The programme
08:30
Registration & Networking
Registration - Open from 8:30 am - Closes at 11:00 am
All delegates must complete their registration process before the 11:00 AM cut-off time. Please arrive in a timely manner to allow for registration and to avoid any inconvenience. Delegates who arrive after the registration deadline will be refused entry to the event.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain the event's schedule and ensuring that everyone can fully participate in the Conference. If you have any questions or require assistance, our event staff will be available to assist you with the registration process.
Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to an insightful and productive event together!
09:30
Chair Opening Address (Confirmed)
Mr Chris Sleight MSc BSc FIBMS
Chief Officer
Greater Manchester Diagnostics Network
09:40
Keynote Presentation - David Fitzgerald, Director of Policy and Strategy NHS Cancer Programme, NHS England (Invited)
Early Diagnosis: Impact of Screening Programs and Emerging Technologies:
This presentation explores the critical role of early cancer diagnosis through innovative screening programs and emerging technologies. It focuses on initiatives like Targeted Lung Health Checks, designed to identify lung cancer at earlier, more treatable stages. The session also highlights the latest diagnostic tools, such as advanced imaging techniques and biomarker tests, which are improving the accuracy and speed of cancer detection. By emphasizing these breakthroughs, we’ll discuss how early intervention can significantly improve patient outcomes, reduce mortality rates, and pave the way for more effective treatments.
10:00
Panel Discussion - Reducing Health Inequalities in Cancer Care
Oliver Gregory
Programme Lead
NCL Cancer Alliance
Mrs Sue Harrold
Cancer Nurse Consultant
Sciensus Pharma Ltd
Dr Owen Carter
National Clinical Advisor at Macmillan Cancer Support
GPwSI Oncology
Mr John-Paul Crofton Biwer
Founder
Edge of Possible Consultancy
This panel discussion will explore actionable strategies to reduce health inequalities in cancer care. Experts will examine the multifaceted barriers to access, including socioeconomic, geographic, and cultural challenges, that contribute to disparities in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. By highlighting successful case studies and innovative interventions, the panel will provide insights into fostering equitable care for diverse populations.
10:30
Main Sponsor - Breast Cancer Risk Prediction and Prevention in Young Women
Dr Sacha Howell FRCP PhD
Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
The University of Manchester, Oglesby Cancer Research Centre
Main Sponsor - Micrima
This session will present findings from the Breast CANcer Risk Assessment in Younger (BCAN-RAY) study, which explored new approaches to improving breast cancer risk assessment in women aged 30–39 years without a strong family history of the disease. The presentation will highlight why understanding breast cancer risk in younger women is critical and how tailored screening services can help address health inequalities in underserved communities.
Key insights from the BCAN-RAY study include the role of breast density as a significant risk factor for young women, how best to incorporate this into risk models, the potential benefits and harms of risk assessment, and strategies to improve awareness and acceptability of such assessments among diverse populations.
11:50
Chair Morning Reflection (Confirmed)
Mr Chris Sleight MSc BSc FIBMS
Chief Officer
Greater Manchester Diagnostics Network
12:35
Keynote Presentation - Oncology care in the modern NHS (Confirmed)
Penny Kechagioglou
Consultant Clinical Oncologist and CCIO at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire & Chief Medical Officer at Icon UK
Challenges and opportunities in oncology care amidst NHS changes. From partnership opportunities to reduce waiting times, to innovative workforce models, to personalised case and integrative medicine.
12:55
Pancreatic Cancer: Early detection and faster diagnosis by liquid biopsy testing and primary care case finding
Dr Chris Peters
Clinical Reader and Clinical Associate Prof. in Upper GI Surgery
Imperial College and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Datar Cancer Genetics
The 2025 National Pancreatic Cancer Audit has just been published. Only 25% of diagnoses in England are at Stages 1 and 2 – 62% are at Stage 4. Average survival 1 year after diagnosis is 23%. Approximately 80% of patients are diagnosed when curative surgery is no longer possible.
Earlier and faster diagnosis is crucial to improving health outcomes. This involves effective case finding in primary care such as the Pancreatic Cancer Primary Care Case-Finding Pilot launched by the NHS this year.
We present a leading-edge liquid biopsy blood test: Datar Cancer Genetics’ TruBlood Pancreas, which has high sensitivity and specificity, and which can be administered in primary care.
14:00
Chair Afternoon Address (Confirmed)
Mr Chris Sleight MSc BSc FIBMS
Chief Officer
Greater Manchester Diagnostics Network
14:05
Case Study - University Hospitals Southampton
Case Study - University Hospitals Southampton
14:25
Presentation - The Crucial Role of Early Diagnosis for Patients and the Nation: Understanding the Costs of Late-Stage Cancer Diagnosis (Confirmed)
Valentin Butnari
Clinical Research Fellow
Department of Surgery, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
This presentation will delve into the critical economic and clinical implications of early versus late-stage cancer diagnosis within our Trust. Drawing from a comprehensive retrospective analysis of 4,596 patient pathways across nine cancer groups, we will present compelling data on the financial burden and resource utilization associated with cancer care . Our findings reveal a contrast in costs: the average cost for late-stage diagnosis ($23.8K) is more than double that of an early-stage diagnosis ($11.2K). We will highlight the most significant cost differentials in specific cancer types, including haematological, colorectal, and breast cancers. Beyond the immediate financial savings, we will explore the broader impact on patient outcomes.
Early detection not only reduces healthcare costs but also significantly extends healthy life expectancy, with our data showing an average of 10.74 years gained through successful treatment. The presentation will conclude with a powerful, forward-looking projection. We will demonstrate that by achieving the NHS target of a 75% early detection rate, our Trust could realize a hypothetical saving of over £14.7 million over just four years. This analysis underscores the financial and human imperative of investing in early detection strategies and advanced screening methods to improve healthcare efficiency and patient well-being.
15:05
Presentation - Liquid biopsy for cancer in the NHS: from research to reality (Confirmed)
Alastair Greystoke
Professor of Precision Oncology
Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust
The technology to determine the genomics of a cancer from a blood sample using circulating tumour DNA also called liquid biopsy, has rapidly improved over the last 10 years. The NHS England pilot in lung cancer demonstrated how this could be implemented at scale to improve the care of patients, and reduced times to treatment in a cost-effective manner.
This has led the way for determining how we can implement these new technologies at scale and at pace but with key learnings as to patient identification, setting up sample collection pathway and result interpretation. These learnings and challenges that were met during the process of the pilot and NHS deployment will be discussed.
15:25
Panel Discussion - Innovations in Treatment and Aftercare
Katey Evans
Personalised Care Navigator
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals Trust
Mr Ravi Chana
Executive Director, Diagnostics
ABHI (Association of British Healthtech Industries)
This panel at the NHS Oncology Conference will explore groundbreaking advancements in cancer treatment and aftercare, focusing on precision medicine, immunotherapies, and digital health tools. Experts will discuss targeted therapies tailored to genetic profiles, the transformative potential of immunotherapies, and the role of digital tools like remote monitoring and AI in personalised aftercare.
Panellists:
- Emma Nicholls, cancer care coordinator, The Christie (Invited)
- Sophie Yeomans, Cancer Transformation Partner, NHS Shropshire Telford and Wrekin ICB (Invited)
15:55
Hot Buffet Food, Drinks and Networking
Hot Buffet Food, Drinks and Networking
