This year’s Idea Generation Workshop, held on 15 May, welcomed a record number of participants and a diverse range of ideas focusing on young-onset GI cancer research.
The workshop theme was timely given the growing global concern about the increasing incidence of GI cancer in young adults. Australia has one of the highest rates of early-onset colorectal cancer worldwide and the reason for this is unknown. Young adults diagnosed with GI cancer face distinct challenges and treatment outcomes as they don’t fit the “typical” cancer model.
The ninth workshop in our series brought together researchers, clinicians, consumer advocates and industry representatives to discuss research ideas to tackle this challenge. With lively debate and constructive feedback, it’s a format that has proven its value over the years: to provide researchers with a supportive environment to share early-stage concepts, connect them with the right expertise, and progress ideas through our development framework.
The day was led by two excellent convenors – Dr Rebecca Bergin and Professor Savio George Barreto – who facilitated thoughtful and engaging discussion.
Seven exciting ideas, centred on young-onset GI cancer, were presented, each addressing unmet needs in the field.
When discussing the trial ideas, participants were invited to consider the potential impact, requirements to ensure their success, potential to become GI Cancer Trials studies and more. Each presenter received immediate, actionable feedback from experts across the field.
“I like the discussion part as participants were really engaged and lots of ideas were generated as well.” – participant
Participants were also encouraged to volunteer their interest in joining a Concept Development Group to support the ongoing refinement and development of the concepts presented.
Here’s what our convenors had to say about the day:
“The 2026 Idea Generation Workshop in Young-Onset GI Cancers truly served its intended purpose. The desire to make a meaningful difference was evident from the wide spectrum of study proposals presented ranging from deciphering the cause, and molecular biology, of young-onset GI cancer to setting up treatment trials. This was in addition to the wide range of expertise of the attendees – including health care workers, researchers, cancer survivors (community), and industry partners. The high-quality engagement of the participants through respectful and constructive dialogue on the day as well as their volunteered interest to support or be part of a support team to further develop each idea was a clear indication of the shared desire to seek better outcomes for young-onset GI cancer survivors.” – Prof Savio George Barreto
“The Idea Generation Workshop on Early-onset GI cancers was an exciting display of new ideas to improve care for people affected by early-onset GI cancers. Ideas were a wonderful demonstration of the breadth and creativity of research in this emerging field — from basic science to clinical and health services research, targeting all aspects of care: to understand increasing incidence, improve screening and treatment, and support survivorship care. The diverse audience was highly engaged, and provided strong scientific feedback complemented by consumer insights. I have no doubt that the meeting stimulated new collaborations, new ideas and has supported more competitive research projects!” – Dr Rebecca Bergin
By the numbers:
- Record number of 91 registered participants
- 7 ideas presented
- topics covered including biomarkers, immunotherapy, exercise, prevention, screening, translational science and ctDNA-guided treatment
Thank you to the convenors, presenters and participants whose insights and expertise made this another outstanding workshop.
A summary of the presenters and their proposed ideas:
Idea 1: Presented by A/Prof Susan Woods (Adelaide University)
BRIDGE-CRC: Biomarkers of Risk In early-onset Gastrointestinal Disease – Colorectal Cancer
Idea 2: Presented by Dr Erin Pearson (The Alfred, Victoria)
SIGNAL-GIST: Phase II single-arm study of ipilimumab/nivolumab in SDH deficient gastro-intestinal stromal tumour
Idea 3: Presented by Dr Samuel Smith (Chris O’Brien Lifehouse)
Extend-CRC: Exercise in early-onset metastatic CRC
Idea 4: Presented by Prof Savio George Barreto (Flinders Medical Centre)
PELICan: Perinatal exposures, adolescent obesity and childhood nutrition: Finding the optimal windows for intervening to reduce young adult cancer
Idea 5: Presented by Dr Norma Bulamu (Flinders University)
2Screen for YO-CRC
Idea 6: Presented by A/Prof Lisa Mielke (Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute)
NEURO-GC: NEUROpeptide signalling in Gastric Cancer
Idea 7: Presented by Dr Rohan Nair (Icon Group / University of Melbourne)
PRESERV: Prospective ctDNA evaluation in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer receiving total neoadjuvant therapy, enabling organ PRESERVation – A multicentre observational cohort study
What happens next
The ideas presented at the Workshop will now progress to the next phase of development through dedicated Concept Development Groups, before being submitted via the GI Cancer Trials website for consideration by the Research Executive Committee (REC). We look forward to seeing these concepts continue to evolve.
Get involved
Want to be part of a future workshop? Contact research@gicancer.org.au to find out about upcoming opportunities.