Program

Collaborating to Improve HPB Cancer Control in Africa: Prevention, Treatment, Research, and Survivorship

August 12–15, 2026 Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria

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Conference Logistics And Agenda

The 2026 Annual Africa Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Cancer Consortium (AHPBCC) Conference, themed “Collaborating to Improve HPB Cancer Control in Africa: Prevention, Treatment, Research, and Survivorship,” will be held August 12–15, 2026, at the Abuja Continental Hotel Conference Center in Abuja, Nigeria. The conference is hosted in partnership with Nigerian professional societies and local leadership, including Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, AHPBCC Team Nigeria Lead & President of the Nigerian Cancer Society; Prof. Abdulfatai Olokoba, President of the Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria (SOGHIN); and Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Pre-Conference Workshops (August 12)

Pre-conference workshops will take place Wednesday, August 12th. Transportation to all workshops will be provided

Preconference Workshop Chair(s) Location
Wed Aug 12 Advanced Endoscopy Dr. Akwi Asombang (USA, Zambia), Prof. Abdulfatai Olokoba (Nigeria) AMCE, ABUJA
Wed Aug 12 Surgical Skills Dr. Michael Okello (Uganda), Dr. Jackson Chipaila (Zambia), Prof. John Devar (South Africa), Prof. Olusegun Isaac Alatise (Nigeria) AMCE, ABUJA
Wed Aug 12 Ultrasound Techniques Prof. Ashraf Omar (Egypt), Prof. Yaw Wiafe (Ghana), Prof. Mitchell Mah’moud (USA) AMCE, ABUJA
Wed Aug 12 Basic and Translational Research Prof. Solomon Rotimi (Nigeria), Dr. Romuald Boua (Burkina Faso) and Prof. Chiswili Yves Chabu (DRC) FMC Abuja
Wed Aug 12 Patient Advocacy Dr. Riaz Kasmani (Kenya), Pharm. Bisi Bright (Nigeria), Danjuma Adda (Nigeria), Dr. Adamu Alhassan Umar (Nigeria) FMC Abuja
Wed Aug 12 HPB Pathology Dr. Ernest Adjei (Ghana), Prof Fatimah Abdul-Kareem (Nigeria) NATIONAL HOSPITAL, ABUJA
Wed Aug 12 Radiation and Clinical Oncology Prof. Abubakar Mohammed Bello (Nigeria), Prof. Mitesh Borad (USA), Prof. Rangaswamy Govindarajan (India, USA) and Prof. Farouk Dako (Nigeria) NATIONAL HOSPITAL, ABUJA

Main Conference

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13th - DAY 1:

Cancer Burden, Treatment, and Quality of Care in HPB Cancers in Africa

  • 07:00 – 08:00 am| Registration and Welcome Coffee
  • 08:00 – 08:05 am| Welcome to Nigeria, AHPBCC Team Lead Nigeria Prof. Abdidemi Omonisi
  • 08:05 – 10:05 am| Grant Writing, Prof. Mohammed El-Kassas
  • 10:05 – 10:35 am| Coffee Break & Networking

Session 1: Cancer Treatment Advances in Africa

Moderators: Prof. Ashraf Omar (Egypt), Prof. Yves Chiswili Chabu (DRC), Prof. Farouk Dako (Nigeria)

  • 10:40–10:55 am| Olusegun Alatise (Nigeria)
  • 10:55–11:10 am| Clara Odhiambo (Uganda)
  • 11:10–11:25 pm| Ashraf Omar (Egypt)
  • 11:25–11:40 pm| Yves Chiswili Chabu (DRC, USA)
  • 11:40–12:00 pm| Panel discussion

Opening Ceremony and Inauguration of the Conference: 12:00 – 12:40 pm

  • 12:00 – 12:10 pm| Welcome Speech, President of AHPBCC, Prof. Lewis Roberts, (USA, Ghana)
  • 12:10 – 12:15 pm| Goodwill Message, President of SOGHIN, Prof. Fatai Olokoba
  • 12:15 – 12:20 pm| Goodwill Message, President of ARCON, Prof. Abubakar Bello
  • 12:00 – 12:25 pm| Goodwill Message, President of NCS, Prof Abidemi Omonisi
  • 12:25 – 12:30 pm| Goodwill Message, Director General of NICRAT, Usman Malami Aliyu
  • 12:30 – 12:35 pm| Goodwill Message, Director General of NIMP, Prof, John Oladapo Obafunwa
  • 12:35 – 12:40 pm| Goodwill Message, President Elect of UICC, Her Excellency Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu
  • 12:40 – 13:10 pm | Keynote Speaker: Empowering the Next Generation Cancer Researchers and Caregivers in Africa through Capacity and Collaborative Building, (Mrs.) Folakemi Odedina (USA )
  • 13:10 – 13:25 pm | Cultural Presentation

    Ministerial Address and Declaration of the Conference Opening: 13:25 – 13:45 pm 

    • 13:25 – 13:45 pm| Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Services
    • 13:45 – 14:00 pm | Group Photo
    • 14:00 – 15:00 pm | Lunch Break and Strategic Networking

    Session 2: International Association of Pancreatology Spotlight

    Moderators: Prof Edith Okeke, Prof. Santhi Vege

    • 15:10 – 15:30 pm| Chronic pancreatitis for the Generalist, Prof. Santhi Vege (USA)
    • 15:30 – 15:50 pm| Prof Kyoichi Takaori
    • 15:50 – 16:10 pm| Professor Pramod Garg
    • 16:10 – 16:30 pm| Panel discussion

    Session 3: Palliative and Supportive Care in Cancer Management

    Moderators: Prof. Chioma Asuzu, Dr Helena Musau

    • 16:30 – 16:45 pm| Beyond Tumour Control:Integrating Early Palliative Care into Modern Cancer Management, Dr Samuel Otene (Nigeria)
    • 16:45 – 17:00 pm| Low dose radiation therapy for palliation of cancer pain from Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Prof Laura Dawson (Canada)
    • 17:00 – 17:15 pm| Cancer Palliative Care in Africa: How can we Improve Training, Access, Quality, and Outcomes?, Dr Helena Musau (Kenya)
    • 17:15 – 17:30 pm| Panel discussion

    FRIDAY, AUGUST 14th - DAY 2:

    Capacity/Collaborative Building, Policy, and Patient Advocacy

    • 8:00 – 8:30 am| Addressing the Rising Burden of Early-Onset Cancers Through Innovation and Global Collaboration, Dr LeeAnn Bailey, NCI (USA)
    • 8:30 – 9:15 am| Africa Guidelines for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Buildup Process, Prof. Ghassan Abou-Alfa, MSK Cancer Center (USA)

    Session 5: Quality Improvement and Access to Cancer Treatment in Resource-Limited Settings

    Moderators: Prof Abubakar Bello, Prof. Lewis Roberts, Prof. Asraf Omar, Prof. Rangaswamy Govindarajan (India, USA)

    • 09:30 – 09:45 am| Collaborative Partnership on Pan-African Oncology Care and Capacity Building Program by Shefa Al-Orman International Cancer Hospitals (SOH) in Luxor, Egypt, Dr. Mahmoud Elzembely (Egypt)
    • 09:45 – 10:00 am| Building Clinical Trial Infrastructure as a Tool for Quality Improvement and Access to Cancer Therapies in Africa, Yaw Asare Aboagye (Ghana)
    • 10:00 – 10:15 am| Operational Research Projects for Hepatitis B Elimination and Liver Cancer Control in Africa, Gibril Ndow (The Gambia)
    • 10:15 – 10:35 am| Panel discussion
    • 10:35 – 11:05 am | Coffee Break & Strategic Networking
    • 11:05 – 11:35 am | Oral Abstract Presentations
      • 10 Oral Presenters (3 minute Rapid Talks)
    • 11:35 – 12:35 pm | Poster session and exhibit tables
    • 12:35 – 13:35 pm| Lunch Break

    Session 6: Health Systems Strengthening and Policy Implementation for Cancer Care

    Moderators: Prof. Wendy Spearman, Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, Dr. Yvonne Ayerki Nartey

    • 13:40 – 14:00 pm| Navigating Cancer Control Policies in Resource Limited Settings, Uchechukwu Nwokwu (Nigeria)
    • 14:00 – 14:15 pm| Implementation Science: How to Implement Cancer Control in Africa, Njoki Nijraini (Kenya)
    • 14:15 – 14:30 pm| The Financial Case for Viral Hepatitis Elimination in Sub-Saharan Africa, Homie Razavi
    • 14:30 – 14:50 pm| Panel discussion

    Session 7: Building Cancer Research Capacity and Collaborative Networks in Africa

    Moderators: Dr. Rebecca Compaore, Prof. Emmanuel Nweke, Prof. Solomon Rotimi

    • 14:50 – 15:05 pm| The African Cancer Atlas, Dr. Yaw Bediako (Ghana)
    • 15:05 – 15:20 pm| Global Bridges, Kenneth Merrell (USA)
    • 15:20 – 15:35 pm| Strengthening Africa’s Research Ecosystem: Capacity, Collaboration, and Impact, Akhere Omonkhua (The Gambia)
    • 15:35 – 15:55 pm| Panel discussion

    Session 8: Patient Advocacy in Cancer Treatment and Survivorship

    Moderators: Dr. Riaz Kasmani (Kenya), Dr. Adamu Alhassan Umar (Nigeria)

    • 15:55 – 16:10 pm| LiveWell Foundation, Pharm. Bisi Bright (Nigeria)
    • 16:10 – 16:25 pm| Centre for Initiative and Development (CFID), Danjuma Adda
    • 16:25 – 16:40 pm| Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, Stacie Lindsey (USA)
    • 16:40 – 17:00 pm| Panel discussion
    • 17:00 – 18:00 pm| Break Before dinner
    • 18:00 – 21:00 pm| Networking Dinner
    SATURDAY, AUGUST 15th – DAY 3:

    Translational Research and Innovation in HPB Cancer Management and Treatment

    • 08:30 – 09:00 am| Keynote Speaker: Abasi Ene Obong, Syndicate Bio (Nigeria)
    • 09:00 – 09:30 am| AASLD Special Lecture: Fibrosis Unmasked: From Silent Scars to Targeted Therapies, Scott L Friedman, (USA)

    Session 9: Precision Medicine and Molecular Profiling for HPB Cancers

    Moderators: Facilitators: Prof. Marco Zaki (Egypt), Prof. Bolni Marius Nagalo (USA, Burkina Faso)

    • 09:30 – 09:45 am| Genomics in Cancer Patients of African Ancestry, Prof. Solomon Rotimi (Nigeria)
    • 09:45 – 10:00 am| Unraveling the Tumor Microenvironment of African PDAC Patients by genomic profiling, Ms Sinegugu Dubazana (South Africa)
    • 10:00 – 10:50 am| Liquid biopsy in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma- Role as potential biomarkers, Emmanuel Nweke (South Africa)
    • 10:15 – 10:30 am| Empowering the Next Generation of Precision Genomics in Africa, Derrick Akpalu (USA)
    • 10:30 – 10:50 am| Panel discussion
    • 10:50 – 11:20 am| Coffee Break & Strategic Networking

    Session 10: AI, Data Science, and Digital Tools in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

    Moderators: Prof. Michael Bauer (USA), Dr. Boua Romuald (Burkina Faso)

    • 11:20 – 11:35 am| Doyin Bademosi, NovaUCD University College of Dublin,Belfield,Ireland.
    • 11:35 – 11:50 am| TumorX: An AI-Driven Oncology System for Early Cancer Detection and Clinical Decision Support in Resource-Constrained Health Systems, Ahmed Hamma
    • 11:50 – 12:05 pm| Strategies for Applying Plasma Proteomic Profiling to Improve Early HPB Cancer Detection in Low and Middle Income Countries, Prof Michael Bauer (USA)
    • 12:05 – 12:20 pm| Machine Learning Tools for Multiomics Analysis, Dr. Stefano Cacciatore (South Africa)
    • 12:20 – 12:40 pm| Panel discussion

    Closing Ceremony: Future Directions and Conference Outcomes

      • 12:40 – 13:10 | Consortium Project Progress Reports
      • 13:10 – 13:15 | Consortium Member Successes
      • 13:15 – 13:20 | Closing remarks by the Conference chair and AHPBCC leads
      • 13:20 – 13:30 | 2027 Announcement
      • End by 14:00 pm | Take Away Lunch
      • 14:00 – 17:00 pm | NCS AND SOGHIN GENERAL MEETINGs