BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ox.ac.uk//NONSGML oxford.event//EN X-WR-TIMEZONE:Europe/London BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/London X-LIC-LOCATION:Europe/London BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:19700329T010000 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=-1SU;BYMONTH=3 TZNAME:BST TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:19701025T020000 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=-1SU;BYMONTH=10 TZNAME:GMT TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Translational Research Symposium 2026 DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260908T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260908T170000 DTSTAMP:20260811T161626Z UID:ab335ce3-eb79-f111-ab0f-6045bdc13891 CREATED:20260707T100915Z DESCRIPTION:PLEASE NOTE: Due to exceptionally high interest and limited ca pacity\, 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 DPh il candidates and those below DPhil level.\n\n08:45 – Registration and c offee \n\n09:20 – Welcome and opening remarks: Medical Sciences Division : Driving Translation and Innovation Impact\; \n\n08:45 – Registration a nd coffee\n\n09:20 – Welcome and opening remarks: Medical Sciences Divis ion: Driving Translation and Innovation Impact\nSpeaker: Professor Heidi J ohansen-Berg (Pro VC Strategic Initiatives\; Associate Head of MSD Researc h & Innovation)\nSynopsis: This opening talk will set the scene for the sy mposium by exploring what successful translation looks like across the Med ical Sciences Division and beyond. Prof Johansen-Berg will highlight the b readth\, scale and impact of translational research across MSD\, showcasin g how discoveries progress from the laboratory into tangible patient\, soc ietal and economic benefit. The talk will also reflect on the people\, pro grammes and partnerships that make this journey possible\, highlighting th e vital role of the translational ecosystem in supporting researchers to n avigate the path from discovery to impact. This includes the Translational Research Office\, Business Partnerships Office\, Oxford University Innova tion\, BioEscalator\, Oxford University Hospitals and NHS partners\, Oxfor d Science Enterprises\, the Biomedical Research Centre\, and our wider net work of external collaborators who help accelerate the translation of rese arch into real-world outcomes.\n\n09:30 – The Oxford Translational Ecosy stem in 25 Minutes\nChair: Professor Paul Leeson\nSpeakers: Dr Deepak Kuma r (TRO)\, Dr Maxine Allen (BPO)\, Dr Laura Newell (OUI)\, Dr Sally Dewhurs t (Oxford Science Enterprises)\, Dr Claire Shingler (BioEscalator)\, Mr Gr eg Jones (EnSpire)\nSynopsis: This fast-paced session will provide an over view of Oxford’s translational and innovation ecosystem\, helping resear chers understand the key organisations\, programmes and support mechanisms available to them. Through a visual walkthrough of the translational path way\, attendees will gain insight into how different parts of the ecosyste m work together to support the journey from discovery to impact. The sessi on will introduce major stakeholders\, including the Translational Researc h Office (TRO)\, Business Partnerships Office (BPO)\, Oxford University In novation (OUI)\, Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE)\, BioEscalator\, and EnS pire Oxford\, offering a practical roadmap to the expertise\, funding and commercialisation support available across the University.\n\n09:55 – TR O spotlight session: How the TRO Supports Translational Ambition\nSpeakers : Dr Deepak Kumar\, Dr Qhayiya Mudau\, Dr Kavita Subramaniam\, Ms Vlada Ya rosh \nSynopsis: A dedicated TRO-led session that clearly explains the int ernal support offer. This will provide an overview of the TRO’s translat ional research support ecosystem\, including the MLSTF and DiTi programme\ , which serves as the proof-of-concept funding mechanism for projects with in the Global Health remit. The session will outline how projects progress through the TRO support pathway\, from early-stage ideas through validati on and translation\, and explain how academics can access the ExiR network for specialist advice\, challenge\, mentoring and acceleration support. I t will also highlight the TRO’s role in supporting overseas research uni ts and international partnerships\, ensuring that researchers across the U niversity’s global research portfolio can access translational expertise \, funding opportunities and commercialisation support.\n\n10:25 – Refre shment break\n\n10:50 – Practical masterclass: Building a Strong Transla tional Case for Support & Strengthening your IP Strategy in a Translationa l Grant Application\nSpeakers: Professor Simon Hollingsworth and Steve Sil vey (Oxford University Innovation)\nSynopsis: A highly practical session f ocused on what makes a successful translational funding application and ho w it differs from a traditional research grant. The session will provide p ractical guidance on structuring a compelling case for support\, articulat ing patient\, clinical and commercial impact\, and demonstrating a credibl e pathway to translation. The session will explore the key components comm only assessed in translational funding schemes\, including unmet need\, va lue proposition\, development and de-risking strategy\, milestones and go/ no-go criteria\, intellectual property considerations\, regulatory plannin g\, team composition\, and routes to adoption. Attendees will also gain in sight into common weaknesses and pitfalls in applications\, alongside prac tical tips and examples to help strengthen future submissions across a ran ge of translational funding programmes.\n\n11:20 – From PoC to Progress: Translational Success Stories\nSpeakers: Prof Pawel Swietach (DPAG)\, Dr Xiao Gu (Department of Engineering)\nSynopsis: Hear directly from 3 resear chers who have successfully advanced their innovations beyond the proof-of -concept stage. Through a series of short case studies\, speakers will sha re 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 o pportunities\, clinical implementation\, industry partnerships\, and the s ecuring of follow-on funding. The session will offer practical insights fo r researchers looking to take their own ideas closer to real-world applica tion and impact.\n\n12:00 – Lunch and networking\nExhibitor Stands: BioE scalator\, Oxford Science Enterprises\, EnSpire\n\n13:10 – Overview of t he NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i)\nSpeaker: Dr Joanna Smart (NIHR)\n\ n13:15 – Panel discussion. The Translational Funding Landscape: What Has Changed\, What Funders Want\, and How to Build a Route Through It\nChair: Prof Paul Leeson\nPanel Members: Dr Joanna Smart (NIHR)\nSynopsis: The tr anslational funding landscape is changing rapidly. UKRI and MRC are reshap ing their funding approaches while many other funding organisations also c ontinue to evolve how they support translation and impact. Following a bri ef overview of the changing landscape\, representatives from each organisa tion 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 transla tional pathway rather than a series of standalone opportunities. Panel mem bers will explore how funding needs and expectations change from early dis covery through validation\, development and implementation\, helping atten dees understand how to build a coherent route from research to real-world impact. \n \n \n14:00 – Panel discussion. Translational Regulation: Plan ning Early to Reduce Risk Later \nChair: Dr Toni Day (Regulatory Insights) \nPanel Members: TBC\nSynopsis: A session for academics who are developing interventions toward patient impact and need to understand what the regul atory pathway means in practice. A practical conversation on regulatory st rategy for diagnostics\, devices\, digital health\, and software-enabled i nnovation. Focus on how to think about regulatory requirements early and a lign development plans accordingly. \n \n14:45 – Refreshment break\n\n15 :15 – Panel discussion. Commercial Pathways and Partnership Models: How to Choose the Right Route to Impact \nChaired: Dr Maxine Allen\nPanel memb ers: Dr Maryam Atakhorrami (NovoNordisk)\, Dr Anthony Brown (Captor Therap eutics and Drug Discovery Limited)\, Professor Louise Thwaites (Oxford Uni versity Clinical Research Unit) and Dr Laura Newell (Oxford University Inn ovation)\nSynopsis: This session will help academics think strategically a bout 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\, t he maturity of the evidence\, the target user or market\, and the long-ter m ambition of the project all influence the commercial pathway. The discus sion will also cover how non-dilutive funding\, collaboration\, and commer cial engagement can work together to de-risk innovation and accelerate pro gress toward clinical and societal impact. This builds naturally on the co mmercialisation\, IP\, and investor themes already present in the existing symposium structure. \n \n16:00 – Panel discussion. How Investors See t he Opportunity: What Makes a Translational Innovation Investable \nChair: Dr Tony Besse (Oxford Science Enterprises)\nPanel 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)\nSynopsis: The discussion will consider how factor s such as the nature of the technology\, the maturity of the evidence\, th e target user or market\, and the long-term ambition of the project influe nce commercial strategy. Panel members will also discuss how investors ass ess the likelihood of adoption\, payment and scale within healthcare syste ms\, and why a credible route to reimbursement can be a critical de-riskin g factor. The discussion will consider how evidence generation\, health ec onomic value\, payer needs and market access strategy influence both comme rcial potential and investor confidence. \n\n16:45 – Closing Remarks LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T152206Z LOCATION:Saïd Business School\, Saïd Business School Park End Street Ox ford Oxfordshire OX1 1HP United Kingdom END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR