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Session recordings and highlights
Catch up on the key ideas and conversations from the 2025 Innovation Summit's keynotes and panels, complete with illustrated highlights.
Full recordings of every keynote, panel discussion, and the closing remarks are ready for you to explore, along with visual insights from each session.
Agenda and speakers
From discovery to impact: Unlocking the potential of cancer research
Our 2025 agenda brought together scientists, clinicians, entrepreneurs, and investors to explore emerging technologies, bold ideas, and collaborative approaches in oncology.
| Programme | |
|---|---|
| 08:45 – 09:15 | Registration |
| 09:15– 09:25 | Welcome from Cancer Research Horizons |
| 9:25-9:55 | Keynote session 1 : Innovation is still a human contact sport! Speaker: Kirk Vallis, Cognitive diversity ambassador and speaker, Moving Ahead | Innovation and creativity expert, Google
This session will explore the critical role of mindset and behaviour in shaping innovation. It will highlight how willingness to question current approaches, embracing adaptability and creativity, can unlock new opportunities, and overcome challenges. Drawing on cross-sector experience, this session will empower the audience to see innovation as a human-centred endeavour; where tools and technologies are enablers, but it is our thinking and actions that drive impact |
| 9:55– 10:25 | Keynote session 2: Accelerating research impact through opportunity and risk: an entrepreneurial journey to bring liquid biopsies to patients Speaker: Nitzan Rosenfeld, Director and Professor of Applied Cancer Research at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London
This session will discuss the entrepreneurial journey with examples of spin-out, industry collaboration and alliances, and the essential skills and mindset required for successful entrepreneurship and leadership, including topics like risk-taking, resilience, adaptability, and innovation culture. |
| 10:25– 11:05 | Panel 1 Chair: Yupar Myint, Head of Entrepreneurship at Maxwell Centre, University of Cambridge
Panellists:
Early career researchers are at the forefront of cancer research, yet stepping into innovation and entrepreneurship brings both exciting opportunities and distinct challenges. This session will explore what drives researchers to take their ideas beyond the lab, the hurdles they face —from limited resources and competing demand to, building the right networks. Through the sharing of real-world experiences and lessons learned, the panel will offer insights into how emerging innovators can navigate the translational pathway and turn discoveries into impact. |
| 11:05-11:35 | Refreshment break and networking |
| 11:35 –12:15 | Panel 2 Chair: Olivia Cavlan, LifeArc Ventures
Panellists:
Start-ups play a pivotal role in oncology innovation, bringing fresh thinking, agility, and the willingness to take risks on early-stage opportunities. This session will showcase how start-ups contribute to translating cutting-edge cancer research into new treatments, tools and technologies. This discussion will explore the challenges and opportunities in this space, from securing investment to navigating complex regulatory landscapes. You will gain insights into the critical role of start-ups in the innovation ecosystem and the factors that enable bold ideas to become tangible breakthroughs. |
| 12:15 – 13:00 | Panel 3 Chair: Phil Clare, CEO, Queen Mary Innovation
Panellists:
The Innovation Ecosystem brings together a diverse network of support - from funding, mentoring, and training to specialist facilities, legal and regulatory expertise. This session will explore how these resources help innovators and entrepreneurs overcome barriers, strengthen development plans and refine propositions. Panellists will share perspectives on the value of engagement across the ecosystem and how leveraging its support can accelerate progress and maximise impact |
| 13:00– 14:45 | Lunch Innovation Ecosystem Marketplace and networking Organisations from across the innovation ecosystem will be onsite to engage with attendees, share expertise, and showcase the support they offer.
13:30-14:00: Optional workshop - Pitch perfect! Facilitator:
Panellists:
|
| 14:45-15:30 | Panel 4 Chair: Stephen Mayhew, CBO, The Francis Crick Institute
Panellists:
In the rapidly advancing field of oncology, breakthroughs depend on collaboration. This panel will explore licensing and industry collaboration as key drivers of progress – enabling innovators to share expertise, access new capabilities, and accelerate the journey from discovery to impact Featuring perspectives from both academia and industry, panellists will share real-world insights into how effective partnerships create value, reduce risk and foster outcomes that benefit all stakeholders. Ultimately, these collaborations pave the way for greater innovation and improved patient outcomes. |
| 15:30- 16:15 | Panel 5 Chair: Phil Masterson, Associate Director, Ventures, Cancer Research Horizons
Panellists:
Oncology is advancing at unprecedented speed, with innovations in precision medicine, AI-driven drug discovery, advanced diagnostics, and novel therapeutics reshaping cancer care. This session will highlight the trends set to transform cancer discovery, detection, prevention and treatment and examine how charities, governments, companies, and investors are seizing these opportunities. Attendees will gain insight into how diverse stakeholders are working together to turn scientific advances into real-world solutions that improve patient outcomes. |
| 16:15-16:30 | Closing remarks Alessia Errico, Associate Director, Search and Evaluation and Entrepreneurial Programmes Lead, Cancer Research Horizons |
| 16:30-18:00 | Networking refreshments |
Event programme
Innovation Summit 2025
Learn more about the sessions and speakers, as well as our ecosystem marketplace and pitch training session.
About the Innovation Summit
Join a vibrant community of experts and innovators to explore pathways for translating your research into patient benefit.
Our Innovation Summit provides researchers with a great opportunity to connect with the community, expand their network and build their entrepreneurship skills by bringing together inspiring guests, field-leading speakers and thought-provoking panellists. This one-day event offers invaluable insights from industry leaders, networking opportunities with fellow innovators, and the chance to learn essential entrepreneurial skills.
Past editions
Our Innovation Summit 2024 took place at The Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh on 12 November 2024.
We held the 2023 edition of our Innovation Summit at the Royal Society of Medicine, London.
Learn more about the event, including the day's agenda and speakers.
Want to find out more about our entrepreneurial community?
Find out more about the Innovation Summit and how to get involved.