ANZGOG 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting – Round Up

It was the perfect opportunity to reflect on ANZGOG’s impact over the past quarter-century – expansive research initiatives, practice-changing clinical trials, and leadership role in gynaecological oncology – while also charting a course for the next 25 years.

The ASM continues to be a premier forum for learning, collaboration and innovation, bringing together 336 national and international experts, including medical and radiation oncologists, surgical specialists, pathologists, translational and quality-of-life researchers, study coordinators, nurses, ANZGOG’s community research volunteers and industry partners.

This year’s ASM was attended by ANZGOG’s Community Engagement Program volunteers who were able to exchange insights, experiences and perspectives of their lived experience with delegates. They attended a volunteer focused workshop and some of the main conference sessions.

WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH – Pre-conference workshops and the Pure Science Symposium

The meeting opened with a deep dive into research and education via pre-conference workshops and the always-popular Pure Science Symposium.

A highlight was the Trial Design in the Modern Era of Molecular Medicine Workshop, where experts shared insights on tailoring trials for molecular medicine, including new therapeutic targets in endometrial cancer and navigating pragmatic trials in diverse healthcare settings.

Speciality workshops for radiation oncologists, research nurses, study coordinators, and community volunteers offered practical, hands-on content with sessions ranging from managing pelvic radiation side effects to building nurse-led care models. A standout session was the Radiation Oncology Workshop where Prof Carien Creutzberg led insightful discussions on pelvic radiation, focusing on indications, treatment planning complexities and case-based challenges.

The Pure Science Symposium delivered sessions on ‘endometrial and ovarian cancer’, ‘cervical and rare gynaecological cancers’, and ‘ovarian cancer’, and provided a wonderful platform for clinicians and scientists to come together to discuss the latest findings and developments in gynaecological oncology.

Topics included cutting-edge translational research, including big data approaches for endometrial cancer prevention, the role of B cells in high-grade serous ovarian cancer, and plenty of molecular insights into ovarian and endometrial cancer. The day set a high bar for scientific exchange, with thought-provoking presentations and lively discussion shaping the tone for the rest of the conference.

The evening’s welcome reception provided a perfect opportunity for connecting with both long-term collaborators and friends, in addition to many new faces from diverse specialties! Thank you to all the poster presenters who covered a holistic range of research aspects including psychological, epigenetic and registry studies, drug repurposing, and emerging technologies associated with personalised treatment.

THURSDAY 6 MARCH – CONFERENCE DAY 1

Delegates began the conference day with the  popular Breakfast Symposium, moderated by Michael Friedlander AM and sponsored by Abbvie – ‘Beyond Platinum: Future Horizons in Ovarian Cancer Management’.

This year we were honoured to welcome distinguished International Keynote Speakers who delivered excellent presentations:

• A/Prof David Tan (National University Cancer Institute, Singapore) – Integrating ADCs in ovarian cancer management
• Prof Carien Creutzberg (Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands) – 25 years of international collaboration
• Dr. Lisa Bazzett-Matabele (University of Botswana, School of Medicine, Rwanda) – Perspectives on Gynaecologic Oncology in a Limited Resource Setting

The rest of the day featured the ‘Cervical & Vulva Cancer’ sessions, plus updates on ANZGOG and its research initiatives. Sessions featured patient perspectives and served as a powerful reminder of the real-world impact of ANZGOG’s work and the importance of patient-centred care.

The evening was a night to remember, with delegates attending the Conference Dinner at the National Gallery of Australia. The dinner was an opportunity to recognise the significant work and effort of the ASM Steering Committee, and also to congratulate the well-deserved winners of the 2025 ANZGOG Recognition Awards:

• Michael Friedlander AM Award – Dr. Gwo Yaw Ho
• Research Pioneer Award – Dr. George Au Yeng
• ANZGOG Chair’s Community Volunteer Award – Kathryn Cornthwaite and Jane Power
• Clinical Trial Achievement Award – Sue Brew
• Outstanding Clinical Trial Site Award – Department of Gynaecological Oncology at Westmead

Read more about the winners and their contributions.

We thank GSK for supporting this dinner.

FRIDAY 7 MARCH – CONFERENCE DAY 2

The last day of the conference began with another hugely popular breakfast session, this time supported by MSD and moderated by Yoland Antill, ‘The Role of Immunotherapy in Cervical Cancer’.

Following this was the ‘Quality of Life and Survivorship’ session, which included hearing from cancer survivors, the day included a session on uterine cancer, featuring another patient perspective, and ovarian cancer, where international keynote speaker David Tan spoke about racial disparities in the management of ovarian cancer.  The day included many more presentations on ANZGOG trials, concepts and abstract presentations.

ANZGOG Chair Professor Clare Scott AM concluded the meeting after announcing the abstract and poster award winners.

2025 ABSTRACT AWARDS

Congratulations to the following winners of the abstract poster and oral presentations from the conference. Delegates were scored on the significance and innovation of their research, clarity of their results, the relevance of their research in the gynaecological oncology space and the quality of their presentation. Well done to all!

• Pre-Clinical Oral Abstract Award – Suad Abrirahman
• Clinical Oral Abstract Award – Lesley Arrends
• Pre-clinical Poster Award – Zoe Phan
• Clinical Poster Award – Helena Rodi

This was Dr Michelle Harrison’s final year as Chair of the ASM Program Steering Committee. At the conference dinner, we took the opportunity to express our heartfelt appreciation for her outstanding leadership as conference convenor over the past four years. Her dedication, guidance, inclusion and enthusiasm have been instrumental in the continued success and growth of the conference year after year.

A huge thank you again goes out to Dr Michelle Harrison and A/Prof Emma Allanson, Chair and Deputy Chair respectively of the ASM 2025 Program Steering Committee and each of the Steering Committee members who gave their time and commitment to organise this dynamic conference program.

ASM Program Committee 2025