Human Specific Research Community Midlands
Established to connect researchers across the Midlands who share an interest in advancing human-specific research, the Human Specific Research Community Midlands will provide a space for them to meet, connect, and build meaningful collaborations whilst ensuring their priorities and experiences are represented within the wider Human Specific Research Community.
The Midlands community is supported by regional champions Professor Chris Denning and Professor Cinzia Allegrucci at the University of Nottingham, Dr Liam Weaver at the University of Warwick, and Dr Mhairi Morris at Loughborough University, who are helping to shape its direction with their invaluable insight and dedication to human-specific research.
Launch Event
Tuesday 24 November 2026 | 10am – 4pm | Senate Chamber, Trent Building, University of Nottingham | Free to attend
The Midlands has a strong tradition of making, testing, translating and applying innovation. The Human Specific Research Community Midlands launch event will bring together researchers from across the region to explore human-specific innovation, commercialisation and translational research – laying the foundations for a connected and engaged regional community.
Deadline for tickets: Friday 30 October 2026
Regional Community Grants
As part of the Human Specific Research Community Midlands launch, we are offering two £9,000 Regional Community Grants to support human-specific, animal-free research across the region. We are grateful to Midlands Innovation Health for contributing £6,000 towards these two grants, helping turn projects and connections into translational impact and meaningful research partnerships across the Midlands.
Regional Community Grant 1: The Impact Factor
Funding Opportunity: Up to £9,000 | Duration: up to 1 year
Have an innovative idea that could replace the use of animals or animal-derived products?
Apply for The Impact Factor for the opportunity to pitch your project, Dragon’s Den-style, at our launch event.
The successful applicant will receive up to £9,000 in funding to help bring their human-specific research project to life.
Deadline to apply: Sunday 1 November 2026, 23:59 BST
Regional Community Grant 2: The Match-Maker
Funding Opportunity: Up to £9,000 | Duration: up to 1 year
Our launch event will provide an ideal setting for human-specific researchers across the Midlands to connect, exchange knowledge and expertise, share resources, and identify opportunities for collaboration. The Match-Maker Grant will support a collaborative project developed through new or strengthened connections within the Midlands community.
The successful collaboration will receive up to £9,000 in funding to help bring their human-specific research project to life as a partnership.
We’re delighted to announce Qkine as an Exhibitor Sponsor for the Midlands launch event
Qkine manufactures high-purity, animal origin-free growth factors, cytokines, and other complex bioactive proteins for life science applications, including stem cell and organoid culture. Qkine addresses fundamental biological, quality, and scale-up challenges by integrating proprietary recombinant protein production processes with protein engineering approaches, delivering more reliable tools for research and bio-manufacturing. Actively supporting and innovating in emerging fields such as 3D stem cell models, organoids, cellular agriculture, cell therapy, regenerative medicine and organ-on-a-chip, Qkine aims to accelerate the impact of these technologies on human health and wellbeing.
Meet Our Champions
Professor Chris Denning
Based at the University of Nottingham, Professor Chris Denning uses stem cells to create mini hearts to understand how drugs and disease affect the cardiovascular system.
Professor Cinzia Allegrucci
Based at the University of Nottingham, Professor Allegrucci’s research uses stem cell models to understand how cancer develops and becomes resistant to treatment.
Dr Mhairi Morris
Based at Loughborough University, Mhairi A. Morris, PhD, is a Reader in Exercise Oncology where she conducts research into the obesogenic breast cancer microenvironment using novel 3D co-culture models to explore breast cancer growth and metastasis. Outside of academia, Mhairi is a certified Les Mills Dance™ and BodyJam™ instructor.
Dr Liam Weaver
Based at the University of Warwick, Dr Weaver’s research uses in silico approaches for critical care and emergency medicine.
What to expect on the day
- Presentations – Showcasing the outstanding human-specific research taking place in the Midlands.
- Roundtable Discussions – An opportunity to connect with fellow researchers, build new connections, and help shape the future of the community.
- Match-Maker Networking Opportunity – A dedicated networking session designed to help researchers connect, exchange ideas and develop meaningful new collaborations. To support the development of these partnerships, up to £9,000 in grant funding is available to support a new research collaboration that emerges from the event. Get ahead by filling out your Match Maker profile on the Forum!
- The Impact Factor: Turning an Idea into Action – A Dragon’s Den-style pitching session, offering the chance to secure up to £9,000 to support a human-focused research project.
Deadline for tickets: Friday 30 October 2026
The Impact Factor Dragons
Meet our panel of Dragons – judges of the Dragon’s Den-style pitches taking place live on the day! Our shortlisted hopefuls will be pitching for the chance to secure a Regional Community Grant at this launch event. Here’s what the Dragons have to say:
Carla Owen: Animal Replacement Dragon
Dr Nicola Kingswell: Commercial Dragon
Sarah Farrow: Community Dragon
Dr Eric Hill: Science Dragon
Carla Owen, CEO at Animal Free Research UK: “I’m excited to support the next generation of mid-career researchers to take forward animal-free scientific approaches that put humans at the heart of medical research.”
Dr Nicola Kingswell, Scientific Director / CEO / Co-owner of Labskin Limited: “In the projects presented, I’ll be looking for a well thought out route to commercialisation and what will be required beyond the initial funding pot.“
Sarah Farrow, Business Development Manager at Bitesize Bio: “It’s a privilege to be part of a community driving forward the amazing work in new approach methods, because when scientists connect and share, the impact grows exponentially.“
Dr Eric Hill, Reader in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Loughborough University: “I’ll be looking for projects that address important scientific or societal challenges with a clear rationale, strong methodology, and the potential to advance human-relevant research.“
Join our Forum
A dedicated space for our Human Specific Research Community Midlands exists – to ask questions, share knowledge and expertise, and connect with like-minded peers. Watch this community grow and advance human-focused research in your region. Register in a few simple steps or log in to join the conversation: