Conference Programming
The 2nd Africa HepatoPancreatoBiliary Cancers Consortium (AHPBCC) Annual Conference will convene a global, multi-disciplinary audience of the scientific, medical, and academic communities; industry partners, advocates and patients who represent a diversity of perspectives.
The Conference programming has been designed to harness resources and expertise across the African Continent, Europe, and the United States to inform strategies for improved survival of patients with cancers of the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas by:
- Increasing the knowledge and understanding of attendees about key issues central to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure for HPB cancers in Africa
- Identifying gaps and gathering consensus on rapidly changing advances in research
- Stimulating international, multi-disciplinary, cross-cooperation and sharing of best practices
- Fostering dialogue and inspiring innovation
Pre-conference Workshops on a variety of topics will have a diverse team of facilitators and presenters from within Africa, Europe, and the United States to provide multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural perspectives.
There will be cross-disciplinary oral and poster presentations focused on HPB cancers. Established investigators and clinicians, early career physicians and scientists, graduate students, and women in science from global institutions will be represented. Efforts have been made to ensure geographic and gender balance in the oral presentations. The Poster Session Planning Committee will select three poster presentations for recognition and certificate awards.
The Mentoring and Career Development Initiative will provide early career researchers with opportunities to develop and expand their education with guidance from a global community of renowned experts. Programming includes a half-day pre-conference workshop, with opportunities for oral abstracts, poster sessions, speaker presentations, and group discussions. A dedicated team of young investigators will forge new alliances, stimulate dialogue, and inspire innovation in the study of HepatoPancreatoBiliary Cancers, all with the common goal of improving the quality of life for those affected by these devastating cancers and ensuring that a pipeline of young investigators is recruited, cultivated, and encouraged to make this research their life’s work.
The AHPBCC 2022, 2023, and 2024 Conferences are supported in part by an R13 grant award from the United States National Cancer Institute.
Conference Agenda
Pre-Conference Workshops (9:00AM-4:00PM)
MORNING SESSION (9:00AM-12:00PM)
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- Clinical Tools and Skills to Diagnose and Monitor HPB Related Cancers – Abdominal Ultrasound and FibroScan
Chairs: Professor Ashraf Omar (Egypt) and Dr. Yaw Wiafe (Ghana) - Advanced Endoscopy Workshop
Chairs: Dr. Akwi Asombang (USA) and Dr. Amoako Duah (Ghana) - Pathology Case Discussions: HPB Cancer Review for Pathologists
Chairs: Dr. Ernest Adjei (Ghana) and Dr. Abidemi Omonisi (Nigeria) - Conducting Basic and Translational Science Research in Africa
Chairs: Professor Regina Appiah-Opong (Ghana), Professor Jesus Banales (Spain), and Dr. Marius Nagalo (USA)
- Clinical Tools and Skills to Diagnose and Monitor HPB Related Cancers – Abdominal Ultrasound and FibroScan
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Lunch and Networking (12:00PM-1:00PM)
AFTERNOON SESSION (1:00PM-4:00PM)
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- Career Development Workshop – In partnership with the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
Chairs: Dr. Hailemichael Desalegn (Ethiopia)
- Career Development Workshop – In partnership with the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
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- Global Advocacy for HPB Cancers
Chairs: Ms Stacie Lindsey, Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (USA); Dr. Riaz Kasmani, Mombasa Cancer Center (Kenya); and Pharm Bisi Bright, LiveWell Initiative LWI (Nigeria)
- Global Advocacy for HPB Cancers
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OPENING SESSION (5:00PM)
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- AHPBCC Welcome Address
Professor Lewis Roberts (USA) and Dr. Yvonne Nartey (Ghana) - GASLIDD Welcome Address
Professor Yaw Asante Awuku (Ghana) and Dr. Amoako Duah (Ghana) - AORTIC Welcome Address
Dr. Hannah Ayettey Anie (Ghana) - Ghana Health Service Welcome Address
Dr. Patrick-Kuma Aboagye (Ghana) - Opening Keynote: History of Liver Transplantation in Africa & Transfer of Experience in LDLTx
Professor Amr Abdelaal (Egypt) President of the Egyptian Liver Transplantation Society (ELTS) and Secretary of the Pan Arab Liver Transplantation Society (PALTS) - Dinner and Conference Objectives: Identifying Challenges, Successes, and Opportunities for HPB Cancer Research and Care in Africa
Mr. Matthew Cooley (USA)
- AHPBCC Welcome Address
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SESSION 1: HPB CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY, RISK, AND PREVENTION (9:00AM-12:00PM)
Chair: Dr. Samuel Antwi (USA/Ghana)
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- Genomics and Cancer Risk
- Dr. Manal Hassan (USA/Egypt)
- Germline Associations for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
- Dr. Kirk Wangensteen (USA)
- Genetic Epidemiology of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Dr. Samuel Antwi (USA)
- “STOP” Hepatitis C Project – Ghana
- Dr. Yvonne Nartey and Dr. Samuel Antwi (USA)
- HEPSANET
- Dr. Hailemichael Desalegn (Ethiopia)
- Presentation, Treatment, and Survival of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Changes in Egypt over the Last Decade
- Professor Mohamed El-Kassas (Egypt)
- Chronic Hepatitis in Nalerigu, Ghana
- Dr. Teresa Fowler (USA)
- Discussion Panel: Implementing Cancer Prevention Through Risk-Factor Elimination and Reduction
Session 1 Speakers
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Lunch, Networking, Posters, and Exhibit Hall (12:00pm-1:00pm)
SESSION 2: HPB CANCER DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS (1:00PM-4:00PM)
Chair: Dr. Emmanuel Nweke (South Africa)
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- Multiomics of PDAC in South African Patients
Dr. Emmanuel Nweke (South Africa) - Pathology Techniques to Diagnose and Monitor HPB Diseases
Professor Fatimah Abdulkareem (Nigeria) - Liquid Biopsy: Novel cfDNA Assays to Detect and Diagnose HPB Cancers
Professor Jesus Banales (Spain) - AI-Assisted Tools for the Early Detection of Liver Disease
Dr. Douglas Simonetto (USA) - GALAD Score Performance in Liver Cancer Detection in Africa (Virtual)
Dr. Ju Dong Yang (USA) - Expanding Advanced Endoscopy in Africa
Dr. Akwi Asombang (USA) - Development of a Quantitative Assay Immunochromatographic Assay
or the Detection of CEA in Pancreatic Cyst FluidDr. Kwaku Baryeh (USA) - Discussion Panel: Assessing and Implementing Novel Detection and Diagnostic Methods in Africa
Session 2 Speakers
- Multiomics of PDAC in South African Patients
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DINNER PROGRAM (6:00PM-8:00PM)
SESSION 3: BUILDING COLLABORATIVE TEAMS, IDENTIFYING FUNDING MECHANISMS, AND PUBLISHING RESEARCH IN AFRICA (9:00AM-11:00AM)
Chair: Dr. Abidemi Omonisi (Nigeria)
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- AHPBCC Project Update: Epidemiology of HCC in Africa, HCC Genomics in Africa, Biospecimen Collection Pilot Awards, and ERCP Training
Professor Lewis Roberts (USA), Kurt Sartorius (South Africa), Dr. Emmanuel Nweke (South Africa) and Dr. Akwi Asombang (USA) - Publishing in Africa
Dr. Kurt Sartorius (South Africa) and Dr. Samuel Antwi (USA)
- AHPBCC Project Update: Epidemiology of HCC in Africa, HCC Genomics in Africa, Biospecimen Collection Pilot Awards, and ERCP Training
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- Global Registries for HPB Cancers
Professor Jesus Banales (Spain) and Dr. Abidemi Antwi (Nigeria)
- Global Registries for HPB Cancers
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- New Opportunities to Improve Cancer Health Disparities Research
Dr. James Alaro (USA)
- New Opportunities to Improve Cancer Health Disparities Research
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- Discussion Panel: Building [and Funding] Collaborative Research Teams
Session 3 Speakers
- Discussion Panel: Building [and Funding] Collaborative Research Teams
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GUIDED POSTER SESSION
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Lunch, Networking, Posters, and Exhibit Hall (11:00AM-1:00PM)
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SESSION 4: CLINICAL TREATMENT AND PALLIATIVE CARE IN HPB DISEASES
Chair: Professor Ashraf Omar (Egypt)
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SESSION 4: CLINICAL TREATMENT AND PALLIATIVE CARE IN HPB DISEASES
Chair: Professor Ashraf Omar (Egypt)
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- Systemic Therapy for HPB Cancer
Dr. Mohammed Ezzi (Kenya) and Dr. Njoki Njiraini (Kenya) - Interventional Radiology Management of HPB Cancers – Ablation, Percutaneous Biliary Stenting
Dr. Benjamin Sarkodie (Ghana) - Surgical Panel: Management of HPB Cancers
Dr. Jackson Chipaila (Zambia), Dr. Michael Okello (Uganda), Dr. John Devar (South Africa), and Dr. Asare Offei (Ghana) - Global Clinical Trials for HPB Cancers
Dr. Mitesh Borad (USA) - Clinical Trials Readiness
Dr. Adalynn Harris (USA) - Palliative Care in HPB Cancer
Dr. Helena Masmu (Kenya), Dr. Mawuli Gyakobo (Ghana), and Dr. Edwin Addo (Ghana) - Advocacy for Patients with HPB Cancers
Stacie Lindsey, Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (USA) - Discussion Panel: Improving Clinical Care for Patients with HPB Diseases in Africa
Session 4 Speakers - Roche Africa Symposium: The Role of Checkpoint Inhibitors and Other Targeted Therapy in the Systemic Management of HCC – A Case Study
Professor Hamdy Abdel Azim (Egypt)
- Systemic Therapy for HPB Cancer
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DINNER PROGRAM (6:00PM-8:00PM)
SESSION 5: IMPLEMENTING LIVER TRANSPLANTATION PROGRAMS IN AFRICA (9:00AM-11:00AM)
Chair: Professor Victor Ankoma-Sey (USA) and Professor Wendy Spearman (South Africa)
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- Liver Transplantation Update: Egypt
Professor Ashraf Omar (Egypt) - Liver Transplantation in Africa: What is Needed and Where We Are in Africa
Professor Wendy Spearman (South Africa) - Barriers to Liver Transplant Program Sustainment in Ghana
Dr. Asare Offei (Ghana) - Brain Death, Circulatory Death, and Deceased Organ Donation Systems
Professor David Thompson (South Africa) - Liver Transplantation Options for Patients in Africa
Dr. Pathik Parikh (India) - Discussion Panel: Implementing Sustainable Liver Transplantation Programs in Africa
Session 5 Speakers
- Liver Transplantation Update: Egypt
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CLOSING SESSION (11:00AM)
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- Awards and AHPBCC 2024 Conference Announcement
Professor Lewis Roberts (USA) and Mr. Matthew Cooley (USA) - Closing Remarks
Professor Lewis Roberts (USA)
- Awards and AHPBCC 2024 Conference Announcement
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