3rd Signalling Molecules in Disease Symposium

About the symposium

With the support of HES KERI and PCR Biosystems, this annual symposium invites researchers to discuss current work on cancer, neurological, developmental, and communicable diseases, covering a broad range of biomedical perspectives, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic approaches. The meeting focuses on bringing together scientists from diverse backgrounds and disease areas with a shared interest in cell and molecular signalling. By fostering cross-disciplinary discussion, the symposium aims to build a strong and inclusive community of researchers studying signalling pathways across all disease fields. This symposium will provide a platform for emerging talents to share their innovative research and engage with established investigators in the field.

• Date: Friday 17 April 2026
• Time: 9.30am – 4pm
• Venue: Kingston University Penrhyn Road campus, KT1 2EE

Schedule

• 9:30: Registration
• 10:00: Welcome from Dr Myrto Chioni and Dr Francesca Mackenzie
• 10:15: Professor Sarah McClelland, Queen Mary University of London
• 10:45: Dr Amr Elshaer, Kingston University London – Routes to Diabetes: Transforming Therapy Through Next-Generation Drug Delivery
• 11:15: Dr Ed Carter, University of Bath – Cancer-associated fibroblasts drive sensory nerve sensitisation in pancreatic cancer
• 11:45: Melissa Santos, University of Westminster – From Hypoxia to the Metastatic Niche in Prostate Cancer
• 12:00: Lunch, network and poster presentation
• 13:30: Professor James Philips, University College London – Activation of therapeutic signalling in nervous system regenerative medicine
• 14:00: Speaker to be confirmed
• 14:30: Adam Smith, Imperial College London – HER2 isoforms and their immunomodulatory effects
• 14:45: Selected Early Career Researcher talk
• 15:00: Panel discussion and refreshments
• 16:00: Poster awards and concluding remarks

Please note: The schedule is subject to change due to speakers' availability and circumstances.