New Scientist presents ...
Instant Expert: The future of medicine
Saturday 18 May, 10am - 5pm | Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL
*** SUPER EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT ***
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Every week the pages of New Scientist are packed with reports of promising studies into the full range of human biology. But how does the latest research become medical treatments that you’d receive in a hospital? What are the most recent treatments to be approved, how do they work and how significant a breakthrough do they represent?
Join our one-day masterclass to hear from six pioneering researchers who are leading the way in creating new diagnostic tests and treatments to tackle some of society’s most serious conditions, from Alzheimer’s to diabetes, and even aging itself.
NEW EVENT FORMAT FOR 2024
We are always seeking ways to make our events more inclusive and to find new ways to deliver value to you. For 2024 we have reduced the ticket prices and introduced a new ticket option “super early bird” for our Instant Expert events. All our Instant Expert events will be held at Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London. An Instant Expert ticket will no longer included refreshments or lunch, but the agenda includes a lunch break and there are many great eateries close to Conway Hall to choose from. But what doesn’t change is that each event will continue to feature six expert speakers sharing their knowledge and latest research on the event topic. We hope you like the changes we have made to the event format for 2024, and as always we welcome your feedback.
At this Instant Expert, you’ll:
- Explore the fascinating science behind ageing.
- Discover how the latest science is translated into real medical treatments that benefit us all.
- Gain insights about the leading-edge research that is helping doctors diagnose and treat conditions in ways that were previously unthinkable.
Talks and speakers:
Dementia - the era of new diagnostics and treatments: is this the start of the end?
Jonathan Rohrer, Professor of Neurology, University College London
This talk will cover the newest ways of diagnosing and treating dementia, with a particular focus on Alzheimer’s disease. It will discuss the latest in digital technologies and wearables as well as looking into whether diagnoses might be made with a simple blood test in the future. Potential new treatments for dementia include gene therapies and antibody treatments that target specific proteins like amyloid. With new anti-amyloid therapies recently showing positive results in drug trials, is this the start of the end for dementia?
Genes regulating ageing and the quest for immortality
Joao Pedro de Magalhaes, Chair of Molecular Biogerontology, University of Birmingham
People have always sought eternal life and everlasting youth. Although the causes of ageing remains largely mysterious, hundreds of genes are now known to regulate ageing in model organisms. Genes can increase longevity by up to 10 fold and retard the process of ageing as a whole in animal models. Applying this knowledge to improve human health would have huge benefits. Besides, lifespan varies dramatically between similar species: mice die of old age at 3-4 years of age, dogs cannot live more than 30 years, yet humans can live over 100 years and some animals can live even longer. Studies of species with exceptional longevity or disease resistance, like naked mole rats that are resistant to cancer or bowhead whales that live over 200 years, may help treat and prevent human diseases.
A Paradigm Shift in Type 1 Diabetes: Early Detection and Intervention
Rachel Besser, Paediatrician and Researcher at NHS, University of Oxford
One hundred years ago, the discovery of insulin turned type 1 diabetes from a death sentence into a chronic condition. The intervening decades have seen improved treatments for those living with type 1. Now we are entering a new era of early detection and intervention, made possible due to improved knowledge about the natural history of the condition, enhanced genetic and immunological technologies to detect early makers of disease, and for the first time, a drug that can delay disease onset, with hope for the future of preventing disease altogether.
Brain stimulation to repair and enhance brain function
Nick Davis, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, The Manchester Metropolitan University
Over the past century we have learned a huge amount about how the brain works. Using advanced techniques like MRI and EEG, we can see how the activity of the brain changes when we see, feel, and think. More recently, researchers have found ways to use this information to develop treatments for neurological disorders. Non-invasive brain stimulation may unlock new possibilities - but could stimulation be used to improve brain function in healthy people? Nick Davis will show how brain stimulation works, and explain why scientists are excited about its possibilities.
2 more exciting talks to be announced soon...
Who should attend?
Anyone interested in medicine, whatever your age or background. Whether you're a scientist, a student or simply a fascinated human being, Instant Expert: The future of medicine offers the chance to learn directly from the experts at our one-day masterclass.
Benefits of attending:
- Become an expert in one day
- Informal set-up, meet like minded people
- Open your mind, be inspired
- Unique chance to ask your burning questions to our experts
What's included in your ticket:
- In-depth and engaging talks from six leading scientists
- Ask-an-expert Question Time session
- Your chance to meet our six speakers and New Scientist host
- Exclusive on-the-day New Scientist subscription deal, book and merchandise offers
Booking information:
The event will be held at the Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL
Doors will open at 9:15am, with talks commencing at 10am sharp. The event will finish at 5pm.
We require the name of each person attending - please ensure this is provided at the time of booking. If you need to change the name of an attendee, please notify us as soon as possible: live@newscientist.com
Eventbrite will email you your ticket(s) immediately after purchase. Please remember to bring your ticket(s) with you as you'll need it to gain entry. We can scan tickets from a print out, or off the screen of a phone / tablet / smartwatch.
The schedule / exact running order for the day will be confirmed closer to the event, and will be emailed to all ticket holders.
Lunch will NOT be provided at this event. Visitors are welcome to bring their own food, or purchase lunch at one of the many establishments around Red Lion Square and the surrounding area.
Should you require details about disabled access, please contact us at: live@newscientist.com
Tickets are non-transferable to any other New Scientist event.
All tickets are non-refundable.
New Scientist reserves the right to alter the event and its line-up, or cancel the event. In the unlikely event of cancellation, all tickets will be fully refunded. New Scientist Ltd will not be liable for any additional expenses incurred by ticket holders in relation to the event.
Tickets are subject to availability and are only available in advance through Eventbrite.