Network presents at international lung cancer screening conference in Verona

In late June 2023, the Lung Cancer Policy Network presented at the 44th International Conference on Screening for Lung Cancer and 12th Conference on Research for Early Lung Cancer Treatment in Verona, Italy hosted by I-ELCAP and IELCART.

Delegates at the conference included clinicians, patient advocates and national lung cancer leaders including many of our Network members. Our presentation showcased the newly launched second edition of the interactive map of lung cancer screening, along with an overview of the Network’s other recent outputs including the framework to support the implementation of LDCT lung cancer screening.

Eleanor Wheeler from The Health Policy Partnership, which acts as Secretariat to the Network, highlighted the significant new updates to the interactive map. These include the ability to compare and print records, four new language translations, and the addition of 70 new examples of lung cancer screening studies and programmes.

Throughout the conference, we were delighted to hear from many Network members, including event organisers Professor Claudia Henschke and Professor David Yankelevitz speaking about the opportunity of utilising AI and chest X-rays to increase lung cancer detection and announcing the development of I-ELCAP’s own open-source AI software.

Elsewhere, Network members shared their expertise on a variety of topics:

• Professor Stephen Lam provided an update on lung cancer screening in Canada.
• Professor Ella Kazerooni gave an overview of developments in lung cancer screening in the US.
• Professor Mattijs Oudkerk outlined the opportunity for aligning the detection of lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and coronary heart disease.
• Dr Sebastian Schmidt outlined the process of policy change at the European level.
• Professor Giulia Veronesi highlighted the advancement of robotic surgery.
• Professor Witold Rzyman joined an expert panel to discuss optimal treatment for complex cases of lung cancer.

The focus for this year’s conference was ‘implementation and integration of the latest technology’. The Network’s resources, such as the interactive map and the implementation framework, provide key examples and guidance on how to appropriately plan effective, equitable and high-quality lung cancer screening programmes that are adaptable to technological advances.

The conference offered a wonderful opportunity to connect with many colleagues and it was a pleasure to learn from one another, strengthen relationships and expand the Network. We look forward to continuing discussion at upcoming lung cancer events, including the World Lung Cancer Conference in Singapore (9–12 September).

In the meantime, you can explore the Network’s interactive map,  implementation framework and recently launched policy briefs. To keep up to date with Network activities, please sign up for our newsletter.