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Molecular Sciences for Medicine Centre for Doctoral Training - Annual Conference 2026
In May 2026, the MoSMed CDT (the Molecular Sciences for Medicine Centre for Doctoral Training) hosted its sixth annual conference, bringing together current PhD researchers, alumni, supervisors and collaborators from across academia and industry.
MoSMed CDT Conference, 14–15 May 2026
About the CDT
Established in 2019 as a joint initiative between Durham and Newcastle universities, the MoSMed CDT was conceived by Biophysical Sciences Institute Directors, Professors Steven Cobb and Ehmke Pohl (Durham University), with Professor Mike Waring and Dr Simi Ali (both Newcastle University).
Since its launch, the CDT has fostered strong and diverse partnerships with leading national and international research organisations including the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, Diamond Light Source, the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF, Grenoble), and the MAX IV synchrotron (Lund) as well as a broad range of industrial partners. These include global pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca, GSK, and Genentech, to SMEs and contract research organisations including Quotient Sciences, Nuvisan, and Exscientia among others.
By 2027, the programme will have supported over 70 doctoral researchers across the two institutions, reflecting a commitment to the delivery of world leading interdisciplinary training at the interface of molecular science and medicine.
The 2026 conference
The conference programme for 2026 was designed to celebrate researchers at all stages of their stages of their doctoral journey. First-year students delivered short flash talks, second-year cohorts presented posters, and third-year students gave full research presentations. Providing valuable opportunities to refine communication skills and build confidence in presenting to diverse audiences.
Prof. Zoe Waller from UCL London was welcomed as the plenary speaker, giving interesting insights into the many faces of DNA structure and function. Another highlight of the conference was the conference dinner at the stunning Baltic Art Gallery, an evening which provided further opportunities for networking, discussions about science and everything beyond.
Engagement with industry remained central to the conference. Contributions from industrial partners included dedicated panel discussions on career pathways and sector challenges providing valuable knowledge about life after PhD. Mock interviews were offered to attendees, giving students opportunities to develop practical career skills in a supportive environment.
Overall, the 2026 MoSMed CDT Conference was a highly successful event, reinforcing the strength of its collaborative network and its commitment to training the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists. It also set the stage for the final CDT conference, to be hosted in Durham in April 2027.