BACKGROUND

At the 1st International Conference on Cancer on the Internet, held in New York last June, the New York Statement was drafted and signed by many of the conference participants. The Statement has been used as a guide for developing the program for the 2nd International Conference on Cancer on the Internet. A number of challenges are outlined in the New York Statement and one of the prime aims of this conference is to identify how best to meet these challenges.

"NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU CAN USE YOUR PC TO ATTEND VIA LIVE WEBCAST"

TARGET AUDIENCE
Health professionals, cancer researchers, patients, policy makers, journalists and people working in the IT and pharmaceutical industries interested in learning more about how information technology can contribute to cancer research, treatment and care.

FACULTY
Matti Aapro, Clinique de Genolier, Genolier, CH
Kay Dickersin, Brown University, Providence, USA
Joan Dzenowagis, World Health Organization, Health InterNetwork, Geneva, CH
Tom Ferguson, Online Health, Austin, USA
Gilles Frydman, Association of Cancer Online Resources, New York, USA
Mary Gospodarowicz, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, CAN
David Gustafson, University of Wisonsin-Madison, Madison, USA
Gerard Hastings, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
Alex Jadad, University of Toronto, Toronto, CAN
Nora Kearney, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
Gordon McVie, Cancer Intelligence, Bristol, UK
Rosemarie Perocchia, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
Robert Phillips, Ontario Cancer Research Network, Toronto, CAN
Günter Raab, Frauenklinik Marienhospital, Stuttgart, DE
Kathy Redmond, Editor Cancer World, Milan, IT
Norman Schrezer The Life Raft Group, Wayne, USA
Petra Wilson, European Health Management Association, Brussels BE

THE EUROPEAN SCHOOL OF ONCOLOGY
ESO is a non-profit organization that has the aim of updating and providing continuing medical education for health professionals about all aspects of cancer care. For information on the ESO programs and activities, please visit www.cancerworld.org

PROGRAM

SEPTEMBER 13
09:00	Opening of the conference Alex Jadad, Gordon McVie, Matti Aapro, Kathy Redmond
09:10	The New York Statement (available at www.cancerworld.org) Alex Jadad
09:20	PROMOTING DIGITAL INCLUSION: LOCAL TO GLOBAL LESSONS Chair: Gordon McVie •  Global efforts to bridge the digital divide: Health InterNetworks experience; Joan Dzenowagis • Regional efforts to bridge the digital divide: European experience; Petra Wilson • Local efforts to bridge the digital divide: NCI funded digital inclusion project in Harlem; Rosemarie Perocchia • Round table discussion Bridging the digital divide: Implications for the New York Statement
11:15	Coffee break
11:30	Reports from the field I
13:00	Lunch break
14:00	Reports from the field II
15:30	Coffee break
15:45	USING THE INTERNET TO OPTIMIZE CANCER CARE Chair: Matti Aapro •  Harnessing the power of the Internet to boost cancer research; Robert Phillips • Internet based documentation of clinical trials; Günter Raab • ITC as a tool to optimize cancer care; Nora Kearney • Roundtable discussion Using the Internet to optimize cancer care: Implications for the New York Statement
17:30	End of the daily program
SEPTEMBER 14
08:30	KEYNOTE ADDRESS Harnessing the power of the Internet in the fight against cancer; Kay Dickersin
09:45	E-CANCER PATIENTS Chair: Kathy Redmond •  The first generation of ePatients: What we know so far; Tom Ferguson • Online support systems for cancer patients; David Gustafson • Online support communities: An important resource for cancer patients; Gilles Frydman
11:00	Coffee break
11:15	Roundtable discussion with the participation of Norman Scherzer Cancer on the Internet - The good, the bad and the ugly for cancer patients: Implications for the New York Statement
12:15	Lunch
13:15	FOSTERING GLOBAL COLLABORATION: THE ROLE OF THE INTERNET Chair: Alex Jadad •  Challenges to global collaboration; Mary Gospodarowicz • Global collaboration: Lessons from big business; Gerard Hastings • Round table discussion Avoiding duplication of effort through global collaboration: Implications for the New York Statement
14:45	Coffee break
15:00	CONSENSUS SESSION WITH PARTICIPANTS' VOTE Modifying the New York Statement •  Promoting digital inclusion; Gordon McVie • Using the Internet to optimize cancer care; Matti Aapro • eCancer patients; Kathy Redmond • Fostering global collaboration; Alex Jadad
16:00	Concluding session with participants’ vote eCrossroad: where do we go from here?
17:00	Closure of the conference

GENERAL INFORMATION

CONFERENCE VENUE
The Conference will be held at:
Rockefeller University
1230 York Avenue
New York, USA.

PROGRAM MANAGER
Jill Vertes

Please mail or fax registration form (Attention: Jill Vertes) to:
American-Italian Cancer Foundation
112 East 71st Street
Suite 2B
New York, NY 10021

Fax: 212.517.6089
For more information, please call Jill Vertes at 212.628.9090.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
Rooms have been secured for the conference participants in the following hotels, 5-10 minute ride from the Rockefeller University.
To obtain the conference rates please contact the hotel by the deadline and indicate the reference “American-Italian Cancer Foundation and ESO group rate”.

REGISTRATION

The registration fee is quoted in US Dollars and Euros at the exchange rate of 24 May. The fee will not be adapted to possible fluctuations in the exchange rate. Please see also “Payment”. The fee includes access to the conference, a copy of the program book and coffee breaks during the program Lunch is not included in the fee, nor is transportation from the hotel to the venue and vice versa.

CONFIRMATION
Registration will be confirmed upon receipt of the registration fee. A combined confirmation of registration / acknowledgement of payment will be sent by e-mail.

CANCELLATION
In case of cancellation without replacement, the fee less handling charges of USD 67 / EUR 56 will be refunded, provided a written request is received by ESO before 27 August, 2004. No refund can be made if notice of cancellation is received after this date. Refunds are processed after the conference.

REGISTRATION TO THE ON-LINE CONFERENCE
The conference may be viewed live via the Internet with the possibility to interact with the faculty by asking questions and comments by e-mail. Participants registered to the on-line conference will receive an authentication key that will allow them to access the system and attend the two-day conference. High-speed Internet connection is required for the best view of the on-line conference. All webcast registrants will receive a cd copy of all the conference's general session presentations.

*Participants coming from countries defined as “Low-income economies” or “Lower-middle-income economies” by the World Bank www.worldbank.org qualify for the discounted registration fee to the conference.