15th International Seminar of the European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC) - Research & Innovation: Shaping the Future of Palliative Care
Disponibilidad: Hay plazas
Presentation
On behalf of the host institution, Institut Català d’Oncologia (ICO), and the European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC) at Oslo University Hospital, we are pleased to welcome you to the vibrant city of Barcelona in Spain.
The annual PRC Seminar provides a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge, foster collaboration, and explore innovative approaches in palliative care. This year’s theme is:
Research & Innovation:
Shaping the Future of Palliative Care
Palliative care and patient-centred care remain cornerstones of comprehensive cancer care and are critical to improving quality of life. By integrating these principles and considering the broader role of digitalisation, we aim to advance both research and clinical practice.
The seminar will feature plenary sessions with invited keynote speakers, honorary lectures, a large number of oral presentations based on submitted abstracts, and poster presentations.
Goals
The PRC Seminar 2026 brings together researchers, clinicians, and collaborators from across Europe and beyond to share new knowledge and perspectives in palliative care.
The seminar aims to highlight the latest advances in research, strengthen collaboration and networking, and support the translation of evidence into clinical practice.
Participants
The seminar is aimed at healthcare professionals, researchers, representatives from voluntary organisations, and policy maker, while also welcoming anyone with an interest in palliative care.
Dates and venue
Tuesday 10th November 2026 from 8:00 am to 16:45 pm
Wednesday 11th Noviembre 2026 from 8:00 am to 16:15 pm
📌 In-person attendance only
🏛️ Hospital Bellvitge – Carrer de la Feixa Llarga, s/n, 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona.
Program
**Full programme details will be announced soon. In the meantime, we are pleased to share a preview of this year’s keynote speakers and sessions below.
The PRC Seminar 2026 programme is currently under development, with the Scientific Committee working closely with PRC to create a highly engaging and forward-looking programme.
As in previous years, the programme will be largely based on submitted abstracts from researchers across the field of palliative care, reflecting the breadth, quality, and innovation of ongoing work. To complement this, the seminar will feature keynote lectures in each session delivered by internationally recognized experts. Involvement across Europe is important, and the programme will include a dedicated session highlighting collaborative EU-funded projects, showcasing cross-border research initiatives and opportunities for future collaboration.
Professor Christoph Ostgathe
Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany
Session: From Low Tech to High Tech: Researching Technological Innovations for Palliative Care
Keynote presentation: Technology and Palliative Care: A Changing Landscape
Dr Breffni Hannon
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada
Session: Innovations in Patient‑Centred Care Models
Keynote presentation: Advance care planning and incorporation into the digital health record
Professor Pål Klepstad
St Olav University Hospital and Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
Session: Advancing End‑of‑Life Care: New Research and Clinical Practice
Keynote presentation: Findings from the IHOD (InHOspital Dying) study
Professor Sandra Martins Pereira
Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso, Universidade dos Açores, Portugal
Session: Advancing Practice Through Education and Implementation
Keynote presentation: Ethics in the development and implementation of novel interventions in clinical research in palliative care
Dr Paul Howard
Mountbatten Hospice and St Mary’s Hospital, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom
Sesión: Symptom Management in Palliative Care
Ponencia principal: Symptom Management in Palliative Care: Needs, Guidelines, and Digital Futures
G. W. Hanks Award
The G. W. Hanks Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding and sustained contributions to palliative care research through scholarly excellence, long‑term commitment, and significant impact on the field.
The European Palliative Care Research Centre is proud to honour Professor Irene J. Higginson with the G. W. Hanks Award and to welcome her as Honorary Lecturer at the PRC Seminar 2026.
Professor Higginson is a globally recognized leader in palliative care whose pioneering research in symptom assessment, outcome measurement, and evidence‑based service development has shaped international standards and influenced clinical practice and health policy worldwide. Her sustained leadership, strong commitment to patient‑centred care, and profound impact on palliative medicine make her an outstanding and highly deserving recipient of this award.
Professor Higginson will deliver the G. W. Hanks Honorary Lecture during the seminar, marking a highlight of the programme.
Accreditation
Certificate of Attendance can be obtained from the registration platform upon request.
Scientific committee
Professor Barry Laird (Scientific Lead) | Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Norway
Professor Emeritus Stein Kaasa | Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Norway
Dr. Tonje Lundeby | Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Norway
Dr. Jesús González-Barboteo | Institut Català d’Oncologia (ICO), Barcelona, Spain
Professor Sandra Martins Pereira | Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso, Universidade dos Açores, Portugal
Dr. Alberto Alonso Babarro | Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
Professor Joaquim Limonero García | Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
Professor Camilla Zimmermann | Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Canada
Dr. Anthony Duffy | St Columba’s Hospice Care, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Professor Christoph Ostgathe | Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany
Professor Augusto Caraceni | Fondazione IRCCS National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy
Professor Mogens Grønvold | University of Copenhagen and Bispebjerg Hospital, Denmark
Professor Anna Reyners | University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands
Dr. Nicoleta Mitrea | University of Transilvania and Hospice Casa Sperantei, Brașov, Romania
Scientific Committee Coordination and Seminar Management
Trine Hogstvedt Gravli | Oslo University Hospital, Norway
Social Event
The social event will consist of a guided tour of the Sant Pau Modernist Complex.
Address: Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, Horta-Guinardó, 08025 Barcelona
⏱️ Duration: 75 minutos
🏛️ What you will see on the tour:
- hospital wards with period furniture
- main rooms
- exhibitions featuring historical artefacts and instruments from the period
- gardens
🍸🍽️ After the guided tour, you can enjoy a lovely cocktail.
Contact
Please contact us if you have any questions:
- For registration-related questions please contact Marta González at martagonzalezm@iconcologia.net
- For abstracts and general inquiries please contact Trine Hogstvedt at trigra@ous-hf.no
