July 22nd & 23rd 2026, Heidelberg – Germany
http://exercise-oncology.org
In July 2026 the Heidelberg Congress Center will host the first scientific conference of the newly founded International Society of Exercise Oncology (ISEO).
The event is being organized by the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) on behalf of the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg in collaboration with HUR. The congress serves as a global platform for researchers, clinicians, and
practitioners to present groundbreaking research findings and exchange best practices in the field of
sports and exercise for cancer patients and cancer survivors. Exercise therapy in oncology, strengthen networking between national and international stakeholders, and drive implementation forward.
Key topics:
The scientific program covers a broad spectrum, including: Clinical research & epidemiology:
Effects of exercise on the course of disease. Therapy phases: Prehabilitation, training during onclogical
treatment, survivorship, and palliative care.
Specialized areas:
Pediatric oncology, behavioral sciences, and implementation research.
Keynote Lectures:
Prof. Dr. Kerry Courneya, (University of Alberta, Kanada)
Hidden secrets of the CHALLENGE (trial) to improve cancer prognosis by exercise
Prof. Dr. Laurien Buffart (Radboud University Medical Center, Niederlande)
Impact of exercise on biopsychosocial health and symptom management in cancer patients
Prof. Dr. Robert Newton (Edith Cowan University, Australien)
Exercise is medicine in prostate cancer
Dr. Marlies Meisel (University of Pittsburgh, USA)
Exercise, microbiome and the immune system: New perspectives in exercise oncology
Prof. Dr. Karen Steindorf (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Heidelberg, Deutschland)
Observational research in exercise oncology: Current knowledge and future perspectives
Prof. Dr. Jennifer Ligibel (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute & Harvard Medical School, USA)
Exercise as routine care in oncology: Turning vision into practice
Conference website: indico.dkfz.de/event/1375/
HUR partners will receive a 10% discount on the conference fee, registration through ISEO2026@hur.fi