Patient Advocate Bursary applications now being accepted
Deadline Monday 15 September 2025, 10am

The UK Interdisciplinary Breast Cancer Symposium is the UK’s premier breast cancer conference. Following on from the successful fourth meeting in Birmingham in 2024, we are pleased to invite you to the fifth symposium on 19 -20 January 2026 at the International Convention Centre, Broad St, Birmingham B1 2EA hosted by Breast Cancer Now.

The treatment of breast cancer has for many years been dependent on the interaction of professionals from many disciplines. Research into improving our understanding of this complex disease and prospects for improving its prevention and treatment also require interdisciplinary collaboration to make meaningful advances.  Patients are at the heart of this collaboration, and patients are warmly invited to attend this symposium. 

We have 30 bursaries available to breast cancer patients and people affected by breast cancer, living in the UK, to attend the fifth UK Interdisciplinary Breast Cancer Symposium. We will also consider applications for funding for travel and accommodation for carers accompanying those attending the conference if you would otherwise be unable to come.  Please contact the Conference Organiser if you would like to apply for this support.  

The bursary will cover: 

• reasonable travel expenses for attendance at the symposium
• accommodation at the conference hotel, the Hyatt Regency on Sunday 18 and Monday 19 January 2026, which is linked to the conference centre
• a welcome introductory event on the afternoon of Sunday 18 January 2026

If you are awarded a bursary, the Conference Organiser will arrange complimentary registration for you, and hotel accommodation, if required, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. You will need to arrange travel yourself, and then claim your expenses from upon production of receipts, following the Symposium. You should book your travel as soon as you know you have been successful, so that you can obtain the cheapest fare available. The bursary aims to cover travel up to a limit of £150 but we can discuss this on an individual basis; the UKIBCS organisers will consider the level of reimbursement on an individual basis.

Patients wishing to attend the symposium who do not require accommodation and will not incur any travel costs can still apply for complimentary registration and a place at the welcome event by completing this application form.

ABPI Code of Practice implications on attendance for Patient Advocates: The ABPI code prevents Industry partners from interacting with Patient Advocates, therefore access to the Industry Exhibition Hall or Industry Symposia within the programme will be not be permitted. Patient Advocates will have access to all other areas of the Symposium including catering, charity stand, posters and non-Industry sessions.

A Patient Advocate welcome session will form part of the UKIBCS. This will begin at 17:00 on Sunday 18 January at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and an informal buffet dinner and drinks will be provided.

You will meet other breast cancer patients and be given the opportunity to network and exchange ideas and views.

If you have any questions then please call 01332 227776 or email ukibcs@kc-jones.co.uk