Events - CRIION

Symposium

“Intelligent Oncology – The Potential of AI to Control Cancer“

24.-25. September 2026

MISSION

Bringing together experts from various disciplines to explore the latest advances in AI-assisted cancer research. Our goal is to promote collaboration between researchers, physicians, industry leaders, and other visionaries in the field. By sharing knowledge and expertise, we aim to discover new ways to control cancer through the power of AI.

AIM OF THE CONFERENCE

The theme of the conference is Intelligent Oncology, focusing on harnessing the power of AI to control cancer. Our aim is to present cutting-edge research and innovative approaches in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. We aim to identify new research directions, foster collaborations between academia and industry, and facilitate the translation of research findings into clinical practice. By connecting experts in the field, we aim to accelerate progress towards more effective and personalized cancer treatment.

AREAS OF FOCUS

AI in cancer diagnosis/treatment

Computational methods for cancer research

Precision medicine with AI

Ethical, regulatory and governance issues of AI for health

Clinical translation of AI health interventions

Innovative AI technologies/platforms

Interdisciplinary collaborations in cancer

SCIENTIFIC BOARD

Prof. Dr. Dr. Melanie Börries
CRIION Scientific Director Systems Medicine & Medical Center, University of Freiburg

Prof. Dr. Mascha Binder
CRIION Scientific Director Clinical Oncology & University Hospital Basel

Prof. Dr. Joschka Boedecker
CRIION Scientific Director AI & Department of Computer Science, University of Freiburg

Assoc. Prof. Victor Greiff
University of Oslo, Norway

Dr. Maria Kalweit
CRIION Chief Scientific Officer & Department of Computer Science, University of Freiburg

Dr. Gabriel Kalweit
CRIION Head of Fundamental AI Research & Department of Computer Science, University of Freiburg

Prof. Dr. Christoph Merten
EPFL, Switzerland

Dr. Jan Moritz Middeke
University Hospital Dresden, Germany

Prof. em. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Roland Mertelsmann
CEO Mertelsmann Foundation & Medical Center, University of Freiburg

Prof. Dr. Adriana Tomic
Boston University, USA

Prof. Dr. Evelyn Ullrich
Goethe University, Ullrich Lab – Laboratory for Experimental Immunology & Cell Therapy, Germany

Prof. Dr. Robert Zeiser
CRIION Scientific Director Translational Oncology & Medical Center, University of Freiburg

PROGRAM 2024

9:30 – 9:50
Introduction
Prof. em. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Roland Mertelsmann, Prof. Dr. Joschka Boedecker, CRIION Freiburg, Germany

9:50 – 9:55
Welcome remarks from Baden-Württemberg
Nadyne Saint-Cast, MdL, die Grünen

10:00 – 10:00 Welcome remarks from the University Hospital of Freiburg
Chief Medical Director Prof. dr. Dr. h.c. Frederik Wenz

10:00 – 10:05 Welcome remarks from the Technical Faculty of Freiburg University

10:05 – 10:35
Interpretability, efficency, accessibility & trustworthiness: Building the foundations of applicable AI in oncology
Dr. Maria Kalweit, CRIION, Freiburg, Germany

Coffee break

Session 1: Understanding Cancer Through AI and Computational Biology
This session will explore how AI and computational biology can improve our understanding of cancer.
Chair: Prof. Dr. Robert Zeiser, Univerisity of Freiburg, Germany, Prof. Dr. Adriana Tomic, Boston University, USA

11:00 – 11:30
Knowledge-based machine learning to extract disease mechanisms from multi-omics data
Prof. Julio Saez-Rodriguez, Universität Heidelberg, Germany

11:30 – 12:00
Improving cell segmentation in spatial transcriptomics
Dr. Daniel Jones, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, USA

12:00 – 12.30
Exploring mechanisms and functional heterogeneity in cellular immunotherapies targeting cancer via machine learning analysis of live-imaging
Dr. Maria Alieva, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Madrid, Spain

12:30 – 12:40
Best Abstract Award

Lunch break & Poster Presentation

Session 2: Building Trust and Regulation in Artificial Intelligence Models for Medicine
This session will examine how to incorporate trust and regulatory to the development and deployment of AI and computational biology-powered cancer therapies.
Chair: Prof. Dr. Joschka Boedecker, Univerisity of Freiburg, Germany, Dr. Jan Moritz Middeke, University Hospital Dresden, Germany

13:40 – 14:10
New regulatory thinking is needed for ‘at-the-patient-bedside’ AI-based personalised drug and cell therapies in precision oncology
Prof. Steven Gilbert, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany

14:10 – 14:40
An instrument like any other? Ethical considerations on the use of AI in medicine
Dr. Markus Herrmann, NCT Heidelberg, Germany

14:40 – 15.10
A regulator’s perspective on AI-based indications for anti-cancer medicines
Dr. Harald Enzmann, BFARM, Germany

15:10 – 15:20
Best Abstract Award

Coffee break

Session 3: Deploying AI and Computational Biology into Clinical Applications
In this session, speakers will discuss the challenges and opportunities of translating AI and computational biology into clinical practice for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
Chair: Prof. Dr. Melanie Börries, University of Freiburg, Germany, Prof. Dr. Christoph Merten, EPFL, Switzerland,

15:50 – 16:20
The practical usage of AI Applications in routine diagnostics
Sven Maschek, MLL Münchner Leukämieabor, Germany

16:20 – 16.50
AI for better cancer care
Dr. Andre Dekker, Maastricht University Medical Center, Netherlands

16:50 – 17:20
Machine learning for personalized cancer care
Prof. Adam Yala, Berkeley, USA

17:20 – 17:30
Best Abstract Award

17:30 – 17:40
Audience Abstracts Award

17:40 – 17:50
Closing remarks
Prof. Dr. Evelyn Ullrich, Goethe University, Ullrich Lab Frankfurt, Germany

Networking Apéro

Program 2024 (PDF)

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Are you a PhD candidate or Postdoc working in research fields that could foster the fight against cancer with Al?
Show what you are working on at the event „Intelligent Oncology – The Potential of Al to Control Cancer“ on September 24-25th, 2026 in Freiburg! A scientific committee will select abstracts for poster or oral presentation. The top abstracts will receive a EUR 500 award. All presenters are welcome to participate free of charge.

Submit your abstract as PDF until June 15th, 2026 to posters@intelligent-oncology.org