Belfast symposium to spotlight how patient donations can help shape the future of healthcare on the island of Ireland
Belfast will host researchers, healthcare professionals, and patient representatives from across the island of Ireland this Friday, 23rd October, to examine how biobanking can help accelerate medical discoveries, improve diagnosis and support the development of more innovative, personalised treatments.
The All-Island Biobank I.M.P.A.C.T. Symposium 2026 will take place in Riddel Hall, Queen’s University Belfast, placing the contribution of patients and the impact of biobank enabled research at the centre of this one-day conference.
Biobanks bring together biological samples donated by patients which include tissue and blood samples. These valuable resources help scientists better understand disease and investigate new approaches to diagnosis and treatment.
Patient perspectives will feature prominently throughout the event, with a dedicated session exploring public engagement, trust, ethics and the essential role of the people who make biobank enabled research possible.
Commenting on the forthcoming event, Dr Claire Lewis, Operational Manager at Northern Ireland Biobank said: “Behind every donated sample is a person making a contribution to world class research that could help patients of the future. This symposium is about recognising that contribution and asking how we can make the greatest possible difference with the resources entrusted to us.“
Dr Lewis went on to say: “By bringing patients, researchers and healthcare professionals together in Belfast, we have an opportunity to strengthen connections across the island and keep the focus firmly on what matters: enabling high quality research that advances our understanding of disease and helps improve care. Patient trust, high standards and meaningful involvement must remain at the heart of that work.”
The opening keynote session will feature Dr Rhonda Campbell, Assistant Director of Health and Social Care Research and Development Division of the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland, and Dr John O’Neill, Head of Research Policy and Innovation at the Department of Health.
Other speakers include Dr Prabs Arumugam, Clinical Innovation Lead at Amazon Web Services, on integrating biobanking data, and Professor Ben Lacey, UK Biobank Clinical Lead in Epidemiology, on medical discoveries supported by biobanking.
A session on strengthening biobank capacity will feature Professor Jackie James, Scientific Director of Northern Ireland Biobank; Dr Suzanne Bracken, Trinity/St James’ Biobank; and Professor Louise Burke, Cork University Hospital Biobank.
Professor Seán Hynes, Biobanc na Gaillimhe, will chair a roundtable with representatives from academic biobanks across the island, examining how to measure their research contribution and wider societal value.
The event will also recognise emerging research talent through the Dr Stephen McQuaid Early Career Researcher Gold Medal Award for biobanking supported research.
The programme’s I.M.P.A.C.T. theme covers six priorities: Integration of data; Medical discoveries; Patient perspectives; Assuring quality; Capacity building; and Tracking impact.