#United States #New York #oncology #Google Cloud #Cancer AI

Google Cloud to Host Second-Annual Cancer AI Symposium in New York City

In an exciting development for the fight against cancer, Google Cloud has announced that it will host its second-annual Cancer AI Symposium at its headquarters in St. John's Terminal, New York City. Scheduled for October 30, 2025, this symposium will bring together prominent figures from various sectors, including oncology, drug discovery, venture capital, and advocacy, to synergize efforts aimed at achieving breakthroughs in cancer treatment.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the number of cancer survivors in the U.S. has reached an astonishing 18.6 million, with projections estimating this number could rise to over 22 million by 2035. This increase is attributed to various factors, including an aging population and a troubling rise in cancer cases among individuals under 50, which is anticipated to increase by 31% by 2030, as reported by BMJ Oncology. Despite these numbers, advancements in technology and cancer research have remarkably improved survival rates—jumping from 49% in the mid-1970s to 68% in 2025, according to ACS statistics. This shift is transforming many cancer diagnoses into manageable chronic conditions, thus changing patient care dynamics significantly.

"The true speed of progress in oncology is being driven by our customers and partners, the innovators who are using AI to tackle the most complex challenges in cancer," said Francis deSouza, COO at Google Cloud. He emphasizes that the symposium serves as a celebration of the groundbreaking work being done within their ecosystem, which integrates various sectors under the Alphabet umbrella, including Google DeepMind and Google for Health.

Ryan Terry, the managing director for Healthcare and Life Sciences at Google Cloud, stressed the importance of utilizing vast amounts of multi-modal, structured, and unstructured data to accelerate progress in oncology. He remarked, "At Google Cloud, we focus on bridging vital connections across the cancer continuum, empowering industry leaders to expedite the discovery of new compounds and improve patient care access."

The anticipated innovation wave is poised to be fueled by generative AI, agentic AI, and multi-agent systems, which are expected to transform cancer care comprehensively. Looking ahead, Shweta Maniar, Google Cloud's global director of Life Sciences Solutions and Strategy, shared enthusiasm about harnessing these advances to enhance life-saving treatments and equitable care delivery. "Our collective goal is to utilize this innovation to save more lives and provide effective care to everyone," she stated.

Throughout the symposium, discussions will center around pivotal themes such as:

• - Clinical Impact: As precision oncology evolves, the need for real-time recommendations tailored to specific patient scenarios grows increasingly critical. A fireside chat featuring Francis deSouza and Dr. Clifford Hudis, CEO of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), will address current clinical hurdles.

• - Research and Development: Innovations in oncology are now synonymous with unprecedented abilities to decode enormous and complex datasets, paving the way for life-saving therapies. Pharmaceutical pioneers like Eli Lilly and Recursion will demonstrate how generative AI facilitates novel compound discovery and repurposing existing drugs.

• - Diagnosis and Prognosis: AI's role in revolutionizing cancer diagnostics is on the rise, providing advanced tools to detect diseases earlier and enhance treatment accuracy. Companies such as DeepHealth and Tempus will showcase how AI is key in advancing diagnostic tools to improve patient prognoses.

• - Venture Capital: The burgeoning AI landscape is fostering a new wave of healthcare pioneers that venture firms like Google Ventures are eager to support. Discussions will highlight innovative startups like Kimia Therapeutics and Rezo Therapeutics working to address pressing research challenges.

• - Shared Goals: Emphasizing that real-world patient impact arises from collaborative efforts across sectors, representatives from organizations like Stand Up To Cancer and Google DeepMind will share insights on making cancer care more human-centric and strategies to overcome obstacles for effective delivery.

At the symposium, various organizations will present developments and returns observed from AI investments while underscoring the commitment to ethical AI usage in cancer care.

For those interested in learning more about the Cancer AI Symposium, details can be found at cloud.google.com/events/google-cancer-ai-symposium.

In summary, the Cancer AI Symposium exemplifies a crucial step forward in cancer care, offering promising new horizons for research and treatment through the innovative application of artificial intelligence and collaborative effort among industry leaders.