June 12, 2026 | Austin, Minn. — Cancer is at its most deadly when it metastasizes, or spreads, throughout the body. To find new ways to combat the problem of metastasis, cancer researchers from around the world gathered at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota for the 7th Annual Global Cancer Consortium Conference
“When scientists get together, they always come up with new ideas or ways of thinking about things. It can be absolutely transformative as they learn from and with each other,” Executive Director of The Hormel Institute Robert Clarke, PhD, DSc said. “It’s particularly cool when they come to Austin, because they see what we have here and meet the people who work here. They go away with a very different view of what it’s like to do research in our rural setting.”
That was certainly the case during day one of the conference because it’s the first time the Global Cancer Consortium has held its signature event in the United States. The theme, “Advances in Metastasis Research,” set the stage for thought-provoking sessions led by world-renowned experts in metastasis biology, early cancer detection, and translational medicine that connects in-lab discoveries to in-clinic treatments.
It wasn’t only cancer researchers sharing their perspectives.
“An important part of this conference is that there are patient advocates at each session,” Danny R. Welch, PhD, keynote speaker, conference planning committee member, and founder of the Department of Cancer Biology at the University of Kansas Cancer Center, said. “All the elegant science in the world means nothing if we forget our ‘why.’ Our ‘why’ is to help the patients to live longer and with a better quality of life.”
Individuals who have navigated cancer diagnoses and treatments themselves voiced their lived experiences and desires for the future of cancer research with scientists, keeping the real-world impact of their work on cancer outcomes and patient quality of life top of mind during the conference.
“After my talk today, a researcher came up to me and said, ‘This is why this is so important that we hear from individuals like you,’” Beth Lortz, patient advocate speaker and cancer thriver, said. “Their work, I’m sure, tends to be monotonous — but it’s not monotonous to me. The research here at The Hormel Institute and globally is important. Without their research, I wouldn’t have had the treatment that I’ve had thus far.”
These are just some of the meaningful exchanges, observations, and connections that have taken place during the conference, and it doesn’t stop there. The conference continues Saturday, June 13 with sessions focused on translational advances and technologies driving discovery and early detection, as well as poster sessions, flash talks, and speaker discussion panels.
Learn more: hi.umn.edu/global-cancer-consortium-2026
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