July 18-20, 2026
JW Marriott Parq Vancouver
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

CONFERENCE COCHAIRS

Andy Futreal, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Taran Gujral, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington
Brooke E. Howitt, Stanford University, Stanford, California
Patrick Tan, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore

Every cancer patient deserves evidence-based answers, but for those facing a rare cancer diagnosis, those answers are often elusive. Rare cancers, defined as those with an incidence of fewer than six cases per 100,000 individuals per year, collectively account for over 20% of all cancer diagnoses globally. Despite this significant burden, they remain underrepresented in research, underserved in drug development, and often invisible in the mainstream clinical and policy conversation. The biological diversity and low incidence rates of rare cancers pose unique challenges for trial design, biomarker validation, early detection, and equitable access to therapies.

The AACR Special Conference on Breaking Barriers in the Fight Against Rare Cancers, taking place July 18–20, 2026, in Vancouver, BC, isa bold response to these challenges, and a celebration of the opportunities they represent. This in-person conference will convene an extraordinary network of global leaders in basic, translational, and clinical research, together with biopharmaceutical innovators, data scientists, and patient advocates. Over three days of interactive plenary sessions, expert panels, and networking forums, the program will spotlight innovative science and collaborative strategies that are transforming the landscape of rare cancer research and care.

Attendees will explore foundational themes, such as genetic and epigenetic drivers, advanced modeling platforms, novel immunotherapeutics, diagnostic reclassification strategies, and next-generation clinical trial designs, while also gaining insight into how discoveries in rare tumors often catalyze breakthroughs across more common cancers. Throughout, the program will underscore the translational value of rare cancer biology, the urgency of diagnostic equity, and the power of cross-sector partnerships.

Together, we will build new bridges, from bench to bedside, from rare to universal. Join us in Vancouver for a meeting that dares to imagine a world where no cancer is too rare to matter.

Please Note: All presentations at this event represent the opinions of the presenter and do not represent the position or the opinion of the AACR or its members.