20,000 attending the largest international congress ever hosted in Copenhagen

Today 20,000 scientists, doctors and specialists from more than 130 countries are gathering in Copenhagen to improve the quality of care for all cancer patients at The European Society for Medical Oncology congress ESMO. ESMO 2016 is the largest congress of its kind ever hosted on Danish soil.

The fact that 2016 is going to make it to the history books as the busiest congress year Copenhagen has ever seen, is extra visible the next four days when 20,000 - out of the total number of the 100,000 delegates who are expected to the city this year - are attending the oncology congress ESMO2016.

Copenhagen is a knowledge hub, and the region’s position within life science is one of the reasons to why the city has been chosen as the back-drop for this year’s ESMO congress. Within the field of cancer treatment, Denmark is especially excelling on the patient care area, which ties directly into ESMO 2016’s motto: “From disease treatment to patient care.”

At the pre event on the theme ‘The Danish Model for Cancer Research and Treatment’ yesterday, the ESMO president Fortunato Ciardiello, said:

“The Danish cancer plan is a model that can be used in other European countries because what you have done here - to bring together all actors who can make decisions and experts and create a model of comprehensive cancer care - is maybe the key to use our research the best. In fact, the motto of this year’s congress is “From disease treatment – which is something that is in personal – to patient care”. So what we really want to do is to translate what we have in terms of knowledge in real action to be learned. […] I’m learning here from a small but very civilized country something that I will bring home.”

Read about the Danish model for cancer treatment and prevention here.

Jonas Wilstrup, Convention Director in Wonderful Copenhagen Convention Bureau is delighted to welcome the prestigious ESMO congress to the city and comments:

“This year we play host to an extraordinary high number of congresses in general and within the life science area in specific. With close to 20,000 delegates ESMO is both the largest life science congress this year, and the largest congress of its kind ever hosted in the Danish capital and we are very pleased to accommodate this important congress.”

The congress in Copenhagen will feature presentations of some of the most recent research, and trials including targeted therapies and immunotherapeutic approaches, joint symposia with representatives of all oncology specialties, and robust debates on the clinical challenges oncologists face today including collaborative discussions that advance oncology and improve patient care.