity and older people to name a few
The importance of multidisciplinary networks to deliver personalised cancer care remains essential, but the next challenge is multisector collaboration. Too often, evidence-based advances fail to translate to practice. Optimising implementation and addressing recurrent gaps in health care systems Australia wide is priority.
Consumer partnership and the patient voice is key in all aspects we do from designing research to securing funding, to service delivery and evaluation.
Embedding a culture of openness, communication, respect and empowerment is vital for workforce wellbeing and sustainable cancer care. We learn from the broad experience of the cancer care workforce through history how to better foster workplaces which prevent burnout and encourage all members to flourish.
Respecting diversity and tailoring our interventions and communication approaches to the person in front of us regardless of age, ethnicity, culture, sexuality/gender and disability is fundamental for informed joint decision making and achieving truly personalised cancer care.
In response to delegate feedback, we are refreshing the format in 2026. We are expanding the Welcome Function in the exhibition hall on Wednesday 11 November with enhanced catering and entertainment for quality networking. There will be no formal conference dinner on Thursday evening, allowing delegates the flexibility to reconnect with colleagues across Sydney or attend one of the sponsored dinner symposia. Stay tuned for more information.
We look forward to seeing you in November 2026.
A/Prof Malinda Itchins
A/Prof Jia (Jenny) Liu
2026 COSA ASM Co-convenors
A/Prof Malinda Itchins
A/Prof Jia (Jenny) Liu
KEY DATES
DELEGATE DESIGNED SYMPOSIA SUBMISSIONS CLOSE
Friday 3 July 2026
ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS CLOSE
Friday 7 August 2026
ABSTRACT DECISION NOTIFICATION
Wednesday 2 September 2026
ABSTRACT ACCEPTANCE BY PRESENTER
Friday 11 September 2026
EARLYBIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Friday 11 September 2026
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS
Tuesday 10 November 2026