Deuxième colloque international sur l’implication du public et des patients dans la recherche en cancérologie
Quelles nouvelles tendances ?
Published on Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Abstract
This International Symposium aims to strengthen ties among Francophone partners interested in participatory research as well as research on patient partnership, while providing a space for critical and constructive reflection on the subject. Researchers, patient partners involved in a research project, association members, healthcare professionals, and institutional actors are invited to submit their contributions to explore these new trends. We welcome proposals from various disciplinary and methodological approaches, which may cover all fields of cancer research. Co-presented proposals featuring at least one patient are encouraged.
Announcement
Rationale and context
Patient and public involvement in cancer research [1], particularly in the field of public health, is emerging today as a new scientific and societal paradigm (Colomer et al., 2023; Pomey et al., 2015; 2025). Beyond tokenistic participation, the challenge is to build genuine and structured partnerships between researchers and patients. These approaches aim to foster a more humane and inclusive science, rooted in the lived experiences of the individuals and communities concerned, thereby making research more relevant to their actual needs. Stakeholders in cancer research are seeking to deploy forms of partnership and public involvement across clinical, biomedical, epidemiological, interventional, and translational levels, as well as in the humanities and social sciences.
Following in the footsteps of the "1st International Workshop on Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in Cancer Research" (Ebnöther, E., 2023), this 2nd International Symposium aims to strengthen ties among Francophone partners interested in participatory research as well as research on patient partnership, while providing a space for critical and constructive reflection on the subject. The objectives of this symposium are: 1) to clarify what it means to "conduct research in partnership with patients and the public" (Baillat et al., 2023) across various fields of oncology research, while highlighting innovations in this area; 2) to provide an overview of ongoing work regarding patient partnership in care, education, and research related to cancer.
Researchers, patient partners [2] involved in a research project, association members, healthcare professionals, and institutional actors are invited to submit their contributions to explore these new trends. We welcome proposals from various disciplinary and methodological approaches, which may cover all fields of cancer research. Co-presented proposals featuring at least one patient are encouraged.
Thematic axes
Each proposal may fall into one of the following three themes:
Theme 1: Partnership dynamics between researchers and the individuals concerned in oncology research: from lived and constructed experiences, practical and ethical conditions, to concrete impacts.
This first theme focuses on how partnership dynamics between researchers, healthcare professionals, and the individuals concerned—acting as members of the research team—are concretely built and experienced. Here are some questions that may arise from this field of study: Who are the individuals getting involved, and why do they do so? How does this involvement translate into research projects at the clinical, biomedical, epidemiological, interventional, and translational levels, as well as in the humanities and social sciences? How is the partnership with patients in research implemented? How do we build protocols, ensure the appropriation and dissemination of results, and measure the effects of research on decision-making or practice changes? How are roles and responsibilities structured (patient partners and co-researchers [3], healthcare professionals, institutional actors), and how is the recognition (status, remuneration, protection) of the individuals' involvement put into practice? What ethical frameworks are mobilized to foster this engagement in research? What role does the training of both the individuals concerned and the researchers play in fostering long-term collaborations? How can we ensure that these participatory practices are not instrumentalized? What are the institutional or professional reluctances, and how can we encourage institutional mobilization? This first theme examines the framework, the reality of involvement, and the ethics of partnership research in oncology.
Theme 2: Research on partnership in oncology care pathways.
Due to its complexity and its impact on the lives of those affected, cancer represents a prime area for examining the place of partnership in care and the role of patient partners in the care pathway. As traditional care models evolve towards a more collaborative approach, it becomes essential to highlight the research that sheds light on this transformation. How do patient partners contribute to co-constructing more adapted, personalized, and humane care pathways? How is the evaluation of this partnership's impact implemented: what protocols and qualitative or quantitative indicators can be used to measure the effects of patient partnership in care pathways? What are the observed positive effects—such as improved coordination, reduction of inequalities, and innovation in practices—but also the resistance, failures, or limitations encountered? This theme also explores how healthcare institutions and organizations are preparing to accommodate this cultural and structural revolution. Finally, what innovations—whether technological, organizational, or relational—are emerging to strengthen this presence in care and make it sustainable? This second theme focuses on empirical studies, feedback from lived experiences, protocol analyses, or proposals for innovative tools, in order to collectively enrich the understanding of the challenges and levers for action.
Theme 3: What partnership research modalities are needed to address the challenges related to both health innovations and the vulnerabilities of the individuals concerned?
Looking to the future, this theme explores new trends and practices in oncology partnership research. This third theme focuses on ways to imagine, structure, and support partnership modalities adapted to the specific realities of oncology, both in research and care contexts. While the involvement of the individuals concerned is intensifying at all stages of scientific projects and health pathways, numerous obstacles, constraints, and challenges persist: organizational, institutional, regulatory, logistical, and temporal constraints, as well as those related to the vulnerability of individuals or the new specificities of treatments and the disease itself. This theme also aims to examine the conditions necessary to make the partnership possible, effective, balanced, and sustainable. Several questions can be explored: What concrete modalities allow for the involvement of the individuals concerned when care or research contexts are highly constrained? What methodological, organizational, or technological innovations facilitate participation in these environments (e.g., secure digital tools, hybrid collaboration formats)? How can participatory mechanisms be adapted to the lived realities of patients, relatives, or former patients engaged as partners? What inclusive approaches can be used for populations whose involvement is typically challenging (individuals in precarious situations, elderly populations, young adults, linguistically or culturally minoritized groups)? How can we manage the tensions between scientific or regulatory imperatives and the needs, limits, or constraints of the individuals concerned? What institutional mechanisms could sustainably support these adapted partnership modalities (funding, recognition of invested time, logistical support, mediation, clarified legal or ethical frameworks, integration into research and care structures)? This third theme relies on feedback from lived experiences, methodological analyses, case studies, evaluations of mechanisms, or conceptual proposals aimed at rethinking participation in fragile or complex contexts to identify concrete solutions and levers for transformation.
Proposals from across the entire Francophone world are encouraged.
Eligibility criteria and formats
The scientific committee encourages a diversity of formats and stages of project development.
Valued criteria:
-
The call is open to final results, as well as to research protocols (starting or ongoing projects) in order to discuss the different methodologies implemented.
-
Experience reports on projects that were unsuccessful or encountered major difficulties are highly encouraged, as they provide valuable lessons.
-
Proposals limited to research hypotheses and innovative methodologies or practices regarding patient partnership in oncology are also welcome.
-
Proposals from early-career researchers "Up to two years after the thesis" are subject to a specific selection process that includes travel and accommodation funding.
Possible presentation formats:
-
Oral presentations: (15-20 min).
-
Posters: Visual presentation with a dedicated time for discussion.
-
Workshops / Symposia: Participatory or thematic sessions.
Submission terms and conditions
Proposals must be submitted by May 25 on sciencesconf.org
They must include:
-
The title of the presentation.
-
The relevant theme.
-
The desired format (Oral presentation, Poster, Workshop).
-
The names and affiliations of the authors (specifying who is a patient partner and who is a researcher/healthcare professional).
-
A structured abstract of a maximum of 300 words (Context, Objectives, Methods, Results/Perspectives).
For any questions: PPI2cancerologie@gmail.com
Bibliography
Baillat, L., Bauquier, C., Pannard, M., Piton, M., Denieul, C., Sevenne, M., Gerard, A., Mouline, M., Jean-Daubias, S., Jacob, G., & Préau, M. (2023). Co-construire un projet de recherche en oncologie avec les personnes concernées : Retour d’expérience et leçons apprises. Santé Publique. https://hal.science/hal-04734441
Colomer-Lahiguera, S., Steimer, M., Ellis, U., Eicher, M., Tompson, M., Corbière, T., & Haase, K. R. (2023). Patient and public involvement in cancer research : A scoping review. Cancer Medicine, 12(14), 15530‑15543. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.6200
Ebnõther, E. Comment impliquer les patient·e·s et le public dans la recherche sur le cancer ? 1er Workshop international d’Implication des patient·e·s et du public dans la recherche sur le cancer. Soins en oncologie 2023/1. https://patientlab.ch/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Article_SOS_FR.pdf
Flora, L. (2019). Le patient partenaire, un nouvel acteur de santé. Soins, 64(832), 16-18.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soin.2018.12.004
Pomey, M.-P., Flora, L., Karazivan, P., Dumez, V., Lebel, P., Vanier, M.-C., Débarges, B., Clavel, N., & Jouet, E. (2015). Le « Montreal model » : Enjeux du partenariat relationnel entre patients et professionnels de la santé. Santé Publique, 1(HS), 41‑50. https://doi.org/10.3917/spub.150.0041
Pomey MP et al. (2025). Pomey M, Wilhelmy C, Fournier-Tombs M, Dumez V, Vialaron C, Iliescu M, Prevost K, Courtemanche S, Normandin L, David G. Partnership, Collaboration, and Co-Production to Improve Patient Experience Beyond Conducting Surveys – Lessons from the Quebec Model, Canada. Patient Experience Journal. 2025; 12(2):112-123. doi: 10.35680/2372-0247.2039. https://pxjournal.org/journal/vol12/iss2/19/
Subjects
- Sociology (Main category)
- Mind and language > Epistemology and methodology > Methods of processing and representation > Quantitative methods
- Society > Ethnology, anthropology
- Mind and language > Epistemology and methodology > Methods of processing and representation > Qualitative methods
- Periods > Modern
- Society > Sociology > Sociology of health
- Society > Economics
- Society > Political studies
Places
- World Trade Center, rez de chaussée - 2 Rue Henri Barbusse
Marseille, France (13)
Event attendance modalities
Hybrid event (on site and online)
Date(s)
- Monday, May 25, 2026
Attached files
Keywords
- recherche en cancérologie, implication du public et des patients (IPP), patient partenaire, démocratie en santé
Contact(s)
- Mathieu Bourhis
courriel : ppi2cancerologie [at] gmail [dot] com
Reference Urls
Information source
- Sandrine De montgolfier
courriel : sandrine [dot] de-montgolfier [at] univ-amu [dot] fr
License
This announcement is licensed under the terms of Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal.
To cite this announcement
« Deuxième colloque international sur l’implication du public et des patients dans la recherche en cancérologie », Call for papers, Calenda, Published on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, https://doi.org/10.58079/167mq
