The NIHR BTRU in Precision Cellular Therapeutics Annual Meeting 2025, held at Ruskin College, Oxford on the 12th of June. It brought together leading researchers, patient partners, and stakeholders to evaluate the annual progress against the core objectives of the BTRU.
The meeting combined closed strategic sessions with open scientific presentations, aiming to:
- Review progress across research themes
- Strengthen collaboration between the NIHR and BTRU teams
- Showcase emerging research in cellular therapies
- Engage with public and patient involvement perspectives
The day began with strategic closed-door sessions, where members of the BTRU Project Management Group and NIHR representatives engaged in high-level discussions on programme direction, governance, and future priorities. These sessions laid the groundwork for continued innovation and collaboration across the unit.
The afternoon opened up to a broader audience with a compelling session on Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE), reinforcing the importance of integrating patient voices into research design and delivery. This was followed by a dynamic series of lightning talks, where researchers presented cutting-edge work spanning T-cell engineering, gene editing, immunological profiling, and digital health. Highlights included novel approaches to TCR-T cell therapy for acute myeloid leukaemia, investigations into HLA-E-targeted adoptive therapies, and insights into the phenotypic diversity of naïve T cells. Talks also addressed the safety and precision of CRISPR technologies, the development of digital tools to capture patient-reported outcomes in CAR-T therapy, and the urgent need to address ethnic inequalities in access to transplant and cellular treatments.
The event concluded with thoughtful closing remarks from Prof Melanie Calvert and Prof Ronjon Chakraverty, who reflected on the day’s achievements and outlined the path forward for the BTRU. Attendees left inspired by the depth of research, the spirit of collaboration, and the shared commitment to transforming patient outcomes through precision cellular therapeutics.
"The 2025 Annual Meeting was a powerful reflection of the progress and passion driving our work at the BTRU in Precision Cellular Therapeutics. It was incredibly rewarding to see our community come together, from strategic leaders to early-career researchers, to share insights, challenge ideas, and strengthen our collective mission. The lightning talks were a particular highlight, showcasing the depth and diversity of innovation across our themes, while the PPIE session reminded us of the vital role patients play in shaping meaningful research. I’m proud of the collaborative spirit that defined the day and excited about the momentum we’re building for the future."
— Vlada Yarosh, Programme Manager, NIHR BTRU in Precision Cellular Therapeutics
