Villejuif, June 2nd, 2026
Gustave Roussy and The Lancet launch a landmark international lecture in oncology
With the Lecture Series on Cancer Breakthroughs, Gustave Roussy and The Lancet are joining forces to create a high-level annual international event dedicated to major scientific advances that are transforming—or will transform—the lives of patients at increased risk of cancer or living with the disease. These lectures aim to accelerate the dissemination of innovation and the sharing of knowledge for the benefit of patients worldwide. The inaugural lecture, to be held on 18 September in France and online, will focus on personalised cancer prevention. This first Lecture will be chaired by a distinguished guest, Professor Timothy R. Rebbeck, Professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Free registration, on line and in person: https://gustaveroussy-lecture-series.com
Global dissemination of knowledge
The Lancet is one of the most influential medical and scientific journals in the world. A major player in public health and a centre of excellence in research, care and education, Gustave Roussy, Europe’s leading comprehensive cancer centre, places research and the dissemination of knowledge and innovation at the heart of its mission.
Closely linked with Université Paris-Saclay, the Institute contributes to training future generations of doctors and researchers and to structuring a world-class European scientific ecosystem. It is within this ambition of knowledge sharing that this unprecedented partnership with The Lancet takes shape.
Together, the two institutions are creating an international momentum to identify, structure, and disseminate the most decisive advances in oncology. This is the first conference series co-organised by The Lancet to be entirely dedicated to oncology.
The Lecture Series is intended to become a global benchmark, bringing together leading experts each year to share major scientific breakthroughs and shed light on upcoming transformations in oncology. The series will foster interdisciplinary and international exchanges, which are essential to addressing the growing challenges posed by cancer.
The inaugural edition will take place on Friday, 18 September at 5.00 pm at The Hive in Villejuif, at the heart of the Paris Saclay Cancer Cluster—the largest European campus entirely dedicated to oncology.
“Faced with the scale of the challenges posed by cancer, and in line with our objective to prevent whenever possible, or cure 80% of patients living with cancer, our responsibility is to accelerate the flow of knowledge and innovation for the benefit of patients. By partnering with The Lancet, we are creating a leading international conference that can disseminate the most decisive advances and foster a collective global dynamic. This initiative is fully aligned with our public health mission and our commitment alongside Université Paris-Saclay to train, share, and innovate,” said Prof. Fabrice Barlesi, Chief Executive Officer of Gustave Roussy.
"The future of oncology depends on our willingness to share knowledge openly, to challenge one another rigorously, and to move quickly from discovery to practice. That is exactly what our partnership with Gustave Roussy is designed to do — create an international platform that brings together leading experts to spotlight the most promising new frontiers in oncology research, and help shape the next generation of clinical care." said Dr. Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet.
A first edition dedicated to personalised prevention
Professor Timothy R. Rebbeck, Professor of Cancer Prevention and holder of the Vincent L. Gregory Jr. Chair at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, will deliver a lecture on personalised cancer prevention.
An internationally recognised expert in epidemiology, he focuses his research on the genetic, genomic, and environmental determinants of cancer risk, aiming to translate these discoveries into prevention strategies tailored to different populations worldwide.
This theme fully reflects Gustave Roussy’s commitment to proactive and personalised medicine, aimed not only at treating disease, but also at anticipating it.
Since 2021, the Institute has been developing its INTERCEPTION programme for personalised cancer prevention, which offers dedicated pathways for people at increased risk of developing certain cancers (breast, lung, head and neck, colorectal), to prevent their occurrence or detect them at a very early stage. Eleven pathways are currently available.
Practical information
This first conference will be held in a hybrid format, both in person and online.
Date: Friday, 18 September 2026 at 5.00 pm (2-hour duration)
Venue: The Hive, 125 Rue Édouard Vaillant, 94800 Villejuif
Transport: Metro Line 14, stop Villejuif Gustave-Roussy (10 minutes from Châtelet) – Bus 380, stop “Institut Gustave Roussy” – Main entrance
Detailed programme and free mandatory registration available at: https://gustaveroussy-lecture-series.com
