Two dedicated sessions, chaired by Prof Curtis Dobson and Dr John Stageman (OBE), highlighted the breadth of translational research supported by the TPA. Attendees heard first-hand how Translation Manchester’s pump-priming funds have driven impactful projects forward, highlighting the breadth and depth of translational research enabled by the TPA.

Session 1:

• Sean Knight – Translational Research in Respiratory Immunology
• Lydia Tabernero – Developing novel medicines to tackle difficult-to-treat mycobacterial infections
• Martin Fergie – Spotlight Pathology: Accelerating the diagnosis of blood cancers
• Adam Reid – Complex Wounds @ Manchester Biobank

Session 2:

• Helen Hawley-Hague – FAVE: Falls Awareness Virtual Education — our C4T journey
• Teresa Tropea – Development of a human placental artery-on-a-chip to study placental vascular function in reproductive toxicology and pregnancy diseases
• Lisa Riste – Integration of patient safety software into pharmacy systems to reduce medication errors for people with sight impairment
• Mike Brockhurst – Developing a phage therapy testing-to-manufacture platform for treating multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Manchester hospitals

Together, these presentations highlighted the strength of Manchester’s translational research community in turning ideas into real-world impact.

The session culminated in a fascinating keynote from Simona Francese, Professor of Forensic and Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry at Sheffield Hallam University.

Professor Francese leads the Sheffield Multi-Modal Imaging Centre and heads the Centre for Mass Spectrometry Imaging at SHU. She has nearly 100 publications, over £1.8 million in research funding, and has delivered more than 200 invited talks, including a TED Talk in Vancouver (2018) and a Royal Institution lecture (2023). She is an expert in the development of MALDI MS Imaging applications and has pioneered its use for analysing latent fingermarks and blood to profile offenders. Her research findings have been implemented in police casework across the UK and Europe. Her recent research expands this approach to detect cancers and other pathologies from fingertip smears of blood and sweat, illustrating the translational potential of molecular fingerprinting far beyond its forensic roots.

Simona’s keynote, Fingerprints at the interface between Forensic Science and Clinical Diagnostics, offered a fascinating perspective on how a single molecular fingerprint can unlock critical insights into both criminal investigations and medical diagnostics, a vivid example of the power of cross-disciplinary translational research in driving real-world impact.

The final session, chaired by Prof Cath O’Neill, looked ahead to the future of translational research at Manchester and beyond. Talks from Prof Ashley Blom and Prof Paul Dark explored new opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

• Professor Ashley Blom – The Future of Translational Research at the University of Manchester beyond the TPA
• Professor Paul Dark – Health Innovation and Translational Research beyond The University of Manchester: working with our partners

The session concluded with closing remarks, and a celebration of the poster prize winners. Congratulations to all winners and runners-up for their outstanding contributions: 

• Alicia-Marie Conway (Post Doc Winner)
• Xuezhao Chen (PhD winner)
• Lukas Weber (People’s Choice)
• Rachel Crompton (Post Doc Runner up)
• Jorge Servert Lerdo De Tejada (PhD Runner up)

This session also featured a special award presentation recognising Professor Nigel Hooper for his exceptional leadership and lasting legacy in translational research.

Beyond the main sessions, over 30 exhibition stands showcased partner organisations and projects, sparking conversations and new connections. Throughout the day, attendees engaged in three dedicated networking sessions providing the opportunity to explore collaborations, meet new partners, and reconnect with colleagues. Our poster competition featuring early-career researchers, shone a spotlight on the next generation of translational researchers.

The day closed with a lively drinks reception, complete with live music from George Farrar and Sam Roberts, appearing by kind permission of the Royal Northern College of Music, celebrating an event that strengthened networks, sparked new ideas, and recognised the community that drives translational research forward.

Throughout the event, colleagues explored the Research Connections (ResCon) platform, a University-wide tool designed to help researchers across the University, NHS, and industry connect, collaborate, and accelerate translational research. If you didn’t get a chance to visit the ResCon stations on the day, you can still get involved: build your profile, find others with specific expertise, and explore new opportunities for partnership. 🔗 Visit ResCon to get started.

Beyond ResCon, Translation Manchester offers a wide range of resources to support every stage of the translational pathway. The Translation Manchester Research Network (TMRN) brings together key translational support services across the University and Greater Manchester NHS Trusts in one accessible place. Our Translational Research Skills Training Portal provides self-paced learning on topics from innovation and intellectual property to medical devices and drug discovery and more. The Pankhurst Health Technology Translation Toolkit, developed with the Christabel Pankhurst Institute, guides health technology projects from concept to impact. Together, these tools, alongside targeted funding calls remain vital pillars of support, enabling partnerships, training, and innovation to flourish across disciplines. Explore our website to find out how Translation Manchester can support you.