NIHR GOSH, UCLH and Moorfields BRC joint educational event

​This free full day event on 21 June 2018 provided an introduction to translational research for students, early and mid-career researchers from both clinical and academic backgrounds. It was the first joint GOSH, Moorfields and UCLH BRC educational event.

Using examples of the challenges and successes of translational research from across the NIHR BRCs this event encouraged critical thinking, and enhanced collaboration across the spectrum of translational research and aimed to provide researchers with knowledge and networks to accelerate their research for the benefits of patients.

The event was attended by 70 post graduate students, post doctoral fellows and clinicians from across UCL and its partner NHS trusts as well as from NIHR BRCs in Cambridge and Southampton.

Throughout the day there were talks and workshop style events to highlight challenges and opportunities in translational research, as well as time for networking and introductions to support services in translational research available through the UCL BRCs as well as nationally and internationally.

A highlight of the day was Professor Berent Prakken’s inspirational keynote talk on the skills, environment and training needed to nurture translational researchers.The directors of the GOSH BRC and UCLH BRC, Professors Thomas Voit and Bryan Williams, started and ended the day by highlighting examples of translational research successes from the BRCs.

This event set the stage for more cross BRC educational events to come as we aim to develop the next generation of translational researchers to enable new treatments to be brought from the laboratory to the patients who need them.