Targeting the DNA Damage Response for Cancer Therapeutics Conference

#DDRCT25

Prices from:

€1,038.00
Date

29 Jun - 02 Jul 2025

Location

Lisbon, Portugal

  • Simon Boulton

    Francis Crick Institute / Artios Pharma

  • Mark O'Connor

    AstraZeneca

Early Bird - Expired  •  Talk Submission - Expired  •  Poster Submission - 01 May 2025  •  Registration & Payment Deadline - 01 May 2025

Synopsis

An underlying hallmark of cancers is genomic instability and a greater propensity to accumulate DNA damage. Historical cancer therapy by radiotherapy and DNA-damaging chemotherapy is based on this principle but is accompanied by significant collateral damage to normal tissue and unwanted side effects. Targeted therapy based on inhibiting the DNA damage response (DDR) in cancers offers the potential for a greater therapeutic window by tailoring treatment to patients with tumors lacking specific DDR functions.

The DNA damage response (DDR) in cancer cells differs in at least four aspects compared to those of normal cells, namely the loss of one or more DDR pathway or capability leading to greater sensitivity to DNA damaging agents, increased levels of replication stress, increased potential for immune priming and the potential for a DDR dependency that could lead to sensitivity to a single DDR agent. An example of the latter is the synthetic lethality and clinical activity of PARP inhibitors in tumours with homologous recombination repair deficiencies such as BRCA mutant cancers.

This meeting will focus on the current approaches of targeting DDR to generate new cancer therapies from building on the clinical success of PARP inhibitors, identifying ways to exploit replication stress in cancers, enhance the potential for immunotherapy combinations as well as enhance the activity of targeted DNA damaging agents such as antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) and radioconjugates.

The meeting aims to bring together academics, translational biologists and clinicians who are working towards developing therapies based on targeting DDR in cancer and represents an excellent opportunity for networking and gaining broader insights into this exciting area of cancer biology and therapeutics through a number of panel discussions as well as presentations.

Key Sessions

  • Current status of DDR therapeutics
  • Building on the success of PARP inhibitors
  • DDR therapeutic approaches based on DDR synthetic lethality
  • Targeting replication stress in cancers
  • Combining DDR inhibition with DNA damaging agents (chemotherapy/ADCs and potentiation of radiation/radio-conjugates)
  • Combining DDR inhibitors with immunotherapy
  • Enabling capabilities for DDR therapeutics
  • The next generation of DDR new targets

Panel Discussions

  • Challenges of therapeutic preclinical and clinical development
  • Patient stratification and optimisation of drug safety /therapeutic index
  • Career options in DDR drug discovery and development

Confirmed Speakers

Thanos Halazonetis (University of Geneva)
LANDSCAPE OF THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES TO TARGET DNA REPLICATION STRESS IN CANCER
Tim Yap (MD Anderson Cancer Center)
TARGETING THE DDR IN THE CLINIC: STATE OF THE ART
Steve Jackson (Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute)
CELLULAR RESPONSES TO DNA DAMAGE: MECHANISTIC INSIGHTS AND MEDICAL IMPLICATIONS
Katie Chapman (Tessellate BIO)
SYNTHETIC LETHALITY OF FANCM INHIBITION IN ALT CANCERS
George Au-Yeung (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre)
TARGETING DNA DAMAGE RESPONSE IN CYCLIN E1 OVER-EXPRESSED HIGH GRADE SEROUS OVARIAN CANCER
Eric Brown (University of Pennsylvania)
IMPACT OF DNA REPEAT SILENCING ON ATR INHIBITOR-DRIVEN GENOMIC BREAKS AND DRUG RESPONSES
Josep Forment (AstraZeneca)
TARGETING THE DNA DAMAGE RESPONSE IN CANCER TREATMENT
Helen Robinson (Artios Pharma)
Triparna Sen (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)
INTRATUMORAL STING PATHWAY ACTIVATION ENHANCES ANTI-TUMOR IMMUNE RESPONSES AND THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF ATR INHIBITION
Charlie Gourley (Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre)
HIGH GRADE SEROUS OVARIAN CANCER AS A REPLICATION STRESS EXEMPLAR: WHAT DOES RECENT DATA TELL US ABOUT EXTENDING POTENTIAL VULNERABILITIES?
Violeta Serra (Vall d'Hebron Institute Oncology)
HARNESSING STING SIGNALING TO OVERCOME PARP INHIBITOR RESISTANCE IN HOMOLOGOUS RECOMBINATION DEFICIENT BREAST CANCER
Alan Lau (AstraZeneca)
ATR INHIBITION POTENTIATES CANCER CHECKPOINT IMMUNOTHERAPY BY REGULATING THE TUMOUR ENVIRONMENT 
Magda Kordon-Kiszala (intoDNA)
Ani Michaud (Promega)
Chris Lord (Institute of Cancer Research)
UNDERSTANDING AND TARGETING PARP INHIBITOR RESISTANCE IN CANCER
Andre Nussenzweig (National Cancer Institute)
CHEMOTHERAPY TARGETS DEDUCED BY GENOMIC METHODS
Gabriele Picco (Wellcome Sanger Institute)
Luke Piggott (Debiopharm International SA)
Yves Pommier (National Cancer Institute)
RATIONALE FOR COMBINING DDR INHIBITORS WITH TUMOR-TARGETED ANTICANCER DRUGS
Simon Powell (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)
Ian Smith (Artios Pharma)
Wendy Fantl (Novartis)
COORDINATED PROTEIN MODULES DEFINE DNA DAMAGE RESPONSES TO CARBOPLATIN AT SINGLE CELL RESOLUTION IN HUMAN OVARIAN TUMOR CELLS
Steve West (Francis Crick Institute)
REPLICATION FORK INSTABILITY AT CENTROMERES FOLLOWING PARP INHIBITOR TREATMENT
Michael White (IDEAYA Biosciences)
THERAPEUTIC EXPLOITATION OF TUMOR-SELECTIVE PARYLATION BY PARG INHIBITION
Jacob Bush (GSK)
SYSTEMS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY FOR EXPANSION OF THE DRUGGABLE PROTEOME AND VALIDATION OF THERAPEUTIC TARGETS
Kasper Fugger (UCL Cancer Institute)
DETOXIFICATION OF MODIFIED NUCLEOTIDES BY MTH1 SAFEGUARDS GENOME STABILITY
Ben Van Houten (UPMC Hillman Cancer Center)
SINGLE MOLECULE ANALYSIS OF PARP1 DNA NICK BINDING KINETICS: PROBING ALLOSTERY THROUGH INHIBITORS

Target Audience

DDR researchers/clinicians in academia, biotech, pharma and healthcare.  

Educational Need

Following the success of PARP inhibitors for the treatment of a range of Homologous Recombination Repair (HRR) deficient cancer types, considerable effort has been made to identify new chemo/radio combination opportunities and novel targetable vulnerabilities in cancers harbouring DDR deficiencies and heightened replication stress. Several of these targets and their combinations are currently in clinical trials with the promise to expand the repertoire of drugs that can be utilised for cancer therapy. This meeting will provide a unique forum for discovery scientists from academia, biotech and pharma and medical oncologists and radiologists to present and discuss their latest discoveries and clinical trial data to the community. With meet and greet sessions and panel discussions with key opinion leaders, we anticipate that this meeting will provide an ideal educational opportunity for early career scientists and clinicians who are new to or wish to enter this space. A meeting of this kind is currently lacking and would provide an ideal platform for idea exchange, networking and the establishment of new collaborations.

Confirmed Speakers

Chairs
Simon Boulton

Simon Boulton

Francis Crick Institute / Artios Pharma

Mark O'Connor

Mark O'Connor

AstraZeneca

Plenary Speakers
Thanos Hazelonetis

Thanos Hazelonetis

University of Geneva

Steve Jackson

Steve Jackson

Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute

Tim Yap

Tim Yap

MD Anderson Cancer Center

Invited Speakers
George Au-Yeung

George Au-Yeung

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Eric Brown

Eric Brown

University of Pennsylvania

Katie Chapman

Katie Chapman

Tessellate Bio

Wendy Fantl

Wendy Fantl

Novartis

Josep Forment

Josep Forment

AstraZeneca

Charlie Gourley

Charlie Gourley

Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre

Ben Van Houten

Ben Van Houten

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

Alan Lau

Alan Lau

AstraZeneca

Chris Lord

Chris Lord

Institute of Cancer Research

Ani Michaud

Ani Michaud

Promega

Andre Nussenzweig

Andre Nussenzweig

National Cancer Institute

Gabriele Picco

Gabriele Picco

Wellcome Sanger Institute

Luke Piggott

Luke Piggott

Debiopharm International SA

Yves Pommier

Yves Pommier

National Cancer Institute

Simon Powell

Simon Powell

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Helen Robinson

Helen Robinson

Artios Pharma

Triparna Sen

Triparna Sen

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Violeta Serra

Violeta Serra

Vall d'Hebron Institute Oncology

Ian Smith

Ian Smith

Artios Pharma

Steve West

Steve West

Francis Crick Institute

Michael White

Michael White

IDEAYA Biosciences

Programme

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Registration Prices

Ticket Type Early Bird Full Price

Single

Choose this option if you will be attending the conference alone and wish to have your own private room.

€2206 €2302

Shared

Choose this option if you wish to share with a colleague who is also attending the conference, or if you wish to be paired with another attendee of the same sex, or if you have an accompanying adult.

€2009 €2105

Student

Choose this option if you are a student. Please note all students will be paired with another attendee of the same sex if a room sharer is not specified. If you wish to have your own room, please register under the 'Single' ticket option.

€1038 €1038

Additional Prices

Addition Type Adult Child

Additional Person

This is the cost for an additional adult or child to join you in the same room, for the conference period. Additional guests are not permitted access to the conference. If you wish to extend your stay, please see our 'Extra Night' prices.

€825 €455

Extra Night

Prices for extra nights apply per person, per night.

€190 €61

All registration fees include 3 nights accommodation and meals during the conference period. Exact inclusions are detailed below.

What's Included in our Registration Fees?

Our registration fees are inclusive of the following at the Dolce CampoReal hotel during the conference period only:

- Conference registration.
- 3 nights’ fixed accommodation (29, 30 June and 01 July 2025) on a single or shared basis.
- Buffet breakfast.
- Buffet lunch with soft drinks, beer and wine.
- Buffet dinner with soft drinks, beer and wine.
- Gala Dinner with soft drinks, beer and wine.
- Daily coffee breaks.
- Complimentary WIFI throughout the hotel.

What's Included in our Accompanying Adult Fees?

Our accompanying adult fees are inclusive of the following at the Dolce CampoReal hotel during the conference period only:

- 3 nights’ fixed accommodation (29, 30 June and 01 July 2025) on a shared basis with a conference participant.
- Buffet breakfast.
- Buffet lunch with soft drinks, beer and wine.
- Buffet dinner with soft drinks, beer and wine.
- Gala Dinner with soft drinks, beer and wine.
- Complimentary WIFI throughout the hotel.

Important Note: Accompanying guests are not permitted access to the conference. Meals are only available during the times listed in the conference programme and accompanying guests must dine with the group.

What's Included in our Accompanying Child Fees?

Our accompanying child fees are inclusive of the following at the Dolce CampoReal hotel during the conference period only:

- 3 nights’ fixed accommodation (29, 30 June and 01 July 2025) on a shared basis with the parent/s.
- Buffet breakfast.
- Buffet lunch with soft drinks.
- Buffet dinner with soft drinks.
- Gala Dinner with soft drinks.
- Complimentary WIFI throughout the hotel.
- A crib (0-3 years old) or roll out bed (4-17 years old).

Important Note: Accompanying child fees are applicable for children aged 12-17 years. Children aged 0-3 years stay free of charge and children aged 4-11 years will be charged a rate of €189.00, inclusive of the above package. If your child is aged 0-11 years, please contact us so we can adjust the invoices relating to your child/children. Please kindly ensure your child/children are supervised at all times during conference and related events. Childcare services may be available, please contact Laura for further information.

What's Included in our Extra Night Fees?

Our extra night fees are inclusive of the following at the Dolce CampoReal hotel during the conference period only:

- 1 night’s accommodation for 1 person.
- Buffet breakfast.
- Complimentary WIFI throughout the hotel.

Important Note: Extra night child fees are applicable for children aged 12-17 years. Children aged 0-11 years stay free of charge, inclusive of the above package. If your child is aged 0-11 years, please contact us so we can adjust the invoices relating to your child/children.

Prices and hotel availability are subject to change without notice.

Grants

We have a limited number of €1,000 registration grants, to help defray the meeting costs for early career researchers. If you are a student, postdoc or junior faculty (within 3 years of your position), you are eligible. To apply please email the conference manager, Emily Meen.

Your application should include your name, organisation, career level, an abstract for talk or poster consideration, and a short summary answering the below questions (no more than 50-100 words per question).
 
•    What cutting edge aspects of your work will you share at the meeting?
•    Why do you require financial support to attend?
•    How will attending #DDRCT25 benefit your science and career?
 
Deadline for applications is now closed.

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Venue & Location

Dolce CampoReal Lisboa

Located in Torres Vedras, just a 30-minute drive from Lisbon, Dolce CampoReal Lisboa offers unique tranquillity, as a result of its idyllic environment. The hotel offers stunning views over the golf course, vineyards and the extraordinary landscape of Socorro and Archeira Mountains.

The hotel has three restaurants to provide a variety of gastronomic choices, and two bars including one beside the outdoor pool.

Hotel Facilities

  • Complimentary Wi-Fi in guest rooms and throughout hotel and conference areas
  • Indoor heated swimming pool
  • Outdoor swimming pool with Jacuzzi
  • Spa
  • Gym
  • Golf course
  • 2 Tennis courts

General Information

Venue Rating

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Address

R. do Campo (Campo Real) 2565-770 Portugal

Nearest Airport

Lisbon Portela Airport

Location

The Dolce CampoReal Lisboa is nestled between the vineyards and the extraordinary landscape of the Socorro and Archeira Mountains.

Lisbon is only a short 30-minute drive away. The Portuguese capital is constantly recognised as one of the greatest cities in the world, a claim confirmed by the “Lonely Planet Guides", who named Lisbon one of the world’s top 10 cities. Lisbon in one of the world’s oldest cities, predating the likes of London, Rome and Paris by hundreds of years. Hillsides covered in tumbledown houses and a mix of baroque and neoclassical buildings, including cathedrals and palaces, make up Lisbon’s skyline. The city is a combination of old and new, with beautiful modern buildings constructed near renovated historical landmarks and ruins.

Transportation

Dolce CampoReal Lisboa, Torres Vedras is approximately a 30-minute journey from Lisbon Portela Airport.

Taxis

Taxis are available outside the airport, but we would strongly recommend you pre-book your airport transfer with one of the many private transfer companies that are available. The Dolce CampoReal Lisboa is located outside of the city zone and a pre-booked transfer will be a cheaper option than a taxi taken from the airport taxi rank.

Uber also operate in and around Lisbon and there are other Portuguese taxi-hailing apps such as Bolt, MyTaxi, TaxisLisboa and Coop Taxis, all offering reasonable rates.

Pre-booked Airport Transfers

Should you wish to pre-book a taxi transfer from the airport, please find below details of a transportation provider who is aware of our groups. Please contact the supplier directly via email with any queries or booking requests and use ‘Fusion Conferences’ as a reference.

Prices

Up to 3 passengers - €75.00 EUR per transfer
4 - 7 passengers - €100.00 EUR per transfer

*please note, payment is required in advance to confirm your booking. Accepted payment methods include bank/wire transfer or credit card (via payment link). 

Includes

  • All taxes, fuel and tolls,
  • Meet and greet inside the airport, 
  • Transportation in Audi or Mercedes,
  • Courtesy water on board,
  • One large or two small size bags per person.

Contact Information

Contact Name: Carlos Antunes
Contact Email: info@westshuttle.com 

*please note all enquiries must be made with at least 48hrs notice. Thank you.

Transportation is the sole responsibility of the delegate. Please ensure you conduct your own research and double check your booking details ahead of your arrival. Fusion Conferences are unable to assist with or confirm transportation bookings due to insurance limitations. Thank you for your understanding.

Local Activities

There are various on-site activities available. These include:

- Indoor and 2 outdoor swimming pools
- Fitness centre, available 24h
- Tennis courts
- Donald Steel designed Golf Course – 18 holes Par 72 
- Mandalay Wellness & Spa with 7 treatment rooms
- Kids Club – The hotel will provide details of daily activities for children
- Center “Clube Aventura” for outdoor activities such as Giant Balls, Aquaball, Stand Up Paddle, Archery, Slackline, Water Slide

**Please note, there may be a charge to participate in some of the above activities.

Should you have time to venture off-site, the Oeste Region and Torres Vedras have a distinctive cultural heritage, rich history, 20 km of coastal area, and a commitment to environmental awareness, accessibility and biodiversity. Below are a few suggestions:

- Monastery of Alcobaça, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Historical route of the lines of Torres Vedras
- Day trip to Óbidos
- Royal Palace and Convent of Mafra
- Tapada Nacional de Mafra
- Mountain biking along the Santa Cruz to Torres Vedras Loop
- Birdwatching at the Tajus Estuary Nature Reserve
- Jeep tours in and around Torres Verdras

Group Activities

This information will be available in due course, come back soon!

Submit for a Talk

We have several oral opportunities available at this meeting. To be considered for a talk, please register for the conference and upload your abstract when prompted to do so. You will be able to monitor the status of your abstract through your Fusion account and you will also receive an email if you are successful or unsuccessful.

If you are unable to register for the conference for any reason, but still wish to submit an abstract for consideration, please email the Conference Manager directly.

Please use the abstract template provided (see below) and ensure your abstract is no longer than one page in length.

If you are accepted for a talk, we recommend you check our website regularly as the conference approaches. Regular programme updates will be released under the ‘Programme’ tab on the conference website.

Your Presentation

On the day of your presentation please make yourself known to our AV technician who will be present in the conference room. We advise running through your presentation at least 30minutes prior to your session commencing to ensure your slides and any videos or animations appear as expected. We prefer our speakers to run their presentation from the master PC or Mac, however, if you prefer to use your own laptop then please notify us prior to the session. A HDMI or VGA cable is usually available on the podium.

Our AV technician will apply your microphone and provide a combined slide advancer and laser pointer.

We ask all speakers to adhere to their time slots and respect their fellow presenters. A visual traffic light aide will be available to warn presenters as their time decreases.

Please make sure your presentation adheres to the following guidelines.

Aspect Ratio: On Screen Show (16:9)
File Type: Please save your presentation in PPT, PPTS or Keynote format.

Submit for a Poster

We have several poster opportunities available at this meeting. To be considered for a poster presentation, please register for the conference and upload your abstract when prompted to do so. You will be able to monitor the status of your abstract through your Fusion account and you will also receive an email if you are successful or unsuccessful.

Please use the abstract template provided (see below) and ensure your abstract is no longer than one page in length.

Our poster boards can accommodate a maximum poster size of A0 (1189H x 841W mm), portrait in orientation. Posters exceeding this size may not fit on the poster boards provided and therefore we may be unable to display your poster, so please kindly keep to these measurements.

Displaying & Presenting Your Poster

Please bring your poster to registration and hand this to a member of the Fusion team. They will advise of your poster number and display your poster for you. 

Your poster will remain on display for the duration of the conference, allowing presenters to take advantage of the refreshment breaks and free time for valuable networking opportunities, in addition to the official poster session.

Please check the programme and note the date and time of the poster session(s). Your poster will be judged during the poster session and prizes will be awarded at the Gala Dinner.

Posters will be taken down by the Fusion team and will be ready for collection at the Fusion desk on the final day of the conference.

Download Abstract Template

LinkedIn forum

Bringing together the global community of researchers and scientists interested in the study of DNA. Relevant specialties are wide-ranging, reflecting the importance of DNA Research in many aspects of health and disease, including; DNA Repair, DNA Replication, DNA Damage, Cancer, Chromosomal Instability, RNA and Nucleic Acids.

The group is open to all and is intended as a networking forum for past, present and future participants of Fusion Conferences as well as those interested in the related topics.

Join our group

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Conference Manager

Emily Meen

Need some help? Chat to the Fusion team today

As a family run business, our dedication runs deep. We’re committed to each other and, even more so, to every attendee’s experience, delivering a level of care and passion that’s truly unmatched.

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+44 (0) 1638 555057