2027 Agenda
5-6 MAY 2027 | EXCEL LONDON
London, 5 - 6 May 2027
Schedule
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May 58:55
Conference pass
Keynote Chair
Keynotes
Sarah Coupland, President, Royal College of Pathologists
Keynote Theatre
May 59:00
Conference pass
Opening Address: How regulation, evidence and innovation can work together to deliver better patient outcomes across the UK’s evolving diagnostics landscape.
Keynotes
- How MHRA’s strategy is working to create a regulatory environment that enables safe and timely access to innovative tech
- Incorporating RWE into evidence generation and licensing
- MHRA initiatives for innovation to be adopted at scale (IDAP and sandboxes)
- Future of diagnostics and regulatory preparedness including reference to CERSIs
Jacob George, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, MHRA
Keynote Theatre
May 59:20
Conference pass
The State of the UK Clinical Lab: Setting the Agenda, Title TBC*
Keynotes
Reserved forLord Patrick Carter of Coles, Member of the House of Lords and Chair of Health Services Laboratories.
Keynote Theatre
May 59:40
Conference pass
What the Next Generation of Diagnostic Platforms has to Deliver for the NHS *TBC Title
Keynotes
Reserved for Intersystems
Keynote Theatre
May 510:00
Conference pass
Beyond AI: Building a Digitally Enabled Health System Patients Can Trust
Keynotes
- Healthcare is entering a new era in which diagnostics, laboratories, artificial intelligence and digital technologies are transforming how we diagnose, treat and prevent disease. As innovation accelerates, healthcare leaders must balance the pace of change with clinical safety, robust governance and operational resilience.
- This Keynote explores:
- How laboratories are at the heart of a digitally enabled health system, generating the trusted data that underpins better clinical decisions and improved patient outcomes.
- Drawing on practical experience of leading digital transformation.
- How organisations can innovate at pace while maintaining patient trust, supporting clinicians and delivering safer, more personalised care.
Cliff Bucknall, Chief Medical Officer, HCA Healthcare
Keynote Theatre
May 510:20
Conference pass
PANEL: The Strategic Procurement Agenda: Shaping the Future of Healthcare & Diagnostics
Keynotes
- How is your procurement evolving from a cost-focused function into a strategic driver of value, innovation, and growth?
- What are the biggest challenges and opportunities shaping procurement strategy across the healthcare and diagnostics landscape?
- How do you leverage technology, data, and supplier partnerships to build more resilient and agile supply chains?
- What will the future procurement model look like, and what capabilities will organisations need to stay competitive in the next era of healthcare and diagnostics?
Helen Dent, Chief Executive, B.I.V.D.A. Ltd
Andrew Stradling, Chief Medical Officer, NHS London Procurement Partnership
Keynote Theatre
May 511:00
Conference pass
Break
Break
Brief break before the start of the Day 1 Tracks
Exhibition Floor
May 511:14
Conference pass
Track 1 Chair
Digital Lab & AI
David Clark, Former Clinical Lead, Digital Pathology Implementation and Consultant Haematopathogist, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Track 1
May 511:14
Conference pass
Track 3 Chair
Diagnostics, CDCs & POCT
Ravi Chana, Executive Director of Diagnostics, Association of British HealthTech Industries
Track 3
May 511:15
Conference pass
How Labs can Strengthen Data Quality and Evaluate AI Performance over Time
Digital Lab & AI
- Overview of key data quality dimensions that must be addressed to demonstrate the suitability of clinical data for secondary research and AI applications.
- Standing Together consensus recom. for dataset documentation to tackle algorithmic bias and promote transparency in health datasets that are used to develop AI models.
Track 1
May 511:15
Conference pass
Point-of-Care Testing with Purpose: Ensuring high-quality testing to benefit patient pathways
Diagnostics, CDCs & POCT
- Strategic planning to identify where Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) can improve patient pathways. Ensuring that the diagnostic test adds value to a patient’s care.
- Use POCT to improve access to diagnostics across the patient population and reduce health disparities.
- Move POCT beyond traditional pathology services to improve access to diagnostics across the patient population while disseminating appropriate levels of expertise and oversight.
- Consider the need for workforce transformation, including training and scientific expertise, to ensure appropriate quality assurance and governance of testing.
- Supporting innovation in POCT to improve accessibility while maintaining appropriate workforce, expertise and capacity in the current healthcare system.
Track 3
May 511:15
Conference pass
TBC
Operations & Procurement
Helen Dent, Chief Executive, B.I.V.D.A. Ltd
Track 2
May 511:55
Conference pass
Business Continuity for Pathology: Building Operational Resilience Across Pathology Networks
Operations & Procurement
Katy Heaney, Director of Operations, North West London Pathology
Track 2
May 511:55
Conference pass
Patients and GP Users: What can digital diagnostics learn from their experiences?
Digital Lab & AI
- Engaging and fast-paced session demonstrating examples of Patient and GP user experiences to consider how digital diagnostics can respond to meet their needs
- Exploration of when patients receive results online, how GP users request tests and developments in primary care IT systems to automate the reviewing of results.
Shanker Vijay, GP Lead, Digital Transformation, NHS England
Track 1
May 511:55
Conference pass
The Future of Advanced Detection: Translating Emerging Research into Earlier Diagnosis
Diagnostics, CDCs & POCT
Talisia Quallo, Head of Prevention & Early Detection Research, Cancer Research UK
Track 3
May 512:35
Conference pass
Break
Break
12:35 - 13:35: Lunch
13:05 - 13:35: MedLab Connect
Exhibition Floor
May 513:34
Conference pass
Track 1 Chair
Digital Lab & AI
David Gibbs, Pathology Network Director, Peninsula Pathology Network
Track 1
May 513:35
Conference pass
Aligning Strategy from Commissioning to Delivery: NHS England Guidance for Governance and Accreditation in Point of Care Testing
Diagnostics, CDCs & POCT
Martin Myers, Co-Clinical Lead, Pathology, Getting it Right First Time,, NHS England
Track 3
May 513:35
Conference pass
Building Business Cases that Secure NHS Procurement Approval: What Vendors Need to Understand About How Business Cases Begin, Evolve and Succeed
Operations & Procurement
- Structuring NHS-ready business cases. What reviewers look for and the common pitfalls that lead to rejection
- Procurement pain points, Operational shifts and strategic alignment
Joanne Martin, Deputy Vice Principal Health, Queen Mary University of London
Track 2
May 513:35
Conference pass
Connecting an Entire Region: Northern Ireland’s End-to-End LIMS Transformation and Blood Tracking Across the Healthcare Network
Digital Lab & AI
Karin Jackson, Chief Executive Officer and SRO coreLIMS and BPaT Digital Programmes, Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service
Track 1
May 513:55
Conference pass
PANEL: Connecting Across Boundaries: Building Long-term Clinical Partnerships that Deliver Seamless Data Flow, LIMS Integration, and Next Generation Logistics across NHS Pathology Networks
Digital Lab & AI
- What do NHS pathology networks truly need from long-term clinical partners to support multi-trust connectivity, IT-agnostic LIMS integration, and sustainable transformation?
- How should vendors reshape account management to deliver interoperability, modern logistics (including drone-enabled transport), and reliable support across complex, legacy IT environments?
- How do NHS Blood & Transplant and hospital networks build collaborative governance that enables seamless data flow, shared standards, and next-gen logistics across previously separate trusts?
Christopher Elliott, Assistant Director Pathology: Business for Development and Transformation, NHS Blood and Transplant
Track 1
May 513:55
Conference pass
PANEL: Decentralised Testing in 2030 - Where Is This Market Going?
Diagnostics, CDCs & POCT
- Direct-to-consumer testing, pharmacy hubs, wearable biomarker monitoring, and the role of the central lab
- Strategic planning session for NHS leads who need to make investment decisions that outlast the current policy cycle.
Martin Myers, Co-Clinical Lead, Pathology, Getting it Right First Time,, NHS England
David Wells, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), National Speciality Advisor for Pathology Pathology,, NHS England
Track 3
May 513:55
Conference pass
PANEL: Intelligent Procurement in Diagnostics: Moving Beyond Short-Term Silos to Deliver Value-Based Healthcare
Operations & Procurement
- We often say we want value-based procurement, but finance is still asking, “where’s the saving this year?” How do we break that cycle and make decisions based on the true cost of the patient pathway?
- What would you like other stakeholders to understand about your priorities to when making an intelligent purchasing decision, rather than simply choosing the cheapest option?
- Can you give us an example where you have made a smarter, value-based procurement decision, and one where chasing the lowest price has ultimately created greater cost or risk for the system?
- How do we make supplier relationships part of intelligent procurement, using suppliers to improve value, resilience and innovation, rather than simply pushing prices down at every contract renewal
Moderator: Hugh Risebrow, CEO, Latchmore Healthcare Associates LLP
Andrew Stradling, Chief Medical Officer, NHS London Procurement Partnership
Track 2
May 514:35
Conference pass
Point-of-care UTI diagnostics in the community: Case study evidence from Uganda and Implications for UK Pharmacy Pathways
Diagnostics, CDCs & POCT
Catrin Moore, Professor of Global Health & Infectious Diseases, University of City St George’s London and WHO Advisory Group Member, WHO
Track 3
May 514:35
Conference pass
Real-World Evidence in Practice, Evaluating Comparative Data Infrastructure in Modern Diagnostics
Digital Lab & AI
Shaun Rowark, Associate Director, Healthcare Data Analytics, NICE
Track 1
May 514:55
Conference pass
Break
Break
Brief break.
Exhibition Floor
May 515:10
Conference pass
Ethical Considerations of Point of Care Testing (POCT)
Diagnostics, CDCs & POCT
Fiona Riddoch, POCT Specialty Lead, Scheme Director, Qpoint EQA, Consultant Clinical Scientist, Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services
Track 3
May 515:10
Conference pass
Integrating Digital Pathology with Genomic Datasets
Digital Lab & AI
Nic Orsi, Associate Professor in Histopathology & Industrial Innovation and Leeds Research Ethics Committee panel member, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Dil Rathore, Pathology Technology and Innovation Lead, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Track 1
May 515:30
Conference pass
Driving National Pathology Laboratory Transformation: Automation, Digital Pathology, and the National Pathology Record Sub-themes *Title TBC
Digital Lab & AI
- Leading national automation initiatives and scaling digital pathology across regional networks
- Navigating histopathology performance demands and NHS England funding allocations
- Building and connecting systems toward a future National Pathology Record
- Translating national policy drivers into practical laboratory workflow improvements
David Gibbs, Pathology Network Director, Peninsula Pathology Network
Track 1
May 515:30
Conference pass
Shared services across a pathology network: what to consolidate and what to keep local *Title TBC
Operations & Procurement
- Which services networks are centralising, and which stay at local sites
- Governance, staffing and cost lessons from networks that have consolidated
Track 2
May 515:50
Conference pass
PANEL: Navigating NHS Technology Adoption: How Pathology Networks Evaluate, Procure, and Integrate Diagnostic Innovation
Operations & Procurement
- What does the NHS look for when assessing new diagnostic suppliers, and how do labs navigate the procurement process in practice?
- How can specialist laboratory managers strengthen cross network collaboration and shared learning?
- How can labs balance rapidly rising workloads with fixed physical space and staffing constraints?
- Where can AI algorithms and automation meaningfully streamline manual slide interpretation and routine workflows?
- What practical approaches can strengthen cross network collaboration and shared learning among specialist laboratory managers?
Richard McNamara, Chief Biomedical Scientist, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Track 2
May 516:10
Conference pass
TBC
Digital Lab & AI
Manjinder Virk, Director, Bioma
Track 1
May 517:05
Conference pass
Reimagining Healthcare: Scaling Person-Centred AI and Digital Data Across NHS Lab Networks
Keynotes
- Moving past pilots to understand how AI and digital data are scaling across individual providers, organisations, and regional NHS networks.
- Why historical tech rollouts weren’t strategic or person-centred enough, and how to offer preventative, continuous care around individual patients.
- How NHS England digital and data leaders can foster collaboration and bring clinicians, large practitioner teams together to drive real transformation.
- Reducing waiting lists without compromising on clinical quality, safety, or compassion.
Alec Price-Forbes, National Chief Clinical Information Officer, NHS England
Keynote Theatre
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May 69:25
Conference pass
Keynote Day 2 Chair
Keynotes
Marko Balabanovic, Chief Technology Officer, Our Future Health
Keynote Theatre
May 69:30
Conference pass
10-year NHS plan: Why does it matter? Health Equity, Digital Generations & Home-First Care
Keynotes
Sohail Munshi, Chief Medical Officer, Manchester Foundation Trust
Keynote Theatre
May 69:50
Conference pass
The Hot Seat
Keynotes
- One NHS Chief Scientific Officer or Pathology Network Director. One chair. No script.
- 20 minutes live interview: what they would do differently if building their lab network from scratch today. Questions from the chair and from the floor.
- The most candid session at the event.
Dominic Harrington, Chief Scientific Officer, SYNLAB UK&I
Moderator: Branko Perunovic, Chief Medical Officer, Black Country Pathology Service
Keynote Theatre
May 610:30
Conference pass
From Breakthrough to Bedside: Turning Scientific Discoveries into Clinical Diagnostics and Patient Impact
Keynotes
- What does it take to move breakthrough science from the laboratory into routine clinical practice?
- How can we bridge the gap between discovery and clinical adoption?
- Why doesn’t science always become great diagnostics, what are the common barriers and challenges?
- How can AI be used to move diagnostic discoveries into clinical practice
- Panel Focus: The session explores the entire translation pathway: Discovery → Validation → Regulation → Adoption → Clinical Impact → Patient Outcomes
Moderator: Saheer Gharbia, Chief Scientific Adviser for Health, Welsh Government
Nathan Kasivisvanathan, Chief Medical Officer, The London Clinic
David Crosby, Chief Research Officer, Kidney Research UK
Keynote Theatre
May 611:10
Conference pass
Break
Break
Brief break before the start of Day 2 Tracks.
Exhibition Floor
May 611:24
Conference pass
Track 5 Chair
Automation, Workforce & Sustainability
Katy Heaney, Director of Operations, North West London Pathology
Track 5
May 611:25
Conference pass
Beyond Compliance: Practical Laboratory Risk Management and Quality Assurance Through Real-World EQA *Title TBC
Quality, Compliance & Regulation
Rachel Marringdon, Deputy Director, UK NEQAS
Track 6
May 611:25
Conference pass
From Biopsy to Blood Test - Why liquid biopsy (ctDNA) and genomic testing are enhancing standard diagnostic protocols.
Genomics & Precision Medicine
Nicola Foot, Head of Service - Cancer Genetics, Synnovis
Track 4
May 611:25
Conference pass
From Hospital Labs to Diagnostic Hubs: Rethinking the Future of Laboratory Services
Automation, Workforce & Sustainability
Simon Brewer, Managing Director, NHS - South West London Pathology
Track 5
May 611:45
Conference pass
The Missing Link in Healthcare Governance: Building a Digitally Enabled Lab System that Patients can Trust
Quality, Compliance & Regulation
- Practical steps for building compliance into digital workflows from the start
- What regulators look for when services rely on digital systems
Mark Galtta, Head of Pathology Services and Medical Devices Safety Officer, Practice Plus Group
Track 6
May 612:05
Conference pass
Genome Sequencing: Early Results of the Generation Study
Genomics & Precision Medicine
- How screening the whole genome at birth may lead to improved long-term health outcomes and earlier intervention.
- How anonymised genomic data be used by researchers to develop more accurate and effective diagnostic tools.
- How to balance the imperative to build research databases that improve patient care with strict patient privacy obligations
- Whether genomic data can be used across a lifetime by researchers to develop more accurate and effective diagnostic tools
Track 4
May 612:05
Conference pass
Navigating Human Factors in Lab Automation, Overcoming Resistance and enhancing the Pathology Workforce
Automation, Workforce & Sustainability
Debra Padgett, Clinical Pathology Lead and NENC ICS Pathology Network Operational Lead, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Track 5
May 612:05
Conference pass
Performance Evaluation and Post-Market Evaluation of IVDs: What does the Future Hold?
Quality, Compliance & Regulation
Kerrie Davies, Head of the HCAI Research Group Laboratory and Honorary Associate Professor, Consultant Clinical Scientist, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Jane Freeman, Professor of Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection, Clinical Scientist in Microbiology,, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Track 6
May 612:25
Conference pass
Break
Break
12:25 - 13:25: Lunch
12:55 - 13:25: MedLab Connect
Exhibition Floor
May 613:24
Conference pass
Track 5 Chair
Automation, Workforce & Sustainability
Track 5
May 613:25
Conference pass
Ensuring Lab Quality with a Patient Focus
Quality, Compliance & Regulation
Helen Hobson, Associate Director of Quality & Governance, North West London Pathology
Track 6
May 613:25
Conference pass
The Foundational Infrastructure Required to Mainstream Precision Medicine, with Specifically Consented Cells
Genomics & Precision Medicine
Mike Saunders, Project Manager, NHSBT
Track 4
May 613:25
Conference pass
Tracking Down the Cancer: The Use of RFID Technology in Histopathology Labs
Automation, Workforce & Sustainability
Dil Rathore, Pathology Technology and Innovation Lead, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Track 5
May 613:45
Conference pass
The Boundary between Laboratory Testing and in Vitro Diagnostics, Medical Devices: Understanding the Regulatory Differences, Requirements and Pathways
Quality, Compliance & Regulation
Claire Dyson, Director of Medial Devices, National Standards Authority of Ireland
Track 6
May 614:05
Conference pass
Entering the UK Diagnostics Market: UKCA, NHS Frameworks, and How Procurement Decisions Are Actually Made
Quality, Compliance & Regulation
Jas Khambh, Chief Pharmacist, Chair at the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS London Procurement Partnership
Track 6
May 614:45
Conference pass
Understanding the role of well-designed EQA in Post Market Surveillance of Laboratories and Wider Healthcare Settings
Quality, Compliance & Regulation
Moderator: Rachel Marringdon, Deputy Director, UK NEQAS
Track 6
last published: 22/Oct/26 14:19 GMT
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