Epithelioid Sarcoma Digital Expert Panel 2026

Join leading international researchers and clinicians for a translational conference focused on current scientific findings and novel therapeutic approaches in epithelioid sarcoma, fostering international exchange and collaboration.

February 2-3, 2026
2:00 PM - 07:00 PM CET
International Researchers & Clinicians

About EPS Digital Expert Panel 2026

Connecting oncologists, researchers, and healthcare professionals

Why Attend the Epithelioid Sarcoma Expert Panel?

This translational conference builds on the success of previous years, bringing together international researchers and clinicians for two intensive days of scientific discussion. The event focuses on current scientific findings and novel therapeutic approaches in epithelioid sarcoma, fostering international exchange and collaboration among experts from leading cancer research institutions worldwide.

Research

Explore latest research findings and clinical trial results

Expertise

Learn from leading oncologists and sarcoma specialists

Patient Care

Improve patient outcomes through evidence-based practices

4

Keynote Speakers

2

Moderators

2

Days

4

Hours/Day

Conference Leadership

Meet the moderators and keynote speakers

Dr. Carine Ngo

Dr. Carine Ngo

Keynote Speaker - Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, France

Leading expert in sarcoma research and translational medicine, focusing on novel therapeutic approaches.

Dr. Alex Kentsis

Dr. Alex Kentsis

Keynote Speaker - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA

Pioneer in molecular oncology and precision medicine, specializing in rare cancer research and treatment.

Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Grünewald

Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Grünewald

German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) & Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany

Leading researcher in pediatric oncology and sarcoma biology, specializing in molecular mechanisms of cancer development.

Dr. Sandro Pasquali

Dr. Sandro Pasquali

Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy

Expert in surgical oncology and sarcoma treatment, with extensive experience in complex tumor resections.

Prof. Vincenzo Cerullo

Prof. Vincenzo Cerullo

University of Helsinki, Finland

Professor of Biological Drug Development, Head of Drug Research Program, and expert in immunovirotherapy with extensive knowledge in developing new platforms in the fight against cancer.

Dr. Anna Malgorzata Czarnecka

Dr. Anna Malgorzata Czarnecka

European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)

Distinguished oncologist and researcher specializing in medical oncology, with extensive experience in cancer research and clinical practice.

Prof. Alberto Danielli

Prof. Alberto Danielli

University of Bologna, Italy

Associate Professor of Molecular Biology with expertise in gene regulation, molecular cell biology of infectious pathogens, and phage biotechnological research for therapeutic applications.

Dr. Charles W. M. Roberts

Dr. Charles W. M. Roberts

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA

Executive Vice President and Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center, focusing on SWI/SNF complex mutations and chromatin remodeling in cancer, with extensive experience in pediatric oncology.

Dr. Charles Keller

Dr. Charles Keller

Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Hillsboro, USA

Scientific Director and Executive Director, specializing in developing more effective, less toxic therapies for childhood cancers, with particular focus on advanced disease and sarcoma biology.

Dr. Alessandra Merlini

Dr. Alessandra Merlini

University of Turin, Italy

Post-Doctorate Researcher in the Department of Oncology at the School of Medicine, University of Turin, specializing in medical oncology research and clinical practice.

Dr. Ryo Miyamoto

Dr. Ryo Miyamoto

Post-doctoral Fellow - Kirsch Lab, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Canada

Post-doctoral Fellow using mouse models and functional genomics to investigate mechanisms and therapeutic targets of epithelioid sarcoma.

Prof. Dario Sangiolo

Prof. Dario Sangiolo

Associate Professor - University of Torino School of Medicine, Italy

Assistant Professor involved in Experimental Cell Therapy at the Istituto di Candiolo - FPO - IRCCS, specializing in innovative cell therapy approaches for cancer treatment.

Dr. Vittoria Matafora

Dr. Vittoria Matafora

Proteomics Unit - IFOM, Italy

Member of the Proteomics Unit at IFOM, contributing to cancer research through advanced proteomic analyses and mass spectrometry technologies.

Dr. Alessandra Morelli

Dr. Alessandra Morelli

Proteomics Unit - IFOM, Italy

Member of the Proteomics Unit at IFOM, specializing in proteomic technologies and mass spectrometry to support cancer research and biomarker discovery.

Dr. Sarah Cohen-Gogo

Dr. Sarah Cohen-Gogo

Hospital for Sick Children, Canada

Pediatric oncologist and researcher specializing in sarcoma treatment and clinical trials, with extensive experience in pediatric oncology and cancer research.

Patrizia Porazzi, PhD

Patrizia Porazzi, PhD

Center for Cellular Immunotherapies
University of Pennsylvania

Associate Director and Senior Research Investigator specializing in cellular immunotherapies and hematology-oncology research at the University of Pennsylvania.

Marlena Mucha

Marlena Mucha

Team Pascal Johann, Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg, Germany

Researcher specializing in epithelioid sarcomas and extracranial rhabdoid tumours, focusing on comparative analysis at the epigenetic and spatial level.

Andrea Bolzicco

Andrea Bolzicco

Orchestra per la vita APS, Italy & MC4 in corsa per la vita! ETS

Senior advisor of the research branch for both the associations OPV and MC4.

Dr. Michael Wortmann

Dr. Michael Wortmann

SMARCB1 e.V., Germany

President of SMARCB1 e.V., dedicated to cancer research for young people and advancing sarcoma research through collaborative initiatives.

Conference Schedule

Two days of intensive scientific discussion and collaboration

14:00 CET
(08:00 ET)

Welcome and Introduction

Conference introduction and objectives

Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Grünewald, Head of Dept. Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research, German Cancer Research Center DKFZ / Hopp-Kindertumorzentrum (KiTZ) Heidelberg, Germany; Dr. Sandro Pasquali, Surgeon and Clinician Scientist at the Sarcoma Service at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy; Dr. Michael Wortmann, SMARCB1 e.V., Germany; Andrea Bolzicco, Orchestra per la Vita APS, Italy and MC4 in corsa per la vita! ETS, Italy
14:20 CET
(08:20 ET)

Presentations & Discussion

Moderator: Sandro Pasquali

Multi-omics profiling identified two epithelioid sarcoma molecular subtypes with distinct signaling and immune characteristics
Dr. Carine Ngo, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France

New perspectives on amino acid transporters in Epithelioid Sarcoma
Dr. Alessandra Morelli, IFOM - Istituto FIRC di Oncologia Molecolare, Milan, Italy

Presentations (10-15 min.) & Discussion (10-15 min.)
15:30 CET
(09:30 ET)

Break and Online Networking

Networking opportunity for all participants

15:35 CET
(09:35 ET)

Presentations & Discussion

Moderator: Thomas Grünewald

Leveraging tumor-penetrating photo-sono-oncolytic phage nanobots for targeted Epithelioid Sarcoma precision therapy
Prof. Alberto Danielli, FaBiT - Department of Pharmacy & Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy

Precision cancer vaccines for Epithelioid sarcoma
Prof. Vincenzo Cerullo, ImmunoViroTherapy Lab., University of Helsinki, Finland

Presentations (10-15 min.) & Discussion (10-15 min.)
16:30 CET
(10:30 ET)

Break and Online Networking

Networking opportunity for all participants

16:40 CET
(10:40 ET)

Presentations & Discussion

Moderator: Sandro Pasquali

CRISPR screen identifies oncogenic pathways and actionable therapeutic targets in epithelioid sarcoma
Dr. Ryo Miyamoto, Princess Margaret Cancer Center – Dr. David Kirsch Lab., Toronto, Canada

SMARCB1-deficient cancers: mechanisms and vulnerabilities
Dr. Charles W. M. Roberts, Director, Comprehensive Cancer Center and Executive Vice President, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, USA

Presentations (10-15 min.) & Discussion (10-15 min.)
17:40 CET
(11:40 ET)

Break and Online Networking

Networking opportunity for all participants

17:45 CET
(11:45 ET)

Presentations

Combining Epigenetic Therapy and T Cell Engineering: Toward More Immunogenic Cancers
Patrizia Porazzi, PhD, Associate Director and Senior Research Investigator, Ruella Laboratory, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, USA

Epithelioid Sarcomas and extracranial Rhabdoid tumours - a comparative analysis at the epigenetic and spatial level
Marlena Mucha, Team Pascal Johann, Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg, Germany

18:45 CET
(12:45 ET)

End of Event Day one

Conclusion of first day's program

14:00 CET
(08:00 ET)

Welcome and Introduction

Day two introduction and objectives

Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Grünewald, Head of Dept. Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research, German Cancer Research Center DKFZ / Hopp-Kindertumorzentrum (KiTZ) Heidelberg, Germany; Dr. Sandro Pasquali, Surgeon and Clinician Scientist at the Sarcoma Service at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy; Dr. Michael Wortmann, SMARCB1 e.V., Germany; Andrea Bolzicco, Orchestra per la Vita APS, Italy and MC4 in corsa per la vita! ETS, Italy
14:20 CET
(08:20 ET)

Presentations & Discussion

Moderator: Sandro Pasquali

Developmental Oncology: On the origins of epithelioid sarcomas and considerations for their rational epigenetic therapies
Dr. Alex Kentsis, Kentsis Research Group, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA

Exploring the immune contexture and metabolic features in epithelioid sarcoma: rationale and preliminary data
Dr. Alessandra Merlini, University of Torino, Italy

Presentations (10-15 min.) & Discussion (10-15 min.)
15:30 CET
(09:30 ET)

Break and Online Networking

Networking opportunity for all participants

15:35 CET
(09:35 ET)

Presentations & Discussion

Moderator: Sandro Pasquali

Preclinical project focused on a cellular immunotherapy approach using anti-B7-H3 CAR-CIK lymphocytes against epithelioid sarcoma
Prof. Dario Sangiolo, University of Torino, Italy

Modeling SMARCB1 deficient cancers in mice
Dr. Charles Keller, Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Hillsboro, USA

Presentations (10-15 min.) & Discussion (10-15 min.)
16:30 CET
(10:30 ET)

Break and Online Networking

Networking opportunity for all participants

16:40 CET
(10:40 ET)

Presentations & Discussion

Moderator: Thomas Grünewald

Exploring Functional Proteomic Signatures in Epithelioid Sarcoma
Dr. Vittoria Matafora, IFOM - Istituto FIRC di Oncologia Molecolare, Milan, Italy

TBD
Dr. Anna Czarnecka, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland

Presentations (10-15 min.) & Discussion (10-15 min.)
17:40 CET
(11:40 ET)

Break and Online Networking

Networking opportunity for all participants

17:45 CET
(11:45 ET)

Presentations & Discussion

Moderator: Thomas Grünewald

Mucin 16-Directed Therapy in Pediatric Sarcomas: Case Evidence of Ubamatamab Efficacy in Epithelioid Sarcoma
Dr. Sarah Cohen-Gogo, The Hospital for Sick Children-University of Toronto, Canada

Presentations (10-15 min.) & Discussion (10-15 min.)
Conclusion

Conclusion Remarks

Summary of findings and next steps

Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Grünewald & Dr. Sandro Pasquali
18:45 CET
(12:45 ET)

End of Event Day two

Conclusion of conference program

Register for EPS Digital Expert Panel 2026

Free registration for the premier medical conference for epithelioid sarcoma

Day one - February 2, 2026

FREE

No cost to attend

  • Full day conference access
  • Scientific discussions
  • Networking opportunities
  • International collaboration
Register for Day one

Day two - February 3, 2026

FREE

No cost to attend

  • Full day conference access
  • Scientific discussions
  • Networking opportunities
  • International collaboration
Register for Day two

Contact Information

Get in touch with us for more information

Contact Person

Lukas Wortmann
Lukas.Wortmann@smarcb1.de

Organization

SMARCB1 e.V.
Froschpfad 6
51427 Bergisch Gladbach
Germany