Professor Mark Howarth

University of Cambridge



Talk Title: 

Dr Benjamin Taylor

AstraZeneca



Talk title:  CAR-T and TCR-T cells

Biography: Ben Taylor is a Senior Director within the Cell Therapy Discovery unit in AstraZeneca. He leads a team in early R&D helping develop next generation cell therapies using gene editing technologies and advanced in-vitro cell biology. Prior to AstraZeneca in 2014, he completed a PhD at Imperial College and Postdoc at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology on epigenetic regulation and DNA mutagenesis in cancer.

Abstract: CAR-T and TCR-T cell therapies have transformed the treatment landscape for haematological malignancies. However, their application in solid tumours remains limited by the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment. To address this, AstraZeneca has developed the "DIAL" framework—a strategic approach to guide the design and development of next-generation cell therapies. This presentation will introduce the DIAL framework and highlight our latest preclinical and clinical efforts aimed at enhancing therapeutic efficacy in solid tumour settings.

Dr Miles Congreve

Isomorphic Laboratories



Talk title:  Artificial intelligence (AI) in determining protein structure and drug targets

Biography: Dr. Congreve is the CSO at Isomorphic Labs, joining in May 2022. Previously, he was CSO at Sosei Heptares (2008-2022; CSO 2019) and previously held senior leadership positions at Astex Therapeutics (2001-2008) and GSK (1993-2001). Dr. Congreve is an author of over 200 drug design publications. He has contributed to the discovery of 29 clinical agents, including 3 marketed drugs. He is a co-inventor of Ribociclib (Kisqali®), a first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer. He was recipient of the RSC Malcolm Campbell Memorial Prize (2015) and is an editorial advisory board member for the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. In August 2025 Dr. Congreve was recognised in the TIME 100 AI list as one of the world’s most influential people in AI. 

Professor Nick Lench PhD, FRCPath

Executive Director, MRC Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator (NATA)



Talk title: Targeted, precision oligonucleotide therapies for rare diseases

Biography: Nick is Executive Director of the MRC Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator based at Harwell Research and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, UK. Nick has extensive experience in rare disease genetics and genomic medicine and has worked in academia, industry and the NHS. Nick was a co-founder of Congenica, a leading international digital health company providing clinical decision support software for rare disease diagnosis and precision medicine.   Prior to founding Congenica, Nick was Director of Genetics Services at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London and is an Honoray Professor in Genetics and Genomic Medicine at the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UCL. 

Abstract: Rare genetic diseases collectively affect approximately 7% of the population; however, effective therapies are only available for <5% of all rare diseases. Advances in genomic medicine and nucleic acid technologies have paved the way for targeted, precision therapies that address the root causes of many of these conditions. Oligonucleotide-based therapeutics—particularly antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs)—offer a transformative approach by modulating gene expression, correcting splicing defects, or silencing pathogenic mutations at the RNA level.

The presentation will explore the current landscape and future potential of oligonucleotide therapies for rare diseases, highlighting recent clinical successes such as treatments for spinal muscular atrophy and hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. It will also discuss the scientific, translational and regulatory challenges in developing personalized therapies for ultra-rare conditions, including N-of-1 studies.

I will highlight the work of the MRC Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator with specific case studies from oligonucleotide design and target validation to preclinical testing and safety profiling. Emphasis will be placed on interdisciplinary strategies to reduce toxicity and off-target effects and improve tissue-and cell-specific delivery for these exciting new treatments.
 

Professor Melissa Little

Murdoch Children's Research Institute



Talk title: The potential of organoids in regenerative therapy

Biography: Professor Melissa Little, AC, FRS, BSc (Hons I), PhD, GAICD, FAAHMS, FAAS, the is CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), Chief Scientist at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, and Group Leader of the Kidney Regeneration Laboratory, Melbourne.  Melissa is the Past President of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, an elected Fellow of the Royal Society, a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and holds an honorary position as Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne.   

Internationally recognised for her work on kidney development and her pioneering studies into potential regenerative therapies in the kidney, Professor Little’s approach to generating kidney organoids from human pluripotent stem cells has been adopted across the globe where it is being applied to disease modelling, drug screening and renal replacement therapies. Founded on >30 years of fundamental developmental biology, her stem cell research illustrates the capacity for understanding to be applied to product development. Professor Little’s work has been recognised by many awards, including the GlaxoSmithKline Award for Research Excellence (2005); an Eisenhower Fellowship (2006); a Boorhaave Professorship (2015); an Honorary Doctorate (2019), Leiden University; the Eureka Prize (2016); the Alfred Newton Richards Award from the International Society for Nephrology (2018) for her kidney organoid research; the Julian Wells Medal (2020) for her outstanding contribution to understanding of genetic basis of kidney development; the Homer W. Smith Award (2021) for outstanding contributions that fundamentally affect the science of nephrology; and, the NHMRC Marshall and Warren Ideas Grant Award (2021) for being the top ranked recipient in the Ideas Grant Scheme for 2021.  

Melissa is a Companion of the Order of Australia, Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, Fellow of the Danish Royal Academy of Science and Letters. She is on the editorial board of the Cell Stem Cell, Nature Reviews Nephrology, Development and Kidney International. Melissa has previously held the role of President of the Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research, Program Leader of Stem Cells Australia, and the Chief Scientific Officer of the Australian Stem Cell Centre. 

Professor Alessio Ciulli

University of Dundee



Talk title: Protein degraders as pharmacological tools and drugs 

Biography: Alessio Ciulli is renowned for his pioneering work in targeted protein degradation (TPD), a cutting-edge approach in drug discovery that harnesses the cell's natural disposal machinery to eliminate disease-causing proteins. This new modality witnesses over 50 drugs currently in clinical trials. His research has significantly advanced our understanding of how to develop more effective therapies through the design of molecules known as PROTACs (Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras) and molecular glues. He has authored high-impact publications, co-founded biotech ventures, partnered with the pharmaceutical industry, and has attracted international recognition through prestigious awards—including his recent election as a Fellow of the Royal Society. His leadership at Dundee’s Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation underscores his influential role in translating basic science into innovative therapeutic solutions.

Abstract: Our laboratory at the Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation (CeTPD) reveals molecular information on protein interactions and ubiquitination complexes and mechanisms to design novel therapeutic concepts. Protein degraders, also known as PROTACs (PROteolysis-TArgeting Chimeras) and molecular glues, recruit a target protein to a ubiquitin E3 ligase for targeted protein degradation. Formation of a stable ternary complex between the degrader, the E3 ligase and the target is a critical step that leads to productive tagging of the target protein by ubiquitination, and subsequent proteasomal degradation. Our research has illuminated fundamental structural and biophysical insights into molecular recognition and mechanism of action of protein degraders, that have guided the design and optimization of novel small molecules for hard-to-target proteins. I will be reflecting on the evolution of the TPD field, from early design principles to today’s landscape of PROTACs and molecular glues. Latest advances from the Lab in mechanistic understanding and chemical structural biology of degraders ternary complexes will be showcased. I will also highlight collaborative academic-industry consortia tackling grand challenges with undruggable targets in pediatric cancers and neurodegenerative diseases, charting the next-generation of proximity-based therapeutics.

Dr Emma Magavern

Queen Mary University of London



Biography: Dr Emma Magavern is a Clinical Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacology and an MRC Clinician Scientist. She completed her PhD in pharmacogenomics at the William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, working with Professor Sir Mark Caulfield and Professor Damian Smedley. She completed a BA in English prior to her MD and subsequent MScs in Bioethics and Genomics. Through training in clinical medicine, humanities, genetics, and pharmacology she has developed an interest in the scientific merits, clinical potential and implementation challenges of pharmacogenomics. Her main focus is on leveraging genomic medicine to reduce existing health inequalities.

Abstract: Pharmacogenomics (PGx) explores how genetic variation can cause variability in medication response. Though we know that there is interindividual variability in response to medications, our current approach to evidence generation underpinning the licensure and use of medication relies on population level research data. This means that evidence is often extrapolated from more homogenous populations to real world clinical practice where patients may come from under represented ancestry groups. Yet population level genetic data shows that genetic variants known to impact on risk of inefficacy or adverse drug events in response to medications may be much more common in some ancestry groups than others. Furthermore, epidemiologic data reveals that prevalence of disease indications for known PGx medications may also vary widely between populations of different ancestry. Therefore under-represented groups may in some cases have heightened genetic risk of not benefiting from or having a bad reaction to a medication and may also be more likely to require that medication as compared with populations from which safety and efficacy data is generated. The potential benefits and costs pf PGx across diverse ancestry groups may thus not be well represented by homogenous ancestry data cohorts or clinical trial groups. PGx provides an opportunity to wield genetic tools to target existing health inequities and more effectively stratify medical therapy but requires sustained and meaningful engagement with under-represented patients and participants.

Dr Arnaud Bastien

Bristol Myers Squibb



Talk title: TBC 

Biography: Arnaud Bastien, MD is Vice President and Global Program Lead, Early and Late Development, Cardiovascular and Neuroscience at Bristol Myers Squibb.

Dr. Bastien is the Leader of the Myosin Inhibition Programs at BMS and responsible for leading the Global Program Teams, for orchestrating the design and execution of global integrated program strategy from candidate nomination through drug development to successful launch and commercialization.

He is a board-certified internist with more than 15 years of industry experience. He has held key leadership positions in clinical drug development positions in both large pharmaceutical and biotech companies. He served as Vice President and Head of Clinical Development at Roivant Sciences and Acting CMO of Lysovant Sciences, where he oversaw end to end development and in-licensing of research compounds in multiple therapeutic areas including, cardiovascular, pulmonology, hematology, and gene therapy. Prior to this, Arnaud was Head of Clinical Research at Akros Pharma, where he oversaw early clinical development activities across several therapeutic areas including immunology, cardiovascular, metabolic and hematology and renal diseases first-in-human through Phase 2b. He also oversaw all clinical aspects for outlicensing.

He is a member of the Board of Directors at the Coriell Institute for Medical Research. Prior to industry, he had a long-term university practice for high-risk cardiometabolic patients and conducted research on HIV, TB and high-risk cardiometabolic disease. He is the recipient of NIH-NHLBI RO1 grants for ALLHAT and ACCORD, and he was previously an Associate Professor of Medicine at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine-Camden. Dr. Bastien received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University, his medical degree at the Universidad Mundial Dominicana, Dominican Republic. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at UMDNJ, Cooper University Hospital, trained as a research fellow in HIV at SUNY Downstate, where he was also a member of the Downstate Medical School Faculty in Preventive Medicine. Arnaud attended the Rutgers University School of Business and Management for executive education in Biopharma Innovation, as well as the McKinsey Executive Leadership Development training program.

Professor Sir Mark Caulfield

Queen Mary University of London



Talk title: TBC 

Biography: Professor Sir Mark Caulfield is Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at Queen Mary University of London and the CEO of Barts Life Sciences, a research and innovation partnership between Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust. From January 2022 he is Vice Principal for Health for Queen Mary’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.

Professor Caulfield graduated in Medicine in 1984 from the London Hospital Medical College and trained in Clinical Pharmacology at St Bartholomew’s Hospital where he developed a research programme in molecular genetics of hypertension and translational clinical research.

At Queen Mary University of London Professor Caulfield has made substantial contributions to the discovery of genes related to blood pressure, cardiovascular health, cancer and rare diseases. His research has changed national and international guidance for high blood pressure. He was Director of Queen Mary’s William Harvey Research Institute between 2002-2020 and was elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2008.

Professor Caulfield was appointed Chief Scientist for Genomics England in 2013, charged with delivery of the 100,000 Genomes Project on whole genome sequencing in rare disease, cancer and infection. At Genomics England, he was instrumental in delivering the 100,000 Genomes Project which has delivered life-changing results for many patients. He has also worked with NHS England to co-create the National Genomic Test Directory, which offers equitable access for 56 million people to appropriate genomic tests. Professor Caulfield was awarded a knighthood in 2019 for his leadership of the 100,000 Genomes Project.

In July 2021, Professor Caulfield stepped down from his role as Chief Scientist for Genomics England and is taking a major leadership in Barts Life Sciences a partnership between Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust. This is driving the development of a world-leading life sciences campus at Whitechapel focusing on digital precision healthcare. He is a member of the Barts Health NHS trust Board and is the President Elect of the British Pharmacological Society. Sir Mark is Vice Principal (Health) for Queen Mary University of London.
 

We are pleased to announce that abstract submissions are now open. If you would like to present your work, please submit your abstract before the deadline of Friday 3rd April by 3pm.

Before submitting, please ensure you have read the abstract submission guidelines carefully. Submissions that do not follow the guidelines may not be considered. 

Please note that you must be registered for the event in order to present your work.

We will review all submissions promptly and aim to notify authors of the outcome in late April.

Travel Bursary Guidelines

Abstract presenters can apply for a bursary to support travel costs for attending the meeting.

Eligibility

• You must be registered to attend the event.
• You must submit an abstract for the event.
• You must complete all six questions below when applying. 
• Apply by Friday 3 April at 3pm (BST).

Criteria

Awards will be based on the number of eligible applications, with preference given to those who clearly demonstrate the benefits of attending the meeting.

How to apply

Applicants can apply for a travel bursary by emailing the meetings and events team (meetings@bps.ac.uk). Please email with your

1. The event title
2. Your full name
3. A brief paragraph confirming where you are studying or working
4. A short statement (max 100 words) explaining how attending the meeting will benefit you
5. Where you will be travelling from
6. Estimated travel costs to attend the meeting

When will I know if my application has been successful?

We will make every effort to notify applicants beginning of May.

What can I use this money for?

This bursary is intended to support attendees with travel costs only, such as train or plane tickets. Unfortunately, the bursary cannot be used to cover the cost of the conference ticket. If you need help with funding the cost of the conference ticket, we encourage you to speak to your university department or employer. They often have funds available to support students/employees attending conferences that will help with your studies and/or career development.

Payment

• If you are successful, we will provide you with the relevant information need to receive payment. Claims will need to be completed within four weeks of the closing date of the meeting, along with your receipts, the email confirming the bursary, and a certificate of attendance.

• We will only make payments to a bank account in the applicant’s name, unless otherwise agreed with the Finance Team.

This bursary is open until Friday 3 April at 3pm (BST).