The festival showcased the ongoing research being undertaken by postgraduate (PGRs) and early career researchers (ECRs) throughout the college.
The event also celebrated a collaborative team science approach, with special recognition bestowed upon the recipients of the recently launched Team Science Awards led by Rik Bryan, a professor at the Bladder Cancer Research Centre, and Andrew Filer, a professor from Birmingham Tissue Analytics.
The Team Science Awards were created to reward and recognise those teams which embody a collaborative ethos, engaging multiple stakeholders to effect substantial change.
The newly appointed interim director of research, Jo Parish, began proceedings and underscored the pivotal role of fostering a nurturing research culture within the college ecosystem. Echoing these sentiments, head of college Neil Hanley provided further detail on how the college fosters and encourages individuals with career advancement and securing prestigious fellowships.
A focus of the day was on short presentations and posters delivered by PGRs and ECRs. The conversations which occurred during the poster and networking sessions showcased enthusiasm and a high level of engagement with the day's objectives. It was a pleasure to have over 20 posters to view and over 30 presentations to listen to.
Prizes were awarded to each category:
- Poster prize: ‘Anti-inflammatory role of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)’ by Nada Fallatah
- Three-minute talk: ‘Bacterial chat: tipping the balance in the oral cavity’ by Malee Nagi
- ECR flash talk: ‘Beyond the Powerhouse: Unlocking the Mitochondria’s Potential to Improve Treatment Resistance in Brain Tumours’ by Katherine Eales