Research Day is more than a showcase — it is where all sections of our department comes together to share discoveries, spark new ideas, and build the collaborations that will carry us forward.
On 19 September 2025, the Department of Medicine gathered at Robinson College for our annual Research Day.
Opening
Head of Department Professor Duncan Richards opened the event by highlighting how connections across disciplines and career stages drive innovation, with a special focus on our new MPhil in Translational Medical Research that unites excellence across all four sections and fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Guest speakers
This year, we were honoured to welcome Professor Sarah Teichmann, Chair in Stem Cell Medicine at the University of Cambridge, who delivered the keynote speech on “Translating the Human Atlas”.
The Human Cell Atlas is a global consortium that is mapping every cell type in the human body, creating a 3-dimensional Atlas of human cells to transform our understanding of biology and disease. In response to public health emergency like COVID19, Sarah highlighted how the Human Cell Atlas enables data sharing that leads to new ways of diagnosing and treating illness, ultimately leading to a new era of precision medicine.
We also heard from Hana Lango Allen, Head of Data Strategy and Partnerships at Cambridge University Health Partners, whose talk on leveraging the healthcare data infrastructure in the East of England demonstrated how shared platforms can unlock new possibilities for capitalising and advancing research across the region.
Session 1
Led by Virginia Pedicord, our opening session brought together Eoin McKinney, Delphine Cuchet-Lourenco, Joe Joiner, and Maire Roder. Collectively, their talks revealed how combining immunology, genetics, and infection biology is helping us understand the mechanisms of autoimmunity and host defence.
Flash talks
Our early-career researchers shone in the flash talks, delivering concise, energetic summaries of their projects that captured the imagination of peers and mentors alike.
Session 3
This session, led by Andrew Conway-Morris, featured speakers including Dennis Wang, Leah Hurst, Daniel Whitehouse, Emmanuel Stamatakis, Eckhart De Bie, and Rowena Jones. Talks ranged from innovative vaccine approaches to biomarkers for neurological and cardiovascular disease, showing how translational work benefits when clinical trialists, imaging experts, and laboratory scientists work in concert.
Session 4
Chaired by Matthew Hoare, our final session brought forward-looking presentations from Ayden Case, Tetsuo Hasegawa, David Thomas, and Emma Hodson. Their work spanned single-cell studies, advanced imaging, endocrine-immune cross-talk, and developmental biology.
Prize
The posters transformed the foyer into a hub of lively discussion, where ideas and collaborations often began in the margins between sessions.
The day closed with prize-giving from Duncan, recognising outstanding presentations and research skills, and celebrating the talent and creativity across our department. Here are the winners:
- Best Clinical Talk: Rowena Jones
- Best Discovery Talk: Tetsuo Hasegawa, CITIID
- Best Patient and Public Involvement: Daniel Stubbs (PACE)
- Best Flash Talk: Hudson Coates, CITIID (James Nathan's Group)
- Poster Group 1: Louise Jordon (James Nathan's Group)
- Poster Group 2: Ankur Saini, CaRM (Ana Vujic's Group)
- Poster Group 3: Olivia Rowe, PACE (Virginia Newcombe's Group)
Exhibitors
This year, we are delighted to welcome our exhibitors: Cambridge Enterprise, LifeArc, and Milner Therapeutics Institute: Flagship Pioneering partnership. They have brought valuable insights, resources, and opportunities to our Annual Research Day.