London Cancer District celebrate collaboration and innovation at London Life Sciences Week
The London Cancer District were proud to host the Conquering Cancer Innovators Forum as part of London Life Sciences Week 2025; a landmark event that brought together leading minds in oncology, research, entrepreneurship, and healthcare to accelerate progress in cancer innovation.
The event welcomed a vibrant community of researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, clinicians, and healthcare system stakeholders and was expertly chaired by Claire Cockerton.
Showcasing London as a Global Oncology Hub
The evening opened with keynote addresses from Prof. Chris Molloy, CEO of Medicines Discovery Catapult, who explored why the UK is fast becoming Europe’s leading oncology innovation hub, and Prof. Kristian Helin, CEO and President of The Institute of Cancer Research, who shared insights from the frontiers of molecular biology and cancer research.
Honest, insightful discussions and collaboration
A dynamic panel discussion, chaired by Dr. Angela Kukula of MedCity, brought together Prof. Joanna Loizou, David Harland, Prof. Juanita Lopez, and Prof. Kristian Helin to discuss the next chapter in oncology innovation. The conversation highlighted London’s unique strengths in translating research into clinical breakthroughs, the importance of integrated models combining research, clinical care, and education, and the vital role of collaboration at both local and national levels.
Spotlight on start-ups and patient perspectives
The forum featured rapid-fire presentations from seven pioneering start-ups supported by the Cancer Tech Accelerator, showcasing advances in surgical visualisation, AI-driven drug discovery, novel medical devices, and cancer vaccines. These innovators are tackling some of the most pressing challenges in oncology, from improving surgical outcomes to enhancing drug delivery and reducing toxicity.
A moving fireside chat brought the patient perspective to the fore, with award-winning journalist and cancer advocate Gilly Mathieson sharing her personal journey and the transformative potential of cancer vaccines, alongside Jonathan Kwok, CEO of Infinitopes. Their discussion underscored the human impact behind scientific breakthroughs and the importance of communication between clinicians, researchers, and patients.
Thank you to everyone who made the Conquering Cancer Innovators Forum a success. Together, we are building a world-class ecosystem for cancer research, innovation, and patient impact.
