About the Colloquium
Overview
The Next Frontier in Medical Data 2026 is a one-day colloquium bringing together researchers from across Durham, Newcastle, and the wider North East region (spanning mathematics, physics, statistics, and health & life sciences) to explore interdisciplinary approaches to healthcare challenges.
As healthcare systems worldwide generate unprecedented volumes of complex data (from genomic sequences to medical imaging), there is an urgent need for sophisticated analytical methods. This conference showcases how techniques from mathematical modeling, statistical inference, machine learning, and computational physics are driving breakthroughs in diagnosis, treatment optimisation, and drug discovery.
Our goal is to spotlight successful interdisciplinary collaborations already underway, and to create a space where new partnerships between physical scientists and life/health scientists can take root. The colloquium provides a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and identifying shared research questions at the interface of these disciplines.
Conference Themes
- Interdisciplinary Case Studies: Examples of ongoing and past collaborations between physical and life sciences
- Mathematical Oncology: Models of tumor growth, evolution, and treatment response
- Machine Learning for Healthcare: Machine learning/AI for medical imaging, diagnosis, and prognosis
- Bayesian Methods: Statistical inference for personalised medicine and clinical trials
- Computational Biology: Systems approaches to understanding disease mechanisms
- Physics-Informed Modelling: Incorporating physical laws into medical data analysis
- Clinical Translation: Pathways from theoretical innovation to patient care
Who Should Attend?
This colloquium is designed for:
- Researchers in mathematics, physics, and statistics (whether already collaborating on biomedical problems or curious to explore)
- Computational biologists and bioinformaticians
- Researchers in health and life sciences interested in quantitative and computational approaches
- PhD students and postdocs in quantitative sciences or medicine
- Industry professionals in medical technology and pharmaceuticals
- Healthcare data scientists and analysts
Venue & Travel
Conference Venue
The colloquium will take place at Durham University.
Location:
Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics - West
Durham University
South Road
Durham DH1 3LE
United Kingdom
The venue is equipped with modern presentation facilities and is fully accessible.
Getting to Durham
By Train
Durham is well-connected by rail. Durham railway station is approximately 20 minutes walk from the University, or a short taxi ride.
- From London: ~3 hours (King's Cross station)
- From Edinburgh: ~2 hours
- From Manchester: ~2 hours
By Air
Nearest airports:
- Newcastle Airport (~30 minutes by car/taxi or ~50 minutes by metro & train)
- Teesside Airport (~40 minutes by car/taxi)
- Edinburgh Airport (~2.5 hours by train)
- London Airports (~3.5 hours by train)
Accommodation
We may be able to provide limited accommodation for attendees. Please contact the organisers for details.
Durham offers various accommodation options within walking distance of the conference venue:
Hotels
- Radisson Blu Durham
- Durham Marriott Hotel Royal County
- Premier Inn Durham City Centre
- The Durham Hotel
- Travelodge Durham
We recommend booking early, especially during the university term and peak tourist season.
University Accommodation
Limited university accommodation may be available. Please contact the organisers for details.
About Durham
Durham is a historic cathedral city in northeast England, renowned for its Norman cathedral and castle (both UNESCO World Heritage Sites). The compact city centre offers excellent restaurants, cafes, and cultural attractions, making it an ideal destination for combining academic engagement with sightseeing.
Contact
For venue-specific questions or accessibility requirements, please contact maximilian.von-wietersheim-kramsta@durham.ac.uk.