In July 2025, the CancerPrev Foundation hosted its first edition of the Summer School on Biomedical Science Communication at Studium in the serene setting of Pollone, Italy. This four-day program brought together a group of early-career researchers, communication professionals, and cancer patient activists from across Europe and the US, united by a common goal: to improve how science is communicated to society and the impacts it can have.

Throughout the week, participants engaged in an intensive and immersive program that combined theory with hands-on practice. Guided by leading experts in the field, they explored how to write and speak about science more clearly, how to craft compelling stories around research, and how to make complex biomedical concepts accessible to broader audiences without sacrificing accuracy. From scientific writing and media interviews to visual storytelling and narrative medicine, the course offered a comprehensive training experience rooted in real-world relevance. A dedicated day on narrative medicine highlighted how communication can serve as a powerful tool for advocacy, education, and patient empowerment.

Theory was put into practice at a community event hosted at the local Pollone library, where workshop participants and residents of Pollone came together for an evening dedicated to science communication. A particularly meaningful highlight was the presentation of the CancerPrev Lifetime Achievement Award to Navid Madani, founder and director of the SHE (Science Health Education) Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Barbara Fountain, CEO of Young Tongues Global. In a moving ceremony, both were honored for their tireless dedication to cancer prevention and for championing the voices of young people living with cancer.