ELIXIR-UK All Hands 2025

23 October 2025
– 24 October 2025
Sandy Park Conference & Banqueting Centre
Sandy Park Way
Exeter
UK
EX2 7NN
Registration deadline: 01 October 2025
Abstracts deadline: 10 September 2025

Join us in person for our national community gathering

The ELIXIR-UK All Hands Meeting is back, and this time we’re heading to Exeter! Open to all members and collaborators, this annual event is your chance to connect across roles, regions, and research domains to celebrate achievements, shape priorities, and deepen collaborations across the UK Node.

Whether you’re a seasoned contributor or new to the ELIXIR-UK community, this is the space to:

  • Showcase your work, services, or tools
  • Discover flexible funding opportunities and policy updates
  • Meet peers working on similar challenges from RDM and training to human data and infrastructure
  • Help define where ELIXIR-UK should invest its attention next

What to expect

This year’s programme is still under preparation, and you can help shape it. Expect a mix of flash talks, interactive panels, world cafés and community-led sessions. Some themes we’re excited to explore include:

Community and collaboration
Building and sustaining emerging communities and needs
Identifying gaps and supporting new roles in the life sciences
Flash talks from new members and services
Celebrating wins and uncovering what comes next

Funding and policy
A spotlight on ELIXIR-UK’s new flexible funding calls
The future of UKRI data policy and funding avenues (with invited input from BBSRC)
BioFAiR new horizons and how the ELIXIR-UK community fits in
Mentoring opportunities for early-career researchers

Open contributions
Poster presentations across science, policy, and infrastructure
Lightning talks on new services and lessons
Calls for collaboration or support

Host spotlight: Exeter
We’ll hear from the Exeter team about their work, such as data ethics and the role of Research Software Engineers in infrastructure and research environments.

Contribute to the programme

We want the agenda to reflect the interests and needs of our members. When registering, you’ll have the chance to:

  • Submit a poster abstract
  • Suggest a topic for discussion
  • Indicate interest in giving a short talk or pitch
  • Join one of our world café discussions

We especially welcome contributions from those early in their careers or new to ELIXIR-UK.

Registration

Places are limited, and priority will be given to participants from ELIXIR-UK member organisations.
Register now to secure your spot.

Register now

Funding support

We have limited travel support available for ELIXIR-UK members with no other means of attending. Priority will be given to early career participants and confirmed speakers. If you would like to be considered, please indicate this during the registration process. Funding decisions will be communicated by 23 September 2025.

The deadline to request funding is 10th September 2025.

Preliminary agenda subject to changes

09:30

Registration opens with tea/coffee & snacks

10:00

Session one. Welcome and introduction 

Our Heads of Node reflect on where ELIXIR-UK has come from and where it’s heading, followed by our hosts, who will put research and innovation in Exeter in the spotlight.

  • A year in review and a glimpse into the future with our Heads of Node
  • An Introduction from our hosts
  • The Ethical Data Initiative: Putting values at the heart of data
  • Showcasing the work of the Data Analytics team at Exeter
Carole Goble, The University of Manchester
Neil Hall, Earlham Institute
David Studholme, University of Exeter
Kate Bailey, University of Exeter
Craig Willis, University of Exeter
Katie Finch, University of Exeter

11:15

Coffee Break

11:45

Session two.  ELIXIR-UK success and Future

This session celebrates achievements and welcomes new voices. From hackathon success stories and new members to services and community initiatives, speakers will share what ELIXIR-UK has achieved and what lies ahead.

  • Introducing the session and the scope of our new Flexible Fund
  • Joint ELIXIR-UK HDR UK Hackathon – A success story of the type of activities we expect to fund
  • New member: Queen Mary
  • New member: Warwick
Xenia Perez Sitja , Earlham Institute
Tim Beck, University of Nottingham TBC
Sandra Ng, Queen Mary University London
Richard Stark, University of Warwick
Peter Harrison, HDR UK
Eva Caamano, University of Liverpool TBC
Marisa Loach, The Open University TBC

13:00

Lunch

14:00

Session three. Funding futures: policy, priorities and opportunities

A practical look at the changing funding environment. Hear from BBSRC, MRC and NERC’s future funding focus, learn how BioFAIR is opening opportunities, and join a roundtable discussion using live Mentimeter input.

Chair: Robert Andrews, Cardiff University
Richard Brown, BBSRC
Sam Rowley MRC
TBC, NERC 
Nishadi De Silva, BioFAIR

15:30

Coffee Break & Group Photo

15:45

Session four. World Café – conversations with the community to shape ELIXIR-UK

An interactive space to connect across topics and groups. Join small rotating discussions to share experiences, surface challenges and spark new ideas.

  • FAIR Data Management and Stewardship
  • Sensitive data & human data communities
  • Training & capacity building
  • Emerging & missing communities
  • Sustaining resources, talent & infrastructures
  • Communication & visibility of ELIXIR-UK
  • EOSC and international alignment
  • The future of AI in research and ELIXIR-UK’s strategy

17:00

Poster presentation with an ECR focus

Posters from across the community, alongside dedicated time for Early Career Researchers to share funding needs and ideas. Informal discussion continues as the bar opens.

18:00

Break

19:00

Dinner at the venue

Preliminary agenda subject to changes

09:00

Arrival tea/coffee & snacks

09:30

Session six:  Live conversation – AI in practice: reality, assumptions and reflections
An interactive, conversational session designed to make AI approachable and relevant. We’ll explore how AI is being understood, applied, and questioned in the life sciences, while also connecting to broader societal conversations. The session combines rapid audience interaction with candid panel reflections to spark honest debate and practical takeaways.

10:45

Break

11:15

Session seven:  Responsible AI (TBD)

12:45

Closing remarks from our Joint Heads of Node

13:00

Lunch

14:00

Co-located – Scientific and Industry Advisory Board yearly meeting

For our SIAB and Management Committee only

Expected to end at 6 pm

Speakers from ELIXIR-UK

  • Prof
    Carole Goble
    • University of Manchester
  • Prof
    Neil Hall
    • Earlham Institute
  • Dr
    David Studholme
    • University of Exeter
  • A profile picture of Craig Willis in ELIXIR-UK
    Dr
    Craig Willis
    • University of Exeter
  • Dr
    Tim Beck
    • University of Nottingham
  • Sandra Ng
    • Queen Mary University of London
  • A picture of Eva Caamaño Gutierrez, ELIXIR-UK member at University of Liverpool
    Dr
    Eva Caamaño Gutiérrez
    • University of Liverpool

Organising Committee

  • Dr
    David Studholme
    • University of Exeter
  • A Picture of Ariadna Miquel Clopes as ELIXIR-UK Node Research Administrator
    Dr
    Ariadna Miquel Clopés
    • Earlham Institute
  • Xènia Pérez Sitjà
    • Earlham Institute
  • Dr
    Robert Andrews
    • Cardiff University
  • Dr
    Wendi Bacon
    • HDR UK
  • A profile picture of Craig Willis in ELIXIR-UK
    Dr
    Craig Willis
    • University of Exeter
  • Dr
    Munazah Andrabi
    • University of Manchester
  • Dr
    Felix Shaw
    • Earlham Institute
  • Jamie Harrison
    • University of Exeter
  • A picture of Eva Caamaño Gutierrez, ELIXIR-UK member at University of Liverpool
    Dr
    Eva Caamaño Gutiérrez
    • University of Liverpool
Basecamp Reseaerch