Over 400 experts from 17 countries attended the Hong Kong Cancer Institute/AACR International Conference in conjunction with the State Key Laboratory in Oncology in South China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong on "Infection and Cancer: Biology, Therapeutics, and Prevention". The conference was held from 5-7 December 2008 at the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine Jockey Club Building.

Twelve sessions were designated to confront the issues of infection and cancer relating to four major cancers in the Asia-Pacific region that have an infective etiology – H.pylori and stomach cancer, EBV and nasopharynx cancer, HPV and cervix cancer, and HBV and HCV and liver cancer. The conference fostered discussion between international and regional basic, translational, and clinical researchers from academia and provided them a unique opportunity to explore the state-of-the art approaches in the biology, therapeutics, and prevention of these cancer types.

The opening ceremony was officiated by Dr. the Hon York Chow, SBS, JP, Secretary for Food and Health, Government of HKSAR; Dr. Waun Ki Hong, Honorary Chairperson of the conference and a professor from the University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre; Professor Jack Cheng, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Professor Tai Fai Fok, Dean of Medicine, CUHK and Professor Anthony Chan, Chairperson of the conference and Director of the Hong Kong Cancer Institute.