Conversations on Cancer
The FDA Oncology Center of Excellence Conversations on Cancer is a public panel discussion series aimed at fostering dialogue about cancer-related issues, including awareness, prevention, treatment, and regulatory processes. These discussions bring together patients, advocates, academic researchers, and regulatory representatives to discuss topics such as clinical trials, drug approvals, and patient care experiences.
View All Oncology Center of Excellence Upcoming and Past Meetings and Workshops
Upcoming Meetings
Conversations on Cancer: Navigating Cancer Resources in the Digital Age
Date: October 29, 2026
Time: 2:00 pm ET
Background: This panel explores how patients with cancer and caregivers of patients with cancer navigate online health information in an increasingly digital healthcare environment. With the rise of tools like patient portals, telehealth, and AI-driven search, finding clear, evidence-based information has become both easier and more complex. Panelists will discuss the link between health literacy and digital literacy, focusing on how patients can identify dependable resources and make informed care decisions. The session will also offer practical strategies to support confident, effective use of digital health technologies in an era of information abundance.
Webcast Information:
A free-of-charge webcast of this program can be viewed on October 19, 2026, beginning at 2:00 PM EST on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/live/r6IiucKFwrI
FDA also plans to post a webcast of this Conversations on Cancer program on YouTube for on-demand viewing at: https://www.youtube.com/@US_FDA/videos
Conversations on Cancer: How Cure ID Can Help Find New Treatment Options for Rare Cancers
Date: November 17, 2026
Time: 3:00 pm ET
This panel introduces CURE ID, a platform that serves as a free treatment registry developed by FDA and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) in collaboration with patients and clinical partners. CURE ID collects real-world reports of treatment experiences with repurposed drugs submitted by patients, caregivers, and clinicians. Panelists will discuss how CURE ID works, why every submitted case report matters, and how crowdsourced data can help accelerate development of new treatments for rare cancers. Attendees will learn how to submit their own experiences and how the broader rare cancer community can benefit when individual stories come together to advance shared knowledge.
Webcast Information:
A free-of-charge webcast of this program can be viewed on November 17, 2026, beginning at 3:00 PM EST on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/live/8AB4zfKydog.
FDA also plans to post a webcast of this Conversations on Cancer program on YouTube for on-demand viewing at https://www.youtube.com/@US_FDA/videos.
Past Meetings
Conversations on Cancer: Religious Literacy and Spiritual Care for Patients and Caregivers
Date: July 1, 2026
Time: 2:00 pm ET
Research shows that spiritual care for cancer patients remains an unmet need. During this discussion, the panel will explore the differences between religion and spirituality and how increasing religious literacy and spiritual care may impact overall patient care. The discussion will focus on the patient and caregiver experience of their spirituality during cancer care and how religious literacy may improve the care they receive and provide. While the patient will remain central to the discussion, this conversation will also address how providing spiritual care also affects the often-overlooked family and friends who care for cancer patients and the burnout-prone clinicians in today’s healthcare arena, who may or may not consider themselves religious.
Webcast Information:
A free-of-charge webcast of this program can be viewed on July 1, 2026, beginning at 2:00 PM EST on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/live/kJtemD4KYMU.
FDA also plans to post a webcast of this Conversations on Cancer program on YouTube for on-demand viewing at https://www.youtube.com/@US_FDA/videos.
Conversations on Cancer - Patient First = Project Facilitate
Date: June 10, 2026
Time: 12:00 pm ET
Project Facilitate is a dedicated resource designed to streamline access to investigational therapies for patients facing life-threatening cancers. In this session, the expert panel will explore the evolution of Project Facilitate from its inception to its current role as an essential resource for oncology practitioners nationwide, examining the concrete impact of Project Facilitate through data-driven insights. They will share cases that illustrate both common scenarios and unique challenges, providing practical guidance on how to submit a single-patient IND, highlighting common pitfalls to avoid and best practices for working with pharmaceutical companies, whose agreement is required before FDA review can proceed. Importantly, the panel will address how patient safety is maintained throughout the expanded access process, even when using investigational products whose safety and efficacy profiles are still being established.
Webcast Information:
A free-of-charge webcast of this program can be viewed on June 10, 2026, beginning at 12:00 PM EST on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/live/hkmnRdL4AGE.
FDA also plans to post a webcast of this Conversations on Cancer program on YouTube for on-demand viewing at https://www.youtube.com/@US_FDA/videos.
Conversations on Cancer – Oncology Nurses – Frontliners in Oncology
Date: May 6, 2026
Time: 3:00 pm-4:00 pm ET
In recognition of National Nurses Week, the FDA Oncology Center of Excellence convened a Conversations on Cancer discussion to spotlight the critical role nurses play as frontline professionals in oncology drug development through their involvement in clinical trials, research coordination, patient care, and education. While their responsibilities extend from direct patient interaction to significant contributions in the research and pharmaceutical industries, their expertise and contributions are often underrepresented and underrecognized in the drug development process. This conversation opens dialogue between frontline nurses and regulatory professionals regarding their roles in cancer treatment and how nursing insights can inform oncology product development, clinical trial participation, and the patient experience.
Webcast Information:
This program can be viewed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/live/M6f-vqRp3P8.
FDA also plans to post a webcast of this Conversations on Cancer program on YouTube for on-demand viewing at https://www.youtube.com/@US_FDA/videos.