Press Release
Feb 05, 2020
For future updates to this statement, visit: IASLC Website
For updates related to WCLC 2020, visit: WCLC 2020 COVID-19 Updates
Considering the growing universal concern due to the recent outbreak of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), the IASLC continues to monitor the situation daily. Our primary focus is to ensure the health and welfare of attendees and faculty at all IASLC meetings and activities. The IASLC website (www.IASLC.org) is the official source of updates to all IASLC meetings and events. We have updated the status of our upcoming meetings as follows:
- World Conference on Lung Cancer: After careful consideration of the current situation, the IASLC Board of Directors and leadership have made the decision to postpone the IASLC 2020 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC 2020), which was scheduled to take place August 9 - 12, 2020 in Singapore. At this time, the World Conference on Lung Cancer has been rescheduled to January 26 - 29, 2021 in Singapore (WCLC 2020 Singapore). The postponement was based on multiple factors, including the current travel restrictions put in place by Singapore, the U.S. and other countries, and, importantly, the toll currently being placed on our health care community. These restrictions significantly affect the ability of delegates, speakers, presenters and exhibitors to participate fully in the WCLC 2020. This decision also underlines our commitment to containing the virus and preventing further sickness and loss of life, as per WHO recommendations. We recognize that many people have already contributed a great deal of time and energy into helping prepare for this event, and we share this sense of disappointment.Given the postponement, we will transfer your registration to the event in January 2021, at no cost.?Should you be unable to join us in January 2021, your registration?fee?will be?refunded. Cancellations received by June 1, 2020 will be refunded fully. Cancellations received after June 1, 2020 may be subject to the standard cancellation policy. Abstract submission remains open until August 28, 2020. Further details about the WCLC 2020 Singapore can be found at https://wclc2020.iaslc.org/.
- European Lung Cancer Congress: The IASLC and ESMO leadership have made the difficult,but unavoidable, decision to cancel the2020 European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC 2020), which was scheduled to takeplace take place April 15-18, 2020, in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Liquid Biopsy: We are postponing the Liquid Biopsy meeting and will place it adjacent to the 2020 North America Conference on Lung Cancer from October 15-17, 2020 in Chicago. Dates and additional information will be shared at a later date.
- European Immunotherapy Lung Cancer Conference: The IASLC has cancelled the EILCC conference in Munich scheduled for November 6-8, 2020. At this time, the IASLC is collaborating with ESMO to deliver this important content in conjunction with the ESMO Immunotherapy meeting in December 2020.
We also recommend that you review the public notice for travelers released by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations in preparation for your travel and attendance for any meetings or activities.
We recognize that many of our global and multidisciplinary members and meeting attendees are healthcare workers who are on the frontline of studying, diagnosing and treating lung cancer. We want to express our gratitude and admiration to them and to all health care professionals working in incredibly difficult circumstances to contain this outbreak and prevent further loss of life. In addition, our thoughts are with the many patients and their families who are coping with the effects of this pandemic.
IASLC and its members have created additional resources for reference in relation to this evolving heath situation.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns at info@iaslc.org.