Annual Research and Innovation Meeting 2026

We are excited to announce that on 14 and 15 July we will hold our first Faculty of Health Research and Innovation Meeting, open to all investigators and researchers across the Faculty of Health and their partners and collaborators.

The working group is looking forward to developing an exciting integrated showcase of the research and innovation undertaken across the Faculty and were pleased to receive 227 abstracts. These are currently being reviewed and we will announce the full program in May. All presentations will be delivered in a manner to engage the audience which represents a diverse research community across the Faculty of Health.

View the programme of events

Abstracts have been submitted under the following topic areas which will be used to inform programming:

• Addressing inequities within health and social care
• Ageing and health
• Autoimmune Conditions
• Biomaterials & Medical devices
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular and cardiometabolic disease
• Cell and Gene therapies
• Children and Family Health
• Data Science and Bioinformatics
• Developing Pharmaceutics
• Digital health and artificial intelligence
• Engineering for Health
• Gender Specific Health challenges/conditions
• Global health Challenges
• Health and care workforce
• Health Economics
• Host-Microbe interactions
• Imaging
• Impact of infection on health
• Innovation and commercialisation
• Mechanisms of Health and Disease
• Model systems
• Multimorbidity/Co-morbidities
• Musculoskeletal
• Neuroscience + Mental Health
• Patient engagement and involvement
• Pedagogical Research
• Prevention
• Research Inclusion and Culture
• Specialist techniques and services
• Sustainability
• Tackling Antimicrobial resistance
• Trials and interventional studies: tricks and tribulations

Workshops

AI in research – what’s appropriate and what’s not?

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how research is designed, conducted, analysed, written and disseminated. Alongside exciting opportunities come important questions about transparency, accountability, research integrity and responsible use. This interactive workshop brings together colleagues from across the University of Sheffield with expertise spanning research leadership, publishing, library services, evidence synthesis and biomedical research to explore how AI is already shaping research practice across disciplines.

The workshop aims to explore the opportunities, challenges and areas of uncertainty surrounding AI in research, encouraging participants to consider how responsible and transparent use can support high-quality, trustworthy research.

What we will cover in the session

• An overview of the key findings from the UKCORI report on the implications of AI for research integrity.
• Short perspectives from researchers and professional services colleagues on how AI is being used within their own research and practice.
• An interactive panel discussion where delegates can raise questions, share experiences and discuss practical issues surrounding the use of AI in research.

Who is this for?

Researchers, professional services colleagues and postgraduate researchers at any career stage who are interested in understanding how AI is changing research and what responsible use looks like in practice. No prior knowledge of AI is required.

What to expect

Following a short introduction and brief presentations from each panellist, most of the session will be devoted to discussion with the audience. Delegates are encouraged to bring their questions, experiences and perspectives to help shape a conversation about the future of AI in research across the University of Sheffield.

Panel members

• Lesley Uttley – Senior Research Fellow, School of Medicine and Population Health (overview of the UKCORI report on AI and research integrity)
• Gavin Boyce – Head of Faculty Research and Research Partnerships
• Steven McIndoe – Faculty Librarian for Health, Arts and Humanities
• Parveen Ali – School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery representing scholarly publishing and editorial practice
• Łukasz Łagojda – Early Career Researcher, discussing the implementation of AI in evidence synthesis
• Jonathan Cooper-Knock – Professor of Neurology, sharing applications of AI in neurobiological research through the Longitude programme

PPIE in Practice: Building and Running Your PPI Group

Patient and public involvement is one of the most scrutinised parts of any funding application and one of the most commonly done too late or without the depth that committees are looking for. This workshop is for researchers who may have some or no experience of PPI and want to do it better.

Working alongside patient and public contributors who will be present and participating throughout, you will spend 75 minutes on the practical realities of building and running a PPI group that genuinely shapes your research. The learning happens in the conversations at your table and in hearing directly from contributors about what meaningful involvement looks and feels like from their perspective.

What we will cover in the session

• Where to find public contributors and how to approach them — including strategies for recruiting inclusively and reaching groups that are often missed
• Understanding the role of a public co-applicant on a research bid
• Strategies to build a PPI group that is diverse and representative of the people your research is for
• Practical guidance on running a group well: what works, what doesn't, and what contributors themselves say makes the difference
• How to feed back the impact of PPI to your contributors: closing the loop so involvement feels meaningful
• Takeaway information on reporting the impact of PPIE to funders and other stakeholders

Who is this for?

Researchers at any career stage. This session is aimed at people with some experience or knowledge of PPI who want to strengthen their practice. You will get the most from the session if you come with a current or planned research project in mind as some of the activities are built around your own work.

What to expect

This session is informal, discussion-based, and practical. Patient and public contributors will be working alongside throughout as active co-facilitators sharing their own experience of what good and poor involvement looks like. Bring your questions, your half-formed plans, and your honest account of what hasn't worked!

Research to Reality: Your Guide to Knowledge Exchange & Commercialisation Success

Unlock the full potential of your research at the School of Medicine and Population Health Research Day "Research to Reality" workshop! Hear compelling real-life stories from colleagues who've successfully navigated the knowledge exchange landscape - from research discoveries to commercial products, outputs to clinical practice, and academic insights to industry partnerships.

This workshop directly supports the University of Sheffield's innovation pillar, showcasing how health research can drive economic growth, improve patient outcomes, and address pressing societal challenges. Browse inspiring poster presentations from fellow researchers who've already transformed their academic work into meaningful impact.

Choose your pathway in our interactive breakout sessions:

• From research to market: Navigate the path to turning your innovation into enterprise with our Commercialisation Ideas group.

• Strategic alliances that matter: Connect your research with the partners who need it most through our Knowledge Exchange Partnerships discussion.

• Evidence to practice: Accelerate the adoption of your research in clinical settings with our Clinical Implementation team.

• First steps to creating a partnership: Discover how your research expertise can solve real-world problems in our Exploring Opportunities group. (If you're unsure of where you fit, this is the group for you).

This 75-minute session offers practical strategies, expert guidance and valuable connections for academics at all career stages. Leave with a personalised action plan and institutional support to transform your academic excellence into tangible impact within Sheffield's innovation ecosystem. Limited places available - secure yours today!

Making research visible - disseminating your research

This workshop will explore ways to share your work beyond traditional academic publications. Through a series of talks and examples, speakers will highlight how research can be communicated effectively to wider audiences through public engagement, concise storytelling and creative formats.

Dr Osman Shabir will discuss how to organise impactful public-facing research events such as “Dementia Futures”, which showcases dementia-related research from across the University. This talk will cover specific guidelines and feedback for designing accessible talks and posters, using inclusive language and ensuring research communication is meaningful for public audiences.

Dr Melina De Felice will focus on how to communicate research in just 60 seconds. The session will focus on a simple structure for explaining the problem, your research and its importance, along with practical tips for keeping the message concise, accessible and audience-focused.

Dr Joanne Sharpe will explore the use of gameplay as a powerful public engagement tool. Drawing on her “Biological Models Trump Cards” project, she will share how games can be designed to maximise engagement and communicate complex research ideas.

Together, these talks will provide ECRs with practical insights and examples for broadening the reach and impact of their research through dissemination and public engagement approaches.

 What makes research excellent: striving for the top

REF 2029 preparations are fully underway. REF is a big university-wide research exercise which has significance for us all from the university through to individual level. But how do we achieve research excellence in REF and what does that mean in practice when we're writing papers?

In this workshop, the REF Output Leads will unpack what constitutes high-impact research under the REF criteria and share top tips to apply to your future research.

What will we cover?

A deeper understanding of rigour, originality and significance in the context of REF as applied across our four Units of Assessment. 

What to expect

Group discussions and conversations around shared best practices, top tips and some key takeaway messages to deploy when writing manuscripts and planning research projects.

Who is this for?

Anyone interested in producing research outputs that score highly in REF 2029 and beyond. We welcome everyone—from early-career or "REF-curious" researchers to established academics willing to share their own expertise.

Who are the facilitators? 

• Heather Wilson, School of Medicine and Population Health
• Lucie Nield, School of Medicine and Population Health
• Parveen Ali, School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery

Clinical trials and tribulations

Clinical trials offer an opportunity to answer a clinical question in a thorough, impactful way, but what makes a good one? Join us as we go through the trials and tribulations of designing and running a randomised controlled trial. In this interactive workshop we will go through what it takes to design and run a trial that is both scientifically robust and ethically sound. The session is applicable to those who are new to trials, as well as those with plenty of experience, who would like to discuss the practical implications of putting their ideas into practice.

Facilitators

• Ines Rombach: Senior Research Fellow/ Statistician

• Jamie Hall: Trial Manager

 Engaging partners without giving away your IP: Developing your Verbal Business Card

Talking to partners about early-stage research is a balancing act: say too little and you lose their interest, say too much and you risk your IP. This workshop gives you a simple, practical way to describe what your idea offers, who it's for, and why it matters, without getting into the detail of how it works. You'll develop your own "verbal business card" to confidently start and steer these conversations.

What comes next? - Navigating post-doctoral positions and applying for fellowships

Research fellowships can provide valuable opportunities for researchers to develop independent research and advance their academic careers. The workshop will open with Dr Leni Green, who will introduce the fellowship landscape, highlighting key opportunities and considerations for prospective applicants.

Participants will then hear from three researchers from different career stages, who have successfully secured fellowships and will share their experiences of developing competitive applications and managing their awards. The workshop will conclude with a panel discussion and Q&A with the fellows, providing attendees with practical advice and the opportunity to engage directly with fellowship holders. 

Our panel will include:

• Dr Alanna (Leni) Green, Division of Clinical Medicine - Wellcome Trust CDA Senior Research Fellow
• Dr Liam Knox, Division of Neuroscience - NIHR Development and Skills Enhancement Award (DSE)
• Dr Luke Green, School of Clinical Dentistry - The Humane Research Trust Research Fellow
• Dr Shamanthi Jayasooriya, Division of Population Health - NIHR Advanced Fellow

This session is intended for researchers interested in exploring fellowship opportunities and learning from the experiences of successful applicants.

Prize winners

Student oral presentation

First prize: Abigail Foston, Jessie Tebbutt

Second prize: Sophie Hyatt, Louis Lane, Diane Lefley

Third prize: Rafael Ben-Akiva & Bhavleen Aujla , Chloe Harris, Oliver Heaney

ECR/Technical oral presentation

First prize: Sam Birks

Second prize: Joseph Scarrott

Third prize: Mallon D'Souza, Krit Dwivedi, Favour Felix-Ilemhenbhio, Rachel Furmidge, Carla Girling, Natalie Pye

Student poster

First prize: Fahad Alshammari, Callum Blee, Ruchika Yadav Nongrum, Suzi Rogers

Second prize: Harry Baker, Lucy Forsyth, Daniel Ludwikowski, Anthea Ma, Noor Waheed

 ECR/Technical poster

First prize: Grace Bazeley

Second prize: Tia Callaghan, Charlotte Cotterill, Carla Girling, Vitastaa Sar, Klaudia Slowik, Joseph Snuggs

Elevator poster prize (closest to 1 minute)

Tamara Clover, Otto Wilan

Sponsor Passport Prize

Shivani Joshi 

Audience poster prize

First place: Kelly da Costa 

Runner up: Thomas Saville, Lucy Urwin 

Faculty of Health ECR prize winners

Clinical Dentistry: Caroline Harrison (for outstanding contribution to Research)

Clinical Medicine: Caroline Taylor (for outstanding contributions to Engagement and Leadership)

Neuroscience: Rachel Hodgson (for outstanding contribution to Research)

Population Health: Burak Kundakci (for outstanding contributions to Research and Engagement)

Faculty of Health Prize for ECR Impact in Knowledge Exchange & Innovation

First prize: Dr Sarah Hargreaves

Second prize: Dr Sara Memarpour Hobbi