Day 1: June 18, 2026 
Laying the Foundation for the Establishment of a National Strategy for CGP Readiness

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Conference Day 1 Opening

The Conference will begin with opening remarks, an overview of the program, and a look at the key themes that will guide discussions over the next two days.

CCRAN is a national, patient-focused advocacy organization dedicated to improving the longevity and quality of life of people affected by cancer through support, education, and advocacy for equitable and timely access to effective therapies.

Now in its fourth year, the Pan-Tumour Biomarkers Conference convenes clinicians, pathologists, researchers, policy professionals, patients, and caregivers from Canada and internationally. Building on the momentum of previous conferences, this year's program is centered on the establishment of a national strategy for advancing comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) in metastatic cancer care.

Discussions will explore opportunities to better align patient, clinical, and policy perspectives in support of a more coordinated and sustainable approach to CGP implementation across Canada.

Conference Moderator:
Cassandra Macaulay, B.Sc., MHS, RTNM
Chief Research Officer, CCRAN

9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Welcome from CCRAN’s President & CEO

A welcome from CCRAN's President & CEO, followed by a conversation with a patient advocate reflecting on their cancer journey. Through the lens of lived experience, the discussion will explore the realities of navigating cancer and the insights patients can offer in advancing more responsive, equitable, and person-centred care.
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Filomena Servidio-Italiano, Hon B.Sc., B.Ed., M.A.
President & CEO, CCRAN

Patient Perspective:
Eric Hamilton
Stage IV Colorectal Cancer Patient; Patient Advocate

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Key Learnings from CCRAN's 2025 Biomarkers Conference

The objectives and outcomes of CCRAN’s 2025 Biomarkers Conference have been captured and summarized in a publication in Current Oncology.

The lead author of the publication will present the key findings, themes and calls to action as highlighted in the paper.

Presentation:
Dr. Stephanie Snow, MD, FRCPC
Medical Oncologist, QEII Health Sciences Centre; Professor, Dalhousie University

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Economic and Health System Readiness: Leveraging Evidence to Support Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Integration Across Canada

To build a sustainable and equitable precision oncology framework, stakeholders require both a compelling economic case and a clear understanding of health system readiness for routine genome-based testing.

This presentation draws on two complementary bodies of work, the comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) cost and benefit analysis findings and the State of Readiness Progress Report II, which examines the conditions required to support the routine use of genomic testing across Canada.

Together, these perspectives will highlight jurisdictional progress, persistent system gaps, and the role of real-world evidence to inform coordinated decision-making. The session will support a national conversation on how economic evidence and readiness assessment can guide CGP planning and alignment across provinces and sectors.

This presentation will focus on:
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Keynote Presentation:
Don Husereau, B.Sc., Pharm, M.Sc.
Adjunct Professor of Medicine, University of Ottawa

Eddy Nason, MPhil, B.Sc.
Director, Health, Signal49 Research

11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Health Break

Virtual Networking Room Hosted by Merck (11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.)

Moderated by:
Don Wood
Community & Patient Engagement Specialist, CCRAN
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Merck Leads:
Constance Planchet
Diagnostic Commercial Lead, Precision Medicine, Oncology, Merck

Jeff Guiler
Director, Strategic Collaborations & New Assets, Oncology, Merck

12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

CDA's Framework for Equitable Biomarker Testing Access: Key Recommendations and Future Directions

Canada's Drug Agency (CDA) report, Assessment Framework for Cancer Biomarkers: A Report From the Biomarker Advisory Panel, represents a critical step toward improving equitable access to biomarker testing across Canada. This presentation will introduce the purpose and structure of the Framework, highlighting its potential to support more consistent, evidence-informed decision-making and system-wide coordination. Attendees will hear from CDA about the Framework’s objectives, including short- and medium-term strategies to support implementation and collaboration across jurisdictions. The discussion will also highlight opportunities for shared infrastructure, coordinated data access, and policy levers to support adoption.

Session objectives:
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Presentation:
Dr. Laura Weeks, Ph.D.
Director, Health Technology Assessment, Canada's Drug Agency

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Stakeholder Reflections on CDA’s Assessment Framework for Cancer Biomarkers: A Cross-Sector Dialogue

Following the presentation of the Assessment Framework for Cancer Biomarkers, this multi-stakeholder panel will examine its practical implications and translational potential across jurisdictions. Panelists from clinical, regulatory, policy, and patient advocacy sectors will share diverse perspectives on the Framework’s relevance, anticipated challenges, and opportunities for cross-sector alignment. The discussion will explore how a truly national approach to biomarker testing can be equitably implemented and sustainably scaled, with a focus on shared infrastructure, governance mechanisms, and meaningful integration of patient voice.

Key objectives to be explored:
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Moderator:
Bill Dempster
President, 3Sixty Public Affairs

‍Patient Perspective:
Dr. Catalina Lopez-Correa, MD, Ph.D.
Breast Cancer Survivor and Advocate; Vice-Chair, Global Genomics Network for Education and Training (GGNET); Co-Chair, Patient Working Group, Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network

Panelists:
Cassandra Macaulay, B.Sc., MHS, RTNM
Chief Research Officer, CCRAN

Dr. Laura Weeks, Ph.D.
Director, Health Technology Assessment, Canada's Drug Agency

Dr. Sharlene Gill, MD, MPH, MBA, FASCO
Professor of Medicine, UBC; Medical Oncologist, BC Cancer - Vancouver; Medical & Scientific Advisory Board Co-Chair, Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (CCRAN)

Laura Greer
Patient Expert; Executive Vice President, Health & Wellness, Burson Canada; Breast Cancer Advocate

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The Patient Voice Amplified: CGP Making a Difference in the Canadian Cancer Care Landscape Across Tumour Types

As Canada considers implementation of comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) in metastatic cancer care, lived experience offers critical insight into how testing is accessed, understood, and integrated into care. This session brings forward the voices of patients across tumour types reflecting a range of experiences with genomic testing.

Panelists will share how testing has influenced treatment decisions and care experiences, while also highlighting challenges related to referral pathways, timing, and clarity around what testing was performed and how results were used. These insights reflect the current variability across jurisdictions and care settings. As system-level planning advances, these perspectives underscore the importance of consistent access to CGP, clearer integration into care pathways, and improved communication across the diagnostic and treatment continuum.

Discussion objectives:

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Moderator:
Eva Villalba, MBA, M.Sc.
VBHC Green Belt; Executive Director, Quebec Cancer Coalition; President, VBHC Learning Community
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Patient Panel:
Corri Desaulniers
Stage IV Cholangiocarcinoma Patient, FGFR2 Fusion; Patient Partner & Advocate, Canadian Cholangiocarcinoma Collaborative (C3)

Mariana Markovic, RN, MN, MHSC, CHE
Stage IV Colon Cancer Survivor; Healthcare Consultant, Independent Healthcare Consulting Inc.; Patient Advocate

Laura Greer
Patient Expert; Breast Cancer Advocate; Executive Vice President, Health & Wellness, Burson Canada

Dr. Mary K. Bryson, Ph.D.
Stage IV EGFR Lung Cancer Patient; International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) STARS Scholar Patient Advocate; Professor, Department of Language and Literacy Education (LLED), Faculty of Education, The University of British Columbia

Brad Sluiter
Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer Survivor

3:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Health Break

Featured Video: Second Look Cancer — Clinical Trial Matching Tool

Dillan Eisenhaur
Founder, Second Look Cancer Inc.; Stage IV Colorectal Cancer Patient

3:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Molecular Tumour Boards in Practice: Advancing Standardization and System Readiness

Molecular Tumour Boards (MTBs) play a pivotal role in translating complex genomic and molecular testing results into clinical decision-making. As the use of comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) and other advanced testing approaches continues to expand across Canada, MTBs are increasingly central to ensuring consistent interpretation and equitable access to precision oncology expertise. Yet MTB structure, availability, and functionality vary widely across jurisdictions. This session will examine how MTBs contribute to standardizing interpretation of CGP results, while exploring emerging models that support integration of MTBs into routine care.

As molecular testing becomes more complex, the discussion will also consider the importance of clinician education and ongoing knowledge support in strengthening genomics literacy and enabling effective interpretation of increasingly detailed molecular reports, particularly in settings where formal MTB infrastructure may be limited.

Key objectives:
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Moderator:
Dr. Michael Raphael, MD, FRCPC
Medical Oncologist, Early Age Onset CRC Cancer Clinic Lead, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre; Co-Chair, Medical & Scientific Advisory Board, CCRAN

‍Caregiver Perspective:
Jennifer Willis
Caregiver to spouse diagnosed with Stage IIIC Cholangiocarcinoma
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Panelists:
Dr. Alan Spatz, MD, M.Sc.
Professor, Departments of Pathology & Oncology, McGill University; Chief, Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, MUHC; Medical Director, Optilab Montreal-MUHC Network
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Prof. Arndt Vogel, MD, Ph.D.
Clinician Scientist, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Toronto General Hospital & Medical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto

Dr. Erin DeBruin
Manager, Professional Education and Implementation, Genome BC

Dr. Shantanu Banerji, B.Sc. (Med), MD, FRCPC
Co-Chair, Expert Steering Committee; Director of Precision Oncology and Advanced Therapeutics, CancerCare Manitoba

4:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.

Driving Access Through Partnership: The Role of Industry in Canada’s Precision Oncology Landscape

As Canada advances toward more coordinated and equitable access to comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP), industry partners play an important role in helping address longstanding barriers related to infrastructure, education, turnaround times, and system capacity. This session will explore how thoughtful and transparent collaboration across public and private stakeholders can help strengthen CGP readiness across provinces while supporting a patient-centred and evidence-informed approach to precision oncology.  

Through a national panel discussion, experts will examine opportunities to align industry innovation with oncology system priorities, enhance cross-sector coordination, and contribute to sustainable models that support equitable access to CGP across Canada. The discussion will also explore how industry and health system partners can collaborate to navigate operational realities and foster sustainable partnerships that advance CGP across jurisdictions. 

This session will explore:
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Moderator:
Dr. Georgia Balsevich, Ph.D.
Senior Sector Innovation Manager, Genome Alberta

‍Caregiver Perspective:
Don Wood
Caregiver to spouse who succumbed to Stage IV Colorectal Cancer; Community & Patient Engagement Specialist, CCRAN

‍Panelists:
Dr. André Galarneau, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Executive Director & Vice-President, Oncology Business Unit, Merck Canada Inc.

Dr. Paul Krzyzanowski, Ph.D., MBA
Medical Affairs Director, Precision Medicine, Johnson & Johnson

Mark Oatway
Head, Diagnostics and Transforming Care, Oncology, AstraZeneca Canada

Hon. John Wilkinson
Former Ontario Minister of Research & Innovation

Dr. Michael Mengel, MD
Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Alberta; Director, Alberta Transplant Institute; North Sector Medical Director, Alberta Precision Laboratories (APL)

5:45 p.m. - 5:50 p.m.

Glance at Day 2. Closing Remarks from CCRAN's President & CEO.

Filomena Servidio-Italiano, Hon B.Sc., B.Ed., M.A.
President & CEO, CCRAN