Program Overview
June 8 – Informal welcome and registration
Location: The Cell, Forskaren
16:00 | Drop-in welcome and registration
17:00 | Guided tour of The Cell
18:00 | Informal mingle with light refreshments
19:30 | Welcome remarks and close of evening
June 9 – Summit Meeting
Location: Röntgen, Elite Hotel Carolina Tower
08:30 | Registration and coffee
09:30 | Joint Opening Session
Joint opening remarks and formal inauguration from the United States and Sweden.
- Michaela Hollis, State Secretary to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs, Sweden.
- Dr. Satish Gopal, Director, Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute (NCI) (digital keynote)
09:45 | Keynote: Patient Perspective
Perspective on Cancer Care
The summit opens with a personal reflection from Birgitta Ohlsson on navigating cancer care across healthcare systems and national contexts, including experiences from both Sweden and the United States. Her story will serve as a starting point for a broader conversation on how patient experience, advocacy and international perspectives can help shape the future of cancer care.
Fireside Chat
In conversation with Ulrika Årehed Kågström, the discussion will explore how patient voices, public engagement, and international collaboration can contribute to advancing cancer research, implementation and long-term progress in cancer care. The session will also reflect on the importance of building partnerships that connect research, healthcare and society.
- Birgitta Ohlsson, Former Minister for European Affairs; Patient Representative
- Fireside chat with Birgitta Ohlsson and Ulrika Årehed Kågström, President, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)
Moderator: Erik Ullenhag, Consul General of Sweden in New York
10:15 | Sweden’s Cancer Strategy 2.0 and SweCAN
Representatives from the National Board of Health and Welfare will present Sweden’s updated national cancer strategy and the development of SweCAN. The session will explore how national coordination, knowledge-sharing, precision medicine, and stronger data infrastructure can support more effective and equitable cancer care, while also creating new opportunities for collaboration between Sweden and international partners.
- Michaela Hollis, State Secretary to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs, Sweden
- Dr. Mef Nilbert, National Board of Health and Welfare
- Martin Jansson, Program Manager, National Board of Health and Welfare – Introduction to SweCAN
10:30 | Short Break
10:45 | Plenary Session and Panel Discussion
Advances in Metastatic Cancer Research and Care
Leading experts from Sweden and the United States will discuss recent scientific and clinical advances in metastatic cancer. The session will focus on emerging research, translational collaboration, and opportunities to strengthen transatlantic partnerships in metastasis research and care.
Joint Presentation: Karolinska Institutet & NYU Langone Health
Panel Discussion: Discussion with institutional representatives
Moderator: Dr. Mef Nilbert
11:30 | Plenary Session and Panel Discussion
Research Infrastructure and Funding – Enabling Collaboration
and Impact
This panel will explore how research infrastructure, strategic funding, and international coordination can strengthen research and accelerate innovation. Discussions will focus on opportunities for collaboration across agencies, institutions, and sectors under the bilateral cancer agreement.
Joint Presentation: Dr. LeeAnn Bailey, Branch Director, National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Panel Discussion: Discussion with institutional representatives
- Madeleine Durbeej-Hjält, Professor and Secretary General, Swedish Research Council
- Malin Sund, Professor of Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland, Umeå University, Sweden, Chair of the research board at the Swedish Cancer Society
- LeeAnn Bailey, MD, PhD ,Branch Director- Community Outreach, Research, and Engagement Branch (CORE), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD), Lead for the NCI Early Onset Cancer Initiative
- Dr. Clifford Hudis, Chief Executive Officer/American Society of Clinical Oncology
- Richard Rosenquist Brandell, Professor and Senior Physician in Clinical Genetics at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm
Moderator: Dr. Åsa Wallin
12:15 | Lunch
13:30 | Plenary Session and Panel Discussion
Innovation and Implementation in Healthcare – From Evidence to Impact
Scientific advances alone are not enough without successful implementation into healthcare systems and clinical practice. Discussions will explore precision medicine, innovation ecosystems, implementation challenges, and how collaboration across sectors can improve care for patients with metastatic cancer.
Joint Presentation: Implementation in Practice, Dr. Jan Ellenberg, Director for SciLifeLab & Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science
Panel Discussion: Discussion with institutional representatives
- Shridar Ganesan, New York University
- Dr. Elham Hedayati, Karolinska Institutet
- Suzanne Håkansson, Senior Director, Government Affairs Europe & Nordics, AstraZeneca
- Andreas Hörnell, Chief of Staff, Precision Medicine Center Karolinska (PMCK)
Moderator: Carl Johan Sundberg, MD, PhD, Professor, Dean Karolinska Institutet Nord
14:15 | Panel Discussion
Patient Experience and Engagement
What role should patients and patient organizations play in shaping the future of cancer collaboration? The discussion will explore how advocacy, lived experience, and patient engagement can contribute to research priorities, healthcare innovation, and access to care.
- Margareta Haag, Chair, Swedish Network Against Cancer
- Kara Bendle, Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland Clinic Children's, Co-administrative director of the Integrative Program for Young People withCancer.
- Professor Roger Olofsson Bagge, Sahlgrenska University Hospital
- Jesse Rafel, Assistant Director & Vice Chair for Research, Institute for Innovations in Medical Education NYU Langone Health
- Anu K. Agrawal, MD, Vice President, Global Cancer Support, American Cancer Society
Moderator: Ylva Källman
14:50 | Plenary Session
Precision Radiation in Metastatic Cancer by Elekta
Jonas Gårding, Ph.D Global Director Partner Research, Elekta
15:00 | Coffee Break
15:20 | Break Out Sessions
Shaping the Future of U.S.–Sweden Cancer Collaboration
Participants will join moderated breakout discussions focused on how the bilateral cancer agreement can lead to meaningful and lasting collaboration between Sweden and the United States. Discussions will explore how scientific advances can more effectively translate into patient benefit, what barriers remain and where international collaboration can create the greatest added value over the coming years. The session is also intended to help identify concrete opportunities and future priorities ahead of the next U.S.–Sweden Cancer Summit.
Next Steps-Bilateral Agreement Between Sweden and the US
Key stakeholders discuss bilateral priorities for advancing research and care across Sweden and the United States
Closing Remarks
17:00 | Signing Ceremony - Karolinska Institutet - NYU Langone Health
The summit will conclude with the formal signing ceremony of the collaboration agreement between Karolinska Institutet and NYU Langone Health. The partnership represents an important milestone within the broader U.S.–Sweden cancer collaboration and aims to strengthen long-term cooperation in metastatic cancer research, clinical translation, education and innovation.
17:15 | Networking Dinner
A seasonal Swedish dining experience, curated by renowned chefs Tareq Taylor and Carina Brydling – where classic culinary craft meets fresh, locally inspired ingredients.
June 10 – Site visits
Location: Forskaren
08:30-10:00 | Pitching session with companies in cancer research and care
10:15-12:00 | Parallel Site Visits: Astra Zeneca and Elekta
Attendees will be split into two groups for rotating tours.
12:15-13:00 | Lunch at Urban Deli, Forskaren
13:00-13:45 | Guided tour of Hagastaden by Stockholm Science City
14:00-15:30 | Group visits, Researchers SciLife Lab