Symposium Theme: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges

Dates: July 17, 2026

Location: Louisville, KY / Hybrid Virtual

Zoom Link: https://events.zoom.us/ejl/AoZ1DdA4X7DV0Zummjaev7JU08U5czbNOycG47_OxAgFO5jBEWcu~A1flKKEUzi229lJt-6CES1mZ4ZHguR_NE-fbUsXwpTtZM2JBuS-WTi2QV693A

The Science of Hope

Focus: Medical advancements, clinical trials, and the future of treatment.

This event is intended for patient advocates, caregivers, oncology professionals, and researchers.

Time	Session Title	Description	Speakers
9:00 AM	Opening Keynote Panel: The 2026 MBC Landscape	A high-level overview of the shift toward "chronic disease management" in MBC, featuring local and national oncology leaders and patient advocates. Learning Objectives: * Analyze the current shift in Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) care toward a "chronic disease management" model . * Identify key trends in the 2026 MBC Landscpe from the perspectives of oncology leaders and advocates.	Dionisia Quiroga, DO, PhD, FASCO Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine Division of Medical Oncology The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center MBC Patient Advocate Keeshia Jones Director of Healthcare & Community Partnerships After Breast Cancer Diagnosis
10:30 AM	Clinical Trials: Beyond the Last Resort	A workshop on navigating the 2026 trial landscape, emphasizing trial matching tools and diversity in participation. Learning Objectives: * Utilize 2026 trial matching tools to navigate the clinical trial landscape. *Discuss the importance of diversity in participation and clinical trials as a proactive treatment option.	Joseph Flynn, D.O., MPH, FACP Chief Administrative Officer and Physician-in-Chief, Norton Cancer Institute at Norton Healthcare Louisville, Kentucky
11:30 AM-12:30 PM	"Ask the Researcher"	Opportunity to network and ask questions of researchers funded by Twisted Pink. Learning Objectives: * Engage directly with Twisted Pink-funded researchers to gain insights into ongoing medical advancements. *Discuss the practical application of current research findings in clinical settings.	Dr. Yoannis Imbert-Fernandez Assistant Professor at University of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky Dr. Hannah Irie Associate Professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, New York
12:30-1:00 PM	BREAK - Box Lunch Pickup
1:00 PM-2:00 PM	Liquid Biopsies & MRD	How blood-based testing is now being used to monitor treatment response in real-time and catch resistance mutations (like ESR1) earlier. Learning Objectives: * Explain how blood-based testing and Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) monitoring allow for real-time treatment adjustments. *Identify how liquid biopsies can detect resistance mutations, such as ESR1, earlier than traditional methods.	Brian Dong, M.D. UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center
2:00 PM-3:30 PM	ADC 2.0: The Precision Revolution	Deep dive into the newest generation of Antibody-Drug Conjugates and how they are changing outcomes for HER2-low and Triple Negative patients. Learning Objectives: * Evaluate how the newest generation of Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) improves outcomes for HER2-low and Triple Negative patients. *Describe the mechanism of precision medicine in modern MBC treatment	Dr. Nerea Lopetegui-Lia, MD Assistant Professor Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medicinal Oncology The Ohio State University
4:00 PM	AI in Your Care: Friend or Foe?	Discussing how AI is being used in 2026 for scan interpretation and personalized risk modeling, while addressing data privacy. Learning Objectives: * Assess the role of AI in scan interpretation and personalized risk modeling within the 2026 healthcare environment .	Dr. Matthew Kurian St. Elizabeth Healthcare Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Kentucky

Presenting Sponsors:

2026 MBC Symposium