Halo Town Hall Teams Webinar: Programme Update and the Halo Roadmap

Halo Town Hall Webinar Discussion: Programme Update and the Halo Roadmap, Tuesday 11 August, 3-4pm

The Halo Programme will be holding a Town Hall Webinar discussion on Tuesday 11 August at 3pm. The session is open to all staff across the collegiate University. It is an opportunity to come together online to hear programme updates and ask questions. Natasha Heaton, Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for Halo, and members of the Programme team, will outline the journey to the ‘DAE Ready’ milestone, when the core functionality of the Development and Alumni Engagement (DAE) product will be in place. The session will explore how the Halo team plan to work with colleges, departments and divisions after DAE Ready to refine specific requirements ahead of go-live. There will also be an overview of the wider Halo roadmap, including future product delivery and onboarding across the University. Attendees will hear about the principles that guide sequencing, and how colleagues can best prepare for future phases of the programme.

Tuesday, 11 August 2026, 3pm to 4pm

Speaker(s): Natasha Heaton

Department: Digital Governance Unit (Unit)

Organiser: Halo Programme

Host: Halo Programme

Audience: Member of University - Staff Format: Online

Count me in: how mathematics explains music - Sarah Hart

Mathematics and Music

The great mathematician Gottfried Leibniz said that music is the pleasure the human mind experiences from counting without being aware that it is counting. We love it, in other words, because it is the mathematics of the subconscious. In this lecture we’ll bring that mathematics into the open and see how mathematical ideas are woven into every aspect of music. We’ll explore the beautiful number patterns underlying harmony, the geometrical symmetries of melody, and the 2000-year-old algorithm that predicts the rhythms most favoured by musicians across the world. Sarah Hart is a mathematician and author. She is Professor Emerita of Mathematics at Birkbeck College (University of London), and Fellow of Gresham College, London. Her first book, Once Upon a Prime: The Wondrous Connections Between Mathematics and Literature won the Mathematical Association of America’s Euler Book Prize. Her forthcoming book on the resonances between mathematics and music will be published in 2027. Please email external-relations@maths.ox.ac.uk to register to attend in person. The lecture will be broadcast on the Oxford Mathematics YouTube Channel on on Wednesday 9 September (subject to copyright) at 5-6 pm and any time after (no need to register for the online version). The Oxford Mathematics Vicky Neale Public Lectures are a partnership between the Clay Mathematics Institute, PROMYS and Oxford Mathematics. The Oxford Mathematics Public Lectures are generously supported by XTX Markets.

Wednesday, 12 August 2026, 5pm to 6pm

Speaker(s): Sarah Hart (Birkbeck)

Venue: Mathematical Institute - L1
L1 Mathematical Institute Woodstock Road Oxford Oxfordshire OX2 6GG United Kingdom
Venue details: Lecture Theatre 1

Department: Mathematical Institute (Department)

Organiser: Dyrol Lumbard

Host: Dyrol Lumbard

Series: Oxford Mathematics Public Lectures

Audience: Public Format: In Person

Summer Discoverers

Join us for one of a special series of Natural History Discoverer sessions here at the Museum of Natural History this Au

In each of these sessions, we will explore a natural history theme through creative, hands-on activities and discussion. These sessions are a great chance for curious young people to explore new ideas, meet others, and enjoy a fun museum-based learning experience. For ages 10-13.

Thursday, 13 August 2026, 2pm to 3pm

Venue: University Museum of Natural History
University Museum of Natural History Parks Road Oxford Oxfordshire OX1 3PW United Kingdom

Department: Oxford University Museum of Natural History (Department)

Audience: Public Format: In Person

Title TBC - CAMS Oxford Institute Seminar

CAMS Oxford Institute - Seminar Series

CAMS Oxford Institute - Seminar Series

Tuesday, 18 August 2026, 9.30am to 10.30am

Venue: Henry Wellcome Building Rooms A & B
Room A+B Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics Headington Oxford Oxfordshire OX3 7BN United Kingdom

Department: NDM (CAMS Oxford Institute) (Unit)

Host: Ricardo Fernandes, Dannielle Wellington, Mimie Szyk

Series: CAMS Oxford Institute - Seminar Series

Audience: Member of University - ALL Format: In Person

Summer Discoverers

Join us for one of a special series of Natural History Discoverer sessions here at the Museum of Natural History.

In each of these sessions, we will explore a natural history theme through creative, hands-on activities and discussion. These sessions are a great chance for curious young people to explore new ideas, meet others, and enjoy a fun museum-based learning experience. For ages 10-13.

Thursday, 20 August 2026, 2pm to 3pm

Venue: University Museum of Natural History
University Museum of Natural History Parks Road Oxford Oxfordshire OX1 3PW United Kingdom

Department: Oxford University Museum of Natural History (Department)

Audience: Public Format: In Person

What Defines An Outstanding Scientific Job Application: An Insider Panel Discussion on Scientific Careers in the Age of AI

What defines an outstanding scientific job application: An insider panel discussion on scientific careers in the age AI

What Defines an Outstanding Scientific Job Application? An Insider Panel Discussion on Scientific Careers in the Age of AI AI is reshaping all aspects of our working lives at an unprecedented scale and speed. The scientific job market is no exception. Application volumes are rising, AI-assisted cover letters and CVs are becoming increasingly polished and increasingly similar, and some of the skills we rely on today may be redundant tomorrow. In this landscape, standing out has never been more important and challenging, knowing that for some roles, AI itself is now part of the competition. So what actually makes a scientific job application succeed? Join us for a live panel discussion featuring experts who have collectively reviewed hundreds of applications, from PhD studentships to senior academic and industry positions. We'll go behind the scenes of the selection process to explore: · What really happens in a selection panel meeting · How reviewers make decisions in just minutes per application · Whether AI in recruitment is an opportunity or a risk · How to use AI tools to strengthen your application, without losing your authentic voice Live audience Q&A with the panel Meet the Panel: Prof. Hashem Koohy, University of Oxford Prof. Anne Goriely, University of Oxford Dr. Elisa Rosati Scalchi, GSK Date: 20th August Time: 15:00–16:00 (BST) Register now: https://bit.ly/3SayQdU Whether you're a PhD student, postdoc, or scientist navigating your next career move, this is a rare opportunity to hear directly from those on the other side of the selection table. Spaces are limited — don't miss it. Subscribe to stay tuned: YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eFGVgp9v ImmunoIntelligence: https://lnkd.in/e9s4v2h7 hashtag#ScientificCareers hashtag#CareerDevelopment hashtag#AIinRecruitment hashtag#JobApplicationTips hashtag#AcademicCareers hashtag#PhDLife hashtag#STEMCareers hashtag#CareerPanel hashtag#ImmunityByDesign hashtag#ScienceCommunication

Thursday, 20 August 2026, 3pm to 4pm

Speaker(s): Prf Anne Goriely (University of Oxford), Dr Elisa Rosati Scalchi (Immunespec), Prof Hashem Koohy (University of Oxford)

Department: Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (Unit)

Organiser: Prof Hashem Koohy

Host: Hashem Koohy

Series: Immunity By Design

Audience: Member of University - ALL Format: Online

Oxford Summer Academy for the Social Science of Health Innovation (SASHI) 2026

Join us for this 3-day summer school exploring translational healthcare innovation

Innovations in healthcare have the potential to vastly improve health outcomes - but they also have downsides including limited uptake, failures of scale-up or sustainability, increases in inequities, and unanticipated inefficiencies. SASHI 2026 will take an interdisciplinary approach to translating healthcare innovations into practice globally

Monday, 24 August 2026 to Wednesday, 26 August 2026, 8.30am - 5pm

Venue: St Hilda's College
Cowley Place Oxford

Department: Primary Care Health Sciences (Department)

Organiser: Dr Anne Ferrey

Audience: Public Format: In Person

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED OPDC Seminar: Dr Rebecca Wallings

Seminar talk titled, Investigating the role of immune cell exhaustion and an aging immune system in Parkinson's Disease

Dr. Rebecca Wallings is a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Indiana University. She completed her DPhil at the University of Oxford under the mentorship of Professor Richard Wade-Martins before undertaking postdoctoral training with Prof. Malú Gámez Tansey at Emory University and the University of Florida, transitioning her research focus from neuroscience to neuroimmunology. Her independent research program investigates the role of immune cell exhaustion and immunosenescence in age-related neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease and dementia, aiming to develop novel immunomodulatory therapeutics by uncovering how genetic risk, environmental exposures, and aging synergize to drive immune dysfunction and neurodegeneration.

Thursday, 27 August 2026, 12pm to 1pm

Venue: Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building - DCHB 20-138 Seminar Room 2
DCHB 20-138 Seminar Room 2 Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building off South Parks Road Oxford Oxfordshire OX1 3QU United Kingdom

Department: Physiology Anatomy and Genetics (Department)

Organiser: Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre

Host: Professor Richard Wade-Martins

Series: Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre Seminar Series 2026

Audience: Member of University - ALL Format: In Person

"Good growth in every postcode": the role of employee ownership

We warmly invite you to join us for the 2026 Robert Oakeshott Lecture.

Established by the Employee Ownership Association in memory of Robert Oakeshott, the lecture brings together internationally recognised leaders from business, government and academia to explore the future of ownership, work and the economy. The 2026 lecture is generously sponsored by European law firm Fieldfisher, a longstanding champion of employee ownership. In this year’s lecture, Good Growth in Every Postcode: The Role of Employee Ownership, Professor Michie will analyse the long-standing challenges facing the UK economy, including the global pressures; how these challenges can be met, where possible in ways that transform those challenges into opportunities to open up a more socially and environmentally sustainable path ahead; and what role employee ownership might play in bringing about that transformation, for a more resilient economy, rewarding work, social cohesion, and individual wellbeing. This event will be of particular interest to business leaders, entrepreneurs, employee-owned organisations, policymakers, economists, legal and financial professionals, researchers, students, and anyone interested in the future of work, responsible business and economic renewal. It will also appeal to those with an interest in regional development, social enterprise, corporate governance and creating a more inclusive economy. The lecture will be preceded by tea and coffee from 5.30pm, and followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion. The lecture is free to attend and open to all. Advance registration is advised. The Robert Oakeshott Lecture is hosted by the Centre on Mutual and Co-owned Business. Previous speakers include The Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP, Dame Stephanie Shirley, and former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Thursday, 27 August 2026, 6pm to 6.45pm

Speaker(s): Professor Jonathan Michie (Kellogg College President)

Venue: Kellogg College - The Hub
The Hub Kellogg College 62 Banbury Road Oxford Oxfordshire OX2 6PN United Kingdom

Department: Kellogg College (College)

Audience: Public Format: In Person

From the Laboratory to the Clinic 2026: Complex pathogenesis of disease

An annual translational research conference established in 1984, held at Trinity College, Oxford.

The conference brings together an international mix of basic scientists, clinicians, and industry researchers to explore how the latest discoveries in immunology and molecular medicine can be applied to improve clinical medicine. Understanding the pathogenesis of disease underpins successful attempts at therapy. We now have remarkable tools to understand pathogenesis, and in the 2026 conference will highlight four areas where major advances have been made, but much more is needed to reach cures: Metabolism, Microbes, Neurodegeneration & Repair

Tuesday, 1 September 2026 to Friday, 4 September 2026, 9am - 6pm

Venue: Trinity College
Broad Street Oxford

Department: Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology (Unit)

Audience: Public Format: Hybrid

Protein-protein interaction networks of leukemia

MHU Seminar

Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 1pm to 2pm

Speaker(s): Akhihiko Yokoyama

Venue: MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine - Seminar Room
Seminar Room MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine Headington Oxford Oxfordshire OX3 9DS United Kingdom

Department: Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (Unit)

Organiser: Emma Butterfield

Host: Tom Milne

Series: Molecular Haematology Unit

Audience: Member of University - ALL Format: Hybrid

Between Lived Experience and Clinical Wisdom in Mental Health Research and Policy

A panel discussion on the future of expertise in mental health research and policy.

A panel discussion on the future of expertise in mental health research and policy. This event is part of the ANTITHESES platform, funded by Wellcome. The panel discussion will be chaired by Professor Ilina Singh. Keynote Speakers: We're delighted to welcome: Dr David Crepaz-Keay Professor Sir Simon Wessely Dr Lucy Foulkes Special guests: The NeurOx YPAG About the event Transformations in the concept and sources of mental health 'expertise' are impacting how we think about diagnosis, identity, need and treatment. At the same time, the UK is experiencing an unparalleled surge in people seeking mental health support, with lengthy waitlists and significant inequalities in access to services. Our public event asks: What kinds of expertise should we trust to identify, support and treat mental health needs? Speakers will address some difficult challenges: Is traditional medical expertise still relevant in an age of self-diagnosis through social media? How should other forms of expertise, e.g. AI chatbots and lived experience, figure in how we design future mental health support and policy? Will a more liberal perspective on 'expertise' help tackle the problem of inequalities in mental health access and support? How should we handle disagreements among such experts? Panel Discussion A panel of speakers representing different perspectives will discuss: "What role does 'mental health expertise' play in the future of psychiatry, mental health science and policy?" The floor will first be opened to questions and responses from the NeurOx Young People's Advisory Group (NeurOx YPAG), which will then be followed by an audience Q&A. This event will take place in the Assembly Room, Town Hall, St Aldate's, Oxford OX1 1BX. Doors open at 17:30 and the event will begin promptly at 18:00. Please arrive with good time to find your seat.

Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 6pm to 7.30pm

Department: Psychiatry (Department)

Organiser: ANTITHESES & NEUROSEC

Host: ANTITHESES & NEUROSEC

Audience: Public Format: In Person

Social Outcomes Conference 2026 (SOC26)

Join the Government Outcomes Lab for the Social Outcomes Conference 2026.

The Social Outcomes Conference is the annual convening of the world's leading researchers, policymakers and practitioners working to improve social outcomes, hosted by the Government Outcomes Lab at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. We are delighted to announce that the keynote address at this year’s SOC26 will be delivered by Professor Ole Helby Petersen. Ole is professor in Public Administration at Roskilde University and Director of the Centre for Research on Public-Private Collaboration. His work focuses on public sector contracting, public procurement, and public-private collaboration. He has published extensively in leading journals and is currently leading innovative research projects applying big data, machine learning, and natural language processing to public procurement and contract governance. In his keynote, Professor Petersen will explore a critical but often overlooked dimension of public contracting: the people in contracts. Building on the importance of sound legal design, he will examine how contracts shape, and are shaped by, the motivations, behaviours, and relationships of buyers, suppliers, and citizens. Drawing on behavioural economics and public management research, his keynote will challenge us to rethink how contracts can better reflect human motivations, incentives, and perceptions of fairness and justice. He will explore what it means to place people at the centre of contracts, and how contract designs that incorporate both formal and relational elements can help align incentives and improve outcomes across sectors.

Thursday, 3 September 2026 to Friday, 4 September 2026, 9am - 5pm

Speaker(s): Professor Ole Helby Petersen

Venue: Blavatnik School of Government
Blavatnik School of Government Radcliffe Observatory Quarter Oxford Oxfordshire OX2 6GG United Kingdom

Department: Blavatnik School of Government (Department)

Organiser: Government Outcomes Lab

Host: Government Outcomes Lab

Audience: Public Format: Hybrid

Does a giraffe need a telomere-to-telomere diploid genome assembly?

For our BDI Distinguished Seminar, we will hear from Professor Pavel Pevzner, Ronald R. Taylor Chair and Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California, San Diego, on Thursday 3 September, 10:00 am – 11:00 am, at the Big Data Institute (BDI). Title: Does a giraffe need a telomere-to-telomere diploid genome assembly? Date: Thursday 3 September Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am Venue: BDI/OxPop, Seminar Room 0; followed by refreshments in the atrium Abstract: Recent telomere-to-telomere (T2T) sequencing projects have transformed genomics by delivering near-complete diploid assemblies that reconstruct both haplomes. However, attaining this gold standard remains labor-intensive, requiring multiple sequencing technologies, manual curation, and a level of dedication that occasionally borders on obsession. Fortunately, biologists often do not need a gold-plated diploid genome to study their favorite species. For many applications, a near-complete haplotype-mixed (HM) assembly—a “virtual child” genome representing a mosaic of the two haplomes—captures most of the information required for downstream analyses while avoiding much of the cost and complexity of diploid assembly. In principle, HM assemblies can be generated automatically and inexpensively using a single sequencing technology (e.g., long and accurate HiFi or ONT reads). In practice, however, existing HM assemblers still struggle to generate near-complete assemblies. We present the Mosaic Genome Assembler (MGA), which constructs near-complete HM assemblies from a single sequencing technology. Benchmarking across diverse genomes shows that MGA substantially outperforms existing haplotype-mixed assemblers while eliminating the need for additional sequencing technologies. MGA does not replace T2T diploid assemblies; rather, it offers a pragmatic alternative for the many projects that need a high-quality “virtual child” reference genome, but not necessarily Mom and Dad genomes. About the speaker: Pavel Pevzner is the Ronald R. Taylor Chair and Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California, San Diego. He received his Ph.D. from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Russia. Dr. Pevzner was named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor in 2006 and has received various accolades, including election as a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (2010), the International Society for Computational Biology (2012), the Academia Europaea (2016), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2018). He has received honorary doctorates from Simon Fraser University (2011) and Tel Aviv University (2023), the Senior Scientist Award from the International Society for Computational Biology (2017), and the Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award from the Association for Computing Machinery (2019). Dr. Pevzner authored textbooks "Computational Molecular Biology: An Algorithmic Approach", "Introduction to Bioinformatics Algorithms" (with Neal Jones), “Bioinformatics Algorithms: an Active Learning Approach” (with Phillip Compeau), and “Learning Algorithms through Programming and Puzzle Solving” (with Alexander Kulikov). He also co-developed the Coursera online specializations in Bioinformatics and Algorithms, which have collectively attracted over 700,000 learners worldwide.

Thursday, 3 September 2026, 10am to 11am

Speaker(s): Prof Pavel Pevzner (University of California at San Diego (UCSD))

Venue: Big Data Institute - Lower Ground Seminar Room 0
Lower Ground Seminar Room 0 Big Data Institute Old Road Campus Oxford Oxfordshire OX3 7LF United Kingdom

Department: Big Data Institute - NDPH (Unit)

Organiser: Sumeeta Maheshwari

Host: Prof Trey Ideker

Series: BDI Distinguished Seminar

Audience: Member of University - ALL Format: Hybrid

Chemical Approaches to Decoding Epigenetics

Ludwig External Seminar Series

Ludwig External Seminar Series

Thursday, 3 September 2026, 11am to 12pm

Speaker(s): Prof David Xiang

Venue: NDM Building
NDM Building Headington Oxford Oxfordshire OX3 7FZ United Kingdom
Venue details: Seminar Room

Department: Oxford Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (Unit)

Organiser: Marie-Laure Foisneau-Bates

Host: Prof Yang Shi

Series: Ludwig Institute External Seminar Series

Audience: Member of University - ALL Format: In Person

Celebrating the Centenary of Women's Library and 100 Years of Women's History

The Women’s History Network 34th Annual Conference

Our 34th annual conference coincides with the centenary of the founding of The Women’s Library, and provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate this unique resource, as well as 100 years of women’s history. The Women’s Library is the oldest and largest library in Britain devoted to the history of women’s campaigning and activism and encompasses a library, an archive and a museum. Founded in 1926 as the Library of the London Society for Women’s Service, it became the Fawcett Library in 1957 and was renamed The Women’s Library in 2002. It has moved several times, finding permanent residence at the LSE in 2013.

Thursday, 3 September 2026 to Friday, 4 September 2026, 1pm - 5.30pm

Department: History (Department)

Host: London School of Economics and Friends House, London

Audience: Public Format: In Person

Reuben College Entrepreneurship Forum 2026

A day of entrepreneurship at Reuben College, with keynotes, a networking reception, and a £25,000 pitching competition.

Designed for postgraduate students interested in entrepreneurship, the Reuben College Entrepreneurship Forum returns for its fourth year. The programme features talks from Oxford leaders in entrepreneurship, keynote addresses from leading venture capitalists, a start-up pitching competition with a £25,000 first prize (£10,000 runner-up), and a networking reception with drinks and canapés. Speakers include: Dr Vishal Gulati (Recode Ventures), David Mott (Oxford Capital Partners), Mark Younger (Acclimate Ventures), Venetia Jennings (Oxford Science Enterprises), Catherine Spence (Oxford University Innovation), Odhran O'Donoghue (Magentic), and the founders of Autotone, the winners of last year's pitching competition. See the full programme: https://reuben.web.ox.ac.uk/sitefiles/reuben-entrepreneurship-forum-september-2026.pdf

Friday, 4 September 2026, 9.30am to 5.45pm

Speaker(s): Catherine Spence (Oxford University Innovation and Reuben College), Professor Lord (Lionel) Tarassenko (Reuben College), Venetia Jennings (Oxford Science Enterprises), Odhran O'Donoghue (Magnetic), Vishal Gulati (Recode Ventures and Reuben College), Mark Younger (Acclimate Ventures), David Mott (Oxford Capital Partners)

Venue: Reuben College
Oxford
Venue details: Reuben College Dining Hall

Department: Reuben College (College)

Organiser: Reuben College

Audience: Member of University - Students Format: In Person

Epigenomic Variation Reveals the Hijacking of Transposable Elements in Cancer

Ludwig External Seminar Series

Ludwig External Seminar Series

Friday, 4 September 2026, 11am to 12pm

Speaker(s): Dr Mathieu Lupien

Venue: NDM Building
NDM Building Headington Oxford Oxfordshire OX3 7FZ United Kingdom
Venue details: Seminar Room

Department: Oxford Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (Unit)

Organiser: Marie-Laure Foisneau-Bates

Host: Dr Parinaz Mehdipour

Series: Ludwig Institute External Seminar Series

Audience: Member of University - ALL Format: In Person

Full-Network River Flow Modelling in the Era of Big Data

Explore how advanced modelling and satellite data are improving understanding of human impacts on river flow.

Human activities, dominated by dam construction, levees, and land cover changes, have significantly altered the terrestrial water cycle's spatiotemporal structures. While high-resolution river models improve our detailed mapping capabilities, accurately characterizing human-induced changes on streamflow remains a key bottleneck in predicting water cycle variations. Dr Peirong Lin, Peking University, will describe progress on large-scale, high-resolution hydrological modelling, observation-based model diagnostics, and data fusion. The webinar will also discuss advancements brought by river satellite remote sensing. These efforts pave the way for new model parameterization schemes and for studying precise spatiotemporal runoff patterns under human impacts.

Friday, 4 September 2026, 12pm to 1pm

Speaker(s): Dr Yinxue Liu (School of Geography and the Environment), Dr Peirong Lin (Peking University)

Department: School of Geography and Environment (Department)

Organiser: Nancy Gladstone

Host: Dr Yinxue Liu

Series: Oxford Water Network Michaelmas Term

Audience: Public Format: Online

Oxford Neonatal Surgery Course 2026

The course provides a comprehensive overview of Neonatal Surgery (apart from Urology).

This five-day residential course, led by Course Director, Professor Paul Johnson, is aimed primarily at senior trainees in Paediatric Surgery and held in the beautiful setting of St Edmund Hall in the city of Oxford. There is particular emphasis on evidence-based practice and practical approaches to difficult clinical scenarios. Lectures are provided by leading experts within the UK and there is plenty of opportunity for interactive discussion. Course fees include all tuition, course materials, four nights accommodation and subsistence, Formal Course Dinner and some social activities. Course Directors: Professor Paul Johnson and Mr Merrill McHoney The deadline for booking is 21 August 2026. For further details, please contact Professor Johnson’s PA by email Places are limited so early booking is advisable!

Monday, 7 September 2026 to Friday, 11 September 2026, 8.01am - 10.01am

Department: Surgical Sciences (Department)

Host: Professor Paul Johnson

Audience: Member of University - ALL Format: In Person

CSM's Randomised Controlled Trials Course: A Guide to Design, Conduct, Analysis, Interpretation and Reporting of RCTs

Week-long course on randomised controlled trials

This annual course provides a thorough grounding in the principles and practice of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for evaluating healthcare interventions. You will learn from an interdisciplinary faculty of clinicians, statisticians, and trial managers, all with a wealth of RCT experience. The course uses a problem-based learning approach, including lectures and small-group practical sessions, and grounds all learning in practical experience and examples from the literature. COURSE OBJECTIVES Clarify the fundamental principles and practice of RCTs Present the optimal methodology to use in RCTs Examine the critical issues involved in planning, conducting and completing a successful trial Provide a basic understanding of the statistics used to plan and analyse RCTs Teach critical appraisal skills and practice appraising RCT papers COURSE Faculty Includes Dr Juul Achten, Research Manager, Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care, Kadoorie Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford Prof Jonathan Cook, Professor of Clinical Trials and Medical Statistics and co-Interim Director of the Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford Prof Richard Emsley, Professor of Medical Statistics and Trials Methodology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London Prof Sally Hopewell, Professor of Clinical Trials and Evidence Synthesis, Centre for Statistics in Medicine and Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford Dr Marloes Franssen, Senior Trial Manager, Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care Group, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford Dr Beth Fordham, Senior Research Fellow in Psychology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford Prof Graeme MacLennan, Professor of Medical Statistics and Director of the Centre for Health Care Randomised Trials (CHaRT), Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen Dr Sofia Massa, Lead Statistician, Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford Dr Joanna Moschandreas, Senior Clinical Trial Medical Statistician, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford Prof Eric Ohuma, Professor of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Centre for Maternal Adolescent Reproductive & Child Health, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and International Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Dr Ines Rombach, Senior Research Fellow/ Statistician, School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield WHO SHOULD ATTEND If you are planning or actively involved in trials, or are interested in furthering your knowledge of trial methodology, this course is for you. It is ideal for those early in their career or those looking for a refresher course, as it provides an overview of all elements of an RCT. We welcome applications from clinical and non-clinical researchers and other professionals allied to medicine. DETAILS Date: Monday 7 September to Friday 11 September 2026. A typical day runs from 9am to 5:30pm, with a course dinner on the Thursday evening and a 2pm finish on the Friday after lunch. Venue: The course will be held at Merton College, University of Oxford, a historic college located in Oxford's city centre. Course fees: £1850, discounted to £1700 if payment is made by 17:00 (GMT+1) 30 April 2026. Fees must be paid in full before your place on the course is confirmed. Fees include daily lunch and refreshments, a course dinner (Thursday evening), and a comprehensive delegate’s pack including all course materials. Discounts are available for a limited number of NDORMS staff and students, if payment is made internally. Accommodation: Bed and breakfast accommodation is available at Merton College for £137 per night (not included in course fees). Details for booking accommodation will be supplied with a place offer. REGISTRATION Registration is now open! Please contact rct.course@csm.ox.ac.uk for access to the application form.

Monday, 7 September 2026 to Friday, 11 September 2026, 9am - 2pm

Venue: Merton College - T.S. Eliot lecture theatre
T.S. Eliot lecture theatre Merton College Merton Street Oxford Oxfordshire OX1 4JD United Kingdom

Department: Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (Department)

Host: Centre for Statisics in Medicine

Audience: Public Format: In Person

Music in the (sub-)Arctic

Conference on Music in the (sub-)Arctic

Conference on Music in the (sub-)Arctic

Monday, 7 September 2026 to Tuesday, 8 September 2026, 9am - 6pm

Department: Music (Department)

Organiser: Dr Charlotte Doesburg

Audience: Public Format: In Person

Translational Research Symposium 2026

PLEASE NOTE: Due to exceptionally high interest and limited capacity, the registration has closed early. All the registrations received after the 13th of August will be placed in a waiting list and receive a separate confirmation once a place becomes available. We are unfortunately no longer able to accommodate registrations from students, including DPhil candidates and those below DPhil level. 08:45 – Registration and coffee 09:20 – Welcome and opening remarks: Medical Sciences Division: Driving Translation and Innovation Impact; 08:45 – Registration and coffee 09:20 – Welcome and opening remarks: Medical Sciences Division: Driving Translation and Innovation Impact Speaker: Professor Heidi Johansen-Berg (Pro VC Strategic Initiatives; Associate Head of MSD Research & Innovation) Synopsis: This opening talk will set the scene for the symposium by exploring what successful translation looks like across the Medical Sciences Division and beyond. Prof Johansen-Berg will highlight the breadth, scale and impact of translational research across MSD, showcasing how discoveries progress from the laboratory into tangible patient, societal and economic benefit. The talk will also reflect on the people, programmes and partnerships that make this journey possible, highlighting the vital role of the translational ecosystem in supporting researchers to navigate the path from discovery to impact. This includes the Translational Research Office, Business Partnerships Office, Oxford University Innovation, BioEscalator, Oxford University Hospitals and NHS partners, Oxford Science Enterprises, the Biomedical Research Centre, and our wider network of external collaborators who help accelerate the translation of research into real-world outcomes. 09:30 – The Oxford Translational Ecosystem in 25 Minutes Chair: Professor Paul Leeson Speakers: Dr Deepak Kumar (TRO), Dr Maxine Allen (BPO), Dr Laura Newell (OUI), Dr Sally Dewhurst (Oxford Science Enterprises), Dr Claire Shingler (BioEscalator), Mr Greg Jones (EnSpire) Synopsis: This fast-paced session will provide an overview of Oxford’s translational and innovation ecosystem, helping researchers understand the key organisations, programmes and support mechanisms available to them. Through a visual walkthrough of the translational pathway, attendees will gain insight into how different parts of the ecosystem work together to support the journey from discovery to impact. The session will introduce major stakeholders, including the Translational Research Office (TRO), Business Partnerships Office (BPO), Oxford University Innovation (OUI), Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), BioEscalator, and EnSpire Oxford, offering a practical roadmap to the expertise, funding and commercialisation support available across the University. 09:55 – TRO spotlight session: How the TRO Supports Translational Ambition Speakers: Dr Deepak Kumar, Dr Qhayiya Mudau, Dr Kavita Subramaniam, Ms Vlada Yarosh Synopsis: A dedicated TRO-led session that clearly explains the internal support offer. This will provide an overview of the TRO’s translational research support ecosystem, including the MLSTF and DiTi programme, which serves as the proof-of-concept funding mechanism for projects within the Global Health remit. The session will outline how projects progress through the TRO support pathway, from early-stage ideas through validation and translation, and explain how academics can access the ExiR network for specialist advice, challenge, mentoring and acceleration support. It will also highlight the TRO’s role in supporting overseas research units and international partnerships, ensuring that researchers across the University’s global research portfolio can access translational expertise, funding opportunities and commercialisation support. 10:25 – Refreshment break 10:50 – Practical masterclass: Building a Strong Translational Case for Support & Strengthening your IP Strategy in a Translational Grant Application Speakers: Professor Simon Hollingsworth and Steve Silvey (Oxford University Innovation) Synopsis: A highly practical session focused on what makes a successful translational funding application and how it differs from a traditional research grant. The session will provide practical guidance on structuring a compelling case for support, articulating patient, clinical and commercial impact, and demonstrating a credible pathway to translation. The session will explore the key components commonly assessed in translational funding schemes, including unmet need, value proposition, development and de-risking strategy, milestones and go/no-go criteria, intellectual property considerations, regulatory planning, team composition, and routes to adoption. Attendees will also gain insight into common weaknesses and pitfalls in applications, alongside practical tips and examples to help strengthen future submissions across a range of translational funding programmes. 11:20 – From PoC to Progress: Translational Success Stories Speakers: Prof Pawel Swietach (DPAG), Dr Xiao Gu (Department of Engineering) Synopsis: Hear directly from 3 researchers who have successfully advanced their innovations beyond the proof-of-concept stage. Through a series of short case studies, speakers will share their translational journeys, highlighting different routes to impact, key milestones, challenges encountered, and lessons learned along the way. Examples may include the creation of spin-out companies, licensing opportunities, clinical implementation, industry partnerships, and the securing of follow-on funding. The session will offer practical insights for researchers looking to take their own ideas closer to real-world application and impact. 12:00 – Lunch and networking Exhibitor Stands: BioEscalator, Oxford Science Enterprises, EnSpire 13:10 – Overview of the NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) Speaker: Dr Joanna Smart (NIHR) 13:15 – Panel discussion. The Translational Funding Landscape: What Has Changed, What Funders Want, and How to Build a Route Through It Chair: Prof Paul Leeson Panel Members: Dr Joanna Smart (NIHR) Synopsis: The translational funding landscape is changing rapidly. UKRI and MRC are reshaping their funding approaches while many other funding organisations also continue to evolve how they support translation and impact. Following a brief overview of the changing landscape, representatives from each organisation will discuss key developments in their funding portfolios, emerging priorities, and what they are looking for in applications. The discussion will focus on how researchers can navigate funding as a connected translational pathway rather than a series of standalone opportunities. Panel members will explore how funding needs and expectations change from early discovery through validation, development and implementation, helping attendees understand how to build a coherent route from research to real-world impact. 14:00 – Panel discussion. Translational Regulation: Planning Early to Reduce Risk Later Chair: Dr Toni Day (Regulatory Insights) Panel Members: TBC Synopsis: A session for academics who are developing interventions toward patient impact and need to understand what the regulatory pathway means in practice. A practical conversation on regulatory strategy for diagnostics, devices, digital health, and software-enabled innovation. Focus on how to think about regulatory requirements early and align development plans accordingly. 14:45 – Refreshment break 15:15 – Panel discussion. Commercial Pathways and Partnership Models: How to Choose the Right Route to Impact Chaired: Dr Maxine Allen Panel members: Dr Maryam Atakhorrami (NovoNordisk), Dr Anthony Brown (Captor Therapeutics and Drug Discovery Limited), Professor Louise Thwaites (Oxford University Clinical Research Unit) and Dr Laura Newell (Oxford University Innovation) Synopsis: This session will help academics think strategically about the most appropriate route to take their innovation forward, whether through licensing, strategic partnership, collaboration with industry, or spinout creation. It will explore how the nature of the technology, the maturity of the evidence, the target user or market, and the long-term ambition of the project all influence the commercial pathway. The discussion will also cover how non-dilutive funding, collaboration, and commercial engagement can work together to de-risk innovation and accelerate progress toward clinical and societal impact. This builds naturally on the commercialisation, IP, and investor themes already present in the existing symposium structure. 16:00 – Panel discussion. How Investors See the Opportunity: What Makes a Translational Innovation Investable Chair: Dr Tony Besse (Oxford Science Enterprises) Panel Member: Dr Jan Wolber (GE Healthcare), Dr Thomas Roberts (Department of Paediatrics), Dr Mamta Bajre (Health Innovation Oxford & Thames Valley), Dr Adam Workman (Oxford University Innovation) Synopsis: The discussion will consider how factors such as the nature of the technology, the maturity of the evidence, the target user or market, and the long-term ambition of the project influence commercial strategy. Panel members will also discuss how investors assess the likelihood of adoption, payment and scale within healthcare systems, and why a credible route to reimbursement can be a critical de-risking factor. The discussion will consider how evidence generation, health economic value, payer needs and market access strategy influence both commercial potential and investor confidence. 16:45 – Closing Remarks

Tuesday, 8 September 2026, 9am to 5pm

Venue: Saïd Business School
Saïd Business School Park End Street Oxford Oxfordshire OX1 1HP United Kingdom

Department: Medical Sciences (Division)

Organiser: Translational Research Office

Host: Translational Research Office

Audience: Member of University - Staff Format: In Person

HRA & NHS ethics submissions training

HRA & NHS ethics submissions training

So, you’ve got a great idea for a clinical research study – but what approvals do you need before you can start? Who do you apply to? And how do you go about doing this? Join an online 'live' presentation through Microsoft Teams for an overview of: >how research is governed in the UK >which approval bodies are involved >a step-by-step guide on how to apply for approval >handling modifications to your study Email rgea.training@admin.ox.ac.uk to book this session date.

Tuesday, 8 September 2026, 10am to 1pm

Department: Medical Sciences (Division)

Organiser: Research Governance, Ethics & Assurance (RGEA) Training

Host: Joint training provided by Research Governance, Ethics & Assurance & Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Audience: Member of University - ALL Format: Online

Gardens in Bloom Tour - Trinity College

Gardens in Bloom tours

An informal walk around Trinity’s famous gardens, focussing on recent developments which have updated the historic gardens and adopted more sustainable practices. Head Gardener Kate Burtonwood and her team will share the restoration of the lawns and impactful 120m border, while touring round the college’s open spaces and private gardens. Add an optional cream tea snack with home baked scones in our café! Please check times carefully when booking as the cream tea will take place before the advertised tour start time.

Tuesday, 8 September 2026, 2.45pm to 3.45pm

Department: Trinity College (College)

Organiser: Trinity College

Host: Trinity College

Series: Gardens in Bloom Tours

Audience: Public Format: In Person

OUCAGS South East Regional Forum

Plenary Session: Professor Dani Prieto-Alhambra, Health Data Sciences, NDORMS, University of Oxford.

Professor Prieto-Alhambra will talk about: ‘Real World Evidence: generating actionable knowledge from routinely collected health records’ There will also be presentations from clinical academic trainees from a variety of specialties/medical schools.

Wednesday, 9 September 2026, 1pm to 4.30pm

Department: Medical Sciences Divisional Office (Unit)

Organiser: Oxford University Clinical Academic Graduate School

Host: Professor Ramsey Cutress and Professor Elaine Dennison

Series: OUCAGS Forum

Audience: OUCAGS trainees/alumni, Oxford University staff/students, and Healthcare Professionals within NHSE Thames Valley, and clinical academics from Wessex, Brighton and Sussex, and Kent and Medway Medical Schools. Format: Online

DELPHI: AI in Epidemiology

For our next BDI Distinguished Seminar, we will be hearing from Prof Ewan Birney, Director of EMBL-EBI. We’re delighted to host Ewan in what promises to be a great talk! Date: Friday 11 September Time: 14:00 – 15:00 Talk title: DELPHI: AI in Epidemiology Location: Big Data Institute, Seminar Room 0 Abstract AI is providing an entirely new way to approach complex high dimensional biological problems. Having outlined EMBL’s strategy in AI and the importance of both data and methods in delivering AI, I will illustrate this using an example from my research, DELPHI. DELPHI is an AI healthcare model applied to healthcare events, able to model the incidence of life events in individuals across multiple diseases. I will explain how the method works and its training in the UK BioBank and zero-shot testing in Danish healthcare. I will then outline a number of extensions, including genetics, imaging and metabolomics. Short biography Ewan Birney is the Director of EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), which manages the world's most comprehensive suite of open molecular data resources. He also leads a research group working on inter-individual variation in humans and Medaka fish, as well as novel algorithmic methods for genomics. Ewan led the analysis of the Human Genome gene set, mouse and chicken genomes and the ENCODE project, focusing on non-coding elements of the human genome. His main areas of research include functional genomics, DNA algorithms, statistical methods to analyse genomic information, and use of images for chromatin structure. A non-executive Director of Genomics England and the UK’s Health Data Research Service, Ewan is also a consultant and advisor to a number of companies, including Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Cantata Bio. ————————————————————————————————————————

Friday, 11 September 2026, 2pm to 3pm

Speaker(s): Professor Ewan Birney (EMBL-EBI)

Venue: Big Data Institute - Lower Ground Seminar Room 0
Lower Ground Seminar Room 0 Big Data Institute Old Road Campus Oxford Oxfordshire OX3 7LF United Kingdom

Department: Big Data Institute - NDPH (Unit)

Organiser: Sumeeta Maheshwari

Host: Prof Trey Ideker

Series: BDI Distinguished Seminar

Audience: Member of University - ALL Format: Hybrid

Astronomy for All: The universe from beginning to end

A chance for non-specialists to learn a bit about the history of the Universe, from the Big Bang to its distant future.

Astronomers have pieced together the story of our Universe that begins more than 13 billion years ago with the Big Bang. In this lecture, Nobel Prize winner Prof Brian Schmidt will describe the journey that science has taken thus far to understand our Universe, describing what we know about the cosmos and how we know it, as well as reflecting on some of the mysteries that remain. Chaired by Professor Rob Fender (Professor of Astrophysics, University of Oxford), this lecture is part of Green Templeton’s Astronomy for All series, highlighting the college’s connections to the University of Oxford Astrophysics sub-department. All welcome, but registration is strongly recommended as capacity is limited.

Saturday, 12 September 2026, 6pm to 7.30pm

Speaker(s): Professor Brian Schmidt (Australian National University)

Venue: Schwarzman Centre
Radcliffe Observatory Quarter Woodstock Road OX2 6GG

Department: Green Templeton College (College)

Audience: Public Format: In Person