AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Brain Cancer

Held every three years, the AACR Special Conference on Brain Cancer brings together a multidisciplinary community of researchers and clinicians to address one of the most lethal and biologically complex forms of cancer. The 2026 meeting, taking place March 23-25 in Philadelphia, will continue this tradition by highlighting advances in both adult and pediatric brain tumors, from glioblastoma and medulloblastoma to rarer CNS subtypes. The program will spotlight the neuroscience of gliomas, advances in neuro-immuno-oncology, cellular therapies for nervous system tumors, brain borders and CNS trafficking, next-generation diagnostics and biomarkers, updates in brain metastases and leptomeningeal disease, strategies to solve tumor heterogeneity using spatial and 3D genomics, and the latest in clinical trials. Despite rapid progress in cancer research broadly, brain tumors remain uniquely challenging due to their location, resistance to therapy, and biological heterogeneity. Barriers such as the blood-brain barrier, limited clinical trial designs, and underdeveloped preclinical models have slowed the development of effective treatments. This conference serves as a platform for tackling these issues head-on by fostering collaboration across cancer biology, neuroscience, pharmacology, imaging, and systems biology, with a strong emphasis on translational research and precision oncology. By convening leading experts from academia, industry, and the clinic, Brain Cancer 2026 will catalyze new scientific partnerships, spotlight innovative research, and provide opportunities for early-career investigators to engage with leaders in the field. Through invited talks, selected abstracts, and interactive discussion, the conference will help shape the next chapter in neuro-oncology research and accelerate progress toward more effective, equitable treatments for patients with brain cancer.