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.

 

Contact Details

1. Please explain why you would like to attend the conference, and what you hope to gain from attending - 75-100 words *

2. Please indicate which session categories you would be most interested in attending and why? (e.g. Oncology, Genetics, Radiology etc.) - 75-100 words *

3. As this is a multidisciplinary conference, people affected by breast cancer will be equal stakeholders in contributing to this event. Please explain how you would contribute to this event if you attended - up to 100 words *

4. Please identify which associations or organisations you are affiliated to, if any

5. We would be keen to get those attending to promote the conference to other stakeholders. If you were to attend, would you be happy to do any of the below (please tick all that apply):

6. As a bursary holder, we would encourage you to attend the whole meeting, including the Sunday evening welcome event. If you are only able to attend for some of the meeting, please indicate here: *

Please indicate where you will be travelling from: *

7. Do you have any specific requirements we should be aware of? (please note, this will NOT be included as part of the selection process but will be to help us support all those selected to attend)

8. Breast Cancer Now would like to contact you in future regarding our similar events and research opportunities. If you already hear from us, we will continue to contact you in the same way. If you would like to hear from us in the future, please indicate your preferred method of contact for such information by ticking the relevant boxes below:

9. If you are successful in securing a bursary, will you be attending alone or with a carer as you would otherwise be unable to come? *

10. Please confirm you understand and accept the implications the ABPI Code has on patient advocate attendance. *

 

Guidance for applicants

  1. Only standard travel UK will be reimbursed. Expenses in relation to travel by private car are refundable only when it is demonstrably more efficient or due to mobility or other considerations. The current private car mileage rate is 45p per mile
  2. Travel will need to be arranged by the successful applicant and costs will be reimbursed post-conference upon production of receipts. An expense claim form will be issued
  3. If you are unable to get to Birmingham by 1700 on the Sunday, please contact the conference organisers
  4. Registration to the symposium will be organised by the Conference Organiser
  5. Accommodation at the Hyatt Regency Hotel will be arranged by the Conference Organiser

 

By completing and submitting this form you agree to the following conditions:


KC Jones (the Event Organiser) and Breast Cancer Now (UKIBCS Host) will use the information provided on this form to help select patients to receive a bursary to attend the UKIBCS.  The information you provide will be used sensitively and appropriately in managing your participation in the event, and our relationship with you.

I understand and confirm that in providing information about myself and submitting this form, I give KC Jones my permission to store and use the information I supply in the ways described above.

You can change the way you hear from us at any time by emailing ukibcs@kc.jones.co.uk.

Thank You

Thank you for your Patient Advocate Bursary application.

Applications will be reviewed by the committee after the application deadline on Monday 15 September 2025 at 10am. We expect to send application decisions a couple of weeks after the deadline.

A application acknowledgement email will be issued shortly, if you do not receive this please check your junk folder before contacting us on 01332 227776.

 

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