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Life Sciences Week 2026
Launch Day Conference

Be in the room where UK life sciences is shaped
Monday 21 September 2026 | Millennium Point, Birmingham

Where research, healthcare and policymaking meet industry and investment.

The Life Sciences Week Launch Day Conference brings together senior leaders, innovators and decision-makers from across the UK’s life sciences ecosystem for a high-impact day of insight, connection and opportunity.

This is more than the opening of Life Sciences Week.
It is the room where the week’s most important conversations begin.

Early Bird: £295 until 31 August

Standard price £450

Hear from influential speakers

Discover emerging research and technology

Meet the organisations investing in, buying and deploying innovation

Build relationships with the people shaping the future of life sciences

Senior industry, NHS or academic leader?

You may qualify for a complimentary Conference Day VIP Pass.

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One day at the heart of the conversation

The future of life sciences will be shaped by the ability of industry, healthcare, research, academia, government and investment to work together – turning discovery into adoption, partnerships into progress and innovation into better outcomes.

The Launch Day Conference is designed to bring these communities together.

What to Expect at Life Sciences Week 2026
Launch Day Conference

High-profile keynotes and sector insight

Hear from recognised leaders addressing the major developments, opportunities and challenges shaping UK and global life sciences.

The latest research and innovation

Discover advances across pharmaceutical and biotech innovation, medical technology, diagnostics, data, AI and healthcare delivery.

A full exhibitor hall

Meet businesses, researchers, technology providers, support organisations and innovators showcasing new capabilities, products and ideas.

Investment and commercial connections

Meet investors, entrepreneurs and strategic partners interested in supporting high-potential ideas, ventures and routes to market.

Practical conversations that continue beyond the day

Laujnching five-days of events across the West Midlands, creating opportunities to take part in workshops, roundtables, showcases, site visits and discussions.

Curated networking

Connect with senior professionals across industry, the NHS, academia, investment and government - with opportunities to build meaningful relationships.

The themes shaping Life Sciences Week 2026

The Launch Day Conference sets the direction for a week-long national conversation around the future of AI and technology in life sciences, alongside four major priorities:

Pharmaceutical and biotech innovation

Research breakthroughs, emerging therapies and the innovation shaping the future of healthcare and life sciences.

Medical technology and diagnostics

New technologies, devices, imaging and diagnostic solutions — and the partnerships required to take them further.

Academic research partnerships

Connecting universities, researchers, healthcare and industry to translate knowledge and discovery into real-world impact.

Investor engagement

Bringing high-potential ventures together with investors, strategic partners and opportunities for growth.

Who Should Attend?

The future of life sciences will be shaped by the ability of industry, healthcare, research, academia, government and investment to work together – turning discovery into adoption, partnerships into progress and innovation into better outcomes.

The Launch Day Conference is designed to bring these communities together.

“It was fantastic to hear from so many passionate individuals – sharing news of incredible projects that are bringing together universities, industry, policymakers and communities, making a real, tangible difference to people’s lives and health.”

Prof. Alice Roberts

Professor of Public Engagement with Science at the University of Birmingham, Author and Broadcaster

You should be in the room if you work in:

  • Pharmaceuticals or biotech companies
  • Med Tech, diagnostics or digital health
  • AI, data and tech applied to healthcare or life sciences
  • NHS, health and care providers
  • Universities, research institutes or technology-transfer teams
  • Investment, venture capital or innovation funding
  • Government, regulation, policy or economic development
  • Life sciences start-ups, scale-ups and spin-outs
  • Clinical research, manufacturing or supply chains
  • Professional and specialist services supporting the sector

Particularly relevant for:

  • Chief executives, board members and founders
  • Directors, vice-presidents and heads of function
  • Clinical, medical, scientific and research leaders
  • Digital, data, AI and transformation leaders
  • Procurement, commercial and partnership decision-makers
  • Investors and innovation leaders
  • Senior policymakers and public-sector stakeholders

If your work helps determine which ideas are developed, funded, adopted or scaled, this is a conversation you should be part of.

Be in the room

The value of the Launch Day Conference lies not only in what is discussed, but in who is there to take the conversation forward.

Join senior figures from industry, healthcare, academia, investment and policy for a day designed to create practical connections, informed debate and new opportunities.

Are You a Life Sciences Week VIP?

Could you qualify for a complimentary VIP Pass?

A limited number of Launch Day VIP Passes are available free of charge to senior industry buyers, NHS leaders and academic or research leaders whose presence will add value to the quality and influence of the room.

All applications are reviewed by the Life Sciences Week team and approval is not automatic.

Who qualifies?

Complimentary Conference Day VIP Passes are reserved for senior leaders and decision-makers with influence over purchasing, commissioning, investment or technology advancements and adoption across UK life sciences.

All applications are subject to review and approval by the Life Sciences Week team.

To qualify, you must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. You hold a senior leadership or decision-making role: such as C-suite, Vice-President, Director, Head of Function or equivalent.
  2. You work in one of the following areas:
    • Pharmaceutical, biotech, MedTech, diagnostics or healthcare
    • NHS, integrated care or another public healthcare organisation
    • A university, research institute or innovation organisation
  3. Your role includes responsibility for areas such as procurement, research, clinical strategy, technology adoption, AI or digital transformation, investment, innovation partnerships or commercialisation.

    AND
    You are actively looking to develop partnerships, identify solutions, support innovation, translate research or invest in new opportunities.

Applications from people working primarily in sales, consultancy or service provision will not normally qualify unless they also hold substantial strategic, clinical, research, procurement, investment or deployment responsibility.

To maintain a balanced VIP audience, we may limit the number of complimentary passes issued to any one organisation.

Apply for VIP access

Complete the short application form and tell us about your role, organisation and areas of interest.

The Life Sciences Week team will review your application and contact you to confirm whether it has been approved.

Do not meet the criteria? You can still secure an Early Bird, Standard or Group ticket and take part in the full Conference Day programme.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Life Sciences Week Launch Day Conference takes place on Monday 21 September 2026 at Millennium Point, Birmingham.

Full timings and arrival information will be provided to registered attendees.
Your ticket provides access to the Launch Day Conference programme (21st September), including general keynote and panel sessions, the exhibition, networking and included Conference Day activities.
No. The Gala Dinner and Awards is a separate, ticketed event taking place later during Life Sciences Week.
No. The Launch Day Conference ticket covers the conference on 21 September. Other events during the week require separate registration or tickets.

Visit the Life Sciences Week Events page to explore the full programme as events are announced.
Yes, but each attendee needs their own ticket.

Organisations booking for three or more attendees can use the Group rate of £325 per person.
No. Complimentary VIP Passes are issued to named, approved applicants and cannot be transferred to another person.

Please contact info@lifesciencesweek.co.uk if you are no longer able to attend
Yes. The conference is open to people and organisations across the life sciences ecosystem. However, suppliers and consultants will not normally qualify for complimentary VIP access unless they meet the stated senior decision-making criteria.

Apply for a complimentary Conference Day VIP Pass

Apply for a complimentary Conference Day VIP Pass

Complimentary Conference Day VIP Passes are reserved for senior leaders and decision-makers with influence over purchasing, commissioning, investment or technology advancements and adoption across UK life sciences.

A Conference Day VIP Pass includes:

  • Complimentary access-all-areas to the Launch Day Conference
  • Access to the dedicated VIP green room alongside Conference speakers
  • Access to all general keynote, panel and programme sessions
  • Curated networking opportunities
  • Opportunities to meet conference speakers and other approved VIP attendees

The VIP Pass applies to the Launch Day Conference only. It does not include admission to the Life Sciences Week Gala Dinner or other separately ticketed events.

Applications are reviewed individually and submitting this form does not guarantee a complimentary pass. To maintain a balanced, high-quality audience, we may limit the number of VIP Passes issued to any one organisation.

    First Name *

    Last Name *

    Work Email Address *

    Telephone Number *

    Job Title *

    Organisation *

    LinkedIn

    Organisation Information

    Which best describes your organisation? *


    If other, please specify

    Which best describes your level of seniority? *

    If other, please specify

    Which areas are you responsible for or directly involved in? *

    If other, please specify

    What best describes your role in purchasing, investment, commissioning or adoption decisions? *

    Attendance Information

    Briefly, what is the number one thing you are hoping to get out of attending Life Sciences Week 2026? *

    Final Confirmation

    Is your role primarily focused on selling products or services, consultancy, account management or business development? *

    Please Confirm *

    I understand that VIP applications are subject to review and approval.
    I understand that the complimentary VIP Pass covers the Life Sciences Week Launch Day Conference only and does not include the Gala Dinner Awards or other separately ticketed events.
    The information supplied in this application is accurate.

    Shabna Raja

    Advisory Partner,
    Life Sciences Week
    +44 (0) 121 227 4156
    info@lifesciencesweek.co.uk

    Bio

    Shabna Raja is a senior leader in enterprise transformation within Life Sciences, with over 20 years’ experience spanning pharma, consumer health and large-scale digital programmes.

    She specialises in bridging strategy and execution – helping organisations translate AI, data and digital innovation into tangible business outcomes. Her work focuses on complex transformation
    initiatives across commercial, data and operating model domains within regulated environments.

    Shabna spent seven years at GSK, where she played a key role in transformation programmes, including as part of the Consumer Health joint venture with Pfizer — one of the most significant integrations in the sector. This experience provided her with deep expertise in  organisational change, integration and operating model evolution at global scale.

    More recently, she has spent over three years working closely with Haleon through a strategic
    services partnership, leading enterprise client engagement and managing a multi-million-pound account while supporting transformation across a newly independent global organisation.

    Her experience spans the end-to-end life sciences value chain, including R&D, commercial, supply chain and patient engagement, giving her a holistic perspective on how technology and transformation can unlock value across the industry.

    Amjad Khan

    Executive Partner,
    Life Sciences Week
    +44 (0) 121 227 4156
    info@lifesciencesweek.co.uk

    Bio

    Amjad Khan is a UK-based entrepreneur, AI strategist, and senior technology leader with over 15 years of experience at Pfizer, where he held multiple leadership roles across digital strategy and transformation. As Global Digital Client Partner, he was responsible for digital strategy and execution across Global Business Units covering Vaccines, Hospital, and Medical Affairs. Most notably, he led the commercial launch for the Covid franchise transforming and accelerating the model for how new medicines are brought to market.

    Following his tenure at Pfizer, Amjad channelled his expertise into building at the frontier of AI. His work spans AI leadership, stakeholder engagement, and agile delivery helping organisations adopt and scale emerging  technologies to drive meaningful outcomes.

    Dr. Richard Fallon | Business Consultant | WM Life Sciences

    Dr. Richard Fallon

    Co Founder, Life Sciences Week 
    +44 (0) 121 227 4156
    info@lifesciencesweek.co.uk

    Bio

    Dr Richard Fallon is an entrepreneur and ecosystem builder who connects industry leaders, investors and public-sector stakeholders to accelerate collaboration and commercial growth.

    As the Founder of the Technology Supply Chain and co-founder of the Innovation Awards, he has spent more than two decades convening influential networks that help emerging businesses find capital, strategic partners and new routes to market.

    Richard’s work spans leadership and consultancy across major organisations, alongside building membership and partnership platforms that bring universities, industry and investors into the same room – and turn conversations into practical outcomes.

    With his focus on life sciences, Richard supports organisations and people driving breakthroughs in healthcare, biotechnology, medical technology and advanced research. He is passionate about creating the conditions for transformative ideas to move from concept to real-world impact – by connecting innovators with the funding, expertise and opportunities they need to scale.

    Through Life Sciences Week, Richard is championing the UK’s world-class life sciences community and helping position it at the forefront of innovation, investment and patient outcomes.

    Amy Deakin | Chief of Staff | WM Life Sciences

    Amy Deakin

    Event Managing Director,
    Life Sciences Week
    +44 (0) 121 227 4156
    info@lifesciencesweek.co.uk

    Bio

    Amy Deakin is a Birmingham-based leader specialising in building partnerships and fostering innovation in the life sciences sector. With a degree in Sport and Exercise Science, Amy brings a grounded understanding of human health and performance to her work and a strong interest in the developments shaping healthcare today.

    Amy is Managing Director of Life Sciences Week, part of the One Thousand Trades Group, and also serves as Director of One Thousand Trades Events. In these roles, she convenes researchers, clinicians and industry leaders to strengthen collaboration, unlock new partnerships and help accelerate real-world innovation across the life sciences ecosystem.

    Her career spans both commercial and third-sector environments. She began in automotive design, delivering projects for Volkswagen, McLaren, Bentley and Jaguar Land Rover, before moving into the third sector with Acorns Children’s Hospice. She later joined Western Union, working as a Partnerships Manager for international payments

    An avid netballer, Amy is a committed advocate for health and wellbeing – bringing energy, clarity and connection to everything she builds, and actively involved as a participant in health related research studies.

      Award Category Voting

      Here's a list of all categories you can vote for. Simply click each category to cast your vote. Voting in each category is not mandatory, so please feel free to click just the category that interests you.

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      Recognising pioneering research, technology, or therapies that are transforming healthcare and biotechnology.

      No VoteProf. Alex RichterBlack Space TechnologyAston Vision Sciences

      Celebrating an emerging leader making significant contributions to the field through research, innovation, or leadership.

      Recognising pioneering research, technology, or therapies that are transforming healthcare and biotechnology.

      No VoteShashank Chaganty – VichagLeah Vanono - PBS InnovationsKloe Avon- KZ Organics

      Honouring successful cross-sector partnerships driving advancements in life sciences, from academia to industry.

      No VoteProf Liam Grover- WMHTIAJudith Stewart- Health Innovation West MidlandsAdam McGuinness - Plug and Play

      Awarding an individual or organisation for exceptional long-term impact on the industry.

      No VoteDavid KidneyMedilink MidlandsUniversity of Birmingham

      Highlighting innovations in treatments, diagnostics, or healthcare delivery that have significantly improved patient outcomes.

      No VoteJean-Louis Duprey - Linear DiagnosticsSian Dunning - MD-TECKarim Vissangy - HoloMedix

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