Lab to Life: Innovations in Melanoma Conference

Keynote lectures

The programme opened with a keynote lecture from Professor Chris Marine, Senior VIB Group Leader and Director of the VIB/KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, exploring how tumour heterogeneity and plasticity contribute to treatment resistance. The conference concluded with a keynote from Professor Christian Blank, Professor for Internal Medicine at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), highlighting progress towards the approval of neo-adjuvant therapies in melanoma.

Presentations spanned basic, translational and clinical science, sparking wide‑ranging discussion. Sessions explored tumour evolution, the local microenvironment and melanoma–host interactions, and how these processes drive disease progression and resistance to treatment. Speakers also showcased advances in immunotherapy alongside emerging approaches, including cancer vaccines and personalised treatment strategies.

A key theme throughout the conference was the importance of diversity in melanoma research. This was underlined by genomic studies of Brazilian patients with acral melanoma, presented by Dr David Adams, Senior Group Leader in the Cancer Ageing and Somatic Mutation programme at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, which highlighted the need for more inclusive clinical trials and a better understanding of rarer and under‑represented melanoma subtypes.

The conference also offered valuable inspiration for students and early‑career researchers. A session hosted by Immunocore traced the journey from discovery through to development and commercialisation of the world’s first T‑cell receptor therapy. Featuring extracts of early experimental work and original laboratory notes, it provided a rare insight into the translational research process. Furthermore, prizes sponsored by North West Cancer Research and Melanoma UK were awarded for outstanding abstract talks and posters:

Poster prize winners

• Jessica Ball – University of Bristol
• Charlotte Taylor Barca – Department of Mathematics, The University of Manchester
• Andrea Garcia Perez – Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
• Rotem Leshem – Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, The University of Manchester
• Shika Desai – DIIRM, The University of Manchester
• Johan Rott – Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, The University of Manchester

Abstract talk prize winners

• Jose Orgaz – Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
• Ann Tivey – CRUK National Biomarker Centre, Manchester

Reflecting on the meeting, speakers highlighted the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of the event:

“This was a fantastic inaugural meeting, with insightful discussion around the science presented. It was great to see such a mix of clinicians, scientists and patient‑group representatives, which I think will help to develop future collaborations.” – Dr Rebecca Lee, Senior Lecturer And Wellcome Early Career Fellow

“There was a genuine sense of excitement at the Lab to Life Melanoma Conference, bridging cutting‑edge biology with clinical impact. It showcased the strength of the UK and European melanoma network, and the power of aligning diverse research areas to drive progress for patients.”
Dr Kerrie Marie, CRUK Career Development Award Fellow

“The range of people present and the discussions reflected the dynamic ecosystem within melanoma research, where discoveries are rapidly translated from lab to clinic and back again. This open, collaborative approach is a real strength of the field.”
Adam Hurlstone, Professor of Cancer Immunology

The conference was organised by Rebecca Lee, Paul Lorigan, Professor Caroline Dive CBE, Samra Turajlić, Adam Hurlstone, Kerrie Marie and Jon Humphries.