As with last evening’s panel write-up, all views here are my interpretation of the discussion - any errors are mine, not the panellists!

What a great day of research and networking! #CrickCancerConf

– Interview prep is vital: research statement, job talk, chalk talk

– Think beyond science: connection to colleagues and institute culture matters

– Industry is a valid route; there too interviews are rigorous and science-driven

#CrickCancerConf #ResearchCareers #AcademicPathways

– When pitching proposals: pair a grounded project with a bold long-term vision

– Diversify from your supervisor; open dialogue beats competition

Practical Advice:

– Build a strong network; peers matter as much as PIs

– Explore & develop skills in teaching, editorial, and community building

Key Takeaways:
– No fixed ideal postdoc length: passion, networks, and adaptability matter most

– Productivity per time unit counts, even if papers aren’t high-impact

– While a postdoc focus on lab goals not your niche: communication with mentors is critical at the transition

#PostdocToPI

🗣️ Day 2 ended with another discussion panel, this time on the postdoc to PI career transition.

Our panellists:
– Anna Obenauf
– Stefani Spranger
– Guillaume Jacquemet

They shared candid insights on navigating the leap from postdoc to independence.

#CrickCancerConf #ResearchCareers #TeamScience

🩺 Clinician–scientist career pathways at the Crick:
1. PhDs for qualified clinicians
🔗 crick.ac.uk/careers-and-study/clinical-fellows
2. PhDs for early-career clinicians
🔗 colcc.ac.uk/clinical-research-training-fellowships-crtf
3. Postdoc fellowships for clinicians. Will open March 2026

Well I was too busy talking and listening today to post during the event so catching up this evening.

This informational slide may help clinicians looking for a research opportunity!

(Links in next post)

#CrickCancerConf #ClinicianScientist #PhDForClinicians #PostdocFellowship #ResearchCareers

Heading in for day 2 of #CrickCancerConf

Session themes today are, “Inflammation and cancer” this morning, and “Therapy resistance” this afternoon. A top lineup of speakers again, and I’m so looking forward to exploring more posters too.

Reach out if attending and a conversation might help you!

🧵 All views shared here are my interpretation of the discussion. If I’ve misrepresented anything, the fault’s mine - not the panellists’.

Overall, a thought-provoking day at #CrickCancerConf - grateful for the openness, ambition, and global perspective.

Prevention vs cure? Both essential - and prevention of recurrence is underexplored

Can cancer learn from CVD? Maybe - but cancer’s complexity is a different beast

#FutureOfScience
#CancerResearch #CrickCancerConf #CancerPrevention

🔍 Final panel themes:

#OpenScience: enthusiasm for sharing, but metadata is key - raw data alone isn’t enough

Are we missing the bigger picture? Precision medicine has narrowed focus, but toxicity and recurrence remain major challenges

#CrickCancerConf

Discovery science still matters - and needs space for creativity

Future labs may be 50:50 wet/dry scientists

All wet-lab researchers should learn robust data analysis (e.g. R)

Clinicians + data scientists are key to future teams

#CrickCancerConf #TeamScience #DataScience

🧪 The panel tackled big questions on research careers and data science:

PhD timelines vs team science: 3–4 years rarely yields a full high-impact paper

Solutions? Value smaller papers, fund longer-term projects, invest in permanent technical specialists

#TeamScience #PhDTraining #ResearchCareers

The panel explored questions from the audience alongside a number of spiked questions (shown).

Interestingly, addressing cancer inequalities was asked first.

Replies: we need to understand causes, need to sample less genetically homogeneous populations, & tackle globally.

#CancerInequalities

🗣️ Panel: “The Future of Cancer Research”

Erik Sahai opened sharing this timeline of cancer research milestones:
🔗 www.cancer.gov/research/pro...

Our Panellists: Sarah-Maria Fendt, Jose Adrover, Momo Bentires-Alj, Erik Sahai

#CrickCancerConf #CancerResearch #FutureOfScience

🫘 Session theme: Cancer and Systemic Physiology

Research talks explored inherited kidney cancer, breast cancer metastasis, liver cancer, and liver mets from colorectal cancer.

With speakers from Cologne, Leuven and here at Crick. A rich mix of models and techniques.

#CrickCancerConf #Metabolism

🔧 CancerTools.org is building a global collaborative to share cancer research reagents: antibodies, cell lines, organoids and chemicals.

No fees for researchers, and revenue goes back to the inventing host institution.

#CancerResearch #OpenScience #CancerTools #CrickCancerConf #ResearchImpact

If you missed my teaser blog last week, it sets the scene for why inclusive design matters - and how funders can support it.

🔗 www.linkedin.com/pulse/fundin...

#ScientificIntegrity #CancerResearch #ResearchStrategy

It’s a 10-minute slot after Natasha Karp and Matt Leach - no pressure! Hoping to spark a ripple effect in how we think about design, rigour, and inclusion in science.

#ResearchFunding #EDIinResearch #NC3Rs