Cancer Research Day
Hosted by the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research (PICR), this flagship event brings together our cancer research community for a day of discovery, scientific exchange and inspiration. It’s a signature opportunity for scientists across disciplines to connect, showcase breakthroughs and spotlight the next generation of cancer researchers.
Join us on Nov. 13 for the Fall 2026 Cancer Research Day.
PICR’S FLAGSHIP EVENT
Where Purdue’s cancer researchers come together
Cancer Research Day is the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research’s signature annual event celebrating the innovative and collaborative spirit of the cancer research community at Purdue.
Held each fall, this campus-wide gathering brings together more than 200 researchers, students, and trainees from a wide range of disciplines to share discoveries, exchange ideas, and spark new collaborations. Through poster sessions, trainee talks, and a distinguished keynote lecture, the event showcases cutting-edge work spanning basic, translational, and applied cancer science.
Trainees play a central role in the day’s activities, with opportunities to present research through posters or as selected speakers. Abstract submissions are reviewed in advance, and awards are given for outstanding presentations. Past keynote speakers have included national leaders in the field, such as David Levens of the National Cancer Institute and Forest White of MIT. With its strong focus on community, mentorship, and scientific excellence, Cancer Research Day underscores PICR’s commitment to advancing cancer research and supporting the next generation of scientists.
2026 keynote speaker
Harvard’s Alex Toker to keynote 2026 Cancer Research Day
Professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School Alex Toker studies how the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway drives tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. His keynote lecture will highlight recent discoveries from his laboratory revealing how oncogenic PI3K/AKT signaling rewires cancer cell metabolism to uncover new therapeutic vulnerabilities and emerging treatment strategies for difficult-to-treat cancers.
Looking back at the 2025 Cancer Research Day keynote speaker
Helen Piwnica-Worms, a professor in the experimental radiation oncology department, in the radiation oncology division and the Senator A.M. Aikin Jr. Distinguished Chair at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, joined us for the Fall 2025 Cancer Research Day as keynote speaker. The Piwnica-Worms Lab studies the changes that drive how breast cancer develops, spreads and resists treatment. Her team looks at how differences within tumors, and in the surrounding environment, affect cancer’s behavior. They also explore how fasting and specific diets might protect healthy cells and help the body survive serious DNA damage.
Share your research, grow your network
The Cancer Research Day poster session is an opportunity for trainees to showcase their research, gain valuable feedback from peers and faculty, and connect with Purdue’s cancer research community. All submitted abstracts are reviewed for consideration as a Trainee Presenter, offering selected participants the chance to deliver an oral presentation during the event. This platform highlights innovative research, helps strengthen presentation skills, and recognizes scientific contributions from tomorrow’s cancer research leaders.
Contact Us
Get in touch
Phone: 765-494-9129
Fax: 765-494-9193
Email: cancerresearch@purdue.edu
Meet our team
Find us
201 S. University St.
Hansen Life Sciences Bldg, Rm. 141
West Lafayette, IN 47907