DISSECT Newsletter: Vol. 1 Issue 1 - June 2026

Title: DISSECT logo - Description: DISSECT logo

DISSECT Newsletter

Volume 1, Issue 1 | June 2026

About disparities in surgical specialization and education in cancer training

Building knowledge through international collaboration.

What is DISSECT COST Action CA24158?

DISSECT is a programme supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) that aims to identify and address disparities in cancer surgery training and education.

Our aim

We aim to foster knowledge exchange between surgical teams from high- and low-resource settings, enhance multidisciplinary approaches to cancer treatment, strengthen technical expertise and mentorship, build research capacity, and promote innovation.

Our team

The team consists of the Management Committee and five Working Groups, each managed by a Lead and Co-Lead. DISSECT brings together more than 100 members from more than 18 countries across Europe, North and Latin America, and Asia.

Why it is important

DISSECT COST Action aligns with Europe's Beating Cancer Plan to support equitable access to high standards of care and reduce cancer-related inequalities.

DISSECT kick-off meeting in Brussels

DISSECT kick-off meeting, 25 September 2025, Brussels.

The kick-off Management Committee meeting of COST Action CA24158 - Disparities in Surgical Specialization and Education in Cancer Training (DISSECT) - was held at the COST Action Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

Prof. Wim Ceelen, ESSO Board Member and Professor of Surgical Oncology at Ghent University, Belgium, was appointed Action Chair. He emphasized the vital role of international cooperation in strengthening surgical oncology education and driving innovation to improve patient care.

Supporting him in the leadership team are Vice-Chair Dr Mariela Vasileva-Slaveva (Bulgaria) and Grant Holder Representative Dr Marija Rankovic (Belgium). Dr Miroslava Chortova (Bulgaria) was elected Science Communication Coordinator, while Dr Sarah Cosyns (Belgium) will serve as Grant Awarding Coordinator.

The launch of DISSECT marks the start of a four-year collaborative initiative aimed at uniting experts from diverse disciplines and countries to enhance surgical oncology education, encourage innovation, and establish sustainable European research and training networks.

Meet the Management Committee

Prof. Wim Ceelen

Chair

Wim Ceelen is a surgeon-scientist at Ghent University, Belgium. As a surgical oncologist, he focuses on gastrointestinal tract cancer, peritoneal metastases, and soft tissue sarcoma. He leads the Experimental Surgery lab (SurgX), which conducts preclinical and clinical research in tumor biophysics, intraperitoneal drug delivery, and the pathophysiology of peritoneal metastases. He holds a master's degree in statistics and data science and teaches evidence-based medicine and research methodology.

Dr Mariela Vasileva-Slaveva

Vice-Chair

Mariela Vasileva is a general surgeon from Bulgaria with a special interest in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. She is a founder and chair of the Bulgarian Breast Cancer Association. She is developing an app for breast cancer patients called LIFE and a virtual tumor biobank called COSMOS. She has participated in numerous educational activities of the Bulgarian Breast Cancer Association and the European Society of Surgical Oncology, and is also a member of the European School of Oncology and ESMO.

Dr Marija Rankovic

Grant Holder Manager

Marija works as an Educational Program Manager at the European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO), a DISSECT grant-holding institution. Working closely with the Education and Training Committee, she coordinates the implementation of ESSO's educational strategy and the delivery of programmes. Within DISSECT, she serves as Grant Holder Manager and Scientific Representative, overseeing project coordination and supporting its scientific and educational implementation. Marija holds a PhD in Biochemistry and has a background in medical education and scientific communication.

Dr Sarah Cosyns

Grant Awarding Coordinator

Sarah Cosyns is a postdoctoral researcher at the Laboratory for Experimental Surgery (SurgX), affiliated with Ghent University, Belgium. Her research focuses on translational oncology, peritoneal metastasis, and innovative intraperitoneal treatment strategies that combine experimental and clinical approaches. Within DISSECT, Sarah coordinates the evaluation and management of grants supporting international collaboration, mobility, training, and dissemination activities across the network.

Dr Miroslava Chortova

Science Communication Coordinator

Miroslava is a plastic surgery resident based in Bulgaria. She is pursuing a PhD in regenerative medicine, focusing on autologous mesenchymal stem cells as a therapeutic modality. She holds a master's degree in autologous breast reconstruction from the European Reconstructive Microsurgery School and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). Her medical interests include autologous tissue reconstruction and tissue engineering. Within DISSECT, she helps disseminate project activities and communicate deliverables to multiple stakeholders.

Meet the Working Group Leaders

Prof. Jean Calleja Agius

Working Group 1 Leader | Identification and evaluation of disparities

Prof. Jean Calleja Agius is a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology based in Malta. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. She obtained her PhD at UCL, led the Department of Anatomy at the Medical University of Malta for nine years, and now focuses on international projects and collaborations, including the GYNOCARE and DISSECT COST Actions.

Dr Carmela Caballero

Working Group 2 Leader | Building research capacity

Dr Carmela Caballero is a surgeon, researcher, and advocate dedicated to improving cancer awareness and education, particularly within the Filipino migrant community in Europe. She worked as a Senior Medical Advisor for international clinical trials at the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Breast International Group. Carmela was previously Steering Committee Chair of Young ESSO. Her career reflects a commitment to combining research expertise with meaningful impact.

Dr Henry Smith

Working Group 3 Leader | Multidisciplinary teams and knowledge exchange

Henry Smith is a colorectal surgeon in Denmark. He is also an Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen and leads a research group focused on optimising treatment for patients with colorectal cancer. He is a member of the Danish Colorectal Cancer Group Surgical Working Group and holds multiple roles within the European Society of Surgical Oncology.

Dr Stefan Stättner

Working Group 4 Leader | Surgical mentorship

Dr Stefan Stättner is a senior lecturer who has worked at national and international clinics since completing his studies in Vienna, specialising in liver, biliary tract, and pancreatic surgery. His postdoctoral thesis at Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg was also dedicated to this area. He is a board member or member of numerous professional societies, including the European Society of Surgical Oncology, the European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, and the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society, maintaining strong connections with internationally active colleagues.

Dr Karol Polom

Working Group 5 Leader | Innovation

Karol Polom is a professor at the Greater Poland Cancer Center in Poland. His previous roles include work with the European Society of Surgical Oncology, Akademia Medycznych i Społecznych Nauk Stosowanych, and the Medical University of Gdansk. He obtained his medical degree from Poznan University of Medical Sciences and has experience in clinical research, medical education, life sciences, oncology, and surgical oncology. He has worked as a surgeon at Siena University Hospital and is a former chair of the European Young Surgeons and Alumni Club.

DISSECT is investing in your ideas

Explore COST networking tools and find the grant that suits your work.

Check the eligibility criteria and choose the grant that best suits your project. Opportunities highlighted in this issue include:

Dissemination Conference Grant

ITC Conference Grant

Short-Term Scientific Mission Grant

Virtual Mobility Grant

Young Researcher and Innovator Conference Grant

Find out more: COST Action networking tools

Upcoming event: DISSECT Research Workshop

Ghent, Belgium | 24-25 September 2026

Join the DISSECT Research Workshop in Ghent or online.

We are pleased to invite you to the upcoming DISSECT Research Workshop in Ghent this September.

The event brings together experts and researchers to address research capacity building and advance research collaboration. Participants will develop essential research skills in systematic reviews and meta-analysis, gaining the knowledge and skills needed to conduct high-quality evidence synthesis and to implement innovative tools efficiently and ethically.

Participants will take part in strategic discussions across five specialised Working Groups, covering topics from identifying training disparities and building research capacity to surgical mentorship and innovation. The event is open to medical professionals, researchers, and academic stakeholders interested in surgical education and oncology. Participants are encouraged to review current Working Group objectives, as sessions will evaluate recent achievements and plan future activities.

Format: Hybrid (on-site and online)

Venue: Sint Baafshuis (Room 1.05), Biezekapelstraat 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

Registration: Free to attend; this is an EU-funded event.

Virtual access: Links will be provided to registered virtual attendees before the event.

Organised by: Prof. Wim Ceelen, DISSECT Chair, and Dr Sarah Cosyns, Grant Awarding Coordinator.

Questions: sarah.cosyns@ugent.be

Event information: www.cost-dissect.eu

Thank you for being part of DISSECT

Connecting people. Reducing disparities. Shaping the future of cancer surgery.

The success of DISSECT is driven by the dedication, expertise, and enthusiasm of its members. Through collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and countries, we are building a stronger foundation for innovation, equity, and excellence in cancer surgery.

We encourage all members to stay engaged, participate in upcoming activities, contribute to ongoing initiatives, and continue sharing knowledge within the network. Together, we can accelerate progress and create lasting impact for patients, healthcare professionals, and researchers worldwide.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to the DISSECT community.