RESEARCH & INNOVATION 2025
Event overview
ELRIG Research & Innovation discusses how emerging biology and cutting-edge technologies are pioneering the medicines of tomorrow. Bringing together scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs with bold ideas to serve our shared ambitions in creating the next generation of therapeutics to cure more patients around the world. The 2025 R&I meeting – based in London – will focus on cutting edge innovation, comprising the following four main sessions.
ELRIG aims to remove as many barriers to conference attendance as possible, so all events are free to attend and with a prayer room, family room and quiet room available, ensuring our promise of inclusivity is at the heart of all our events.
Research & Innovation 2025 Conference Directors:
Roger Clark
Charles River Labs
Sarah Brockbank
MDC
Research & Innovation 2025 Keynote Speakers:
Day 1
Jue Wang
Research Scientist & Co-lead of the Protein Design Team – Google DeepMind
Day 2
Robert Grundy
CEO of Intelligent OMICS
Posters
Discover numerous posters and innovative research from across the drug discovery community, aligned to our track themes. Hear from our Flash Poster Presenters and find out who has won the coveted Early Career Professional Poster Award!
We recognise the vital role that young companies play in driving innovation, so to support and amplify their contributions we’re delighted to introduce bringing the the ELRIG Breakthrough Zone to R&I2025 again. If you might be interested in featuring in this space please fill out our application form and tell us about your innovation in 300 words by 24th Jan 2025. Select Breakthrough Zone from the drop down menu to find out more! We’re also offering our Breakthrough Zone participants a chance to win a presentation as part of the main programme at Research & Innovation 2025! So grab the opportunity to exhibit now!
DAY 1 – MONDAY 10TH MARCH
TRACK CHAIRS
Marijn Vlaming (CRL)
Arpan Desai (CamGene)
TRACK INFO
DAY 1 – 10 MARCH
TRACK 1 – AM
Track Title: Big technology for big molecules
With advanced drug modalities increasing and improving every day, the innovative technologies required to design, optimize and analyze biotherapeutics are advancing quickly. This session will focus on new and innovative technologies that are used for drug discovery and development of biotherapeutic drugs.
DAY 1 – 10 MARCH
TRACK 2 – PM
Track Title: Big molecules for big problems
The diversity of drug modalities is expanding rapidly, encompassing RNA, cell and gene therapies, PROTACs and many more. These advancements enable unprecedented treatment approaches, such as gene manipulation, protein replacement, and cell replacement. However, aligning the right technology with the appropriate therapeutic strategy is key to unlocking the potenital of these therapies. This session will explore the innovative potential of these large molecules in treating diseases, the hurdles in their development, and the transformative impact they can have on modern medicine. Join us to delve into the future of therapeutic applications and the exciting possibilities they hold.
DAY 2 – TUESDAY 11TH MARCH
TRACK CHAIRS
Thierry Dorval (Servier)
Sara Imarisio (MDC)
TRACK INFO
DAY 2 – 11 MARCH
TRACK 3
Track Title: Big Data for big insights: Transforming Research
The application of big data, alongside advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), is revolutionising pre-clinical research and drug discovery, providing a powerful tool to accelerate our understanding of disease mechanisms, facilitate the discovery of future treatments, and improve treatment precision. In neurodegenerative and other neurological diseases, this transformation opens new opportunities for patient stratification and biomarker discovery, enabling us to identify subgroups of patients with distinct biological profiles and disease trajectories.
This session will explore how big data and AI can bridge the gap between early-stage research and patient-specific therapies, akin to the strides seen in personalised oncology. By leveraging vast datasets from genomics, proteomics, and clinical trials, researchers are now able to pinpoint disease-specific markers and develop drugs with enhanced efficacy and safety. However, this opportunity also presents unique challenges in data integration, interpretation, and validation, particularly within the complex landscape of neurological diseases.
Through expert insights, we will examine how big data and AI are advancing our ability to target complex diseases, such as neurological disorders, with high precision, and what steps are necessary to fully unlock their potential in neuro-focused research and collaborative drug development.
AGENDA
POSTERS
If you would like to share your poster with us at Research & Innovation 2025 please complete the event registration form, once registered you will receive a confirmation email where you can follow a link to a poster portal that will allow you to submit a poster and update your title and abstract. The poster panel will review your poster for general display and you will receive an email advising if you have been successful.
Please note – only one poster can be submitted per delegate, we only need your title and abstract, you do not need to upload your PDF and only Early Career Posters will be considered for a flash presentation at this event.
Deadlines –
- to be considered for a flash poster presentation – your title and abstract need to be uploaded by 9th February
- to be considered for general display – your title and abstract need to by uploaded by 23rd February
We have limited space at site and late entries will not be accepted.
If you have any questions regarding your submission, please contact events@elrig.org
During the event:
Your poster should be displayed for the duration of the full event. A board will be available with your poster number and Velcro strips to affix your poster (your poster must be A0 portrait).
Poster sessions will take place during the late afternoon networking session on Day 1, and in the lunch refreshment break on Day 2. You will be expected to be at your poster during these times to answer questions from delegates.
A Poster Prize will be awarded for Best Early Career Professional Poster, the posters will be judged (you will not need to be at your poster during judging) and the prize awarded during the opening session on day 2 of the event.
During registration you will be asked if you identify as an ECP – An Early Career Professional (ECP) can be a student in higher education undertaking an undergraduate or postgraduate degree (including PhD), or within 5 years of finishing higher education and starting their career in life sciences and drug discovery. These ECPs are critical contributors to ELRIG, bringing new science, fresh ideas and energy to every event.
The prize is a glass trophy and £250, which can be accepted, donated to your lab or donated to a charity of your choice.
All posters will need to be collected at the end of the event and removed from site; any posters left at the end of the event will be disposed of.
Flash Poster presentations (open to Early Career Professionals only):
This is an opportunity to showcase your poster in a Flash presentation to the ELRIG community, if your poster is chosen you will need to prepare a PowerPoint presentation to last no more than 5 minutes. The scientific judging panel will review the posters submitted for Flash poster presentations and if successful you will receive confirmation from the ELRIG Team two weeks prior to the event.
This Flash Poster presentation opportunity is open to ECPS only.
AWARDS
INNOVATION AWARD
Applications open to all confirmed participants of the Breakthrough Zone at Research & Innovation 2025
Once you have completed your application and payment for registration to join the ELRIG Breakthrough Zone, you are eligible to apply for the ELRIG Innovation Award. Please email Sarah.lupton@elrig.org for more information on how to apply.
AWARD PRIZE INCLUDES:
- Opportunity to give a 10-minute pitch following keynote presentation at Research & Innovation 2025, reaching over 500 delegates
- Your registration fee refunded
- Access to ELRIG media partners to share news of your award win and innovation.
DETAILS TO NOTE
The deadline to apply for the ELRIG Innovation Award is 9th Feb, and registration for the Breakthrough Zone must be completed prior to this.
The ELRIG Innovation Award winner will be notified by the 23rd Feb, in order to give time to prepare the 10-minute pitch to be shared at the conference. (20 -21 March 20-21, London)
Any questions please email sarah.lupton@elrig.org
ECP POSTER AWARD
A Poster Prize will be awarded for Best Early Career Professional Poster. Find out more about how to submit your poster
The posters will be judged during Research & Innovation 2025 (you will not need to be at your poster during judging) and the prize awarded during the opening session on day 2 of the event.
POSTER DEADLINES
To be considered for an oral Flash Poster Presentation in the Exhibition space please have your title & abstract submitted by 9th Feb. The deadline for all posters for general display abstract & title is 23rd Feb.
POSTER ACCEPTANCE
The author will be held responsible for false statements, the scientific judging panel will ensure the poster is relevant to the event content. Successful poster applications will be notified via email and the poster display number will be given approximately two weeks before the event.
During the event
A board will be available with your poster number and Velcro strips to affix your poster (your poster must be A0 portrait).
Poster sessions will take place for 30-minute in the networking session at the end of Day 1 and for 30 mins during the lunchbreak on Day 2. You will be expended to be at your poster during these times to answer questions from delegates.
A Poster Prize will be awarded for Best Early Career Professional Poster, the posters will be judged (you will not need to be at your poster during judging) and the prize awarded during the opening session on day 2 of the event.
During registration you will be asked if you identify as an ECP – An Early Career Professional (ECP) can be a student in higher education undertaking an undergraduate or postgraduate degree (including PhD), or within 5 years of finishing higher education and starting their career in life sciences and drug discovery.
These ECPs are critical contributors to ELRIG, bringing new science, fresh ideas and energy to every event.
The prize is a glass trophy and £250, which can be accepted, donated to your lab or donated to a charity of your choice.
All posters will need to be collected at the end of the event and removed from site; any posters left at the end of the event will be disposed of.
Breakthrough Zone
For this year’s ‘Research & Innovation 2025 – Big molecules to big data… thinking BIG to drive innovative research’ we’d like to invite applications from companies working in the theme areas, e.g. big molecules such as proteins, RNA, cell and gene therapies, PROTACs and application of big data to support target identification, biomarkers, development of molecules.
What is ELRIG’s Breakthrough Zone?
A dedicated area in the Exhibition Hall for start up companies and entrepreneurs to showcase their science and innovation.
Why should my company exhibit in the Breakthrough Zone?
ELRIG provides leading life science conferences in Europe focussed on drug discovery, with pharma, biotech and academic delegates and lots of companies exhibiting. Your early adopters, target customers and collaborators will definitely be there!
What do I get as an Exhibitor in the Breakthrough Zone?
An A0 poster space with tabletop
Opportunity to win ELRIG’s coveted Innovation Award – 15 minute auditorium presentation on Day 2 and your fee refunded
Blinded GDPR-compliant delegate list
Access to the Exhibitor features in the Event App including lead capture
What does it cost?
£500 + VAT
Are there any conditions to apply?
We encourage early-spin out, seed and early series A companies to apply. To be eligible to participate in the Breakthrough Zone and enter the ELRIG Innovation Award competition, your company should have less than 25 full-time employees and/or have a turnover of less than £2.5M.
APPLY FOR THE ELRIG INNOVATION AWARD
Once you have completed your application and payment for registration to join the ELRIG Breakthrough Zone, you are eligible to apply for the ELRIG Innovation Award. Please email Sarah.lupton@elrig.org for more information on how to apply.
Award Prize includes:
- Opportunity to give a 10-minute pitch following keynote presentation at Research & Innovation 2025, reaching over 500 delegates
- Your registration fee refunded
- Access to ELRIG media partners to share news of your award win and innovation.
Details to note
The deadline to apply for the ELRIG Innovation Award is 9 Feb 2025, registration for the Breakthrough Zone must be completed prior to this date.
The ELRIG Innovation Award winner will be notified by 23 February, in order to give time to prepare the 15-minute pitch to be shared at the conference.
Any questions please email sarah.lupton@elrig.org
What’s happening in the Breakthrough Zone?
Agenda TBC
Social Media
Download our useful social media images to share that you’ll be attending Research & Innovation 2025 with your network- images coming soon.
SPEAKERS
KEYNOTES
Day 1
Jue Wang
Research Scientist & Co-lead of the Protein Design Team at Google DeepMind
Day 2
Robert Grundy
CEO of Intelligent OMICS
To view the Research & Innovation floor plan and book your booth please click below.
DELEGATE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are ELRIG events really FREE to attend? Yes ELRIG events are FREE to attend.
We are a Not-for-Profit organisation and put on these events to help our industry grow and prosper. Our organisation is made up of volunteers, and a small team of part-time staff.
We cover the cost of each event from sponsorship and stand sales. If you come to one of our conferences, please take time visit the exhibition and speak to our vendors.
How do I register to attend Research & Innovation 2025? Register here
How do I change / cancel my registration? When you first made your registration, you were asked to create a password : this password + your e-mail address will allow you to re-enter the system at any time, and update or cancel your registration.
If you cannot remember your password, follow the link to reset your password on the registration page
Delegates : What do I need to bring with me? Please save your ticket to your smart device or print a copy. Upon arrival at the venue visit the ELRIG registration and scan the QR Code. Your badge will be automatically printed. If you forget or lose your QR Code you can enter your email address to print your badge.
Can I register on arrival? Yes you can. We would prefer that register before the event but if you have not, you can register at the ELRIG registration desk.
How do I cancel my registration if I cannot come? You can cancel your attendance here
We have several sponsorship opportunities available to our vendors that can provide a wide range of new and exciting benefits for your organisation. We are also happy to discuss a tailored package to suit your budget. Contact us on info@elrig.org
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