Another successful World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) for I3LUNG

September, 10 2025 - 3 min read

Barcelona in early September gave us more than late summer sun, tapas, and strolls by the beach, it gave us WCLC 2025, the biggest global stage for lung cancer research. And this year, I3LUNG showed up with ideas, data, posters, and people ready to shake things up. 

The World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), organized by the IASLC, brought together passionate minds and lung cancer experts from around the world, and I3LUNG was right there in the mix. Here’s how we made our mark with five bold moves during the congress. 

 

1. We kicked things off with bold conversations at the IST Innovation Forum on September 6

On day 1 of the Congress, MEDSIR from work package 1 and 10, hosted a side event that got people talking. One of the topics during IST Innovation Forum was how AI can boost innovation in investigator-sponsored trials. Our own Dr. Arsela Prelaj led a thought-provoking session on how data and algorithms are reshaping clinical trials from the inside out. 

 

 

2. We listened to coughs: yes, coughs, to detect cancer. Poster P1.04.51, on September 7 at 10:30 AM

On Sunday morning, Arsela presented our research on multimodal cough analysis as a pre-screening tool for NSCLC. The idea? Using AI to catch subtle audio and signal patterns in patients’ coughs to detect lung cancer earlier and less invasively. It sparked curiosity. Some attendees stayed and asked questions, intrigued by how something as ordinary as a cough could play a role in early detection. 

 

 

3. PD-L1 predictions from H&E whole-slides images. Poster P2.06.65, September 8 at 10:30 AM

 Vanja Stojanovic, from POLIMI partner, presented our ensemble AI model capable of predicting PD-L1 expression from standard H&E whole-slide images. Translation: fewer extra tests, faster insights, and a new way to support clinical decisions using data we already have. 

A great way to start a conversation on how far pathology can go when teamed up with tech. Watch video here.

 

 

4. Oral sessions are always a highlight at #WCLC2025! 

This oral on “A Multimodal AI-Based Clinical Decision Support System for Predicting Immunotherapy Efficacy in Metastatic NSCLC” marks an important milestone for our project, and we are grateful to all the colleagues and collaborators whose dedication makes every study, every paper, and every presentation possible.

 

 

 

 

5. We hit the plenary stage and talked big data, big impact. PL04.03, September 9 at 8:30 AM

 Yes, the plenary. On Tuesday morning, bright and early, Dr. Arsela Prelaj took the spotlight for “Data-Driven Oncology: How Big Data and AI Can Transform Lung Cancer.” 

For 15 minutes, the room was fully tuned in. She painted a clear picture of how multimodal data (spanning clinical records, scans, pathology, and genomics) can help us move from “one-size-fits-all” to personalized, precise, and smarter treatment decisions.  

 

 

From poster sessions to plenary talks, from after-hours brainstorms to spontaneous reunions with colleagues across Europe and beyond, WCLC 2025 had it all. The I3LUNG team was once again energized and inspired to keep pushing the boundaries of lung cancer care. 

See you next year, #WCLC26! 

 

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