These events bring together researchers, health professionals, policy makers, cancer patients, and many more from across the UK and beyond – all of whom play a crucial role in driving a shared ambition to improve patient outcomes by reducing late-stage diagnosis.
Cancer Research UK's Early Diagnosis Conference 2027
Date
18-19 May 2027
Venue
The Midland, Manchester
Driving evidence into impact: Shaping policy and practice for earlier diagnosis
We are delighted to be hosting the 2027 Early Diagnosis Conference, bringing together researchers, policymakers, healthcare professionals and system leaders from across the UK and beyond. We are excited to be welcoming you to this valuable opportunity to connect, collaborate and share learning.
Keep reading to learn more about this year's conference theme, programme and opportunities to get involved.
The theme of the 2027 Early Diagnosis Conference is translating evidence into policy and practice to achieve real-world impact, resulting in improved outcomes for patients.
The conference will explore strategic and practical approaches to addressing the key challenges and opportunities in earlier diagnosis, drawing on insights and learnings from experts across the UK and internationally. Through showcasing expertise in epidemiology, implementation science and behavioural science, the programme will highlight how evidence can be translated into policy and practice to drive meaningful impact and help people live longer, better lives free from the fear of cancer.
Registration
Early bird rates available until 1st December
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Standard ticket
This ticket type is available to researchers, clinicians and academics.
Early bird rate £200 (normally £250)
Concession ticket
This ticket type is available to students, patients and public contributors, early career researchers (ECRs), and representatives from charitable organisations.
Entry to all keynote sessions, presentations and panel discussions
Opportunities to connect and network with delegates from across research, policy and practice
Refreshments and lunch on both conference days
An evening conference dinner on Tuesday 18 May
Please find details below for ECR bursary applications. Applications for people affected by cancer will be managed through a separate process, with further details available in due course.
We're inviting abstracts for oral and poster presentations, alongside workshop sessions, across the following themes:
Implementation and optimisation of screening
Supporting timely presentation by the public
Optimising the referral journey from primary to secondary care
Improving pathways and service models to support timely cancer diagnosis
Translation of innovation
We would also like to encourage abstracts which focus on inequalities in cancer early diagnosis.
Please note that each successful abstract will be allocated one conference place for the named presenter. The presenter can be the person submitting the abstract or a colleague, but they must be identified on the abstract submission form. The presenter will be required to register and pay for conference attendance, and therefore we ask that presenter details are confirmed at the point of submission.
Abstract submissions will close on Friday 13 November.
We are pleased to be offering several bursaries for Early Career Researchers. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to showcase their work through a short presentation at the conference, benefitting from feedback, insights and interaction with over 300 professionals working in early diagnosis.
Bursary recipients will also be connected with a cohort of fellow Early Career Researchers attending through the bursary scheme, providing opportunities to build networks and share experiences with colleagues at a similar stage in their careers.
The bursary includes a fully funded place at the conference as well as accommodation and travel expenses. Please note, bursary recipients must be able to attend both days in person.
ECR bursary applications will close on Friday 13 November.
If you would like to transfer your ticket to a colleague, we can arrange this up until Friday 30 April 2027.
The Midland Hotel is located at 16 Peter Street, Manchester, M60 2DS.
Manchester Oxford Road station is around a 5-minute walk away, while Manchester Piccadilly station is approximately 15 minutes on foot or a short tram ride. The nearest Metrolink stop is St Peter's Square, located next to the hotel.
Manchester city centre offers a wide range of accommodation options within walking distance of the conference venue. If you would like to stay at the conference venue itself, rooms may be available at The Midland Hotel.
We offer discounted tickets for students and trainees, and we also have bursaries available for Early Career Researchers.
If these options are not applicable to you and you require additional support in order to attend, please get in touch with the conference team via EDConference@cancer.org.uk
Earlier detection and diagnosis of cancer is a strategic priority for Cancer Research UK. Improving outcomes requires coordinated action across the entire pathway, from discovery science and translational research through to health system improvement and policy change. Reflecting the breadth and importance of this field, Cancer Research UK supports two conference series that bring together different parts of the early detection and diagnosis community to share knowledge, foster collaboration and accelerate progress.
Our Early Detection of Cancer Conference focuses primarily on the science of early cancer detection. Cancer Research UK is working with the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and OHSU Knight Cancer Institute to deliver the Early Detection of Cancer Conference series. The conference brings together researchers from multiple disciplines to share advances in early cancer biology, risk prediction, screening, epidemiology, data science and emerging technologies that could enable cancers to be detected earlier. The annual conference series is part of a long-term commitment to invest in early detection research, to understand the biology behind early-stage cancers, find new detection and screening methods and enhance uptake and accuracy of screening. The most recent conference took place in Edinburgh on 6-8 October 2026 and will return again in October 2027.
While the Early Detection of Cancer Conference focuses on generating the scientific evidence that enables earlier detection, the Cancer Research UK Early Diagnosis Conference focuses on how evidence can be translated into action. Our Cancer Research UK Early Diagnosis conference strives to bridge the gap between researchers, industry, policy makers and health system leaders to enact change across the diagnostic pathway – from addressing help seeking barriers to implementing changes to diagnostic services. The conference will provide a space to showcase epidemiology, implementation and behavioural science expertise to the wider cancer community, encouraging discussion on how to drive evidence into policy and practice changes. Our 2027 Early Diagnosis Conference will be taking place on 18th and 19th May, in Manchester.
Cancer Research UK is a supporter of the Cancer and Primary Care Research International Network (Ca-PRI) and its annual conference series. In 2027, Ca-PRI will take place on 20-21 April, followed by the Cancer Research UK Early Diagnosis Conference on 18-19 May.
The Cancer Research UK Early Diagnosis Conference focuses on how evidence can be translated into action. It brings together researchers, industry partners, policymakers and health system leaders to accelerate progress in earlier cancer diagnosis. Topics include optimising screening programmes, improving cancer recognition and referral in primary care, implementing changes to diagnostic services, and translating innovation into practice. The conference provides a platform to showcase epidemiology, implementation science and behavioural science expertise, while fostering discussion on how evidence can drive policy and practice change across the UK.
Ca-PRI 2027 will bring together researchers, healthcare professionals, and patient and public representatives from around the world to share cutting-edge research, bold ideas and new thinking in cancer with a particular focus on primary care. Drawing on perspectives from different countries and healthcare systems, the programme will explore emerging evidence, innovative methods and the big questions shaping the future of the field. In addition to cancer detection and diagnosis, Ca-PRI will be showcasing research across a wide range of topics including prevention, treatment and survivorship.
Attending both events provides a unique opportunity to follow the journey from evidence generation to real-world impact.
