Upcoming Events

Events at a glance

Beyond Academia: AI & Data Science Applications Seminar Series

Date: 14th September to 10th November 2026

The Beyond Academia: AI & Data Science Applications seminar series at the University of Cambridge explores the transformative role of data and artificial intelligence in the world. Designed for postgraduate researchers, early-career academics, and students, the series bridges the gap between high-level research and real-world deployment. 

Through invited talks from Leaders and Professionals, the series delivers insights into non-academic career pathways and examines the technical, architectural, and operational challenges and opportunities of implementing AI innovation in organisations. The seminars are highly engaging sessions with plenty of opportunity for Q&A with the speaker. Hosted by Cambridge Centre for Data-Driven Discovery (C2D3). Free to attend, registration essential.

Click here for more information and registration

Pharmacology Seminar Series

Pharmacology Seminar Room

Date: 9th October 2026

Time: 12:15 - 13:15

Speaker: Richard Morimoto, Northwestern University

Talk Title: Safeguarding the Proteome in Aging and Disease: Pharmacological Strategies Against Neurodegenerative Protein Misfolding

There will be a meet-and-greet after the talk, with a light lunch provided.

Abstract: Aging and proteotoxic stress compromise proteome stability, disrupting protein solubility, function, and aggregation state. Here, I present two complementary perspectives on proteostasis failure and intervention. First, structural proteomics using the genetic model systems C. elegans reveals that one-third of the proteome undergoes conformational alterations in early aging. Crucially, these shifts directly target core components of the proteostasis network (PN)—including ribosomes, molecular chaperones, and the proteasome—concentrating within key functional domains to reflect a dynamic balance between adaptive remodeling and pathological decline. Second, we evaluate an autophagy-enhancing small molecule proteostasis regulator in transdifferentiated human cortical neurons derived from 37 individuals expressing wild-type (MAPT WT) or pathogenic MAPT variants (R406W, A152T, P301L, N279K, and IVS10+16) linked to FTD, AD, PSP, and Parkinsonism. These patient-derived models display distinct tau pathological signatures, marked by high Thioflavin T–positive amyloid, elevated AT8 phosphorylation, MC1-positive conformations, and altered 4R/3R isoform ratios. We established a key therapeutic window where periodic treatment with the autophagy regulator prior to pathology onset completely prevents tau amyloid formation and hyperphosphorylation, whereas post-pathology intervention is markedly less effective. Together, these findings highlight mutation-specific tau pathology and demonstrate the critical potential of early-intervention proteostasis strategies in neurodegenerative disease.

Biography: Richard I. Morimoto is the Bill and Gayle Cook Professor of Biology and Director of the Rice Institute for Biomedical Research at Northwestern University.​

Rick received his B.S. from the University of Illinois at Chicago, subsequently received a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology at the laboratory of Professor Murray Rabinowitz, University of Chicago in 1978. He then conducted his postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Professor Matthew Meselson in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. He was concurrently a Tutor in Biochemical Sciences at Harvard College. In 1982, Morimoto joined the faculty of the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Cell Biology at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He has served as the Chair of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Cell Biology, the Dean of The Graduate School, and the Associate Provost of Graduate Education at Northwestern. He has given talks at universities and symposia throughout the world, and has been a Visiting Professor at Åbo Akademi University in Finland, Beijing University, École Normale Supérieure in Paris, Kyoto University, Kyoto Sangyo University, Osaka University, University of Rome, Technion University in Israel and the University of Cambridge. He was a founder of the biotech company Proteostasis Therapeutics, Inc in Cambridge MA, to develop small molecule therapeutics to treat diseases of protein homeostasis. 

No registration required!

Developmental Biology Seminar

Biffen Lecture Theatre

Date: 9th October 2026

Time: 13:00 - 14:00

Talk Title: Turning the Developmental Clock Back and Forth

Speaker: Dr. Meng Zhu, Gurdon Institute

No registration required!

Gateway to Translation Webinar Series (G2T)

Date: 13th October 2026

Time: 13:00 - 14:00

Online

Title: Robotic Surgery: Is This the Future?

Speaker: Dr Mark Slack, Chief Medical Officer at CMR Surgical

G2T webinar series is a joint initiative between CATS (University of Cambridge) and Translation Manchester (University of Manchester). Monthly online talks are aimed to inform academics about new technologies and translational research developed in pharma/medtech/biotech sector, as well as to facilitate collaboration between academia and commercial sphere. 

This particular talk will discuss recent development in the field of robotic surgery, highlighting the main challenges as well as possible ways to overcome them. It will be presented by Dr Mark Slack, Chief Medical Officer at CMR Surgical. CMR Surgical is a UK-based medical technology company developing and commercialising robotic-assisted surgery systems. Everybody is welcome to attend the webinar and to ask questions.

REGISTER HERE

Founders Growth Community: Preparing for Clinical Trials – Ensuring Foundational Clinical Compliance for Biotech’s

The Glasshouse, Botanic House, 100 Hills Road, Cambridge

Date: 22nd October 2026

Time: 13:00 - 14:00

Join the Founders Growth Community at The Glasshouse, Cambridge for this practical session designed for pre-Series A life science and biotech founders, exploring what really means to become a compliant clinical trial Sponsor, and what processes and systems need to be in place before clinical activity begins.

Led by Matt and Steve, Co-Founders of BlueGreen Clinical Ltd, the session will cover:

  • Your legal and regulatory responsibilities as a Sponsor
  • What GCP, SOPs, QMS and eQMS actually mean in practice
  • The foundations you need to put in place as you move towards clinical trials
  • Common compliance risks that can lead to inspection findings, trial delays and regulatory challenges
  • How to build systems that are appropriate for an early-stage biotech without overcomplicating things

Matt and Steve, who bring extensive experience in Clinical Operations. During 18+ years at a start-up biotech that grew from around 40 people into a 2,000-person pharmaceutical company, they helped build the clinical infrastructure needed to support that growth, contributed to the development of two regulatory-approved medicines, and supported multiple MHRA and FDA GCP inspections.

If clinical trials are on your roadmap, whether soon or several years away, this is an opportunity to understand what you should be thinking about now.

Register Here

Milner Seminar – Focus on Neurodegeneration

Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre 

Date: 18th November 2026

Time: 16:00 - 17:00

Please join colleagues from the Milner Therapeutics Institute for their September Seminar, with two fantastic speakers. Presentations and Q&A will be followed by refreshments and networking.

Speakers and talk titles:

Maura Malpetti, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge

"Fingerprinting brain and peripheral inflammation in neurodegeneration: from discovery to trials"

John Skidmore, ALBORADA Drug Discovery Institute, University of Cambridge

"Building bridges between academia and industry to develop treatments for neurodegenerative diseases"

Register Here

Drug Development Workshop : From Molecules to Marketplace

Seminar Room C, 17 Mill Lane, Cambridge CB2 1RX

Date: 19th December 2026

Time: 09:00 - 13:00

This event run by Cambridge Academy of Therapeutic Sciences is open to PhD students, early career researchers and principal investigators from the University of Cambridge. 

In this workshop, Dr Claire Thompson, CEO of Agility Life Sciences and University of Cambridge Expert in Residence, will guide participants through the complicated process of drug development. During the workshop, Claire will delve into the journey from the lab bench to the patient, discussing the process from initial conception to clinical trials, regulatory compliance and acquisition or commercialisation.

The workshop has a limited number of spaces and places are available on a first come first served basis.
The workshop is open to those with a University of Cambridge email address .

REGISTER HERE 

CCC Early Career Researchers (ECR)Network

ECR Network welcomes everyone to the launch of a new initiative aimed at fostering connections between CCC and ECRs working on all aspects of collections-based research. The Network will be chaired, on a rotational basis, by one of the three N2H PDRAs. By taking part in the CCC ECR Network, members will:

Expand their network amongst academics and collection professionals. Members of the Network will be offered collections-specific skills workshops with curators / collections managers / exhibitions teams in Cambridge to enhance researchers’ knowledge of the working environment.

Have the opportunity to connect with other collection-based researchers for the purposes of knowledge exchange (e.g. with regard to methodology, perspective, approach) and/or collaboration.

Gain professional experience by leading, or co-leading, themed seminar sessions.

Advance their knowledge and understanding of grant funding opportunities with the support of the Research Grants Facilitator.

Gain training in Knowledge-Exchange and Impact.

Learn more about the diverse and exciting collections housed across Cambridge.

Click here for more information!