The 22nd ICGC Workshop / 9th ARGO Meeting was held in Yokohama, Japan from the 30th Sept-2nd Oct 2025. This meeting was hosted by our colleagues of the SCRUM-MONSTAR Program.
22nd ICGC ARGO Scientific Workshop – YokohamaThe 22nd ICGC ARGO Scientific Workshop convened researchers, clinicians, data scientists, patient advocates, and policy experts from across the globe. This milestone event offered a platform for sharing scientific progress, tackling common challenges, and fostering collaboration across the ICGC ARGO and cancer genomics community. 162 MDs and researchers from 12 countries gathered to advance cancer genomics, reaffirming the consortium's commitment to open science, patient-centered research, and global data sharing.
Keynote Highlights
Anna Umemiya – Patient Representative
Japanese television personality, model, and author Anna Umemiya shared her personal experiences navigating motherhood, cancer, and public life. Her session highlighted the power of storytelling, the cultural diversity of patient experiences, and the need for inclusive approaches to global oncology research — reminding all participants that patient voices must shape the future of cancer care.
Heidi Rehm – Building Communities Around Data
Heidi provided insights into how robust data infrastructure and collaborative networks enable more effective data sharing, emphasising sustainability and equitable access. Her examples from rare disease research are directly applicable to cancer genomics.
Data Release 13: A Major Milestone
A landmark achievement celebrated at the workshop, Data Release 13 doubled the number of donors available to researchers. The platform now includes 5,528 donors, over 130,000 files spanning genomic, transcriptomic, and clinical data, and contributions from over 8,000 registered patients. Newly added programs include the BC Cancer Personalized OncoGenomics Program (POG-CA), CRUK Grand Challenge – Mutographs (MUTO-INTL), Polyethnic-1000 (P1000-US), and MONSTAR-Japan (MONSTAR-JP).
Save the Date!
We extend sincere thanks to our hosts, speakers, and attendees for making the 22nd Scientific Workshop a vibrant and impactful gathering. Join us for the 23rd Scientific Workshop and 10th ARGO Meeting in Italy, 2026!
