Call for sessions

The Programme Committee is currently reviewing all the sessions received, assessing per the communicated guidelines below:

The call for sessions aimed to receive innovative, evidence-based session proposals representing the latest cancer control advances.

Any proposal should fall under one of the following six programme themes. We welcomed different perspectives from the entire cancer community, including:

• NGOs, foundations and advocates 
• Patients and patient organisation
• Policy-makers
• UN and bi-laterals
• Economists 
• Researchers and academics 
• Healthcare workers and pharmacists 
• Private sector & entrepreneurs 
• Fundraisers 
• Marketing and communication professionals

CALL FOR SESSIONS - GUIDELINES

1. Process and deadlines

• The deadline to submit session proposals is Sunday 12 November 2023 at 23h59 CET.
• The World Cancer Congress Programme Committee  will review the submitted proposals to ensure they address an international audience, echo UICC's purpose and the six themes.
  This means that they will either accept the original sessions or work with session organisers to combine one or more proposals. 
• Please note that the number of session proposals submitted is expected to surpass the number actual of slots available in the Congress programme. Therefore a number of sessions will require to be “merged” when they are complimentary and will form a “stronger and more comprehensive” session when reworked and put together. This decision belongs to the programme committee. One of the two session organisers will be appointed as the lead for the merged session but the role of the lead should not prevent close collaboration with the other session organiser. The merged session will be submitted for a new review from the theme chairs.
• All session organisers will have their accepted sessions fully confirmed by Friday, 19 January 2024
• The WCC Preliminary Programme 2024, including presentation titles and speakers’ names, will be released online on the Congress website as of 1 February 2024.

2. Session topics

• All session proposals should be submitted in English only through the online system. Incomplete proposals will not be reviewed.
• A ‘Session organiser’ should coordinate the session, liaising with UICC and the speakers.
• All session proposals should come under 60 minutes.
• The proposed topic should be relevant to an issue that is of global interest and not pertinent to one institution only.
• The proposed session should be aligned with at least one of the proposed themes.
• Preference will be given to cross-country, cross-organisation or cross-sector collaboration proposals. If you want to contact experts from other organisations, a list of UICC members is available on the UICC members page.
• Session content has to have a clear purpose and determined learning objectives.
• Participants should leave the session with new methods, techniques, and/or practical tools that they can adapt/use and put into practice in their own local settings.
• Innovative ideas and evidence-based practices that reflect the chosen themes are highly encouraged.
• Topics already proposed at past Congresses should demonstrate significant progress since the last presentation in order to be considered for the 2024 Congress.
• Sessions should prioritise interaction with the audience. A 10-minute Q&A discussion at least should close the session.
• The Programme Committee will determine the session day, time and format within the programme. The schedule will be communicated to the session organisers at the end of January 2024.

3. Speakers

• • Proposed speakers should be aware that their names have been put forward by the session organiser. They should also be available to attend the Congress in Geneva if their session has been accepted by the Programme Committee.
• The chair/moderator can also take a speaker role within the same session.
• Each chair/speaker must have a good command of English.
• Each accepted session will be granted up to five free registrations (including speakers and chair/moderator).
• Upon request, a very limited number of travel grants will be made available for speakers from LMICs* (*following the World Bank classification). UICC will not provide any funding or honorarium for proposed speakers. Speakers can request in writing for travel grant funding only upon acceptance of the session by the Programme Committee.
• All sessions are limited to four speakers and one chair who will benefit from free registrations. To benefit from those complimentary registrations, speakers/chairs will have to register online before 1 May 2024. Passed this deadline, free registrations may not be granted and the applicable registration fees will apply. 
• The session organiser is responsible for confirming all session speakers and should ensure all presentations (if used) have been submitted on time.

Please contact Mr John Lawlor at lawlor@uicc.org with any questions regarding the Congress Programme.