Health and Care Research Wales Conference 2025
Registration for the 2025 conference - Today’s research; tomorrow’s care: celebrating 10 years of impact is now open.
All in-person spaces for this year's conference have been allocated.
You are still able to register to attend the event online or add your name to the waiting list for any spaces which may become available.
Please note: if you choose to attend the online event you will not be able to choose which parallel session you attend - the live stream will only show the session being run in the main conference room.
Programme
Further speakers to be announced soon
- Morning plenary
09:30 Welcome - Andrea Byrne, ITV News
09:35 Opening address - Jeremy Miles MS, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Welsh Government
09:45 Professor Isabel Oliver, Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Welsh Government
09:55 Plenary panel
How can social care research impact policy and practice?
Chair – Dr Diane Seddon
10:55 Refreshments, exhibition, networking
11:25 TED-Style talks
- Parallel sessions:
11:55
What does AI and data mean for research?
Chaired by Professor Reyer Zwiggelaar, Senior Research Leader, Health and Care Research Wales
What does VPAG mean for research? Doing things differently in commercial research delivery in Wales
Chaired by Joanna Jenkinson, Director of Research and Development Policy at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)
Speakers:
- Dr Nicola Williams, National Director of Research Support & Delivery / VPAG Programme Lead
- Wales Commercial Research Delivery Centre (Wales CRDC) clinical leads
What does innovation mean for research? Doing research differently.
Chaired by Carys Thomas, Head of Policy, Science, Research and Evidence, Welsh Government
What does inclusivity mean for research? Exploring health inequalities and under-representation in research.
- Afternoon plenary
12:55 Lunch, exhibition and networking
13:55 Keynote speaker - Iain Whitaker, Surgical Specialty Lead, Health and Care Research Wales, Chair of Plastic Surgery, Swansea University Medical School, Honorary Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery
14:25 Personal story - Ifor Thomas, poet
14:55 Plenary panel
Research impact in healthcare:
What difference is research making to healthcare delivery and patient care?
Chair – Andrea Byrne
15:55 TED-Style talks
16:15 Awards presentation
16:30 Close - Andrea Byrne
Speaker biographies
- Andrea Byrne
Andrea Byrne, Television presenter and journalist.
Andrea lives in Wales with her husband, former British Lion and Wales International Lee Byrne, and their three dogs.
In her spare time, she writes, reads, runs and is a keen yogi and stand-up paddle-boarder. She has competed in the New York marathon and several half marathons.
Andrea writes a monthly column for Cardiff Life, as well as regular features for other publications. She is also working on her first book.
She has an English Literature degree from Southampton University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from Highbury College and a Politics Diploma from the Open University.
Andrea is a Patron for Kidney Wales and an Ambassador for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. She also supports Tomorrow's Generation, a dyslexia charity and Macmillan Cymru.
Andrea is well known for presenting ITV Cymru Wales' 'Wales at Six'. And she is a regular face on the ITV news.
Andrea joined ITV in 2004, broadcasting to the Meridian region. Her first feature series with special access to Chinook helicopter crews leaving for Afghanistan was nominated for an RTS award.
She joined ITV Cymru Wales as a presenter in 2008.
She began her career in local radio at The County Sound Radio Network.
Away from news, Andrea fronts live political debates, entertainment programmes and lifestyle shows.
- Dr Joanna Jenkinson MBE
Dr Joanna Jenkinson MBE is Director of Research and Development Policy at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) where her remit spans discovery science, translational, pre-clinical and clinical research and development.
Prior to taking on the role at ABPI, Dr Jenkinson was Director of the GW4 Alliance, a research alliance of the universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter. Previously, Dr Jenkinson was Head of Infection and Immunity at the Medical Research Council (MRC) where she led the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) / Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) / National Institute for Heath and Care Research (NIHR) rapid response and rolling calls for COVID-19 research and had overall responsibility for managing the Infections and Immunity Board.
She joined the MRC in 2008 and held a range of roles including Head of Capacity and Skills, with responsibility for all MRC PhD and fellowships schemes, where she led on the development of the £900 million UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships. She also led the MRC’s mental health and addiction portfolio and wrote the MRC’s 2017 Mental Health Strategy.- Jeremy Miles
Jeremy Miles was born and raised in Pontarddulais. As a Welsh speaker, he was educated at Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera in the Swansea Valley and New College, Oxford where he studied law. Following graduation, Jeremy taught law at Warsaw University in Poland. Later, Jeremy practised as a solicitor in London and then held senior legal and commercial posts in media sector businesses, including ITV and the US television network and film studio NBC Universal. After returning to live in Wales Jeremy set up his own consultancy working with international clients in the broadcast and digital sectors.
Jeremy was elected to the National Assembly for Wales for the Neath constituency in May 2016 as the Labour and Co-operative party candidate. On 16 November 2017, Jeremy was appointed Counsel General and on 13 December 2018 he was appointed Counsel General and Minister for Brexit. Jeremy was appointed Minister for Education and Welsh Language on 13 May 2021, and Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language on 21 March 2024. Jeremy was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on 11 September 2024.
Jeremy’s interests include economic and community development, education and skills. He also enjoys film, reading, cooking, hiking, cycling and following rugby locally.
- Professor Isabel Oliver
Professor Oliver started her career working in acute hospital medicine in the West Midlands and the South West of England, before pursuing a career in public health. Prior to her current role in UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), she was Director of National Infection Service at Public Health England (PHE).
She is also Co-Director of the National Institute for Health Research, Health Protection Research Unit on Behavioural Science and Evaluation at the University of Bristol, and an Honorary Professor at University College, London.
- Dr Diane Seddon
Dr Diane Seddon is an established social care researcher with a national and international reputation for research excellence, leading a novel portfolio of work that has generated new knowledge to inform social care policy and practice. She leads impactful social care research with real world application, which has supported change in national social care provision for unpaid carers that is underpinned by significant Welsh Government investment totalling over £12 million.
Dr Seddon’s research and research infrastructure capacity building work has attracted significant external grant funding totalling £12.5 million over the course of her career, as a lead investigator, principal co-investigator and co-investigator. Her publications include peer review papers, book chapters, and published reports for government and for funding bodies evidencing her contribution to addressing global health and social care challenges, as well as opportunities, associated with population ageing. Her appointment to ministerial advisory positions, and national and international steering groups highlights the esteem with which her work is held.
Dr Seddon’s contribution to the development of a new international research network on participatory approaches to ageing research (PAAR-Net COST Action) reflects her longstanding commitment to collaborative research to improve social care outcomes.
Dr Seddon’s passion and commitment to social care research is further evidenced in her championing of doctoral students and early career researchers, both in the UK and internationally, by securing postgraduate scholarship funding, by delivering international research training and by mentoring future research leaders. She is a pathway lead for social care, social work and social policy for the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded Wales Graduate School for Social Sciences.
Responsive to new opportunities, Dr Seddon is delighted to be part of the newly established Wales Centre for Vision Services Research. She is committed to grow social care research that shapes policy and practice solutions in vision services with scientific rigor.
Dr Seddon is Director of Research for the School of Health Sciences and she is Chair of the North Wales Medical School and School of Health Sciences Academic Research Ethics Committee.
- Carys Thomas
Carys is the Head of Policy at the Science, Research and Evidence, Welsh Government. She oversees key policy areas including NHS and social care research & development strategy and funding, industry engagement, and public involvement and engagement.
Prior to joining Welsh Government in 2002, she was a senior researcher at the Home Office and has also worked in research roles at the Cabinet Office, and National Savings and Investments.
- Professor Iain Whitaker
Professor Iain Whitaker read medicine at Cambridge University (Trinity Hall College) and completed a sub-internship at Harvard Medical School followed by specialised plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery training in Yorkshire, Wales, Sweden, USA, Australia and France.
He completed prestigious microsurgical fellowships in Melbourne via the Rowan Nick’s Award, the most prestigious of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons international awards, and facial reconstruction in Paris via the European Association of Plastic Surgeons Young Plastic Surgeon Scholarship. Iain was a locum consultant in Cambridge before returning to Wales in 2012.
In 2018, Iain completed a Royal College of Surgeons/Cutlers Surgical Fellowship in Ear & Facial Reconstruction in Paris with Dr Francoise Firmin. Following his return, he was invited to give evidence to the Future of Surgery Commission at the Royal College of Surgeons, who subsequently reported that his two major research (3D bioprinting & big data) were selected as two of the four areas of technological development likely to make the greatest impact over the next two decades. Iain has edited several reference text books and published over 200 papers with an H index of 35 and an i10 index of 87. Iain is currently on the Specialist Advisory Committee for plastic surgery as the Academic Lead and Specialty Editor for Frontiers in Surgery.
Iain was awarded a Royal College of Surgeons Pump Priming award in 2019 via the Carol Rumney Legacy to support his research into 3D Bioprinting Cartilage for Facial Reconstruction and has been invited as a Visiting Professor at The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, North Carolina, USA and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
- Dr Nicola Williams
Dr Nicola Williams is National Director of Research Support and Delivery, responsible for ensuring efficient, effective and research support and study delivery across Wales (via NHS Research and Development offices, and national services).
Nicola has worked in the NHS for 30 years and been an active researcher for much of that, initially delivering research projects and programmes in primary care and public health and subsequently leading a public health research unit. Prior to her role in Wales, Nicola was Deputy Director of Research and Development in a large acute trust in England and in parallel, worked as a policy and change advisor to the Welsh and UK Governments, and the Health Research Authority. Nicola is also a Chartered Coaching Psychologist.
- Professor Reyer Zwiggelaar
Professor Zwiggelaar is a Health and Care Research Wales Specialty Lead with a focus on artificial intelligence and has almost 30 years research experience at the interface between computer science and health data, especially concentrating on computer aided diagnosis.
Professor Zwiggelaar has published 300+ full papers. This is a mix of journal and high-quality conference contributions. He is an Associate Editor of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics and of Pattern Recognition.
Professor Zwiggelaar is currently the Deputy Chair for the Health and Care Research Wales Translational and Clinical Funding Board and a funding board member for a range of other Health and Care Research Wales funding streams. In addition, he reviews and is a panel member for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and a range of international funding bodies.
Current UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding includes Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Advanced Computing (AIMLAC) and Artificial Intelligence in the Biosciences Network (AIBIO).
Health and Care Research Wales Awards 2025 are open for submissions
- Application
Applications are now open for the Health and Care Research Wales Awards 2025, which will celebrate Welsh research excellence in health and social care research over the past 12 months.
This year we are pleased to announce a new award, the Embedding research in practice award, which seeks to find individuals or teams who have embraced research and embedded it in their organisation’s culture.
In addition to our new award, this year we’re also accepting nominations for awards.
- The Award categories for 2025 are:
- Health and social care impact award – can you demonstrate how your health or social care research is making a difference to people’s lives?
- Rising research star award - are you in the early stages of your health or social care research career? Are you making significant contributions to your field? Are you an emerging future leader?
- Public involvement award - have you involved the public in your research in a meaningful and innovative way? Does your project meet the UK Standards for Public Involvement?
- Embedding research in practice - can you or your team demonstrate achievements within your field of practice, where because of their achievements, research is embraced, integrated into services and is a core part of the organisation’s culture.
Please read the Health and Care Research Wales Awards 2025 guidance document for full details on eligibility and criteria for each award category.
Venue
- Getting there
Venue address
Glamorgan County Cricket Club, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, CF11 9XR
On foot
The most popular and pleasant means of reaching Sophia Gardens from Cardiff Central Station is on foot. The final part of the 15 minute leisurely stroll takes you along the banks of the River Taff through Bute Park and the grounds of Cardiff Castle.
Cycling
A popular way to travel to the Stadium is by bicycle and we are in the ideal location to do so i.e. via the Taff Trail which runs from Cardiff Bay to Brecon. The Stadium has more than 30 cycle parking spaces located underneath the Jellyfish Family stand. Cardiff cycle map
By train
National Rail has details of the regular inter-city and high-speed trains that run between Cardiff and all major towns and cities including London, Bristol, Birmingham and Swansea, please visit:
By coach
Regular high-speed coaches leave for Cardiff from many major locations in the UK – the National Express terminus is in Sophia Gardens, just a few minutes’ walk from our stadium.
By bus
Cardiff Bus services run regularly between Cardiff Central Station and Cathedral Road (adjacent to Sophia Gardens Cardiff)
Routes going via Cathedral Road include:
- Number 25 Circular Service to Llandaff North and North Road
- Number 62 Service to Llandaff, Danescourt, Pentrebane, Fair Water & Canton.
- Number 63 service Ffordd Berllan, Central Station, Radyr to Llandaff.
If you are planning to travel by bus please use Traveline Cymru for more information.
By car
From London: Travel time is approximately 3 hours via the M4 Westbound.
From Birmingham: Travel time is approximately 2.5 hours via M5 Southbound and then the M4 Westbound.
From the East: Exit the M4 at Junction 29 and follow the A48M towards Llandaff. Join Cardiff Road. The stadium is situated off Sophia Close which is on Cathedral Road.
From the West: Exit the M4 at Junction 33. Follow the A4232 for 6.2 miles and exit on the slip road onto Leckwith Road. Follow the A4161 and then turn left onto Cathedral Road (A4119). Turn right onto Sophia Close where the Stadium is situated.
Car parkingPublic car parking is available in the Sophia Gardens Pay and Display car park situated within Sophia Close. Sophia Gardens Pay and Display gets very busy on match days, so please utilise all other car parks.
- Cardiff Council Car Parks – (see Pontcanna, City Centre & Canton sections)
- NCP Car Parks
Disabled parking
A limited number of disabled parking bays are available and are allocated on an application basis. For more details please contact the conference team