Annual Conference 2025

15th SPAGN Annual Conference – Washington, D.C., 2025

From April 11–13, 2025, the global sarcoma advocacy community gathered in Washington, D.C. for the 15th SPAGN Annual Conference—our first ever on American soil. Over 120 patient advocates, experts, and partners from nearly 30 countries came together to connect, learn, and collaborate.

The conference featured plenary sessions, disease-specific tracks, and interactive workshops exploring key themes such as international collaboration, patient-partnered research, clinical trial accessibility, the power of patient data, and disparities in sarcoma care. Sessions also addressed advances in soft tissue and bone sarcomas, GIST, and Desmoid tumors, with special attention given to adolescents and young adults with sarcoma. The unique “Marketplace” format offered hands-on sessions on storytelling, patient support lines, lobbying, starting research, and health technology assessment.

SPAGN celebrated outstanding achievements through the 2025 Advocacy in Action Awards, the inaugural Paola Gonzato Memory Award, and four Lifetime Achievement Awards honoring exceptional dedication to sarcoma research and advocacy.

The conference underscored the importance of cross-border collaboration, knowledge exchange, and patient involvement in all aspects of sarcoma care and research. By sharing experiences, challenges, and solutions, participants left more connected and better equipped to support the sarcoma community worldwide.