The University of Manchester is delighted to host its first From Lab to Life: Innovations in Melanoma Research Conference UK 2026, a leading melanoma conference focusing on translational research and treatment advances. The conference will take place on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 March 2026 at The Midland Hotel, Manchester.
This two-day event will focus on exploring the latest developments and innovations in melanoma research.
It will provide a platform to educate, present and collaborate with professionals, researchers, clinicians, scientists and postgraduate students committed to advancing and shaping the future of melanoma outcomes.
We look forward to welcoming you to this exciting inaugural conference.
Abstracts open for additional poster presentations.
All speaker positions have been filled. Abstracts submitted from 20 January 2026 will not be eligible for prizes.
Programme outline: Melanoma Translational Research and Clinical Advances
The aim of the meeting is to provide a forum to the discuss ongoing basic and translational research in melanoma, and how this can result in improved outcomes for patients.
The conference will provide a focal point for the wide range of melanoma research that is ongoing in the UK and with international collaborators, sharing ideas and fostering collaborations. We expect attendees from across the UK and Europe, ranging from early career researchers to key opinion leaders.
Our programme will cover a broad range of relevant topics in the field of melanoma, including:
- Melanoma evolution: Single-cell and spatial analysis to dissect tumour heterogeneity, clonal evolution, phenotypic switch tissue tropism for metastasis.
- Local microenvironment of melanoma: Local interactions, cell communities, differences in the microenvironment of metastases.
- Melanoma-host interactions: Microbiome, impact of the host – ageing, obesity, circadian rhythm.
- Precision immunotherapy: Predictive biomarkers for immune checkpoint blockade, mechanisms of resistance, and novel combination therapies including adoptive T cell strategies.
- Emerging therapeutics: New small molecules, protein degraders, epigenetic drugs, and targeting previously ‘undruggable’ pathways in melanoma.
- Clinical trials and real-world data: Clinical trial updates, real-world studies, novel trial designs, biomarkers.
Other highlights will include:
- Concept to clinic workshop
- Friday morning breakfast satellite symposium hosted by Immunocore
- Keynote speech 1: Prof Chris Marine – Phenotype switching and tumour cell intrinsic resistant mechanisms
- Keynote speech 2: Prof Christian Blank – Neoadjuvant therapy in melanoma – the journey from concept to approved treatment
See a list of speakers at the conference.
Conference presidents
Professor Samra Turajlic,
Translational Research
Professor Caroline Dive,
Basic Scientific Research
Professor Paul Lorigan,
Clinical Research
Submit abstracts to the UK Melanoma Research Conference
Abstract submission extended for posters only.
All speaker positions have been filled. Abstracts submitted from 20 January 2026 will not be eligible for prizes.
Please read our guidelines and use the dedicated online submission portal to submit your abstracts for oral and poster presentations in the field of recent melanoma research.
The submission deadline has now been extended to Friday 20 February 2026.
Guidelines
Abstracts can only be submitted via the online portal. If you do not already have an account with Oxford Abstracts, you will need to create one. Abstracts submitted by email or post will not be accepted.
Abstracts must be submitted in English, using UK English spelling.
The presenting author of an accepted abstract must register and attend the congress.
Abstracts should clearly state:
- Background and aims
- Methods
- Results
- Conclusions
Poster presentations
View our guidelines for poster presentations (PDF).
The Programme committee reserves the right to decide on the final allocation.
Networking opportunities and location
The Midland Hotel will host a stimulating exhibitors’ hall and regular refreshment breaks.
During these breaks, delegates will have the opportunity to engage with industry, meet colleagues and build relationships with academics at varying stages of their careers.
A poster session with drinks will be held on the evening of Thursday 12 March. This will be followed by an optional conference dinner offering opportunities for engagement and collaboration in the elegant surroundings of the Trafford Suite at The Midland Hotel.
Conference location
The conference will take place in Manchester city centre at The Midland Hotel, 16 Peter Street, M60 2DS.
For 20% off conference accommodation, enter ‘event20’ into the promo code box when booking through The Midland Hotel website. The hotel reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time; early booking is recommended. Hotel reservations are the responsibility of the individual attendee. The University of Manchester assumes no liability or obligation for any accommodation bookings, charges, or related arrangements.
Registration and fees
The optional evening dinner is limited to 160 places in total.
Student/trainee/PPIE/support post ticket
For students, clinicians in training, PPIE representatives, research nurses and research support posts.
- Standard price: £75 (limited tickets)
- Optional dinner on 12 March: +£30
Academic ticket
For academics employed at a university, research institute, NHS trust or registered charity.
- Early bird price (until 19 December 2025): £150
- Standard price: £225
- Optional dinner on 12 March: +£60
Full price ticket
For industry/pharma and other attendees.
- Standard price: £300
- Optional dinner on 12 March: +£60
Contact us
Please get in touch if you have any questions about the conference.
Our sponsors
Thank you to all our sponsors for supporting the mission to improve melanoma medical education and clinical research.
We gratefully acknowledge the following organisations for their support of From Lab to Life: Innovations in Melanoma 2026.
These organisations have provided unrestricted sponsorship and have had no influence over programme content, speaker selection or learning objectives
Diamond Sponsors
Immunocore
About Immunocore
Bristol Myers Squibb
About Bristol Myers Squibb
Regeneron UK
About Regeneron
Pierre Fabre
About Pierre Fabre
Platinum sponsors
Beckman Coulter
About Beckman Coulter Life Sciences
Gold sponsors
La Roche Posay
About La Roche Posay
BMG Labtech
About BMG LABTECH
Charitable sponsors
We greatly acknowledge the support of our charitable sponsors in providing educational grants and funding the abstract prizes awarded at this conference.
The Company of Biologists
About The Company of Biologists
The Company of Biologists has awarded an educational grant to support reduced registration fees for students to attend the conference, and has also sponsored the award for best abstract talk.
Melanoma UK
About Melanoma UK
The breakfast session workshop ‘How to bring your Nobel prize-winning idea to the clinic’ is being supported by sponsorship funding from Melanoma UK.
North West Cancer Research
About North-West Cancer Research
North West Cancer Research is supporting the award of prizes for abstract poster presentations and contributing to the administrative costs of the conference.
Statement of independence
- All sponsors have provided unrestricted educational support only and have had no involvement in the planning, development, content, speaker selection or delivery of the scientific programme.
- The programme content, learning objectives and speaker selection have been determined solely by the Conference Organising Committee.
- All speakers have been required to declare any relevant conflicts of interest, which are disclosed at the start of each session.
- Promotional activity by sponsors is confined to the designated exhibition areas and does not form part of the accredited educational programme.
Contact Us
+44 (0) 161 306 6000
