Pictures from the recent symposium
The goal of this symposium is to stimulate top quality research and new collaborations and networks among young investigators engaged in prostate research in the UK. The symposium will bring together young scientists working on basic, translational and clinical sciences from all areas of prostate research. There are currently very limited opportunities for interactions among young UK researchers in prostate cancer, as there are few national meetings and none specifically targeted at early stage researchers. Additionally, there is potential for better links between young clinical and basic researchers; forming such links among early stage investigators may promote long-term clinical/basic research collaborations and help to increase translational work in the future. The symposium will provide opportunities for the career development of early stage researchers to help ensure that they remain in the field and succeed in establishing independent positions and funding. This will contribute to the development of successful scientists that are essential to ensure a strong group of investigators able to deliver internationally competitive research. In the long term, this will lead to better treatments for prostate cancer patients.
The Young Prostate Researchers Symposium planned for 31st March 2009 at the CRUK Cambridge Research Institute, will provide an open, friendly forum to encourage communication and collaboration between prostate researchers. The symposium will be very inclusive, with attendance by as many early stage clinicians and scientists as possible. Researchers will be encouraged to present and discuss their novel, cutting edge research at the one day symposium. Constructive criticism and feedback from a peer group of young investigators will help inform presenters of how their work might compete in review, as publications or grant proposals. It will also help suggest new ideas and alternatives, and provide different perspectives. In addition to the short-term benefits of the Young Researchers Symposium it will encourage the development of a large cohesive peer group which will support and nurture young scientists in the future. It is hoped that this initial symposium will lead to further meetings of young investigators and perhaps new networks that can continue to build a strong basic and clinical research base in the UK.
In summary, the symposium will provide a novel opportunity for young researchers to form new links and collaborations, as well as helping their career development. The meeting will address a combination of both short term and long term career goals for the participants and provides an important opportunity for young scientists that will benefit them as well as the UK prostate community.
The meeting is being sponsored by Prostate UK & Prostate Research Cancer Foundation
