Conference celebrates Southampton's collaborative research
Our first Southampton Medical & Health Research Conference 2017 was a great success, bringing together a diverse mix of researchers from University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and University of Southampton to share their latest research and forge new collaborations.
The Southampton Medical & Health Research Conference on 14-15 June brought together over 400 staff and students for this two-day event showcasing Southampton’s health research.
Coming together
The first day was kicked off by Professor Iain Cameron and Professor Mandy Fader, the two deans from the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences respectively, who welcomed attendees to the conference, gave examples of existing collaborations and spoke of their desire to continue to work closely together.
Professor Robert Read introduced the hospital's new NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, while Professor Carl May spoke about the challenges of translating basic research into treatments and the importance of considering how it might be used at the outset.
Dr Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Welcome Trust, gave this year’s Annual Wade Lecture, which followed the first day and was run in partnership with the conference. During his talk, he spoke of how he believes it is essential that health scientists are not kept in isolation in an ivory tower, but work alongside clinicians and the patients they treat.
Fiona Dalton, CEO of the Trust, introduced the second day by saying that she feels that here in Southampton we have achieved this collaborative way of working, with research an integral part of how the hospital strives to improve the care we provide for patients.
Supporting research careers
A key goal of the conference was to give those at the earlier stages of their research career the opportunity to present their work at a conference, sometimes for the very first time, with the chance to win a prize. The poster sessions also provided valuable networking opportunities.
A wide variety of topics were covered, with everything from laboratory science to analysis of patient experiences. They included new devices and tests, regenerative medicine, cancer immunotherapy, treatments for respiratory conditions, the effect of diet before and during pregnancy, diseases of old age and patient perspectives. A full list of the winners is available below.
This year marked the launch of Southampton Academy of Research (SoAR), established to support research careers across the university and Trust, with a talk at the start of the conference and a stand where attendees could find out more.
Other stands included research facilities such as the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility and WISH laboratory, local organisations, training providers and enterprise opportunities. Throughout the course of the day, one stand produced a bright yellow model of a spinal vertebra on a 3D printer.
Inspirational talks by external companies also provided a valuable insight for those considering enterprise opportunities, including developing their research concept into a spin-out company.
The Faculty of Medicine’s Professor Karen Morrison closed the conference with her Inaugural Lecture ‘Mind the Gap’, within which she discussed the value of a research embedded medical course in bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, drawing from her work in neurodegeneration.
With a wonderful atmosphere, fantastic talks and exciting new research developments, it was a great way to celebrate Southampton's strength in medical and health research. Thank you to everyone who attended and we hope you enjoyed the event.
Press release courtesy of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
Conference prize winners
Best Oral Presentations
Day one
LT1 winner: Patrick Stumpf
LT2 joint winners: Chloe Grimmett and Samantha Drennan
Day two
LT1 winner: Merlin Wilcox
LT2 winner: Miguel Xavier
LT2 winner: Ava-Carolina-Goncalves
Best Poster
Day one
Session 1 winner: Emma Sutton
Session 1 highly commended: Wei Yan Haw
Session 1 highly commended: Jemma Paterson
Session 2 joint winners: Arindam Banjeree and Robert Oldham
Session 2 highly commended: Alexandra Kermack
Session 2 highly commended: Amanda Cummings
Session 2 highly commended: Sophia Taylor
Session 3 winner: Sarah Johnson
Session 3 highly commended: Thomas Bailey
Day two
Session 4 winner: Artur Kirjakulou
Session 4 highly commended: Jay Amin
Session 4 highly commended: Saed Al-Bimani
Session 5 winner: Sophia Strommer
Session 5 highly commended: Stephen Lim
Faculty of Medicine
Michael Arthur Prize for Best Published Research by a Clinical Academic Trainee
Winner: Dr Sarah El-Heis
Iain Cameron Prize for Best Published Research by a Postdoctoral Researcher
Winner: Dr Helen Parker
Wessex Medical Research Prize for Best Published Research by a Postgraduate Research Student
Winner: Charlene Akoto
Academy of Medical Sciences Award (AMS)
Winner: Joshua Wallington
Prize winners for the BMedSc projects (original curriculum) for 2015-2016 and the Research Project (new curriculum) for 2016-2017
Prize winners BMedsc 2015-2016 (original curriculum)
The Altounyan and Millard Prizes. The Altounyan Prizes were founded in 1977 from a donation by Dr Ian Weinbren. The Millard Prize was founded in 1982 from a bequest from Miss D G J Millard. The prizes are awarded annually to the two or three BM students judged to have submitted the best reports of their BMedSc Project in the fourth year. The value of the Altounyan prizes is £100 each. The value of the Millard prize is £45.
Winners Altounyan: Jessica Tinsley and Jeyapragash Jeyapala
Winner Millard: Qiang Lu
The BSI Undergraduate Prize is offered annually to universities throughout the UK to promote excellence in the study of Immunology at undergraduate level, and to encourage gifted students to pursue further postgraduate study, or a career in Immunology. To be eligible for the prize, students must be current medical undergraduates undertaking their MMedSc or BMedSc research. They must be reporting on novel research of their own undertaking relating to the study, understanding or application of immunology to the field of medicine.
Winner: Yaraslav Shkanov
The Clark Sutton Prize in Cardiology to the value of £100 was founded in 2008 in recognition of the care received in the Wessex Cardiac Unit. This prize is awarded annually to the student judged to have submitted the best BMedSc Project related to cardiology and cardiac health.
Winner: Melanie Hosken
The Cow and Gate Prize was established in 1988 from funds donated by Cow and Gate Limited. The prize to the value of £200 is awarded annually to the BM student who submits the best report of a BMedSc Project concerned with aspects of paediatrics, child health or nutrition.
Winner: Jasmine Parkes
The Jack Howell Prize to the value of £150 is awarded annually to the student who submits the best report of a BMedSc Project concerned with aspects of respiratory or inflammatory ophthalmic medicine.
Winner: Chien Tan
The Jan Schmedlin Prize (Medical Education Academic Unit), to the value of £150, was established in 2007 in memory of Mrs Janis Schmedlin, a valued staff member of the Office of The Faculty of Medicine. The prize is awarded annually normally to one student judged to have submitted an outstanding report on a BMedSc Project, on a topic supervised within the Academic Unit.
Winner: Tara Ludhra
The Michael Butler Memorial Prize was established in 1985 in memory of Mr Michael Butler, formerly Lecturer in Surgery at the University. The prize, to the value of £45, is awarded annually to the student judged to have submitted the best report on a BMedSc Project on a subject related to surgical practice.
Winner: Rameesha Anwar
The Physiological Society Undergraduate Prize is offered, subject to approval by School Board, annually to universities throughout the UK and Ireland to support physiology teaching and research. The prize of £50 will be awarded to the student who produces the best physiology related BMedSc Project, to be decided by a panel of local physiologists. Students should self-nominate for this prize by emailing Dr Torrens (C.Torrens@soton.ac.uk) their name, email address, project title with a brief description of the project by 21 December 2015.
Winner: Alexander Zamaev
The RSJ Briggs Prize to the value of £100 was founded in 2009. This prize is awarded annually to the student judged to have submitted the best BMedSc Project related to ageing.
Winner: Nathan Batley
The Shackleton Prize to commemorate the founder of the Anaesthetics Department and one of the three founders of the Faculty, to be awarded annually to the student attached to an Anaesthetic Department, whose BMedSc Project report and presentation was judged to be the best. The value of this prize is £150.
Winner: Alexander Oldman
The Southampton Neuroscience Group (SoNG) LMHD Prize is offered to promote brain research across the University. The prize of £200 will be awarded at the Bachelor‘s level to the student who produced an outstanding research project supported by a suitable supervisory recommendation and a 250 word lay summary (for non-science educated person).
Winner: Sophie King
The George Stevenson Prize for Cancer Research was founded in 1983 from a donation by Professor G T Stevenson to mark his receipt of the Arm and Hammer Award. The prize is awarded annually to the BM student judged to have submitted the best report of a BMedSc Project concerned with some aspect of cancer. the value of the prize is £45.
Winner: Alicia Lefas
Wesleyan Medical Sickness Prize to the value of £100 was established in 2009 and is awarded annually to the student who submits the best report for a BMedSc Project in the field of primary medical care.
Winner: Elizabeth Gennery
Research Project Prize Winners 2016-2017
The Altounyan and Millard Prizes. The Altounyan Prizes were founded in 1977 from a donation by Dr Ian Weinbren. The Millard Prize was founded in 1982 from a bequest from Miss D G J Millard. The prizes are awarded annually to the two or three BM students judged to have submitted the best reports of their Research Project in the year 3. The value of the Altounyan prizes is £100 each. The value of the Millard prize is £45.
Winners Altounyan: Ryan Potter and Thehela Harris
Winner Millard: Gabriela Agathangelous
The Clark Sutton Prize in Cardiology to the value of £100 was founded in 2008 in recognition of the care received in the Wessex Cardiac Unit. This prize is awarded annually to the student judged to have submitted the best Research Project related to cardiology and cardiac health.
Winner: Sarah Gummer
The Child Health Prize was established in 1988 from funds donated by Cow and Gate Limited. The prize to the value of £200 is awarded annually to the BM student who submits the best report of a Research Project concerned with aspects of paediatrics, child health or nutrition.
Winner: Ruaridh Weaterton
The Jack Howell Prize to the value of £150 is awarded annually to the student who submits the best report of a Research Project concerned with aspects of respiratory or inflammatory ophthalmic medicine.
Winner: Roshni Desai
The Jan Schmedlin Prize (Medical Education Academic Unit), to the value of £150, was established in 2007 in memory of Mrs Janis Schmedlin, a valued staff member of the Office of The Faculty of Medicine. The prize is awarded annually normally to one student judged to have submitted an outstanding report on a Research Project, on a topic supervised within the Academic Unit.
Winner: Salah Jawad
The Michael Butler Memorial Prize was established in 1985 in memory of Mr Michael Butler, formerly Lecturer in Surgery at the University. The prize, to the value of £45, is awarded annually to the student judged to have submitted the best report on a Research Project on a subject related to surgical practice.
Winner: Patrick Corning
The RSJ Briggs Prize to the value of £100 was founded in 2009. This prize is awarded annually to the student judged to have submitted the best Research Project related to ageing.
Winner: David Bacon
The Shackleton Prize to commemorate the founder of the Anaesthetics Department and one of the three founders of the Faculty, to be awarded annually to the BM5 student attached to an Anaesthetic Department, whose Research Project report and presentation was judged to be the best. The value of this prize is £150.
Winner: David Sidebottom
The George Stevenson Prize for Cancer Research was founded in 1983 from a donation by Professor G T Stevenson to mark his receipt of the Arm and Hammer Award. The prize is awarded annually to the BM student judged to have submitted the best report of a Research Project concerned with some aspect of cancer. The value of the prize is £45.
Winner: Eleanor Crawley
The Kassel School of Medicine – Aiming Higher Research Prize is awarded to students completing the best Research Project in the BM(EU) programme. There are three prizes each prize is endowed with a book token; Gold – 150€, Silver – 100€ and Bronze - 50 €.
Winners: Gold: Louis Agha-Mir-Salim
Silver: Ronja Handwerker
Bronze: Sophie Stupperich