The Wales Cancer Research Conference 2025, hosted by the Wales Cancer Research Centre (WCRC), brought together leading cancer researchers from across Wales and the UK for a day of insightful presentations, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing. Held at a state-of-the-art venue, the ICC in Newport, the conference welcomed around 300 delegates and featured more than 100 research posters, reflecting the breadth and depth of cancer research in Wales.
The event featured a lineup of keynote speakers, each offering valuable insights into cancer research and patient involvement. Professor Serena Nik-Zainal (University of Cambridge) opened to conference with a compelling talk on mutational signatures in cancer, exploring how these genetic patterns can reveal mechanisms of disease and inform precision medicine. Professor Andrew Beggs (University of Birmingham) followed in the afternoon by sharing advancements in genomic medicine and discussing the role of long-read sequencing and liquid biopsies in revolutionising early detection and personalised treatment.
Adding a crucial patient perspective, Bryan Webber delivered an inspiring talk on his experience as a patient involved in cancer research, highlighting the importance of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in shaping studies that truly reflect the needs of those affected by cancer. Reflecting on the day, Bryan said: “The Wales Cancer [Research] Conference was such an amazing event to attend. As a speaker, I found the organisation to be excellent from the first point of invitation to the follow-up feedback. The attention to detail from the organisers was superb.”
One of the highlights of the conference were the ‘Lightning Talks’ sessions, where researchers had the chance to share their work in rapid, engaging presentations. Dr Tracy Knight, one of the speakers, expressed her appreciation for the opportunity: “It was an honour to speak at the WCRC conference this year as part of the Lightning Talks. It was inspiring to hear about the incredible work being done and to meet like-minded individuals dedicated to advancing cancer research.”
During the day, delegates also engaged in networking and poster viewing sessions, ensuring that the conference was not just an exchange of ideas but also a possible catalyst for future partnerships. The poster sessions provided attendees with the opportunity to present and discuss their research projects with fellow delegates. Dolce Advani, Research Assistant/Data Manager from Cardiff University said: “I had the privilege of presenting the OPTIMISE-FLT3 trial poster at Wales Cancer Research Conference 2025 in Newport, Wales. The experience has ignited an even stronger commitment to our work, inspiring me to dive deeper into the vital realm of cancer research. I’m thankful for all the insights gained, the meaningful connections established, and the spirit of collaboration that made this event so special.”
Three prizes were awarded to recognise exceptional contributions: Best Poster, Best Patient and Public Involvement (PPI), and Best Oral Abstract Presentation. The Best Poster award was presented to Dr Rebecca Bayliss for her outstanding research, while Dr Amy Case received the Best PPI award, underscoring her commitment to integrating patient perspectives into research. The Best Oral Abstract Presentation award was presented to Dr Karam Aboud for his compelling presentation on Dendrimer-Nanoparticle (DEP) Delivery of Cabazitaxel (DEP-Cabazitaxel): a first-in-human Phase 1/2 Trial in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumours, highlighting exciting developments in clinical trials.
Rebecca Bayliss, winner of the poster prize, reflected on her experience: “I thought the whole event was really well organised and the range of speakers and topics was excellent. I really enjoyed learning about others’ work, advances, and contributions to the field. The keynote speakers and patient representative were a real highlight. The poster session was a great chance to network, and the venue was perfect for such an event. A very inspiring and engaging day, and I’m already looking forward to next year.”
Alongside the posters, the conference featured a number of exhibitor stands which were run by conference sponsors and partners of the Wales Cancer Research Centre. These included Health and Care Research Wales, Cancer Research Wales, The Wales Cancer Industry Forum/Roche, The Centre for Trials Research, Velindre NHS University Trust, the Cardiff Cancer Research Hub (CCRH) and the WCRC Patient and Public Involvement team. Exhibitors were welcome to attend the conference talks, and many attendees took the opportunity interact with them during networking sessions. Rhydian Owen, Cancer Research & Development Strategy Lead at Velindre University NHS Trust and sponsor/exhibitor at the conference, praised the event for enabling engagement across the research community: “The conference was a great opportunity for clinicians and researchers to learn from each other and share experiences from labs, trials and into commercialisation of research. It was very encouraging to see so many early career researchers contributing with posters and during discussions – we are looking forward to working with the next generation of cancer researchers.”
A new special feature of the conference for 2025 was a Spotlight Session delivered by the Wales Cancer Industry Forum (WCIF), who were platinum sponsors of the event. This session highlighted the vital role of research and innovation in driving improvements in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and patient experience. The WCIF encourages collaboration between industry, the NHS, third-sector organisations, academia, and Welsh cancer service stakeholders to work in partnership to improve cancer outcomes.
Over 100 people attended the session to hear Dr Chris Scrase, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, present on the NHS Wales Executive’s clinical trials initiative which aims to quadruple cancer patient recruitment for commercial studies to over 1,000 by Q4 2027. He also announced a call for a National Clinical Research Lead for Cancer. Sally Spillane, Operational Lead for Cancer Services at the All-Wales Genomic Laboratory, discussed efforts to integrate Liquid Biopsy into the Lung Cancer Diagnostic Pathway via QuicDNA, with plans to expand to other tumour sites through QuicDNA Max. WCIF Industry Consultant Martin Coombes said: “The Wales Cancer Industry Forum were delighted to host a Spotlight Session showcasing cutting-edge research and innovation.” Louise Carrington from the Wales Cancer Network added: “The Wales Cancer Research Conference provided a great opportunity to highlight the work of the forum, and we were extremely pleased to see so many people at the Spotlight Session.”
Reflecting on the conference’s success Michael Bowdery, Head of Programmes, Research and Development Division at Welsh Government and Joint Interim Director at Health and Care Research Wales, praised the event’s scope and impact: “This year’s conference brought together the very best that Welsh cancer research has to offer. It was a pleasure to hear such a variety of topics being talked about and to have access to such insight on cutting edge treatments, diagnostics and expertise from a broad cross section of speakers.”
Professor Mererid Evans, Director of the Wales Cancer Research Centre said: “It was my privilege to chair the 2025 Wales Cancer Research Conference, which showcased some of the outstanding cancer research going in in Wales and across the UK. I enjoyed the opportunity to connect with senior and junior clinical and academic researchers, and to experience the enthusiasm, engagement and positivity within the cancer research community in Wales. Feedback from the conference has been overwhelmingly positive, and we will take note of the suggestions we have received to make the conference even better in 2026!”
The Wales Cancer Research Conference 2025 highlights Wales’s growing influence in the field, and the connections and ideas sparked throughout the day are set to shape meaningful progress in the months ahead.
Thanks to our conference sponsors:
