SCHD26 Highlights: Record-Breaking Summit Advancing Global Cancer Health Equity

The 2026 Summit on Cancer Health Disparities (SCHD26) marked a milestone moment in global oncology, bringing together experts from 32 countries to address inequities in cancer care. With record attendance, over 100 research abstracts, and the debut of the Impact Pitch funding model, the conference showcased innovative approaches to advancing health equity worldwide.

At a Glance: Key Highlights from SCHD26

• Record-breaking attendance at SCHD26: The 2026 Summit on Cancer Health Disparities (SCHD26), hosted by Binaytara in Bellevue, saw its highest participation to date, reflecting growing urgency around cancer health equity.
• Global reach of disparities research: SCHD26 received more than 100 abstract submissions from 32 countries across six continents, highlighting the worldwide scope of cancer disparities and collaborative research efforts.
• Launch of the Impact Pitch competition: SCHD26 introduced a first-of-its-kind live research funding event, awarding up to $50,000 total through the Binaytara Implementation Science Research Award.
• Mentorship-driven funding model: Unlike traditional grant processes, the Impact Pitch combined real-time expert feedback with funding decisions, improving research quality during evaluation.
• Patient advocacy integrated into scientific dialogue: Sessions like “Advocacy in Action” elevated community voices and policy-driven solutions.
• Continued momentum beyond SCHD26:
• Next Impact Pitch scheduled for October 2026 in Nashville
• Abstracts published in the International Journal of Cancer Care and Delivery
• Session recordings to be released online

A Record-Breaking Global Summit on Cancer Health Disparities

BELLEVUE, WA—Binaytara’s 2026 Summit on Cancer Health Disparities (SCHD26) convened last weekend on March 27th and 28th—and at a time when health equity research and programs are in jeopardy, the field-defining giant in disparities education left its most formidable footprint yet.

The Summit on Cancer Health Disparities is an annual forum where key health equity stakeholders come together to find solutions that improve access and outcomes in cancer care. This year, there was more force than ever behind the endeavor: SCHD26 garnered a record number of attendees. Oncologists, pharmacists, nurses, health policy leaders, and patient advocates formed a diverse group that approached the biggest issues in the field of disparities from every angle.

Similarly, the research arm of SCHD26 was powered by a record-breaking number of abstract submissions, originating from 32 countries and six continents. From the submission pool, 103 abstracts were selected by SCHD26’s abstract committee, headed by Baylor College of Medicine’s Dr. Martha Mims and Tufts Medical Center’s Dr. Don Dizon. Grounded in equity-oriented implementation science and tirelessly committed to highlighting access gaps, SCHD26’s accepted abstracts represent the future of disparities research. Select abstract authors had the opportunity to present their work at the conference via oral or poster session.

The Impact Pitch Takes Off: A New Model for Cancer Research Funding

Perhaps most excitingly, SCHD26 hosted the first-ever Impact Pitch: Binaytara Research Award Challenge. This Shark Tank-style competition saw early-career researchers and oncologists pitch their research ideas to a panel of “Sharks”—in the Impact Pitch’s case, Catalysts—for the chance to earn the Binaytara Implementation Science Research Award of up to $25,000 per awardee.

Research awards and funding allocation are typically closed-door events, but the Impact Pitch exists in the intersection of science and spectacle. As the Catalysts took the stage, forming a formidable panel, empty seats became harder to come by in the audience. The room filled—with people, with hushed conversation, and with a nervous energy not usually associated with educational conferences. For good reason: SCHD26’s Catalysts were comprised of some of oncology’s top names: Dr. Shivaani Kummar, from OHSU Knight Cancer Institute; Dr. Shailender Bhatia, from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center; Dr. Jerald Radich, from the same; Dr. Christine Laine, from Jefferson Medical College; and Dr. Don Dizon, from Tufts Medical Center.

The Impact Pitch finalists took seven minutes to pitch their research proposals: what their project was, who it would benefit, the team behind the task, and a breakdown of how they’d use the award money. Following this, the Catalysts took another seven minutes to ask hard-hitting questions—a process conducted live on stage in front of the ever-growing crowd. The five seasoned oncologists were on a mission to sharpen the proposals that could stand the scrutiny to knife-edged precision.

“I ask no scary questions in my disposition,” Dr. Radich assured one presenter. “What I would like to hear you talk about is regression; about trajectories by mean slope. What is your dependent variable? What are your independent variables? What data is quantitative, what’s qualitative, what is the index on it, and what’s your n [variable]?”

Luckily, the finalists were up to the task. “The Impact Pitch] not only gave me the opportunity to present,” Impact Pitch presenter Dr. Akshee Batra said after her high-stakes session, “they also mentored me while I was presenting my project, and improved it.”

“It was nerve-wracking for sure, to be on stage with such excellent panelists,” fellow presenter Dr. Akshit Chitkara said. “To be able to pitch our project with experts who understand this very well, and to try to convince them why my project should win; why my project is going to make an impact in the community. I actually loved it.”

Ultimately, the Catalysts convened privately to choose the two inaugural recipients of the Binaytara Implementation Science Research Awards—a $50,000 investment in the next generation of disparities research.

Impact Pitch finalist Dr. Akshee Batra answers Catalyst questions. © 2026 Binaytara.

Key Sessions Driving Cancer Health Equity Conversations

SCHD26’s more traditional sessions were equally as spirited. Whether giving a presentation on a global oncology perspective, sitting on a panel to discuss treatment barriers for rural patients, or drawing peers into a discussion on the “time toxicity” rampant in cancer treatment that disproportionately affects working patients, SCHD26 faculty led a diverse conversation grounded in equity. Fred Hutch’s Dr. Fengting Yan—in addition to joining Swedish Hospital’s Dr. Siddhartha Devarakonda as Impact Pitch co-moderator, aided by a pair of AI-assisted glasses—led the session “Women’s Cancers: Access, Diagnosis & Survivorship.” After personal testimonies from the audience, the session evolved into a spirited discussion on the exorbitant costs associated with traveling to receive cancer treatment, with many physician attendees advocating for expanded or universal healthcare. Dr. Dizon led the impactful session “LGBTQ+ Inclusive Cancer Screening and Care,” and patient advocates took center stage in “Advocacy in Action: Improving Access through Policy and Community Partnerships.”

What’s Next After SCHD26? Future Conferences and Opportunities

SCHD26 was a meaningful step toward reducing cancer health disparities, a testament to Binaytara’s commitment to creating and supporting a robust oncology research environment, and a convening of colleagues, friends, students, and mentors. The goodbye that concluded the conference was a temporary one: SCHD26’s closing remarks, delivered by co-chairs Dr. David Aboulafia and Dr. Ana María López, looked forward to the 2027 Summit on Cancer Health Disparities.

Those disappointed to have missed the Impact Pitch and research award portion of the conference won’t have to wait a full year, however. The Impact Pitch will return at Binaytara’s National Summit on Hematologic Cancers in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 16th - 17th. This time, the competition is tied to the Shaji Kumar Hematology Research Award of up to $50,000 per awardee. The call for abstracts for the 2026 National Summit on Hematologic Cancers is now live—to submit your abstract and learn more about submission criteria, visit the submission website.

While SCHD26 is over, videos of the sessions, including the Impact Pitch, will be made available in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the conference’s associated abstracts have been published in the International Journal of Cancer Care and Delivery (IJCCD)—Binaytara’s open-access, peer-reviewed medical research journal—in a supplemental issue.

Frequently Asked Questions About SCHD26

What is SCHD26?

SCHD26 is the 2026 Summit on Cancer Health Disparities, an annual conference organized by Binaytara that brings together healthcare professionals, researchers, and advocates to address inequities in cancer care.

Where and when was SCHD26 held?

SCHD26 took place on March 27–28, 2026, in Bellevue.

Why is SCHD26 important for cancer research?

SCHD26 is a leading forum for health equity in oncology, focusing on improving access, outcomes, and implementation science approaches for underserved populations.

What was new at SCHD26 in 2026?

The conference introduced the Impact Pitch: Binaytara Research Award Challenge, a live, Shark Tank-style competition where researchers pitched ideas for funding and received real-time expert feedback.

How much funding was awarded through the Impact Pitch?

Up to $50,000 total was awarded through the Binaytara Implementation Science Research Awards to support innovative disparities-focused research.

Who were the key experts involved in the Impact Pitch?

The judging panel included leading oncologists such as:

• Dr. Shivaani Kummar
• Dr. Shailender Bhatia
• Dr. Jerald Radich
• Dr. Christine Laine
• Dr. Don Dizon

What topics were covered at SCHD26?

Key topics included:

• Cancer care disparities in rural and underserved populations
• Financial and time burdens of treatment (“time toxicity”)
• LGBTQ+ inclusive cancer screening and care
• Global oncology perspectives
• Policy and advocacy in healthcare access

How many research abstracts were presented at SCHD26?

Out of a global submission pool, 103 abstracts were selected for presentation, representing cutting-edge research in cancer disparities.

Will the Impact Pitch happen again?

Yes. The Impact Pitch will return at the 2026 National Summit on Hematologic Cancers in Nashville on October 16–17, 2026, with expanded funding opportunities.

Who should attend future SCHD conferences?

SCHD events are ideal for:

• Oncologists and hematologists
• Nurses and pharmacists

• Health policy experts

• Researchers in implementation science
• Patient advocates and community leaders