For 2025 we brought together researchers, clinicians, and healthcare professionals from across the UK and beyond for a dynamic half-day virtual event. With a record 600 registrations and more than 300 attendees joining live, the conference highlighted the growing interest in translational research and the power of collaboration in advancing healthcare.
The event opened with a compelling keynote address from Dr. Bola Owolabi, Director of the National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme at NHS England. Her talk set the tone for a morning of thought-provoking presentations and discussions focused on improving patient outcomes through innovative research.
The scientific programme featured four expert-led talks:
- Stella Kozmer (PhD Researcher, - University of Exeter Medical School) explored the current practices of identification and management of Binge Eating Disorder in UK primary care, shedding light on gaps and opportunities in mental health support around Bulimia Nervosa.
- Dr. David Mosedale (VP Proteomics, RxCelerate Ltd) presented his work on evaluating novel NOD2 agonists in patients with Crohn’s disease, offering promising insights into future therapeutic strategies.
- Dr. Laura Watson (Metabolic Physiologist, NIHR Cambridge Clinical Research Facility) discussed the use of healthy control data across the lifespan, particularly its applications in understanding and managing metabolic diseases.
- Dr. Karen Ersche (Professor of Addiction Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge) delved into the neuroscience of addiction with her talk, Why do some people who use cocaine develop addiction and others don't?
A highlight of the event was the interactive Q&A session led by our own Hannah Stark and Heather Ramsay, which provided valuable guidance on the application process at the BioResource and the types of support available for researchers, which received particularly enthusiastic feedback from attendees.
The conference concluded with closing remarks from our Director, Nathalie Kingston, who thanked participants and speakers for their contributions and encouraged continued collaboration across the research community.
Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the quality of the talks, the relevance of the topics, and the clarity of the Q&A session. Suggestions for next year’s event are already being reviewed to ensure the conference continues to meet the needs of its growing audience and we are looking at how we can make it even bigger and better for next year!
We hope to see you in 2026, and you can stream a recap of the Conference below.
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