Prevent Breast Cancer's Research Conference

Prevent Breast Cancer’s Research Conference will be an interdisciplinary conference focused on risk prediction and reduction. Organised by Prevent Breast Cancer Experts, and leading Clinicians and Scientists, Cliona Kirwan, Lester Barr, Sacha Howell, and Rob Clarke.

• Date: September 24th – 25th 2024
• Timings: Tuesday 24th, 12.30pm until 5pm, followed by a drinks reception. Wednesday 25th, 9am until 5pm.
• Location: by Melia, Manchester City Centre
• Ticket Pricing: Early Bird Tickets for Consultants and Researchers are £120 (£130.72 including ticket processing fees). From 5th July 2024, standard tickets will be £150. Tickets for Nurses, Trainees, and Students are £80.

• Updates on: BRAID study, MyPeBS study, POSH study and the Sarah Harding Legacy Study.
• Genetics
• Polygenic risk scores
• Predictive algorithms
• Breast density
• Lifestyle interventions
• Risk-reducing medications, featuring both clinical and laboratory-based studies.

Hear from some of the fantastic experts at the Prevent Breast Cancer Research Conference who are working tirelessly to prevent the disease, covering topics from personalised screening to predicting young onset breast cancer:

Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon

Lester Barr MBE is a Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon, as well as a Co-Founder and Honorary President of Prevent Breast Cancer.

Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon, Clinician Scientist in Surgical Oncology, and Professor of Surgical Trials.

As well as being a Consultant Breast Surgeon, Cliona runs a research laboratory, delivers clinical research and clinical trials and is a key member of the Prevent Breast Cancer team, as Chair of our Scientific Advisory Board.

Professor of Breast Biology, University of Manchester

Professor Rob Clarke is Director of the Manchester Breast Centre and Head of the Breast Biology Research Lab in the Oglesby Cancer Research Building, Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester.

Consultant at Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, and Chair of medical genetics and cancer epidemiology at the University of Manchester.

Professor Evans has established a national and international reputation in clinical and research aspects of cancer genetics.

Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology

Dr Sacha Howell runs the Family History Clinic at The Nightingale Centre and conducts translational breast cancer prevention research.

Senior Lecturer, Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester

Andrew is particularly interested in how breast cancer is initiated, as an important risk factor for breast cancer is raised mammographic density.

Consultant Oncoplastic Breast and Endocrine Surgeon, The Nightingale Centre

Mr Rajiv Dave offers extensive expertise across various aspects of breast cancer care, including health inequalities and the global challenge of breast cancer.

Professor in Intelligent Medical Imaging, University of Manchester.

Professor Sue Astley’s research group develops AI-based imaging biomarkers for breast cancer risk prediction and early detection.

Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon, The Nightingale Centre

James Harvey specialises in research into surgical outcomes from breast surgery and in the development and assessment of new devices in breast surgery.

Professor of Health Psychology, University of Manchester.

David has led several projects relating to breast cancer early detection, including examining psychological impact of receiving risk estimates or false positive test results.

Associate Professor of Genomic Informatics, University of Southampton

Dr Tapper’s research is based around improved cancer diagnosis, risk prediction and personalised treatment.

Research Fellow, Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester

Dr Harrison has over 20 years experience in cancer research and now covers topics from risk and prevention to invasive and metastatic disease.

Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon

Mr Sumohan Chatterjee works at The Nightingale Centre and specialises oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery.

Department of Radiology, University of Cambridge

As an academic breast radiologist, Professor Fiona Gilbert is evaluating risk-based screening and impact of Artificial Intelligence and novel functional imaging in cancer.

Research Fellow, Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester

Dr Bruno Simões investigates molecular mechanisms that lead to aberrations in the tumour-initiating cells to develop better breast cancer chemoprevention approaches for high-risk women.

Research Dietician at the Prevent Breast Cancer Research Unit, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, University of Manchester.

For the past 23 years, Dr Michelle Harvie has researched optimum diet and exercise strategies for the prevention and management of breast cancer. This research includes one of the first reports that weight loss can reduce breast cancer risk, pioneering work with intermittent fasting and delivering breast cancer prevention interventions to women attending high risk clinics and breast screening.

Alongside a comprehensive programme that covers the current status of breast cancer prevention, the conference will include updates on the following studies:

• BRAID: This study is to find out whether extra scans with one of several types of scans, is helpful in diagnosing breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue.
• MyPeBS: Comparing personalised breast cancer screening with the standard breast cancer screening for women between 40 and 70 years old.
• POSH: A study looking at the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in younger women with and without an inherited genetic change.
• Sarah Harding Legacy: BCAN-RAY (Breast Cancer Risk Assessment in Young Women) has been set up following Sarah’s dying wish to find new ways to spot the signs of the disease earlier.

​If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities for this conference, please contact

We would like so say a huge thank you to our event sponsors for making this conference possible.

You can view the provisional programme at: https://preventbreastcancer.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Conference-Programme-PDF-May-2024.pdf

is the only UK charity entirely dedicated to the prediction and prevention of breast cancer – we’re committed to freeing the world from the disease altogether. Unlike many cancer charities, we’re focused on preventing, rather than curing. Promoting early diagnosis, screening and lifestyle changes, we believe we can stop the problem before it starts. And being situated at the only breast cancer prevention centre in the UK, we’re right at the front-line in the fight against the disease. Join us today and help us create a future free from breast cancer. If you have any questions or concerns, us today.You

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

INNSiDE by Meliá Manchester, 1 First Street, Manchester, United Kingdom