Four international experts will jointly chair the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2025 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), scheduled to take place in Barcelona from September 6 to 9, 2025. Here is an introduction to the incoming co-chairs who will guide the planning of WCLC 2025 and serve as ambassadors to the global attendees.Co-Chairs
Dr. Isabelle Opitz is an Associate Professor and Director of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at University Hospital Zurich, as well as the Director of the Lung Cancer Center at University Hospital Zurich. Since 2012, she has been an active member of the IASLC, contributing to the IASLC Mesothelioma Working Group, the N-stage Committee for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, and the Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Staging Subcommittee.
Dr. Umberto Malapelle is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Laboratory of Predictive Molecular Pathology in the Department of Public Health at the University of Naples Federico II in Italy. He served as the head of the liquid biopsy section at WCLC 2021 and was a member of the Tumor Biology and Biomarkers Program Committee during WCLC 2022. At the 2023 WCLC, Dr. Malapelle presented on emerging topics in lung cancer biomarkers during the educational session.
Dr. Noemi Reguart is a medical oncologist leading the Thoracic Tumor Unit at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. She has participated on numerous scientific committees and has been an invited speaker at several WCLC and ACLC conferences. Since 2020, Dr. Reguart has also been a member of the IASLC Communications Committee.
Dr. Jarushka Naidoo is a Professor of Medical Oncology and Consultant at the Beaumont RCSI Cancer Center in Ireland and an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University. She chairs the IASLC Communications Committee and served as track chair for the metastatic immunotherapy section at WCLC 2024. Dr. Naidoo is the founder and chair of the Irish Lung Cancer Alliance Research Group and chairs the Lung Cancer Disease-Specific Subgroup (DSSG) of Cancer Trials Ireland. From 2022 to 2024, she was appointed as Clinical Research Leader at the Irish Cancer Society and received the IASLC/LCFA Young Investigator Award in 2020.
These co-chairs bring a wealth of experience and expertise to WCLC 2025, promising a conference that will foster global collaboration and highlight advancements in lung cancer research and treatment.
