The University of Hawaii Cancer Center will hold a free event in which experts worldwide will converge to discuss groundbreaking cancer research.

The Weinman Symposium will be held Monday at the Sullivan Conference Center in Kakaako from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The theme is "Bridging the U.S. and Asia in the Fight Against Cancer."

Among the speakers at the symposium will be two Nobel laureates:

» Jules A. Hoffman, professor of integrative biology at the University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Studies and research director at the National Center of Scientific Research in France.

» Dr. Bruce Beutler, regental professor and holder of the Raymond and Ellen Willie Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Hoffman, Beutler and the late Dr. Ralph Steinman won the 2011 Nobel Prize in medicine or physiology for their work on discovering underlying mechanisms that trigger activation of innate immunity, according to a news release. Their work has been cited for opening new fields in research that could improve vaccination and treatment against infection, cancer and inflammatory diseases.

Dr. Ann Chao, director of Cancer Research Programs, East Asia Center for Global Health of the National Cancer Institute, also will speak at the event.

UH Cancer Center Director Dr. Michele Carbone said he looks forward to working with Chao — a Taiwan native who grew up in Hilo — to increase collaboration with scientists and make Hawaii the hub where researchers meet and work together.

"Hawaii is the bridge between the U.S. and Asia," Carbone said.

Barry and Virginia Weinman of Honolulu created the Weinman Foundation Fund for Innovation at the UH Cancer Center with a $1.7 million gift in 2010. This fund makes it possible for the center to invite prominent leaders in cancer research to Hawaii every year.