Vienna – Achieving leadership positions for women is difficult and challenging in all fields, including oncology: in Europe only a few women hold leadership roles in hospitals, research centers, professional associations or scientific societies. A recent study found that only 5 of the 24 national and international scientific societies surveyed are chaired by women. Also, the number of women speakers at international conferences is lacking: in 2014 less than a third of the total were women. The “ESMO Women for Oncology (W4O) Award”, established by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and chaired by the Italian Fortunato Ciardiello, Professor of Medical Oncology at the Seconda Università in Naples, wants help overcome this situation. The winner of the first edition, which will be awarded at the European Cancer Congress held until tomorrow in Vienna, is Enriqueta Felip, Spanish oncologist. (9Colonne)