13th Annual Outsourcing in Clinical Trials UK & Ireland 2026

Creating a collaborative environment where pharma & biotech leaders can find solutions to current challenges through innovations and partnerships

9 - 10

June

2026
  • Hilton Park Lane, London, UK
  • Complimentary
  • Why attend?
  • Agenda
  • Advisory Board
  • Speakers
  • Plan Your Visit
  • Event Gallery
  • 2026 Sponsors
  • Media Centre
  • Why partner?
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Featured Speakers

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Prof. Lucy Chappell​

Chief Scientific Adviser, Department of Health and Social Care, Chief Executive Officer, National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)

Professor Lucy Chappell FMedSci is the Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), with overall responsibility for the department’s research and development, including the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the government’s major funder of clinical, public health, social care and translational research.

Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer, the Chief Scientific Adviser provides science advice and analysis to ministers across the range of health topics and is involved in cross-government science policy.

Professor Chappell is Professor of Obstetrics at King’s College London, Honorary Consultant Obstetrician at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and an NIHR Senior Investigator. She will undertake the Chief Scientific Adviser role on secondment into government, while continuing some of her clinical and academic work.

DHSC Chief Scientific Adviser

Responsibilities include:

  • overall responsibility for the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) research policies and budget, including being head of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
  • supporting analysis and evidenced-based decision-making capacity in the department
  • working with Chief Scientific Advisers across government to maximise the impact of science to benefit the UK population
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James Pound​

Executive Director Innovation and Compliance, MHRA

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Gail Kemp​

Senior Director, Head of Clinical Development Centre UK, Novo Nordisk

Gail Kemp is Director and Head of the Clinical Development Centre (CDC) UK at Novo Nordisk. She leads all UK clinical trial activities across the Novo Nordisk portfolio, working closely with global R&D teams, UK industry bodies, and healthcare partners. Gail has 25 years’ experience in clinical development spanning all phases and multiple therapy areas, particularly in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

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Emma Kinloch​

CEO, Salivary Gland Cancer UK and International Patient Advocate

Emma Kinloch is the CEO and co-founder of Salivary Gland Cancer UK.  Focussed on pushing forwards research, providing reliable information and support for all those treating, researching and living with salivary gland cancers.

Emma is a passionate about involvement of the patient voice at all stages of cancer research.  She is a non-executive Director of the Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Foundation, acts as a Patient Advisor to the EURACAN rare head and neck cancer domain and is a member of CRUK’s Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre Strategy Board.

Emma recently completed a Professional Doctorate in Occupational Health Psychology.

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Sarah Scorer​

Senior Director, Head of Clinical Operations Tangram Therapeutics

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    2026 Sponsors Include:

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    Company Information

    Simply sourcing comparators – we offer a unique blend of small company flexibility and speed, backed with the large-scale buying power of the Orifarm Group, which is one of the largest pharmaceutical suppliers in Europe. With over €1.4B products sold in 2021 and more than 4,000 unique product lines sourced on a monthly basis, we have unparalleled access to “out of market” and manufacturer direct buying capability, both in the US and Europe.

    Company website: www.Orifarm-CTS.com

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - www.Orifarm-CTS.com

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    Company Information

    Imagine a paediatric-specific engagement platform, fully co-designed with children and child life specialists. The Little Journey app helps to reduce anxiety before, during and after paediatric clinical trial visits by educating and preparing children and families using engaging, age-tailored personalised multimedia that can be accessed anywhere at any time.

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - https://www.littlejourney.health/

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    Company Information

    Cytel Inc. www.cytel.com is a leading provider of clinical research services and trial design and analysis software primarily for the biopharmaceutical and medical device development markets.

    Cytel pioneered the statistical and computational science of adaptive clinical trials and has designed more validated adaptive trials than any other service provider.

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - http://www.cytel.com

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    Company Information

    Syneos Health (Nasdaq:SYNH*) is the only fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organization. Our company, including a Contract Research Organization (CRO) and Contract Commercial Organization (CCO), is purpose-built to accelerate customer performance to address modern market realities. Created through the merger of two industry leading companies – INC Research and inVentiv Health – we bring together more than 21,000 clinical and commercial minds with the ability to support customers in more than 110 countries. Together, we share insights, use the latest technologies and apply advanced business practices to speed our customers’ delivery of important therapies to patients. To learn more about how we are shortening the distance from lab to lifeTM visit SyneosHealth.com. 

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - www.SyneosHealth.com

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    Company Information

    Medidata is powering smarter treatments and healthier people through digital solutions to support clinical trials. Celebrating 25 years of ground-breaking technological innovation across more than 35,000 trials and 10 million patients, Medidata offers industry-leading expertise, analytics-powered insights, and the largest patient-level historical clinical trial data set in the world. More than 1 million registered users across approximately 2,300 customers trust Medidata’s seamless, end-to-end platform to improve patient experiences, accelerate clinical breakthroughs, and bring therapies to market faster. A Dassault Systèmes brand (Euronext Paris: FR0014003TT8, DSY.PA), Medidata is headquartered in New York City and has been recognized as a Leader by Everest Group and IDC. Discover more at www.medidata.com and follow us @Medidata.

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - https://www.medidata.com

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    Company Information

    Founded in 2015 Teckro provides solutions to simplify and modernize clinical research for leading pharmaceutical and emerging biotech companies. To date, Teckro manages more than 100 clinical trials and is used by more than 11,800 active study sites around the world. Teckro employs more than 100 staff across its global headquarters in Limerick, Ireland, engineering excellence hub in Dublin, Ireland and its US-based office in Nashville, Tennessee. Visit www.teckro.com for more information.

     

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - http://www.teckro.com/

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    Company Information

    Medicover Integrated Clinical Services is a unique clinical research organization with 25 years of experience.

    We offer Patient Recruitment services through our own Clinical Research Network in Central and Eastern Europe with comprehensive Global Central Lab Services and access to over 8,000 tests from routine to advanced diagnostics including genetics, biomarkers, PK and PD, and PBMC isolation in more than 120 laboratories in Europe and India.

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - https://medicover-mics.com/

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    Company Information

    Optimapharm is a globally operating, leading, mid-sized, full-service CRO aiming to deliver new therapies to improve and save patients’ lives.
    With 26 strategically located offices, Optimapharm is giving unrivalled access to Patients and Investigators worldwide.
    Optimapharm conducts phase I – IV studies in all therapeutic areas. With very strong operational teams, Optimapharm has a reputation for excellence delivery in all projects, including rescue studies.

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - https://optimapharm.eu/

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    Company Information

    Greenphire is the industry leader of clinical payment technology, designed to improve the way research professionals work. We leverage our proprietary payments platform and workflow automation to help clients improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, mitigate regulatory risks, improve the patient and site experience and produce quantifiable results that improve clinical operations and strategic planning.

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - http://greenphire.com/

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    Company Information

    ESMS Global provides specialist support related to Clinical Trials and Medical Information. Our services include a Global Emergency Unblinding Service, Clinical Trials Direct to Patient Helpline, Serious Breach Reporting Service, and a Medical Information Helpline, all available 24/7, across the globe, in 45 languages.

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - www.esmsglobal.com

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    Company Information

    At Trilogy, medical writing is our passion. As specialists in clinical regulatory documentation, we provide a service that is more than just writing. We proactively plan, coordinate and write clinical documents to meet timelines, with a readability that reduces the time for review and approval.

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - https://www.trilogywriting.com/

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    Company Information

    TFS HealthScience is a global Contract Research Organization (CRO) partnering with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies throughout their entire clinical development journey. Bringing together nearly 700 professionals, we deliver tailored clinical research services in more than 40 countries. TFS supports customers with comprehensive solutions including full clinical development services, strategic and flexible resourcing. In partnership, we build solution-driven teams of experienced professionals working together for a healthier future. Our mission is to bring treatments to patients faster. For more information, please visit www.tfscro.com.

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - www.tfscro.com.

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    Company Information

    Medpace is a scientifically-driven, global, full-service clinical contract research organization (CRO) providing Phase I-IV clinical development services to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device industries. Medpace’s mission is to accelerate the global development of safe and effective medical therapeutics through its high-science and disciplined operating approach that leverages local regulatory and deep therapeutic expertise across all major areas including oncology, cardiology, metabolic disease, endocrinology, central nervous system and anti-viral and anti-infective. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Medpace employs approximately 6,000 people across 44 countries.

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - http://www.medpace.com/

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    Company Information

    Almac Group is a global leader in providing a range of expert services and support across the drug development lifecycle.

    We are trusted experts in R&D, diagnostic services, API manufacture, formulation development, clinical trial supply services and technologies through to commercial-scale manufacture and distribution.

    We are recognised as an industry leader in client service, providing understanding, experience and knowledge to our clients as we work together to advance human health.

    Almac is trusted by the leading global biopharma companies to provide crucial services across their drug development projects. In the last 5 years alone, we have contributed to over 50% of all FDA approved New Molecular Entities (NMEs) and are currently supporting 30% of EU approved /pre-registered Gene therapy products.

    A privately owned organisation, Almac has grown organically over the past five decades, employing over 7,700 highly skilled employees across 18 facilities in Europe, North America, and Asia. Learn more about us at https://www.almacgroup.com/

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - https://www.almacgroup.com

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    Company Information

    At Viedoc, we design engaging software that modernizes clinical research so that necessary treatments can reach the people who need them faster. We believe in life and science, in people, and in our collective power to change the world and build a healthier future. That unmatched driving force is what pushes us to innovate, accelerate and improve every aspect of modern clinical studies.

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - www.viedoc.com

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    Company Information

    Suvoda is a global clinical trial technology company specializing in complex, life-sustaining studies in therapeutic areas like oncology, central nervous system (CNS), and rare disease. Founded in 2013 by experts in eClinical technologies, Suvoda empowers clinical trial professionals to manage the most urgent moments in the most urgent trials through advanced software solutions delivered on a single platform. Headquartered outside Philadelphia, Suvoda also maintains offices in Portland, OR, Barcelona, Spain, Bucharest and Iasi, Romania, and Tokyo, Japan. The company’s Net Promoter Score (NPS) consistently exceeds the technology industry average, contributing to the company being selected by trial sponsors and CROs to support more than 1,000 trials across 80 countries.

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - https://www.suvoda.com/

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    Company Information

    ClinChoice is a leading global full & functional service CRO, renowned for its exceptional product development and lifecycle management capabilities across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and consumer health sectors. With three decades of proven expertise and outstanding results, we excel in delivering top-tier services.

    Our deep regulatory expertise, clinical trial execution, and robust pharmacovigilance and biometrics capabilities position us as a trusted partner in global markets. ClinChoice proudly maintains a strong presence across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, ensuring comprehensive support for our clients worldwide.

    https://clinchoice.com/

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    Company Information

    CMIC Group, founded as Japan’s first CRO over 30 years ago, is now the largest clinical CRO in Japan with a global presence. Our services span non-clinical studies, clinical trial management, GMP manufacturing, regulatory consulting, and sales/marketing solutions. We facilitate market entry in Japan, offer leading clinical trial expertise in APAC region, and bridge drug development between the US and Japan. With 7,000+ employees and 24 global sites, we’re your comprehensive partner in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device sectors.

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - https://en.cmicgroup.com/

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    Company Information

    B. Braun specialises in manufacturing market leading infusion therapy products, many of which are supplied into clinical trials. With presence in over 64 countries around the world, we work closely with our partners to select solutions that fit with the individual clinical trial requirements.

    For more information, please visit:

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - bbraun.co.uk/en/products-and-therapies/bbraun-industrial-business.html

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    Company Information

    Fortrea is a leading global provider of clinical development and patient access solutions to the life sciences industry. We partner with emerging and large biopharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostic companies to drive healthcare innovation that accelerates life changing therapies to patients in need. Fortrea provides phase I-IV clinical trial management, clinical pharmacology, differentiated technology enabled trial solutions and post-approval services. Fortrea’s solutions leverage three decades of experience spanning more than 20 therapeutic areas. Our talented and diverse team of more than 19,000 people working in more than 90 countries is scaled to deliver focused and agile solutions to customers globally.

    Company Website

    To learn more, please visit our website - https://www.fortrea.com/

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      Why attend?

      We are delighted to welcome you to 13th annual Outsourcing in Clinical Trials UK and Ireland.

      This is a great opportunity to get together and network face to face, hear from our expert speaker line-up and discuss the latest innovations and regulatory updates in the industry.

      This exclusive event brings together attendees from established pharma, large and small, alongside biopharmaceutical companies and gives opportunity to dive into the operational challenges and innovations in clinical development found within the UK & Ireland region.

      This year will also focus on government initiatives for UK growth and opportunities within the clinical trial landscape.

      We look forward to you joining us!

       

      WHAT TO EXPECT FOR 2026?

      This exclusive event brings together attendees from established pharma, large and small, alongside with biopharmaceutical companies and gives opportunity to dive into the operational challenges and innovations in clinical development found within the UK & Ireland region.

      200+

      Attendees

      		50+

      Exhibitors

      		40+

      Speakers
      200+

      Attendees

      		50+

      Exhibitors
      40+

      Speakers

      Testimonials

      See What It's All About

      Agenda

      • 9 Jun 2026
      • 10 Jun 2026
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      Streams

      Stream one

      STREAM A: UK Clinical Trial Landscape Strategy

      Stream two

      STREAM B: Clinical Technology and Innovation

      Stream three

      STREAM C: Clinical Trials in Oncology

      11:45 AM

      INSPIRATIONAL KEYNOTE Clinical Operational Excellence: Delivery like an Elite Athlete

      • What is the Athlete Mindset?
      • Parallels between elite sport and clinical trial delivery
      • Applying the athlete-style discipline, goal-setting, ‘pivot quickly’ mindset and performance tracking in delivering complex oncology trials
      • Translating setbacks into learnings and future strengths- The drive for continuous improvement-The perfect race!
      • Sustaining performance and energy across multi-year clinical trials- The Long-Distance Athlete

      Speakers

      Dr Yvette Henry
      Clinical Program Leader ('The Project Runner')

      12:15 PM

      UK Health Policy at a Turning Point: Delivering on the Government’s Life Sciences and 10-Year Cancer Plans

      • Renewed government vision for health, research and life sciences
      • The challenge of moving from strategy to action across the ecosystem
      • Political influences impacting speed, delivery and prioritisation
      • How the sector can push for clarity, consistency and implementation

      Speakers

      Alex Churchill
      Deputy Director, Clinical Trials Policy, Department of Health and Social Care

      12:45 PM

      Adaptive Oncology Trials: Improving Access and the Patient Perspective

      This session explores how adaptive trial designs are changing oncology research, enabling greater flexibility in trial arms and broader use of therapies across indications. We will discuss what this means for patient access and why embedding patient perspectives early is critical to successful study design and delivery.

      Speakers

      Emma Kinloch
      CEO, Salivary Gland Cancer UK and International Patient Advocate

      1:15 PM

      Lunch and networking

      2:15 PM

      PANEL DISCUSSION: Designing Oncology Trials That Work for Every Patient

      • Tackling barriers that limit access and participation for under-represented patient groups.
      • Ensuring cultural relevance, language accessibility and equitable site selection.
      • Embedding PROs and patient insights to shape inclusive eligibility and trial procedures.
      • Measuring what matters: evaluating the impact of patient-centred designs on recruitment and retention.

      Speakers

      Emma Kinloch
      CEO, Salivary Gland Cancer UK and International Patient Advocate
      Daniel Newman
      Multi-Award-Winning Patient Engagement Leader & Patient Advocate
      Emer Mulvaney
      Contracts & PPI Programme Manager, Cancer Trials Ireland
      Dr Rebecca Holley
      Research Project Manager, The University of Manchester

      3 PM

      Afternoon refreshments, networking & Apple prize draw

      3:45 PM

      Mind the Gap: Enhancing the Work of Regulatory Agencies through the Voluntary Adoption of International Quality Standards

      All clinical research sites must be inspection-ready and compliant with regulations. Yet some choose to go further - voluntarily subjecting themselves to rigorous international accreditation and certification standards that exceed statutory obligations. What drives this commitment to excellence, and how does it strengthen resilience and quality to mitigate systemic risk?

       

      In this session you will:

      • Gain insight into how global certification and accreditation standards are developed, governed and maintained
      • Understand the strategic role of voluntary independent quality standards in enhancing public trust, workforce engagement, and the delivery of effective clinical trials; enhancing the work of regulatory agencies
      •  Explore how certification enhances clinical research business systems, operational efficiency, and risk management
      • Hear real-world case studies from leading oncology research sites in the UK and internationally, demonstrating measurable impact on transparency, capability building, and organisational performance

      Speakers

      Jacqueline Johnson North
      Founder & CEO, International Accrediting Organisation for Clinical Research (IAOCR)
      Kay Faulkner
      Divisional Director of Operations for Research and Innovation, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
      Dr. Mohamed Fawzy
      Director of the Clinical Research Center, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357
      Dina Mohamed Elgalaly
      Clinical Operation Manager, Clinical Research Center of 57357 / Children’s Cancer Hospital

      4:15 PM

      CASE STUDY Implementing FDA’s Project Optimus in an ongoing trial

      • Selecting the right dose in line with FDA guidance
      • Project Optimus key objectives
      • Introduction to the Optimize-1 trial, Pancreatic cancer, and Mitazalimab
      • Project Optimus implementation methods
      • Key Learnings from Project Optimus

       

      Speakers

      Karin Nordbladh
      Director, Clinical Operation, Immune Oncology, Alligator Bioscience

      4:45 PM

      PANEL DISCUSSION: Strengthening Patient Recruitment in Oncology Clinical Trials

      • Identifying and addressing key barriers that limit timely and representative recruitment.
      • Improving collaboration between sites, sponsors and patient advocacy groups to expand referral pathways.
      • Enhancing patient trust and understanding through clear, accessible communication strategies.
      • Leveraging AI tools to support more accurate pre-screening, eligibility matching and outreach.

      Speakers

      Emma Kinloch
      CEO, Salivary Gland Cancer UK and International Patient Advocate
      Maria Koufali
      Life Sciences Industry Director, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
      Wendy Kane
      Patient Affairs Manager - UK and Ireland, Servier
      Dr. Claudia Hesselmann
      Founder & CEO, ARENSIA Exploratory Medicine

      5:15 PM

      Chairpersons closing remarks

      Speakers

      Emma Kinloch
      CEO, Salivary Gland Cancer UK and International Patient Advocate

      11:45 AM

      Applying AI Tools Effectively in Clinical Trials

      • Leveraging AI tools to optimize patient recruitment, site selection, and trial feasibility.
      • Using AI for real-time data monitoring, quality checks, and endpoint analysis.
      • Integrating AI solutions seamlessly into trial workflows to support operational efficiency.
      • Ensuring regulatory compliance, validation, and transparency when deploying AI in active studies.

      Speakers

      Olivia Howard
      Associate Director - Clinical Operations, Scancell

      12:15 PM

      Unlocking UK trials through primary care: predictable, accurate and fast recruitment

      UK clinical research faces a persistent challenge in translating study design into timely, predictable recruitment at scale. Ongoing variability in feasibility, slow start‑up and fragmented patient identification continue to affect delivery, site workload and participant experience.

      In this presentation, Solutions Specialist Isabel Hunt will demonstrate how closer collaboration with primary care, underpinned by comprehensive, coded general practice data, can address these challenges end to end. Using the Recruit solution, embedded within the UK’s leading GP clinical systems, sponsors and CROs can enable predictable, accurate and fast recruitment through improved feasibility, faster identification of eligible patients and trusted GP‑led engagement at scale.

      Attendees will learn how Recruit reduces time to first patient in, lowers screen failures, minimises site burden and supports more reliable trial delivery. The session will also explore how secure, consent driven primary care data supports ongoing study delivery and real‑world evidence generation across the UK.

      Speakers

      Isabel Hunt
      Market Solution Specialist, Optum UK

      12:45 PM

      Key regulatory considerations around data quality when using real world data to support clinical trials

      • How real-world data (RWD) can be used to support clinical trials
      • Illustrative example using UK electronic healthcare records
      • Key MHRA guidance on RWD for clinical trials
      • Regulatory requirements data quality
      • Transparency reporting recommendations

      Speakers

      Puja Myles
      Director, Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), MHRA

      1:15 PM

      Lunch and networking

      2:15 PM

      PANEL DISCUSSION Harnessing Real-World Data and Registries in Clinical Trials: UK & Ireland Perspectives

      • Overview of available RWD sources and disease registries across the UK and Ireland, and how they can support trial design.
      • Leveraging RWD to inform patient eligibility, site selection, and endpoint development.
      • Practical considerations for integrating registry data with trial datasets while ensuring data quality and regulatory compliance.
      • Case studies demonstrating how RWD and registries have accelerated clinical trial insights and improved patient outcomes.

      Speakers

      Puja Myles
      Director, Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), MHRA
      Myles Dakin
      Chairman & Founder, Hypo-Stream
      Jonathan Wogel
      Chief Executive Officer, NWEH

      2:45 PM

      The Future of RBQM for Early Phase Studies Starts Here

      RBQM is essential for protecting patient safety and driving quality by design principles across all phases of clinical research and is arguably more important in early phase studies than any other. Yet in practice, the application of RBQM to early phase is highly inconsistent, often relying on manual processes and individual judgement instead of structured processes, supported by compliant technology.

      In this session we'll share where the gaps are in RBQM adoption and implementation, what's at stake when sponsors get this wrong, as well as how to move forward to implement a rigorous RBQM strategy for your trials. Attendees will leave with actionable insights on how flexible, structured monitoring can:

      • Improve visibility into what's been reviewed, by whom and why
      • Drive efficiency and consistency without rigidity
      • Enable better decision-making and prioritization across diverse study designs.

       

      This session will provide you with a roadmap to bringing early phase studies into the RBQM fold.

      TRI TRIALS

      Speakers

      Macarena Sahores
      Senior RBQM Operations Consultant, TRI Trials

      3:15 PM

      Afternoon refreshments, networking & Apple prize draw

      3:45 PM

      Regulatory landscape for AI & Software in UK & Ireland

      A concise overview of how AI and software-based medical technologies are regulated across England and Ireland, highlighting alignment, divergence, and what developers and trial teams need to plan for now.

      Speakers

      Surbhi Gupta
      Advisor to National AI team, NHS England

      4:15 PM

      TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT: Strategies for Preserving Valuable Biomarkers in Blood

      • Addressing logistical challenges in clinical trials for blood sample processing
      • Implementing solutions to stabilise biomarkers at collection and simplify workflows

      Speakers

      Karlo Svrze
      Senior Sales Manager, BD

      4:30 PM

      TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT: A Demonstration of Digital Display Labels in Clinical Trials Operations & Supply Chain

      • Exploring the capability of Digital Display Labels (DDLs) and the benefits for Clinical Trial Supplies
      • A demonstration of the functionality of DDLs; just in time labelling, lot & expiry update, multiple page count.
      • Understanding the operational ability to securely & remotely update content & language.
      • Integrating across IMP profiles, vials, bottles, blisters.

      Speakers

      Brian Sheridan
      Vice President Global Adherence & Clinicals, Smurfit Westrock

      4:45 PM

      PANEL DISCUSSION Future of Clinical Trial Professionals: How Technology Is Transforming Workforce Roles and Expectations

      • Reimagining responsibilities across clinical trial functions in an AI- and automation-driven environment
      • Evolving from task-based roles to strategic, insight-driven contributors across operations and data functions
      • Redefining entry-level roles as technology reshapes foundational skills, expectations, and career pathways
      • Identifying the new capabilities required to ensure technology enhances, not replaces the expertise of clinical trial professionals

      Speakers

      Catherine Mela
      VP Head HBS Strategy and Delivery, GSK
      Blanka Hezelova
      Associate Director, Precision Medicine Scientific Operations, Bioethics Coach, GSK
      Jacqueline Johnson North
      Founder & CEO, International Accrediting Organisation for Clinical Research (IAOCR)
      Clara Pessia
      Precision Medicine Associate, GSK
      Emma Larsson
      Precision Medicine Associate, GSK
      Magiyat Mursalova
      Platform Sciences Associate, GSK

      5:15 PM

      Chairperson’s closing remarks

      Speakers

      Kamil Sitarz, PhD, EMBA
      Chief Operating Officer & Management Board Member, Ryvu Therapeutics

      7:30 AM

      Registration and refreshments

      8:30 AM

      GlobalData Opening Remarks – State of The UK Clinical Trials Industry – Strategic Intelligence

      Speakers

      Dr Julie Munch Khan
      Chief Commercial Officer, Deallus

      9 AM

      KEYNOTE: A New Chapter for UK Clinical Trials: Regulation Reform and the Rise of AI

      • The impact of the new UK clinical trial regulations coming into force in April 2026 and what they mean for sponsors, investigators, and trial delivery
      • Government priorities and progress across the UK clinical research ecosystem two years on
      • How artificial intelligence is transforming clinical trial design, feasibility, patient identification, and operational efficiency
      • Cross-sector collaboration between regulators, industry, and the NHS to strengthen the UK’s position as a leading destination for clinical research
      • Looking ahead: building a more agile, technology-enabled clinical trials environment in the UK

      Speakers

      Prof. Lucy Chappell
      Chief Scientific Adviser, Department of Health and Social Care, Chief Executive Officer, National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)

      9:30 AM

      Winning The Proof-Of-Concept Race Site Practical Insights and Tactics on What it Takes to Succeed in Competitive Indications

      • The F1 racing concept applied to first-in-patient protocols
      • Strategies to start a study in 6 weeks from submission to first screening
      • Real patient recruitment metrics

      Speakers

      Dr. Claudia Hesselmann
      Founder & CEO, ARENSIA Exploratory Medicine

      10 AM

      KEYNOTE PANEL UK Clinical Trials at a Crossroads: Pricing, Investment and Performance Challenges

      • How pricing frameworks like VPAG are influencing pharma exit decisions
      • Consequences of major R&D pullbacks for the UK research ecosystem
      • Persistent issues: slow approvals, fragmented delivery and rising costs
      • What policy and industry shifts are needed to reverse the trend

      Speakers

      Dr Julie Munch Khan
      Chief Commercial Officer, Deallus
      Alex Churchill
      Deputy Director, Clinical Trials Policy, Department of Health and Social Care
      Dr Suki Balendra
      Director, Strategic Partnerships, Paddington Life Sciences and Director, North West London Clinical Trials Alliance
      Deborah Clark
      Country Medical Director (UK & Ireland), Alexion

      10:45 AM

      AI for impact – transforming clinical trial study design and execution

      Harnessing the convergence of high-fidelity data with advanced AI is now essential for de-risking clinical trials and accelerating therapies to patients. What if the distance between a draft protocol and a validated study execution plan was reduced to a single, unified simulation?

      Join Medidata’s Eleanor McLaurin for a deep dive into the future of holistic trial design and planning. Learn how advanced modelling and simulation capabilities within a central workspace can revolutionise trial operations. This session will illustrate Medidata’s strategy for optimizing protocol design, predicting trial outcomes, and achieving greater clinical and operational success in the next generation of drug development.

       

      Speakers

      Eleanor McLaurin
      Solution Specialist, Medidata AI

      11:15 AM

      Morning refreshments and networking

      11:45 AM

      150 Days to Activation: Can the UK Meet the NIHR’s New Trial Start-Up Standard?

      • What the new national target requires from sites and sponsors
      • Meeting the NIHR’s new FPI targets: 30days for Rare, 60 days for all others
      • Systemic challenges slowing UK clinical trial delivery
      • Enablers: streamlined processes, capacity, and perforMaria Koufali mance management
      • What success looks like for 2025–2026

      Speakers

      Maria Koufali
      Life Sciences Industry Director, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)

      12:15 PM

      Europe at a Crossroads: Modern Clinical Trials, Market Pressures, and the UK’s approach in the global competitive environment

      • The traditional CRO model is no longer fit for purpose
        Transactional, vendor-based approaches create duplication, misalignment, and inefficiency, slowing trials precisely when regulatory systems are designed to move faster.
      • Integrated partnerships are the new execution engine for clinical trials
        Success in Europe now depends on deeply integrated CRO-biotech models with shared accountability, centralized oversight, and proactive regulatory strategy built in from the start.
      • Winning in 2026 requires a global, lifecycle-driven strategy
        Biotechs can combine different global solutions for early phase acceleration.

      Speakers

      Scott Davis
      Vice President Clinical Services Europe, Novotech

      12:45 PM

      CASE STUDY: Gene Therapy in Action: Advancing a Clinical Case Study in Childhood Dementia

      This session will explore the translational journey of a novel gene therapy targeting childhood dementia, from early research through to clinical trial readiness. Using a real-world case study, it will highlight the scientific, regulatory, and operational challenges involved in bringing a cutting-edge therapy to patients, and what this means for outsourcing partners across the UK & Ireland.

       

      • Overview of the gene therapy approach and mechanism of action
      • Case study: from discovery to clinical trial planning
      • Key challenges in manufacturing, scale-up, and delivery
      • Regulatory considerations and working with UK bodies (e.g. MHRA, HRA)
      • The role of outsourcing partners in enabling trial readiness
      • Timelines, funding pressures, and “race against time” dynamics
      • Future outlook for gene therapies in rare paediatric diseases

       

      Speakers

      Dr Rebecca Holley
      Research Project Manager, The University of Manchester

      1:15 PM

      Lunch and networking

      2:15 PM

      PANEL DISCUSSION From Transactional Outsourcing to Strategic Partnership: Aligning Incentives, Expectations, and Execution in Clinical Trials

      • Planning for successful sponsor–vendor relationships
      • Common challenges and pitfalls with vendors and how to address them
      • Improving transparency and alignment across multi-partner trial ecosystems
      • What effective strategic partnership looks like in practice

      Speakers

      Dr. Gaia Kiru
      Head of Operations & Partnerships, Imperial Clinical Trials Unit, Imperial College London
      Jeff Pilot
      Senior Clinical Project Manager, Norgine
      Sarah Tissington
      Director, Clinical Site Engagement, Autolus Therapeutics
      Elizabeth Emmerson
      Director, Clinical Operations, Blue Earth Therapeutics
      Dr Darren Gibson
      Executive Director, Frontier Science Scotland

      2:45 PM

      Powering Pragmatic Decentralised Trials with Real-World, Real-Time Data

      • Discover how routinely collected healthcare data can power the next generation of pragmatic and decentralised clinical trials.
      • Learn how integrating real-time electronic health record (EHR) data into trial workflows can accelerate recruitment and reduce burden on sites and patients.
      • Explore practical approaches for generating high-quality real-world evidence alongside traditional interventional study data.
      • Gain insight into the technology, governance, and operational partnerships required to deliver scalable, patient-centric research models in practice.

      Speakers

      Owen Williams
      Chief Technology Officer, NWEH

      3:15 PM

      Afternoon refreshments, networking & Apple prize draw

      3:45 PM

      Optimising Clinical Trial Feasibility: From Site Selection to Study Design

      • Assessing site capabilities, patient populations, and operational resources to ensure realistic trial execution.
      • Using data-driven approaches and analytics to predict enrollment timelines and potential bottlenecks.
      • Identifying and mitigating risks early to improve study efficiency and reduce delays.
      • Incorporating patient insights and stakeholder feedback to design feasible, patient-friendly protocols.

      Speakers

      Gail Kemp
      Senior Director, Head of Clinical Development Centre UK, Novo Nordisk

      4:15 PM

      Value by Design: Strategic Execution Architecture in Clinical-Stage Biotech

      Running four Phase II oncology studies in parallel exposed a fundamental truth: in clinical-stage biotech, execution failure is not a delivery problem — it is a value problem. This session draws on Ryvu's experience building an internal clinical execution unit from scratch, covering the strategic decisions behind insourcing key functions, building a CEE-anchored site network, and delivering ASH 2025 data on time. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for thinking about clinical program architecture as a value inflection decision, not an operational one.

      Speakers

      Kamil Sitarz, PhD, EMBA
      Chief Operating Officer & Management Board Member, Ryvu Therapeutics

      4:45 PM

      PANEL DISCUSSION Maximising Site Productivity: Infrastructure, Burden Reduction and Stronger Output in UK Clinical Trials

      Robust, well supported site infrastructure is the foundation of efficient clinical trial delivery across the UK and Ireland. This session will examine how workforce, facilities, digital systems and governance structures at NHS and HSE sites can be optimised to reduce operational burden and increase throughput of high quality studies. Panellists will share practical strategies for investing in and partnering with sites to strengthen research infrastructure, streamline processes, and enable sustainable growth in commercial and academic trial activity.

      • Assessing current site infrastructure: workforce, facilities, governance and digital capabilities in NHS/HSE settings.
      • Targeted investments and partnerships that meaningfully strengthen site capacity and trial readiness.
      • Aligning sponsor/CRO expectations and processes with real site infrastructure constraints.
      • Building scalable, resilient site infrastructure that supports long term growth in UK & Irish clinical research.

      Speakers

      Dr Julie Munch Khan
      Chief Commercial Officer, Deallus
      Sarah Scorer
      Senior Director, Head of Clinical Operations Tangram Therapeutics
      Sarah Tissington
      Director, Clinical Site Engagement, Autolus Therapeutics

      5:15 PM

      Chairperson’s closing remarks

      Speakers

      Dr Julie Munch Khan
      Chief Commercial Officer, Deallus

      NETWORKING DRINKS SPONSORED BY TFS

      Streams

      Stream one

      STREAM B: Clinical Technology and Innovation

      Stream two

      Clinical Operations and Outsourcing

      Stream three

      Clinical Technology and Innovation

      2:30 PM

      Afternoon refreshments, networking, and Apple Prize Draw

      11:45 AM

      FIRESIDE CHAT Risks & Controversies of AI in Clinical Trials

      • Automation bias in practice: Real-world cases show dosing errors occurring when clinicians rely on AI outputs without independent verification.
      • Human oversight failures: Over-reliance on AI, combined with missed pharmacist checks, can directly compromise patient safety.
      • Cognitive deskilling risk: Persistent dependence on AI may erode critical thinking, clinical judgement, and professional expertise over time.
      • Long-term human impact: Growing concern that excessive cognitive offloading to AI could contribute to reduced mental resilience and potential long-term cognitive health risks, highlighting the need for balanced human - AI interaction.

      Speakers

      Puja Myles
      Director, Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), MHRA
      Jeff Pilot
      Senior Clinical Project Manager, Norgine

      12:15 PM

      Lunch and Networking

      1:30 PM

      SPOTLIGHT – Innovation in Rare Disease

       

      • Analysis of Real World (Audit) Data in driving drug discovery
      • Use of RWD in driving drug discovery in rare diseases
      • Leveraging therapeutics for rare disease to larger, multiple global applications

      Speakers

      Myles Dakin
      Chairman & Founder, Hypo-Stream

      2 PM

      The Wearable Sensor CRO: A New Model for Implementing Digital Measures that Must Withstand Regulatory Scrutiny

      • How well‑designed digital measures deliver measurable ROI in clinical trials by reducing missing data, improving statistical power, accelerating timelines, and preventing costly trial rework or failure.
      • How an end‑to‑end Wearable Sensor CRO delivery model integrates scientific strategy, operational oversight, and analytics to consistently produce regulatory‑ready datasets.
      • Real‑world case examples showing how proactive compliance monitoring and fit‑for‑purpose algorithms dramatically improve data completeness and statistical power.
      • The critical role of disease‑specific digital endpoint design versus off‑the‑shelf wearable algorithms in capturing meaningful treatment effects.
      • Practical guidance for clinical operations and outsourcing teams on reducing sponsor burden while scaling wearable technologies across global trials.

      Speakers

      Dudley Tabakin
      Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VivoSense

      8 AM

      Registration and Refreshments

      8:45 AM

      Chairperson’s Opening Remarks & LinkedIn Prize Draw

      To be in with a chance of winning our LinkedIn Prize Draw, post your most engaging and/or funniest photo from Day 1 of the conference on LinkedIn by 8:00pm on 9 June.

      Please include the hashtags:
      #OCTUK #OCTIreland #ClinicalTrials #ClinicalOutsourcing #Healthcare #Pharma

      And tag both:

      • Outsourcing in Clinical Trials Event Series
      • Arena International Events Group

      We will shortlist three finalists, and the audience will vote for the winner during the Chairpersons’ Opening Remarks on Day 2.

      Please note: you must be present in the room at 8:45am to claim the prize. If the winner is not present, the prize will be awarded to the next finalist in attendance.

      Speakers

      Dr Julie Munch Khan
      Chief Commercial Officer, Deallus

      9 AM

      KEYNOTE: A New Chapter for UK Clinical Trials: Regulation Reform and the Rise of AI

      • The impact of the new UK clinical trial regulations coming into force in April 2026 and what they mean for sponsors, investigators, and trial delivery
      • Government priorities and progress across the UK clinical research ecosystem two years on
      • How artificial intelligence is transforming clinical trial design, feasibility, patient identification, and operational efficiency
      • Cross-sector collaboration between regulators, industry, and the NHS to strengthen the UK’s position as a leading destination for clinical research
      • Looking ahead: building a more agile, technology-enabled clinical trials environment in the UK

      Speakers

      Prof. Lucy Chappell
      Chief Scientific Adviser, Department of Health and Social Care, Chief Executive Officer, National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)

      9:30 AM

      The RFP Paradox: Why your vendor selection process may be limiting your options

      • The hidden assumptions embedded in RFP design that narrow vendor capabilities​
      • How RFP structure shapes partnership dynamics and long-term outcomes​
      • Rethinking RFP strategy to access broader CRO expertise and innovation​

      Speakers

      Karen De Bruin
      Senior Director, Clinical Pharmacology Solution Consulting, Parexel

      10 AM

      Strength in Collaboration: How Ireland’s Unified Clinical Trial Ecosystem Is Driving Growth and Cross-Border Innovation

      • A Unified National Approach: How Ireland avoids siloed working across research sites, hospitals, regulators and sponsors, and what lessons can be learned from this collaborative ecosystem.
      • Political Momentum & National Structures: Examination of Ireland’s evolving political landscape, including the formation of the National Clinical Trials Oversight Group and the report/recommendations shaping future strategy.
      • Building Attractiveness for Global Sponsors: The concrete steps Ireland is taking, from advisory committees to harmonised processes to make the country more competitive and appealing for commercial and academic clinical trials.
      • Cross-Border Opportunities & UK Alignment: How Ireland and Britain can work together post-Brexit, including expanding trial activity into Northern Ireland and creating a smoother, collaborative pathway across both jurisdictions. We discussed a session around

      Speakers

      Professor Mark Lawler
      Chair in Translational Cancer Genomics and Professor of Digital Health, Queen’s University Belfast

      10:30 AM

      From Friction to Flow: The Future of Imaging in Clinical Trials

      • Automation from scan to endpoint
      • Imaging biomarkers and expert readers
      • Site connectivity for full traceability

      Speakers

      Anders Nordell
      CEO and Co-Founder, Collective Minds

      11 AM

      Morning refreshments and networking

      11:45 AM

      Accelerating Hope: How LifeArc Is Transforming Rare Disease Research

      • Who is LifeArc?
      • The Rare Disease Challenge
      • LifeArc’s Approach to Accelerating Clinical Research
      • Translational Centres for Rare Disease
      • Rare Disease Clinical Trials Programme

      Speakers

      Dr Alison McMorn
      Head of Clinical Strategy and Development, LifeArc

      12:15 PM

      Lunch and Networking

      1:30 PM

      From Innovation to Investment: The Future of Life Sciences in Paddington

      • Innovation & Industry Presence
      • Collaboration Ecosystem
      • Connectivity & Talent
      • Future Growth & Investment

      Speakers

      Dr Suki Balendra
      Director, Strategic Partnerships, Paddington Life Sciences and Director, North West London Clinical Trials Alliance

      2 PM

      PATIENT SPOTLIGHT: Improving Preclinical and Clinical Research Through Patient Integration

      • Integrating patients into study design brings increased efficiency and focus – it’s about more than improving recruitment
      • Practicalities of integrating patients based on real world experience

       

      Speakers

      Steve Clark
      Patient Advocate and Founder of Strive for Five CIC

      2:30 PM

      Afternoon refreshments, networking, and Apple Prize Draw

      3 PM

      ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS

      During the roundtable discussion session, the conference hall will be divided into zones. Delegates can choose which zone they would like to join. Each zone will be led by a table lead/host and will focus on a different challenge within the industry. After 30 minutes, delegates will have the opportunity to swap and choose a different table, and each roundtable will run twice.

       

      ROUNDTABLE 1: Taking the Wheel: Gaining Control of Your eTMF During Active Trials

      Jane Silverwood, Clinical Documental Management Specialist, Owkin
      ROUNDTABLE 2: Beyond the CRO: What Clinical-Stage Biotech Actually Needs from an Execution Partner

      Kamil Sitarz, PhD, EMBA, Chief Operating Officer, Ryvu Therapeutics
      ROUNDTABLE 3: Developing medicines from analysis of real-world data

      Myles Dakin, Chairman & Founder, Hypo-Stream
      ROUNDTABLE 4: AI in Clinical Trials: Who Owns the Risk When Development is Outsourced?

      Surbhi Gupta, Advisor to National AI team, NHS England
      ROUNDTABLE 5: Can FAST-EU realistically accelerate multinational trial start-up, or will operational reality slow it down?

      Victoria Toms, Executive Director, International Accrediting Organisation for Clinical Research (IAOCR)

       

       

       

       

       

       

      Speakers

      Jane Silverwood
      Clinical Documental Management Specialist, Owkin
      Myles Dakin
      Chairman & Founder, Hypo-Stream
      Surbhi Gupta
      Advisor to National AI team, NHS England
      Victoria Toms
      Executive Director, IAOCR

      4 PM

      Close of conference

      Speakers

      Select a speaker to learn more

      Back
      Alex Churchill
      Deputy Director, Clinical Trials Policy, Department of Health and Social Care

      Session Details:

      KEYNOTE PANEL UK Clinical Trials at a Crossroads: Pricing, Investment and Performance Challenges

      2026-06-09, 10:00 AM

      Session Details:

      UK Health Policy at a Turning Point: Delivering on the Government’s Life Sciences and 10-Year Cancer Plans

      2026-06-09, 12:15 PM

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      Prof. Lucy Chappell
      Chief Scientific Adviser, Department of Health and Social Care, Chief Executive Officer, National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)

      Professor Lucy Chappell FMedSci is the Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), with overall responsibility for the department’s research and development, including the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the government’s major funder of clinical, public health, social care and translational research.

      Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer, the Chief Scientific Adviser provides science advice and analysis to ministers across the range of health topics and is involved in cross-government science policy.

      Professor Chappell is Professor of Obstetrics at King’s College London, Honorary Consultant Obstetrician at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and an NIHR Senior Investigator. She will undertake the Chief Scientific Adviser role on secondment into government, while continuing some of her clinical and academic work.

      DHSC Chief Scientific Adviser

      Responsibilities include:

      • overall responsibility for the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) research policies and budget, including being head of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
      • supporting analysis and evidenced-based decision-making capacity in the department
      • working with Chief Scientific Advisers across government to maximise the impact of science to benefit the UK population

      Session Details:

      KEYNOTE: A New Chapter for UK Clinical Trials: Regulation Reform and the Rise of AI

      2026-06-09, 9:00 AM

      Session Details:

      KEYNOTE: A New Chapter for UK Clinical Trials: Regulation Reform and the Rise of AI

      2026-06-10, 9:00 AM

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      James Pound
      Executive Director Innovation and Compliance, MHRA
      Next speaker
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      Puja Myles
      Director, Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), MHRA

      Dr Puja Myles is Director of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) specialist real world data research service, the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). She is a public health specialist and prior to joining CPRD, was a public health academic at the University of Nottingham, UK. She is a fellow of the Faculty of Public Health (UK), a senior fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) and has a doctorate in epidemiology. She has been the MHRA’s strategic lead on the development of synthetic data generation approaches and applications since 2017. In addition, she has led on Regulatory Science initiatives including AI explainability, handling concept drift, data quality standards for regulatory purposes, regulatory evidence derived from computer modelling and simulation approaches.

      Session Details:

      Key regulatory considerations around data quality when using real world data to support clinical trials

      2026-06-09, 12:45 PM

      Session Details:

      FIRESIDE CHAT Risks & Controversies of AI in Clinical Trials

      2026-06-10, 11:45 AM

      Session Details:

      PANEL DISCUSSION Harnessing Real-World Data and Registries in Clinical Trials: UK & Ireland Perspectives

      2026-06-09, 2:15 PM

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      Gail Kemp
      Senior Director, Head of Clinical Development Centre UK, Novo Nordisk

      Gail Kemp is Director and Head of the Clinical Development Centre (CDC) UK at Novo Nordisk. She leads all UK clinical trial activities across the Novo Nordisk portfolio, working closely with global R&D teams, UK industry bodies, and healthcare partners. Gail has 25 years’ experience in clinical development spanning all phases and multiple therapy areas, particularly in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

      Session Details:

      Optimising Clinical Trial Feasibility: From Site Selection to Study Design

      2026-06-09, 3:45 PM

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      Dr Julie Munch Khan
      Chief Commercial Officer, Deallus

      Julie is the Chief Commercial Office at Deallus, a market leading strategy consultancy, which was acquired by Global Data  at the beginning of the year. Julie's career in life sciences spans 20 years with a focus on partnering with clients on strategy development on local, regional and global level . For more than decade Julie has led large global and regional competitive mindset training programmes for large pharma. Since 2017 Julie has regularly been engaged as an inspirational speaker on Competitive Mindset across brand, portfolio and corporate audiences. Her expertise includes clinical and commercial planning, brand & portfolio strategy  as well as advising organisation  on personalised healthcare approaches across various disease areas.  Julie holds a PhD in Neuroscience from Imperial College London sponsored by Pfizer.

      Session Details:

      GlobalData Opening Remarks – State of The UK Clinical Trials Industry – Strategic Intelligence

      2026-06-09, 8:30 AM

      Session Details:

      Chairperson’s Opening Remarks & LinkedIn Prize Draw

      2026-06-10, 8:45 AM

      Session Details:

      KEYNOTE PANEL UK Clinical Trials at a Crossroads: Pricing, Investment and Performance Challenges

      2026-06-09, 10:00 AM

      Session Details:

      PANEL DISCUSSION Maximising Site Productivity: Infrastructure, Burden Reduction and Stronger Output in UK Clinical Trials

      2026-06-09, 4:45 PM

      Session Details:

      Chairperson’s closing remarks

      2026-06-09, 5:15 PM

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      Dr Rebecca Clark
      Partner, Principal Investigator, Fylde Coast Clinical Research and Co-Clinical Lead, UK Vaccine Innovation Pathway

      Dr Rebecca Clark is a Partner at Fylde Coast Clinical Research at Layton Medical Centre, a dedicated commercial trials centre in Blackpool. She is a highly experienced trialist with over 70 Phase II/III clinical trials conducted over the last 13 years, with multiple studies as Chief Investigator in the therapy areas of vaccines, obesity medicine, cardiovascular medicine, asthma and diabetes. She holds a number of senior leadership roles including co-clinical lead for the UK Vaccine Innovation Pathway, a UK clinical trials accelerator.

      Fylde Coast Clinical Research at Layton Medical Centre recruits amongst the highest number of commercial participants across the NHS in England and was in the top 1% of NHS recruiting sites when compared with all 637 sites across both primary and secondary care in 22/23. Study participant retention rates exceeded 99%. Her site regularly achieves UK FPV and she is renowned for accelerated set up and recruitment timelines, experience she is now bringing to her role in the UK VIP.

      Fylde Coast Clinical Research currently holds contracts with Eli Lilly, Moderna, Astra Zeneca, Roche, Amgen, Merck, Novo Nordisk and GSK, with whom they are members of the PEER preferred site network.

      Dr Clark continues to be recognised nationally for her excellence in clinical trial delivery, being a former recipient of the Gold Award for Clinical Site of the Year at the Pharmatimes International Clinical Researcher of the Year.

       

      Next speaker
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      Catherine Mela
      VP Head HBS Strategy and Delivery, GSK

      Catherine Mela is Vice President, Head of Human BioSample Strategy and Delivery, within GSK. In her role, Catherine is accountable for leading the Laboratory Vendor Partnership Team, BioSampling Operations Teams and Data Operations team, driving the execution of the laboratory and sampling project strategies within the GSK portfolio.

      Catherine has gained broad experience in laboratory and bio-sample operations, while leading sampling and laboratory operations teams in AstraZeneca and Roche.

      Prior to working in pharma, Catherine’s background was in Clinical research within the NHS.  She holds a PhD from Imperial College.  Catherine is a fellow of the institute of leadership and is passionate about professional development, mentorship and creating a supportive environment for individuals within her teams.

      Session Details:

      PANEL DISCUSSION Future of Clinical Trial Professionals: How Technology Is Transforming Workforce Roles and Expectations

      2026-06-09, 4:45 PM

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      Blanka Hezelova
      Associate Director, Precision Medicine Scientific Operations, Bioethics Coach, GSK

      Blanka is an Associate Director within Precision Medicine Scientific Operations at GSK with over ten years of experience in research spanning from clinical site to sponsor roles, and expertise in biosample operations. She leads operational aspects of trials with a focus on innovation and excellence, successfully managing complex clinical studies while ensuring compliance and participant protection. Herf passion lies in ethical research and strategic improvements for operational efficiency.

      Session Details:

      PANEL DISCUSSION Future of Clinical Trial Professionals: How Technology Is Transforming Workforce Roles and Expectations

      2026-06-09, 4:45 PM

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      Jacqueline Johnson North
      Founder & CEO, International Accrediting Organisation for Clinical Research (IAOCR)

      Facilitating connections and working with global industry leaders, parliamentarians and key opinion leaders to pioneer globally consistent best practices standards for clinical research.

      Session Details:

      Mind the Gap: Enhancing the Work of Regulatory Agencies through the Voluntary Adoption of International Quality Standards

      2026-06-09, 3:45 PM

      Session Details:

      PANEL DISCUSSION Future of Clinical Trial Professionals: How Technology Is Transforming Workforce Roles and Expectations

      2026-06-09, 4:45 PM

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      Jeff Pilot
      Senior Clinical Project Manager, Norgine

      Session Details:

      FIRESIDE CHAT Risks & Controversies of AI in Clinical Trials

      2026-06-10, 11:45 AM

      Session Details:

      PANEL DISCUSSION From Transactional Outsourcing to Strategic Partnership: Aligning Incentives, Expectations, and Execution in Clinical Trials

      2026-06-09, 2:15 PM

      View In Agenda
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      Emma Kinloch
      CEO, Salivary Gland Cancer UK and International Patient Advocate

      Emma Kinloch is the CEO and co-founder of Salivary Gland Cancer UK.  Focussed on pushing forwards research, providing reliable information and support for all those treating, researching and living with salivary gland cancers.

      Emma is a passionate about involvement of the patient voice at all stages of cancer research.  She is a non-executive Director of the Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Foundation, acts as a Patient Advisor to the EURACAN rare head and neck cancer domain and is a member of CRUK’s Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre Strategy Board.

      Emma recently completed a Professional Doctorate in Occupational Health Psychology.

      Session Details:

      PANEL DISCUSSION: Designing Oncology Trials That Work for Every Patient

      2026-06-09, 2:15 PM

      Session Details:

      Adaptive Oncology Trials: Improving Access and the Patient Perspective

      2026-06-09, 12:45 PM

      Session Details:

      PANEL DISCUSSION: Strengthening Patient Recruitment in Oncology Clinical Trials

      2026-06-09, 4:45 PM

      Session Details:

      Chairpersons closing remarks

      2026-06-09, 5:15 PM

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      Myles Dakin
      Chairman & Founder, Hypo-Stream

      Myles Dakin founded the research company, Hypo-Stream, to address anticipated needs in burns treatment and nosocomial infection with AMR pathogens.  His R&D journey has led to discovery of a multi-modal anti-inflammatory agent that neutralises both Il-6 and TNF-a alongside altering the ratio of Il-10 to Il-6 in a favourable way.  Hypo-Stream has progressed to an emerging pharma company with CHMP supported Ph III ready asset and orphan designation in a rare disease alongside a pipeline with potential global impact.

      Session Details:

      ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS

      2026-06-10, 3:00 PM

      Session Details:

      SPOTLIGHT – Innovation in Rare Disease

      2026-06-10, 1:30 PM

      Session Details:

      PANEL DISCUSSION Harnessing Real-World Data and Registries in Clinical Trials: UK & Ireland Perspectives

      2026-06-09, 2:15 PM

      View In Agenda
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      Surbhi Gupta
      Advisor to National AI team, NHS England

      Session Details:

      ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS

      2026-06-10, 3:00 PM

      Session Details:

      Regulatory landscape for AI & Software in UK & Ireland

      2026-06-09, 3:45 PM

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      Olivia Howard
      Associate Director - Clinical Operations, Scancell

      Leading the Quality and Process optimisation of Clinical Operations, alongside the strategic planning and data-driven development of oncology clinical trial pipelines, their experience spans trial management, clinical monitoring, pharmacovigilance and medical writing, gained across both UK Biotech and Global Pharmaceutical organisations. Committed to advancing risk-based strategies, scalable and efficient operations, and GCP compliance through thoughtful innovation.

      Session Details:

      Applying AI Tools Effectively in Clinical Trials

      2026-06-09, 11:45 AM

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      Dr Suki Balendra
      Director, Strategic Partnerships, Paddington Life Sciences and Director, North West London Clinical Trials Alliance

      Suki Balendra a senior leader in the NHS with a 20-year background in facilitating, growing, and promoting health research in the U.K.  She has substantial, in-depth experience across sectors including industry, academia, NHS, and central government.

      She is currently the Director of Strategic Partnerships for Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in Northwest London. She leads the strategic work with the Life sciences industry in the region with an emphasis on a new life sciences cluster in Paddington. Suki created and leads the North West London Clinical Trials Alliance. She started her career in the Biotechnology Industry at Abbott Diagnostics Ltd. Within a Good manufacturing practice (GMP) environment she worked on several operational projects to improve efficiency, cost, and reproducibility.

      In 2018 she was seconded to the Office of Life Sciences within the Department of Business and Industrial Strategy. where she attracted and negotiated new business to increase the UK’s market share of health and care research activity. During the pandemic she provided operational leadership to the NHS covid vaccine research response in Northwest London.

      Suki has PhD from the University of Warwick, and she is accredited to black belt in Lean Six Sigma. She is a passionate advocate for UK PLC as the number one destination to conduct clinical trials.

      Session Details:

      From Innovation to Investment: The Future of Life Sciences in Paddington

      2026-06-10, 1:30 PM

      Session Details:

      KEYNOTE PANEL UK Clinical Trials at a Crossroads: Pricing, Investment and Performance Challenges

      2026-06-09, 10:00 AM

      View In Agenda
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      Dr Yvette Henry
      Clinical Program Leader ('The Project Runner')

      Yvette Henry brings over 12 years of leadership experience in project management and clinical operational strategy, with a strong foundation in both academia and the pharma/biotech industries. She has focused primarily on early-phase clinical development in oncology, where she has successfully led global cross-functional teams and navigated complex stakeholder environments to deliver R&D strategic goals and clinical trial execution. Yvette holds a PhD in Bone Metabolism and is a certified PRINCE2 Agile Project Management Practitioner.

      Yvette is a world champion sprinter and brings together the two worlds that are, Project leadership & delivery with the Athlete Mindset, in small, medium and large pharma/biotech. Also known as ‘The Project Runner’, Yvette applies a high-performance, results-driven mindset to her professional career, and leads by equipping teams with resilience and agility, while inspiring them to overcome challenges and achieve excellence.

      Session Details:

      INSPIRATIONAL KEYNOTE Clinical Operational Excellence: Delivery like an Elite Athlete

      2026-06-09, 11:45 AM

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      Jane Silverwood
      Clinical Documental Management Specialist, Owkin

      Session Details:

      ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS

      2026-06-10, 3:00 PM

      View In Agenda
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      Magiyat Mursalova
      Platform Sciences Associate, GSK

      Magiyat has a biomedical background, with interdisciplinary experience in research and medicinal regulatory affairs.

      Magiyat hold a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from the University of Surrey where she achieved a first-class result. Her dissertation topic titled ‘Investigating the role of antiviral sentinel PKR in the function of chemotherapy drug 5-FU’ – where she investigated whether the PKR protein kinase may be used as a specific target of 5-FU outside of viral infection and investigating in vitro conditions to achieve activation.

      Magiyat completed a professional placement year at Haleon within Medicinal Regulatory Affairs, Product Lifecycle Management team. At Haleon, Magiyat led to streamline ways of working. In parallel, Magiyat managed the product cancellation requests, cross functionally, across the full brand portfolio and executed regulatory needs to meet regulatory specifications in over 30 markets. Passionate in driving positive change, Magiyat established the first regulatory network for placement students. Prior to Haleon, Magiyat completed an internship at Sumitomo Chemical ltd., within their legal, compliance and personal care departments. Throughout her time at university, she has worked as a student ambassador alongside her studies.

      Originally from Azerbaijan, born in Baku, Magiyat speaks Russian, is family oriented and has a small cocker spaniel she adores. Her passions are for travel, being creative and trying new experiences. She has played piano for over 10 years, enjoys painting, trying new hiking trails with those close to her and is a keen country explorer! Magiyat also loves meeting new people and enjoys playing tennis when she has some free time.

      Driven by patient centric impact, influencing change and innovative thinking, precision medicine is in key alignment with her motivations. Through the GSK graduate scheme, she is passionate in continuing her learning, professional growth and driving improvement.

      Session Details:

      PANEL DISCUSSION Future of Clinical Trial Professionals: How Technology Is Transforming Workforce Roles and Expectations

      2026-06-09, 4:45 PM

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      Clara Pessia
      Precision Medicine Associate, GSK

      Clara has an interdisciplinary, research-oriented background, holding both a BSc and an MSc with honours in Biomedical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano.

      During her Master’s studies, she specialised in bioengineering for cells, tissues, and biotechnology, while consistently integrating her strong biological foundation with technical expertise in artificial intelligence and bioinformatics.

      As part of the Erasmus+ programme, she spent six months at the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, deepening her knowledge of stem cell bioengineering and regenerative medicine. She then carried out her Master’s thesis at the international research centre Human Technopole in Milan, within the Population & Medical Genomics department, where she gained hands-on experience in single-cell multi-omics to study the immune microenvironment in paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia.

      Following her degree, Clara worked as an Advanced Analytics Intern at Bayer Italia, applying her multidisciplinary skill set to generate data-driven insights in support of innovation and excellence in the pharmaceutical sector.

      Her international and cross-disciplinary experiences have shaped an analytical, detail-oriented mindset that she brings to every project. Driven by a strong fascination for the potential of biological data and emerging technologies, Clara is particularly motivated by their application to precision medicine and patient-centred research. With a genuine desire to make a positive impact, she has recently started her career in pharmaceutical research through a GSK graduate scheme, where she is eager to continue learning, explore diverse roles, and contribute to technological and scientific innovation.

      Session Details:

      PANEL DISCUSSION Future of Clinical Trial Professionals: How Technology Is Transforming Workforce Roles and Expectations

      2026-06-09, 4:45 PM

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      Emma Larsson
      Precision Medicine Associate, GSK

      Emma comes from an interdisciplinary background in Precision Medicine (PMed) device development, Neuroscience clinical research and AI Neuroimaging development. Her strengths lie in a strategic efficiency-driven mindset, combined with a curiosity and bubbly personality.

      As a Precision Medicine Associate at GSK, and as part of GSK's Future Leaders Programme as a Graduate, her focus is on operationally optimising biomarker strategies across GSKs portfolio, whilst simultaneously innovating and improving processes to accelerate and standardise pipelines with a data-driven purpose.

      Prior to GSK, Emma worked in Neuroscience Research in various capacities. She worked at CRO IXICO, responsible for processing large quantities clinical trial data. She worked closely with GCP and created training data for development of AI neuroimaging processing methods to improve data analysis streamlining and accuracy. She also worked on the CogThy study at the University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska, investigating Graves’ Disease and the hippocampus, by leading the automation process for clinical trial MRI data by integrating and comparing brain segmentation software in supercomputer processing terminals. Additionally, she undertook an independent research project in collaboration with MedTechWest where she evaluated and improved the Machine Learning neuroimaging tool Pincram.

       

      Going back to where her interest in PMed started, at Astra Zeneca MedTech spinout company OnDosis. She was part of a dynamic start-up team and wore many hats, including heading the company’s literature research and contributing to product development of PMed dosage devices Ondosis 01, 02 and 03, where she introduced multiple new functional design aspects aiming to improve their efficiency and accuracy.

      Emma holds a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences (BASc) with a Neuroscience major and Economics and Bioengineering minors from University College London (UCL). Her Bachelor’s thesis received distinction as one of the best undergraduate research dissertations in the field at UCL for an independent participant-based primary research project, where she built an sEMG-device and investigated applications for biofeedback of sonified sEMG.

      Originally from Sweden, Emma grew up close to the archipelago and moved to London in 2020. She has always had a soft spot for the snow and the sea, always loving skiing and more recently discovering surfing. Emma is an active dancer, practicing with a dance crew in South London and running children’s classes to bring the joy of dance to more people. She is also passionate about women’s rights, politics and sociology, and always loves a meaningful conversation. When she is not on her feet (or skis, surfboard or skateboard), she loves thought-provoking books and spending time with her loved ones.

      Session Details:

      PANEL DISCUSSION Future of Clinical Trial Professionals: How Technology Is Transforming Workforce Roles and Expectations

      2026-06-09, 4:45 PM

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      Donna Copeland
      Donna Copeland, Research Manager, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

      Donna Copeland is a senior research operations leader with over 17 years’ experience working in NHS Clinical Research. She is currently a Research Manager at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, where she provides end‑to‑end research business partnering to Clinical Divisions, supporting the development, set‑up and successful delivery of clinical research in the Trust.

      Donna plays a key strategic role in bridging between researchers, and the various research and clinical support structures as well as her expertise in the NHS funding streams available helping our PIs and Delivery Teams to secure and optimise funds to deliver and grow their research.

      A strong advocate for sustainable service improvement, Donna has led and contributed to multiple initiatives focused on improving study set‑up effectiveness and timelines, improving data quality and growing research capacity and capability. Her work is driven by a practical focus on delivering faster, simpler and fairer access to high‑quality research, providing an optimised delivery service to our patients, sponsors and PI delivery teams and ensuring patients benefit from timely participation and high-quality data collection in clinical research.”

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      Sarah Scorer
      Senior Director, Head of Clinical Operations Tangram Therapeutics

      Session Details:

      PANEL DISCUSSION Maximising Site Productivity: Infrastructure, Burden Reduction and Stronger Output in UK Clinical Trials

      2026-06-09, 4:45 PM

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      Karlo Svrze
      Senior Sales Manager, BD

      Karlo Svrze, MSc, FMVA® is a life‑sciences professional at BD (Becton, Dickinson & Co.) with a background spanning clinical research, diagnostics, and translational healthcare. He worked as a research scientist in regenerative medicine and biomolecular research. His current focus lies at the interface of clinical practice and diagnostics, supporting the translation of scientific and clinical requirements into robust, scalable preanalytical solutions across complex clinical trial environments.

      Session Details:

      TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT: Strategies for Preserving Valuable Biomarkers in Blood

      2026-06-09, 4:15 PM

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      Victoria Toms
      Executive Director, IAOCR

      Victoria Toms is Executive Director at the International Accrediting Organization for Clinical Research (IAOCR), driving global standards for quality across clinical research sites and professionals. She brings 19 years’ experience across all trial phases, multiple therapeutic areas, in both commercial and non-commercial settings, with expertise spanning site operations, trial management, quality assurance, and business development.

      Working at the intersection of quality, strategy, and industry collaboration, Victoria focuses on strengthening trust, consistency, and performance across the research ecosystem. As expectations from organisations such as the ICH and global regulators continue to evolve, she positions quality as a strategic and commercial differentiator, that should shape site selection, enhance sponsor confidence, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Through global accreditation programmes and the Global Best Practice Boards, she partners with sites, sponsors, and CROs to embed quality into culture and facilitate more predictable, high-performing research delivery.

      Session Details:

      ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS

      2026-06-10, 3:00 PM

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      Eleanor McLaurin
      Solution Specialist, Medidata AI

      Eleanor McLaurin, Solution Specialist for Medidata has spent over 20 years in the Life Sciences industry. Eleanor supports organisations to create efficiencies throughout the clinical development and regulatory lifecycle through adoption of transformational technologies and data driven clinical and regulatory development approaches. Eleanor has spent the last 6 years working with organisations to leverage practical applications of AI and to implement data strategies which enable reliable generation of evidence and insights for internal oversight as well as for regulatory inspections and submissions.

      Session Details:

      AI for impact – transforming clinical trial study design and execution

      2026-06-09, 10:45 AM

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      Brian Sheridan
      Vice President Global Adherence & Clinicals, Smurfit Westrock

      Brian joined, the then WestRock, in 2018 as Vice President Global Adherence & Clinicals - the business unit focused on providing Adherence focused, patient centric and Child Resistant Senior Friendly (CR-SF) packaging & service solutions to the Pharmaceutical, Biotech & Clinical Trial industries.

      Having majored in marketing, business studies and finance Brians key expertise has been developing packaging solutions supplied to these key markets. Holding a wide range of increasingly elevated positions within companies such as Cardinal Health, Catalent and across several other packaging entities, Brian has gained invaluable insights and a thorough understanding of the demanding requirements, operating systems and ethos of the various market sectors that Smurfit Westrock support today.

      Within the last number of years Brian's focus, together with his globally based team, has been to strategically develop a bespoke, best in class global supply infrastructure within the Smurfit Westrock specialized field of Adherence, Clinical Trial and SMART digital & electronic platforms. These cutting-edge solutions encompass electronically enhanced SMART measure and monitor packaging solutions, such as Cere®Pak, together with developing the vision and capabilities of Cere®Screen Digital Display Labels within the Clinical Trial Supplies arena.

      Session Details:

      TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT: A Demonstration of Digital Display Labels in Clinical Trials Operations & Supply Chain

      2026-06-09, 4:30 PM

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      Owen Williams
      Chief Technology Officer, NWEH

      Owen Williams is a technology leader with over 25 years’ experience in software development. Over the past 15 years he has helped shape the organisation’s clinical research technology platforms, including FARSITE and ConneXon, delivering solutions for groundbreaking real-world data driven clinical trials. Owen leads NWEH’s Technical Team, driving innovative digital solutions for clinical research and healthcare analytics.

      Session Details:

      Powering Pragmatic Decentralised Trials with Real-World, Real-Time Data

      2026-06-09, 2:45 PM

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      Macarena Sahores
      Senior RBQM Operations Consultant, TRI Trials

      Session Details:

      The Future of RBQM for Early Phase Studies Starts Here

      2026-06-09, 2:45 PM

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      Dudley Tabakin
      Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VivoSense

      Dudley Tabakin is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at VivoSense, where he leads overall company strategy, operations, and the advancement of wearable sensor solutions in clinical research. He works closely with cross-functional teams to guide the integration of digital measures into global clinical trials and to support pharmaceutical partners in leveraging sensor-based data to inform development decisions. In his role, Dudley is actively engaged with sponsors and industry stakeholders to shape how wearable technologies are operationalized within clinical development programs, helping bridge scientific innovation with real-world implementation.

      Session Details:

      The Wearable Sensor CRO: A New Model for Implementing Digital Measures that Must Withstand Regulatory Scrutiny

      2026-06-10, 2:00 PM

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      Scott Davis
      Vice President Clinical Services Europe, Novotech

      Session Details:

      Europe at a Crossroads: Modern Clinical Trials, Market Pressures, and the UK’s approach in the global competitive environment

      2026-06-09, 12:15 PM

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      Dr Darren Gibson
      Executive Director, Frontier Science Scotland

      Experienced Research and Innovation Director with a demonstrated history of working in the government, higher education and industry. Skilled in Strategic Development, Public Speaking, Research & Development, Management, Business Innovation, and Project Management. Strong product management professional with a PhD from St Andrews University and a Master of Laws (LLM) focused in Medical Law and Ethics from De Montfort University.

      Session Details:

      PANEL DISCUSSION From Transactional Outsourcing to Strategic Partnership: Aligning Incentives, Expectations, and Execution in Clinical Trials

      2026-06-09, 2:15 PM

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      Darren Herger
      Feasibility Manager, Clinical Development Centre (CDC) UK, Novo Nordisk

      Darren Herger is Feasibility Manager for the Clinical Development Centre (CDC) UK at Novo Nordisk. He leads UK clinical trial feasibility activities across the Novo Nordisk portfolio, liaising with headquarter Trial Allocation teams, UK industry representatives, and UK Investigators. Darren has 25 years of experience in clinical research across multiple roles & therapy areas.

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      Steve Clark
      Patient Advocate and Founder of Strive for Five CIC

      Steve Clark is a Patient Advocate and Patient Engagement Consultant as well as a Health and Healthcare Communicator, with over 45 years healthcare experience working in the NHS and pharmaceutical industry.

      Since being diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer in 2013 Steve has become an active patient advocate. He is a regular speaker at conferences and congresses, publication author and patient representative to several studies and study groups in the universities of Oxford, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Kings College London.

      In 2017 he set up www.StriveForFive.org, a not-for-profit organization with the mission to give hope to fellow stage 4 cancer patients and to advocate for improved care for those with advanced cancer

      Session Details:

      PATIENT SPOTLIGHT: Improving Preclinical and Clinical Research Through Patient Integration

      2026-06-10, 2:00 PM

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      Jonathan Wogel
      Chief Executive Officer, NWEH

      Jonathan Wogel is CEO at NWEH and a senior life sciences leader with more than 35 years’ experience across the pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotech sectors. He has supported the launch and licensing of more than 50 products globally and specialises in business growth, investment strategy, and commercialisation. Jonathan has extensive experience supporting SMEs and is passionate about innovation in life sciences, mentorship, and commercialising cutting-edge technologies.

      Session Details:

      PANEL DISCUSSION Harnessing Real-World Data and Registries in Clinical Trials: UK & Ireland Perspectives

      2026-06-09, 2:15 PM

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      Anders Nordell
      CEO and Co-Founder, Collective Minds

      Anders Nordell is the CEO and Co-Founder of Collective Minds. With a career spanning medical imaging science at Stanford and Karolinska to leadership roles at GE Healthcare, Anders now leads Collective Minds in its mission to break down healthcare silos. His work focuses on leveraging secure, cloud-native platforms to connect hospitals and researchers, accelerating the development of AI-powered diagnostics and therapies through real-world imaging data

      Session Details:

      From Friction to Flow: The Future of Imaging in Clinical Trials

      2026-06-10, 10:30 AM

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      Dr. Claudia Hesselmann
      Founder & CEO, ARENSIA Exploratory Medicine

      Dr. Claudia Hesselmann, a chemist by training, with a PhD in molecular biology. Claudia has twenty years of expertise in the early phases of drug development. Her experience includes co-founding and holding management positions in various CROs. Her extensive background and social acumen, along with her first-hand knowledge of the industry, led Claudia to co-found ARENSIA Exploratory Medicine in Düsseldorf, Germany. Her primary aim is the contribution of innovative approaches to bring about substantial acceleration to the drug development process and enable more agile patient access to novel therapeutics.

       

      Session Details:

      Winning The Proof-Of-Concept Race Site Practical Insights and Tactics on What it Takes to Succeed in Competitive Indications

      2026-06-09, 9:30 AM

      Session Details:

      PANEL DISCUSSION: Strengthening Patient Recruitment in Oncology Clinical Trials

      2026-06-09, 4:45 PM

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      Isabel Hunt
      Market Solution Specialist, Optum UK

      Isabel brings deep expertise and a proven track record in helping sponsors and CROs deliver studies with greater precision, speed, and equity. In her role as a Market Solutions Specialist, she sits between technology, data, and research delivery, turning complicated problems into practical solutions that make a real difference.

      Session Details:

      Unlocking UK trials through primary care: predictable, accurate and fast recruitment

      2026-06-09, 12:15 PM

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      Dr Alison McMorn
      Head of Clinical Strategy and Development, LifeArc

      Dr. McMorn is an experienced clinical development researcher with over 25 years of industry experience and has a strong focus in CNS and paediatric drug development. She has worked for both Pharmaceutical Companies and Contract Research Organisations including holding positions at SAR Monitoring Services Ltd, Mundipharma International Ltd and Shire Development Inc. Starting her career at SAR as a Clinical Research Associate (CRA) she subsequently moved to Mundipharma where she was responsible for initiating the first paediatric clinical research program for the company. At Shire Dr. McMorn led, planned and managed global paediatric and adult clinical development programs for a wide variety of indications including psychiatry, pain, gastrointestinal and hepatology across all phases of development (Phase 0 to Phase 4). In addition she was responsible for harmonizing Clinical Trial Administrator (CTA) working practices across all regions for the company. In 2015 Dr. McMorn joined AMO Pharma Ltd, a virtual pharmaceutical company focused predominantly on paediatric neurodevelopmental rare diseases, as VP of Clinical Development. She holds an undergraduate degree in Pharmacology and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Leeds, UK.

      Session Details:

      Accelerating Hope: How LifeArc Is Transforming Rare Disease Research

      2026-06-10, 11:45 AM

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      Wendy Kane
      Patient Affairs Manager - UK and Ireland, Servier

      Wendy Kane is Patient Affairs Manager for the UK and Ireland at Servier, where she champions the integration of the patient voice across clinical development, access, and care delivery. With over 30 years’ experience across the NHS, voluntary sector, and pharmaceutical industry, she is driven by a single goal: ensuring patients are recognised as partners, not participants, in healthcare.

      Before joining Servier, Wendy held senior roles at Roche, Takeda and Sanofi, building trusted partnerships with patient organisations and shaping access strategies in rare diseases and oncology. Today, she works cross‑functionally to embed meaningful patient engagement, translate lived experience into action, and help deliver more equitable, patient‑centred outcomes across the UK and Ireland.

      Session Details:

      PANEL DISCUSSION: Strengthening Patient Recruitment in Oncology Clinical Trials

      2026-06-09, 4:45 PM

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      Joe Thornton
      Director of Clinical Operations
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      Professor Mark Lawler
      Chair in Translational Cancer Genomics and Professor of Digital Health, Queen’s University Belfast

      Mark is  Professor of Digital Health at Queen’s and a world leader in cancer data and its deployment in driving research and innovation, accelerating opportunities in clinical care and influencing policy.

      Professor Mark Lawler, Queen’s University Belfast  

      Mark is  Professor of Digital Health at Queen’s and a world leader in cancer data and its deployment in driving research and innovation, accelerating opportunities in clinical care and influencing policy

      Among many global roles,  Mark is outgoing chair, International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP), deploying  data to benchmark best practice globally. His influential ICBP paper(The Lancet Oncology(TLO)) and Cancer Policy Scorecard, highlighted National Cancer Control Plan’s(NCCPs) critical role in achieving optimal cancer care. Mark co-leads Health Data Research UK’s (HDRUK’s)   Big Data for Complex Diseases Programme, deploying data intelligence to address challenges in cancer,  CVD, diabetes, mental health. He’s Scientific Director of DATA-CAN, the UK’s Health Data Research  Hub for Cancer. Mark chairs the Cancer Drug Development Forum, which convenes clinical, academic, patient, industry and regulatory stakeholders to consider the challenges and accelerate the solutions to deliver innovative new treatments to patients.

      Mark chaired TLO’s European Groundshot Commission, the most comprehensive analysis of Europe’s cancer research, unequivocally showing patients treated in research-active hospitals had superior outcomes, emphasising research’s primacy.  Mark co-chairs TLO’s eagerly awaited Genomics & Precision Oncology Commission, (World Cancer Congress, Hong Kong, September 2026). He played a significant leadership role in TLO’s Cancer Workforce Commission, (launched last week American Society of Clinical Oncology  Congress, Chicago. Emphasising his international credentials, Mark sits on IABs for premier initiatives including TLO, European School of Oncology, Ontario’s Institute for Cancer Research.

      Mark provided the crucial intelligence to the Health Committee in the House of Commons, convincing the Health Secretary to finally commit to a NCCP.  On World Cancer Day (WCD)2025, with talk of an NCCP being a year away, he co-led an influential campaign  for a brave, ambitious plan, data-informed and patient-centred, delivering a petition to 10 Downing Street. England’s NCCP was finally launched on WCD2026. Mark’s team  won HDR-UK’s Impact of the Year Award (2024), its crucial intelligence informing a policy change in colorectal cancer.  He was architect of Europe’s Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights, receiving the 2018 European Health Award, recognising its pan-European impact. Mark co-led ECO’s Europe’s Code of Cancer Practice,    articulating what people should expect from their health system. Mark is Scientific Lead,  ECO’s European Cancer Pulse, capturing cancer inequalities data Europe-wide.

      Mark’s team were first to show COVID’s impact on UK cancer patients,  receiving the Royal College of Physicians Excellence in Patient Care Award; his comprehensive European Covid work received the prestigious European Communique Award. Mark co-led ECO’s Impact of Ukraine war on Cancer Network, underpinning support for Ukraine’s cancer patients/families.   Mark co-leads ECO’s Emergencies & Crises Network, co-authoring a manifesto to support cancer care in conflict-impacted populations in The Lancet.

      Mark co-leads the All-Island Cancer Research Institute(AICRI), uniting 11 universities island-wide to tackle cancer. He co-leads AICRIStart & eHealth Hub for Cancer, two premier north-south programmes. He leads a highly-regarded Queen’s/US National Cancer Institute Doctoral programme. Mark received 2021’s Irish Association for Cancer Research outstanding contribution to research & medicine award and 2025’s Business Post Healthcare leader of the year for his cancer work, north & south. NI’s Health Minister invited Mark to co-chair a Cancer Research Advisory Group to set/implement NI’s cancer research agenda.

      Recognising the economic dividend of health, Mark is Health Lead Momentum One Zero, a £70 million Innovation Centre, applying deep-tech intelligence  to address agrifood & health challenges, He’s scientific lead of its €9.8M Digital OneHealth Hub, accelerating cross-border innovation. He co-leads AICRI’s All-Island Oncology Innovation Cluster, driving oncology/digital health innovation island-wide.

      When he isn’t performing world-leading research that makes a difference for  cancer patients, Mark performs his acclaimed one man show Doctoring James Joyce, to enthralled audiences in Dublin, Belfast, Brussels,  Amsterdam, Boston, New York, Verona and London’s West End.

       

      Session Details:

      Strength in Collaboration: How Ireland’s Unified Clinical Trial Ecosystem Is Driving Growth and Cross-Border Innovation

      2026-06-10, 10:00 AM

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      Deborah Clark
      Country Medical Director (UK & Ireland), Alexion

      Session Details:

      KEYNOTE PANEL UK Clinical Trials at a Crossroads: Pricing, Investment and Performance Challenges

      2026-06-09, 10:00 AM

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      Kay Faulkner
      Divisional Director of Operations for Research and Innovation, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

      Kay Faulkner is Divisional Director of Operations for Research and Innovation at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, where she leads delivery of the organisation’s research and innovation strategy across one of Europe’s largest cancer centres.

      Kay joined The Christie in December 2023, bringing extensive experience in NHS research leadership, system collaboration and academic partnerships. Prior to this, she was Associate Director for Research, Innovation and Education at University Hospitals Northamptonshire NHS Group, where she played a key role in achieving University Hospital status, doubling research participation, and strengthening strategic partnerships with the University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester. This work contributed to Northamptonshire’s alignment with the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre and Clinical Research Facility. Kay also held a system leadership role for Research and Innovation within the Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board.

      Kay began her NHS career at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, working in Research and Innovation in partnership with the Manchester Life Sciences campus at Citylabs. Earlier in her career, she worked across the public and academic sectors, including roles within the Greater Manchester Criminal Justice Board and at Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Plymouth, focusing on building impactful collaborations with the NHS, public sector and charities.

      Session Details:

      Mind the Gap: Enhancing the Work of Regulatory Agencies through the Voluntary Adoption of International Quality Standards

      2026-06-09, 3:45 PM

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      Dina Mohamed Elgalaly
      Clinical Operation Manager, Clinical Research Center of 57357 / Children’s Cancer Hospital

      Dina Mohamed Elgalaly serves as Clinical Operation Manager at the Clinical Research Center of 57357 / Children’s Cancer Hospital, where she leads the planning, execution, and management of clinical trials. Holding a bachelor degree in Pharmacy, she brings over 10 years of experience in managing clinical trials in compliance with international regulatory standards, including FDA, ICH‑GCP, and Egyptian authorities such as SCCRE and EDA.

      Her responsibilities include feasibility assessment, protocol development, site coordination, and oversight of multidisciplinary teams comprising research coordinators, pharmacists, and nursing staff. She ensures that all clinical activities are conducted with precision, integrity, and adherence to ethical, regulatory standards and institutional goals, while maintaining high performance across operational metrics.

      She leads training initiatives, manages risk mitigation strategies, and maintains quality control throughout all phases of clinical research. She works closely with Principal Investigators, sponsors, and institutional leadership to ensure seamless trial conduct, timely patient recruitment, and robust data quality. Additionally, she manages budgets, oversees vendor relationships, and handles regulatory submissions, serving as the primary liaison for external audits and sponsor communications.

      She is certified in Good Clinical Practice and has completed training in the Principles of Clinical and Translational Research from Harvard. She completed a Master’s degree in Pharmacology and an MBA, further strengthening her expertise in clinical operations and leadership. With a deep commitment to excellence and innovation in clinical research, she strives to build collaborative partnerships that advance therapeutic development and improve patient outcomes.

      Session Details:

      Mind the Gap: Enhancing the Work of Regulatory Agencies through the Voluntary Adoption of International Quality Standards

      2026-06-09, 3:45 PM

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      Dr. Mohamed Fawzy
      Director of the Clinical Research Center, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357

      Dr. Mohamed Fawzy Ibrahim Hassan, Professor of Paediatric Oncology, Cairo University | Director, Clinical Research Centre, CCHE-57357

      Dr. Fawzy is a Paediatric Oncologist with more than three decades of clinical, research and academic experience. As a graduate of Cairo University’s Kasr El-Aini School of Medicine in 1992, earned his doctoral degree (MD) in Paediatric Oncology in 2003 and an MBA in Healthcare Management in 2018.

      Dr. Fawzy serves as a Professor of Pediatric Oncology at Cairo University since 2014 and holds the position of Director of the Clinical Research Centre at the Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt (CCHE-57357). Leading the strategic direction of clinical research at CCHE/57357, with a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance, ethical oversight, and quality conduction of clinical research where translational research comes in the heart of his role.

      Dr. Fawzy is also the team leader of the Neuroblastoma Study Group, with a main focus on improving the management and outcomes of neuroblastoma in the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

      On the administrative front, Dr. Fawzy played a pivotal role in establishing and operating the CCHE branch in Tanta as a 60-bed tertiary care pediatric oncology center serving Egypt’s Delta region. Served as Hospital Director from 2015 to 2023, overseeing clinical operations, talent development as well as best allocation of resources.

      Academic contribution includes serving as Associate Editor for the Journal of the Egyptian National Cancer Institute (JENCI) and as a reviewer for the Faculty Promotion Committee of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Universities. He is a co-founder of the Egyptian Pediatric Hematology Oncology Society (EPHOS), member of the Board of Directors for the Paediatric Oncology East and Mediterranean (POEM). He is also an active member of several international scientific organizations including SIOP, ANRA, and GNN.

      Session Details:

      Mind the Gap: Enhancing the Work of Regulatory Agencies through the Voluntary Adoption of International Quality Standards

      2026-06-09, 3:45 PM

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      Advisory Board

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      Dr Alison McMorn
      Head of Clinical Strategy and Development, LifeArc

      Dr. McMorn is an experienced clinical development researcher with over 25 years of industry experience and has a strong focus in CNS and paediatric drug development. She has worked for both Pharmaceutical Companies and Contract Research Organisations including holding positions at SAR Monitoring Services Ltd, Mundipharma International Ltd and Shire Development Inc. Starting her career at SAR as a Clinical Research Associate (CRA) she subsequently moved to Mundipharma where she was responsible for initiating the first paediatric clinical research program for the company. At Shire Dr. McMorn led, planned and managed global paediatric and adult clinical development programs for a wide variety of indications including psychiatry, pain, gastrointestinal and hepatology across all phases of development (Phase 0 to Phase 4). In addition she was responsible for harmonizing Clinical Trial Administrator (CTA) working practices across all regions for the company. In 2015 Dr. McMorn joined AMO Pharma Ltd, a virtual pharmaceutical company focused predominantly on paediatric neurodevelopmental rare diseases, as VP of Clinical Development. She holds an undergraduate degree in Pharmacology and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Leeds, UK.

      Session Details:

      Accelerating Hope: How LifeArc Is Transforming Rare Disease Research

      2026-06-10, 11:45 AM

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      Behtash Bahador
      Senior Director, Community Engagement & Partnerships, CISCRP

      Behtash Bahador is the Senior Director of Community Engagement & Partnerships at the non-profit organization CISCRP, and holds a Master of Science in Health Communication from the Tufts University School of Medicine. Since 2014, he has collaborated with a range of stakeholder groups to establish and implement patient- and public-centric initiatives across the life-cycle of drug and treatment development. This has included supporting the development of regulatory and cross-disciplinary best practice guidelines, operationalizing key elements of evidence-based public health programing into research engagement activities, and always keeping the needs of patients, participants and the public at the forefront of his work.

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      Kathleen Cohen
      Vice President, Clinical Development, Marinus Pharmaceuticals

      Kathleen Frenia Cohen is Vice President and Head of Clinical Development Operations at Marinus Pharmaceuticals.  Prior to joining Marinus, she spent 20+ years at PRA Health Sciences in a variety of project management and operational oversite roles. Kathleen graduated from the University of the Science in Philadelphia with a PharmD and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research from Rutgers College of Pharmacy. Kathleen resides in Media, PA.

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      Aditya Kotta
      VP Business Development, Novotech

      Aditya Kotta is the VP of Business Development for Novotech. He has been with the company since 2018. He has 14 years of experience in the clinical trial industry, working in both Clinical Operations and Business Development. He holds degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and Medical Science from Boston University.

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      Martin Rodriguez
      Consumer Safety & Evidence Global Quality & Excellence Head, Opella

      Senior executive Leader in Life Science (Biochemist) and Lean/Six Sigma Green-belt certified, with more than 20 year of experience in clinical operations, Operational Excellence (i.e., operational strategy, performance management, process optimization, risk management, Quality-by-Design and team performance), clinical quality, and Service Providers / Outsourcing management.

      I developed, reengineered, automated, and optimized business processes with a risk-based and approach to produce high quality outputs and to ensure regulatory compliance. I led the development, implementation and monitoring of different operational and quality strategies and models including Outsourcing as well as new/ innovative clinical capabilities to fulfill consumers/ patients needs .

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      Rosalie Filling
      Vice President, Senior Global Head R&D Operations, Keenova

      In her over 25 years of experience, Rosalie “Rosie” Filling has transformed R&D operations in every company she has worked for, developing clear-cut strategies to help advance clinical trials with high-quality operational execution and scientific excellence.

       

      Rosie is the Vice President, Senior Global Head R&D Operations Endo International plc. She is part of the global R&D leadership team and is charged with the coordination and implementation of clinical development strategies for the company’s research and development. She provides strategic direction and oversight of the R&D Operations team, which includes clinical operations, data management, biostatistics, medical writing, clinical supplies, trial master file/inspection readiness and business operations. This integrated team handles the execution of all aspects related to Endo’s clinical trials. Endo has active research and development programs in men’s health, orthopedics, and endocrinology. Beyond these therapeutic areas, the company also has focused development in the areas of sterile injectables and complex generic products.

       

      Rosie’s main focus at all times is on the end users—the patients. Bringing new and, at times, life-saving medications to patients drives Rosie’s sense of purpose.

       

      Rosie joined Endo from Lupin Pharmaceuticals in Blue Bell, PA where she was Senior Director, Head of Clinical Operations, and built the clinical operations organization to support the US and Global R&D Organization. Prior to Lupin, Rosie spent nearly five years at Teva in Frazer, PA where she was the US site head of Clinical Operations and was responsible for the successful delivery of Inhalation, Women’s Health, and Cardiovascular clinical trials. Earlier in her career, Rosie held various roles at Eisai, MGI Pharma and PPD.

       

      Rosie earned her B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh.

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      Edwin van Vulpen
      Executive Director and Head of Clinical Business Development Euro-Asia
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