This conference brings together a diverse group of experts to explore the transformative impact of AI on cancer diagnosis, treatment, and surgery. By facilitating interdisciplinary dialogue, the conference will address not only medical and technical breakthroughs, but also the ethical and legal implications of these innovations.
Organized by: Sara Gerke, Associate Professor of Law & Richard W. & Marie L. Corman Scholar, College of Law; Associate Professor, European Union Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; in collaboration with the Cancer Center at Illinois.
The conference is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
REGISTER TO ATTEND
CONFERENCE AGENDA
September 4 - Day 1: Opening Perspectives
4:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Registration and Refreshments
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Opening Remarks
Speaker: Rohit Bhargava, PhD, Phillip and Ann Sharp Director, Cancer Center at Illinois; Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering, Professor in Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Keynote Address
Speaker: Ronan Cahill, MD, PhD, Professor of Surgery, University College Dublin
Presentation: CLASSICA – An EU Consortium to Validate AI During Cancer Surgery
This keynote will present insights from the CLASSICA Project, a pioneering Horizon Europe-funded project aimed at improving cancer surgery outcomes by integrating AI into the operating room.
Moderator: Sara Gerke, Dipl-Jur Univ, MA, Associate Professor of Law & Richard W. & Marie L. Corman Scholar, College of Law; Associate Professor, European Union Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
September 5 - Day 2: Deep Dive and Dialogue
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Registration and Breakfast
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM
Opening Remarks
Speaker: Jamelle Sharpe, JD, Dean, Professor of Law, Guy Raymond Jones Faculty Scholar, College of Law, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
Keynote Address
Speaker: Ravi B. Parikh, MD, MPP, FACP, Associate Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University
Presentation:
Generative AI in Medicine: Insights from the National Academy of Medicine’s Digital Health and AI Action Collaborative and Implications for Oncology
This keynote will present the latest work of the National Academy of Medicine’s Digital Health and AI Action Collaborative on generative AI in medicine. It will explore both the transformative potential and key concerns of this emerging technology—highlighting regulatory and policy considerations—and reflect on its relevance and implications for cancer care.
Moderator: Sara Gerke, Dipl-Jur Univ, MA, Associate Professor of Law & Richard W. & Marie L. Corman Scholar, College of Law; Associate Professor, European Union Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
10:15 AM – 10:45 AM
Coffee Break and Networking
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Panel 1: Advances in AI for Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment, and Surgery
This panel explores recent breakthroughs in AI applications across oncology—from diagnostic imaging to predictive modeling—while also addressing key challenges to implementation and integration.
Speakers:
- Georgina Cheng, MD, PhD, Gynecologic Oncologist, Clinical Assistant Professor, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Maryellen L. Giger, PhD, A.N. Pritzker Distinguished Service Professor of Radiology, The University of Chicago
- Volodymyr Kindratenko, D.Sc., Assistant Director, National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Moderator: Suguna Pappu, MD, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor, Clinical Sciences, Director of Student Research, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch and Networking
1:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Panel 2: Ethics and Patient-Centered AI in Oncology
This session examines the ethical dimensions of AI in cancer care, focusing on patient autonomy, algorithmic transparency, and the integration of human values in technological design.
Speakers:
- Elisabeth Hildt, Dr., Professor of Philosophy, Director of the Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions, Illinois Institute of Technology
- Kelly Michelson, MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics, Julia and David Uihlein Professor of Bioethics and Medical Humanities, Northwestern University
- Melvin Speisman, MD, President, American College of Artificial Intelligence and Medicine
Moderator: Arden Rowell, JD, Professor of Law, College of Law, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
2:15 PM – 2:45 PM
Coffee Break and Networking
2:45 PM – 4:00 PM
Panel 3: Policy and Regulation: National and International Perspectives on Cancer AI
This panel addresses the legal and regulatory frameworks governing AI in cancer care, highlighting both current approaches and emerging challenges in the U.S. and internationally.
Speakers:
- Nathan Cortez, JD, Co-Director of the Tsai Center for Law, Science and Innovation; Adelfa Botello Callejo Endowed Professor of Law in Leadership and Latino Studies, SMU Dedman School of Law
- Quinn Shean, JD, Senior Advisor, Tusk Venture Partners
- Charlotte Tschider, MA, JD, Professor of Law, Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Moderator: Jacob S. Sherkow, JD, MA, Professor of Law, College of Law; Professor of Medicine, Carle Illinois College of Medicine; University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Concluding Fireside Chat: Future Horizons in Cancer AI
A forward-looking conversation on innovation, global challenges, and collaborative opportunities in the AI-driven transformation of cancer care.
Speaker: Claudius Conrad, MD, PhD, Associate Dean of Research and Innovation, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Moderator: Timothy M. Fan, DVM, PhD, Professor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Reception
A casual networking opportunity with light refreshments and appetizers to close the conference.