The Bionow Neuroscience Conference returned to Sheffield for 2026, this time at the historic Town Hall. Around 100 delegates, speakers and exhibitors came together to share insights, forge new connections and examine the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of neuroscience research, development and commercialisation.
The dynamic agenda focused on a few key themes, namely understanding and managing pain; patient perspectives; developing technologies and advances in clinical trials alongside a state of the nation panel discussion, keynote presentations, networking and the conference poster competition.
Read the full event summary here
The 2026 Neuroscience conference was sponsored by the University of Sheffield.
Agenda highlights:
Keynote Speakers
- Shuaibu Dambatta, Consultant Neurosurgeon, NHS Humber Health Partnership
- Martijn Muller, Professor of Translational Neuroscience, Manchester Metropolitan University
State of the Nation Panel
Chair: Heather Mortiboys, Head of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield
Speakers
- Andy Whiting, CEO, Nevragenics
- Mimoun Azzouz, Chair of Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield
- Ana-Mishel Spiroski, VP Biosciences, Concept Life Sciences
- Stephanie-Jayne Jones, Chief Medical Officer, Pharmora Limited
Pain Session
Chair: Paul Chazot, Co-Founder at Cerebrovia Therapeutics & Professor of Pharmacology, Durham University
Speakers
- Fiona Boissonade, Professor of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield
- Nikita Gamper, Professor in Neuroscience, University of Leeds
- Lucy Donaldson, Director of Research, Arthritis UK
Patient Perspectives - Cure Parkinson's Fireside Chat
Chair: Rhiannon Brown, PhD Student, University of Sheffield
Speakers
- Shafaq Ali, Patient
- Andrew Tinsley, Patient
Poster Competition Announcement
- Winner: University of Sheffield
2nd Place: University of Sheffield
3rd Place: Durham University
Pipeline: Developing Technologies
Speakers
- Harsha Kantamneni, CEO & Founder of Hado Therapeutics, and Associate Professor of Therapeutics, University of Bradford
- Chris Adams, Lecturer in Neuroscience, Keele University
- Abhinav Kumar, Associate Director - Research and Innovation, Inoviv
- Nicole Stone, Lead Scientist - External Drug Discovery, Medicines Discovery Catapult
Advances in Clinical Trials
Chair & Panellist: Anthony Lockett, Medical Director & Co-Founder, MEDQP Ltd
Speakers
- Steve Sanghera, CEO & Co-Founder, Inventus Group
- Robert Spenceley, Technical Manager, Catalent
- Nimrah Munir, Head of Operations, QV Bioelectronics
- Zoe van Helmond, Strategy Consultant, Amiculum
