Sheffield Cancer Research Away Day 2026

*Do not hesitate to join the waiting list if this is currently showing as sold out.  We may be able to release more tickets and joining the waiting list will enable us to notify you directly as soon as these become available.*

Join us at the Sheffield Cancer Research Away Day 2026. We will be welcoming over 150 delegates from 11 schools across four faculties, including colleagues from the NHS, Cancer Alliance and Sheffield Hallam University.

• Hear from our keynote speaker: Melanie Flint, Professor of Stress and Cancer Research, University of Brighton, on the effects of stress on cancer.
• Network and find collaboration opportunities with colleagues across different schools and faculties.
• Hear from colleagues old and new about their current and future research

How do I get to the venue?

• Full address: The Edge, Endcliffe Village, 34 Endcliffe Crescent, Sheffield, S10 3ED. Google map link. The building is in the middle of the Endcliffe student village.
• Walking: It is walkable from campus - about 20 mins from the Medical School or 25 mins from Firth Court.
• Buses: numbers 51, 120 and 6 go along Fulwood Road
• Parking: there are spaces in the Stanage car park, which is a pay and display charged at £5 per day - please see the signage. There is also street parking nearby - check the signage. More information here.
• Cycling: there is cycle parking around the site, with space near Stanage car park or The Edge. More information here.

Who should attend? Any academic, researcher, PhD student or  Masters student within the university who conducts, or has an interest in conducting, research which has relevance to cancer. NHS-based colleagues with an interest in research and meeting Sheffield-based researchers are also welcome to join us.  Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Queries?  Contact Rachel Corcoran, Cancer Research Strategy Manager r.corcoran@sheffield.ac.uk

THE FULL PROGRAMME IS NOW AVAILABLE HERE

From 8.30am:   Arrivals

9.00-9.10am   Welcome from Professor Dan Lambert, Faculty Director of Research & Innovation (Health); Penny Ottewell & Jim Catto, Co-Directors of Sheffield Cancer Research Strategy

9.10-10.10am   Progress, ongoing research and future plans

• INVEST: Phase 1 study of intravesical immunotherapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, Prof Syed Hussain
• Exploring the role of the extracellular matrix as a nutrient source to fuel breast cancer cell metabolism, Dr Elena Rainero
• METASTRA - Computer-aided effective stratification of oncologic patients with vertebral metastases for personalized treatment through robust and validated numerical tools (metapatientstra), Dr Enrico Dall'Ara
• Development of a human pluripotent stem cell-based platform for dissecting tumour initiation, Dr Anestis Tsakiridis

10.10-10.45am   BREAK

10.45-11.45am   Breakout sessions on our cancer research domains.  Choose from:

• Cancer in the community: building connections and strategic priorities with a focus on early detection and diagnosis and screening; health inequities and community support. This research domain also encompasses quality of life and experience of patients and their families; epidemiology; and patient voice.  Facilitated by this domain's leadership team Drs Matthew Kurien and Steve Bradley.
• Digital health, data science and AI: leveraging AI in the cancer patient pathway; digital health, big data and advanced diagnostics; bioinformatics.  Facilitated by this domain's leadership team Prof Sergio Rutella, Drs Bilal Tahir and Daniele Tartarini.
• Discovery and translational science: Hear about the STH-OBS biobank, the Breast Cancer Now biobank and a new biobank at STH enabling researchers to access excess tissue more quickly and easily, followed by focussed group discussion on wider topics related to the domain. This research domain encompasses discovering new molecules and mechanisms; trialing novel treatments and combinations; precision oncology and leveraging genomics; growing our capability for clinical trials.  Facilitated by this domain's leadership team Dr Anestis Tsakiridis, Profs Mariaelena Pierobon and John Snowden.

11.45am-12.45pm    LUNCH

12.45-1.30pm   Keynote speaker: Professor Melanie Flint ‘The effects of stress on cancer’.  Professor Flint is co-director of the Sussex Cancer Research Center. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, USA. She received her PhD in Biochemical Toxicology from Imperial College in London. Professor Flint’s research focuses on the direct interplay between stress hormones and the immune and cancer cells. The goal of her laboratory is to understand the mechanism through which behavioural stress impacts cancer initiation, progression and responses to drug treatments. Additionally, Professor Flint has completed research and authored articles on glucocorticoid receptors and glucocorticoid receptor signaling in oncology.

1.30-2.50pm   Fresh perspectives - a chance to hear from recently appointed colleagues: 

• Dr Jon Griffin, Senior Clinical Lecturer
• Prof Mariaelena Pierobon, Professor of Applied Molecular Oncology
• Prof Sergio Rutella, Professor of Cancer Immunotherapy: 'Discovery of predictive biomarkers for cancer immunotherapy through single-cell and spatial biology approaches.'
• Prof Matthew Hammond, Director of Sheffield Clinical Trials Unit and Professor of Clinical Trials

2.50-3.15pm   BREAK

3.15-4.05pm   Breakout sessions.  Choose from:

• Taking the next step: moving towards translation, engaging partners and commercialisation: facilitated by Drs Sue Smith and Fer Velazquez de la Paz, Commercialisation Managers, Research, Partnerships & Innovation.  All welcome.
• Project funding: get advice from successful awardees and panel members on how to succeed with funders including UKRI, NIHR and European funding.  Chaired by Prof Dan Lambert, Faculty Director of Research & Innovation (Health).  All welcome.
• Fellowships for early career researchers: Learn about fellowship schemes for cancer research, support available from the university, hear from our successful fellows and participate in an open discussion panel Q&A.  Facilitated by Dr Leni Green.  All ECRs welcome, whether clinical or non-clinical, based in any faculty or NHS.
  

4.05-4.45pm   Looking forward - recent YCR Pioneers and More Life to Live awardees:

• Exploring molecular mechanisms of adhesion-dependent resistance to KRAS inhibition in pancreatic cancer, Dr Helen Matthews - YCR Pioneers project 
• Mapping spatial differences in treatment effects in kidney cancer using ex-vivo high throughput drug screening, Catherine Weaver – YCR Pioneers doctoral fellowship
• AI CXR EvAluation for eaRLY diagnosis of lung cancer (AI-EARLY) Prof Andy Swift & Dr Chris Johns (Sheffield Teaching Hospitals) – YCR Pioneers project
• Targeting P2X7R to overcome hypoxia mediated progression of breast cancer, Prof Allie Gartland – YCR Pioneers project
• EPIC(GB) - Early Phase Interventions Centre for Translation in Glioblastoma: Transforming glioblastoma trials through a Yorkshire-led platform, Dr Ola Rominiyi and Prof Spencer Collis – YCR More Life to Live award

4.45pm   Closing remarks with Profs Jim Catto and Penny Ottewell

5pm:   Close