Keep up with the methods and technologies that are revolutionizing breast cancer research during new hands-on sessions at the 2026 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium®.
SABCS 2026, December 8-11 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, will feature two workshops designed to help participants get familiar with novel approaches through active engagement rather than a passive lecture. These sessions, scheduled concurrently on Tuesday, December 8, from 12:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., will require a small fee and advance reservation to support a guided, small-group learning experience.
The first workshop, Beyond Animal Models: Novel Alternative Methods for Breast Cancer Research, will walk participants through alternatives to animal models that can be used in laboratory research. A group of experts will center instruction around several specific methods, including patient-derived organoids for modeling tumor heterogeneity and drug response and using microfluidics and tumor microenvironment modeling to capture complexity in miniature.
“The focus is on helping researchers take the first steps toward using real-world data to answer meaningful research questions,” said Kate Lathrop, MD, SABCS program director and associate professor at the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio. “What data sets are available, how can researchers access them, and what statistical considerations are essential to a rigorous analysis?”
The second workshop, Artificial Intelligence Based Advances in Pathology, will showcase artificial intelligence (AI) innovations in breast cancer pathology. Presenters will illuminate applications that can be incorporated into daily clinical duties, including breast cancer subtype prediction and possibilities related to biomarkers and therapy, Dr. Lathrop said.
“The goal is to give attendees hands-on experience using these platforms,” she said.
SABCS attendees will also be able to try AI platforms in a new maker space in the SABCS Exhibition Hall. Attendees can sign up for services and learn to use the platforms on the spot, with no additional equipment needed. Details about the maker space and other Exhibition Hall offerings will be posted on SABCS.org in the coming weeks. For current session titles, times and locations, visit the Program page at SABCS.org.
