The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2025 Annual Meeting, held from 30 May to 4 June in Chicago, USA, brought together more than 44,000 participants from around the globe, with 40% hailing from countries outside the United States. The event served as a vital platform to share groundbreaking research and foster global collaboration, especially within the pediatric oncology community.

Several SIOP members from North America and other regions attended the meeting, contributing to the scientific dialogue and connecting with colleagues from across the world.

A major highlight for SIOP was the recognition of SIOP member Dr. Melissa Hudson, who received the prestigious ASCO-Pediatric Oncology Award. Dr. Hudson delivered a powerful and insightful lecture reflecting on her journey and contributions to the field of survivorship, inspiring attendees with her leadership and dedication.

Dr. Rejin Kebudi, SIOP Secretary General, was appointed Chair of the ASCO International Development and Education Award (IDEA) Steering Group. Rejin Kebudi is former recipient of the prestigious ASCO International Woman Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award. The IDEA programme, which is part of the ASCO International Affairs Committee, supports early-career oncologists in low- and middle-income countries and encourages knowledge-sharing across borders. Since its inception in 2002, IDEA has been a cornerstone of ASCO’s global outreach. In her opening remarks, Dr. Kebudi warmly welcomed the 28 IDEA 2025 awardees and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the steering group members, faculty of the two-day “Leadership Skills Training Course,” programme mentors, ASCO leadership, Conquer Cancer, and sponsors for their continued collaborative efforts.

This year, nearly 6,500 abstracts were accepted and presented at ASCO 2025, with 95 focused on paediatric oncology! Many of these had SIOP members as co-authors (primarily from North America, followed by Europe and a number from low- and middle-income countries). Paediatric oncology research was also prominently featured in the Sarcoma and CNS tumour categories.

Oncodaily, led by Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan, SIOP Asia President, hosted a reception and maintained an active presence at the meeting with a dedicated booth, continuing to amplify the voices of oncology professionals and promote global knowledge exchange.

Another proud moment came when Dr. Philip Mwachaka received one of the ASCO Global Oncology Young Investigator Awards for his work on the epidemiological characteristics and survival of childhood CNS tumours in Kenya, a significant achievement that underscores the importance of research in paediatric oncology in low-resource settings.

SIOP congratulates all its members who participated in ASCO 2025, shared research, received awards, or took on new leadership roles. The meeting once again demonstrated the power of collaboration, community, and commitment to advancing childhood cancer care around the world.