Highlights from ASCO 2026

Dr Herbert H. Loong holds conjoint appointments of Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Oncology and Deputy Medical Director of the Phase 1 Clinical Trials Centre of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Dr Loong obtained his medical degree with a Distinction in Surgery from The University of Hong Kong in 2003. He has completed a Fellowship in Drug Development at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada with a focus on Experimental Therapeutics. His clinical and research interests include Thoracic Oncology, Sarcoma Medical Oncology and Health Economics.

Dr Loong is a recipient of the European Cancer Congress Fellowship Grant (2013), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting Merit Award (2014), the Hong Kong College of Physicians Young Investigators’ Award (2014). Dr. Loong led the Lung Cancer Team at CUHK to be bestowed the IASLC Foundation Cancer Care Team Award in recognition for providing the best thoracic oncology care in “Asia & Rest of the World” in 2018.

In recent years, Dr Loong has co-founded the Asia Pacific Oncology Drug Development Consortium (APODDC) and the Asia Pacific Coalition Against Lung Cancer (APCLC).

Dr Loong has served or continues to serve in various capacities in various professional international oncology bodies, including the International Affairs Committee and the Asia-Pacific Regional Council of ASCO, the Membership, Education and Communications Committees of the IASLC. He is the incoming Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of ASCO in 2024. He has been elected as a Board Member of the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) for 2022-2024. In his prior appointment as a member of Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong, he oversaw the registration of medicinal products and clinical trials in the territory.

Dr Preeshagul is an assistant attending on the thoracic medical oncology service at MSKCC. She has a strong interest in patient centered clinical trials, precision medicine and patient education. She currently serve as the chair of the Lung Cancer Research Foundation’s (LCRF) Education & Engagement Committee as well as the host of their monthly “Together Separately” webinar offering various education sessions recapping ASCO, clinical trials 101 and more. Her work with LCRF has led to many exciting projects regarding patient advocacy. At MSKCC she lead the Clinical Research Leadership Group, focusing on optimising research in MSKCCs regional care network by identifying challenges, implementing new workflows and assessing how that impacts patient care.

Prof. Mark Socinski is a Medical Oncologist and Executive Medical Director of the AdventHealth Cancer Institute, Orlando, Florida. Specialises in all thoracic malignancies, including small cell and non-small cell lung cancers and mesothelioma. An internationally recognised expert in the development of novel chemotherapy agents and treatment strategies for advanced non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Research has focused on incorporating personalised medicine and molecular biomarkers in the treatment of lung cancer. Formerly Co-Chair of the Thoracic Malignancies Steering Committee for the National Cancer Institute and served on the Respiratory Core Committee of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (Alliance). Tenured Professor at the University of North Carolina and the University of Pittsburgh.