WntUK 2026 – Connecting the UK Wnt Community
Welcome to WntUK 2026
WntUK is the national hub for scientists in the UK dedicated to the study of Wnt signalling—a fundamental pathway in development, tissue homeostasis, and disease. As the UK’s only meeting focused exclusively on Wnt signalling, WntUK fosters a vibrant, interdisciplinary community, promoting collaboration, knowledge exchange, and professional development across all career stages.
Overview
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Speakers
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Programme
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Register
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Sponsors
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Venue
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Overview
In November 2026, we are proud to host two interconnected events in Glasgow:
WntUK Early Career Researcher (ECR) Day – Monday 16th November, at the ARC
The inaugural WntUK ECR Day provides a focused, interactive environment for postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Designed to empower early career scientists, the day offers a welcoming space to present work, receive feedback, ask questions, and build lasting professional connections.
The programme features scientific talks, poster sessions, career development workshops, a moderated panel with senior Wnt researchers, and informal networking – fostering visibility, mentorship, and integration across the UK Wnt community.
Together, these elements promote visibility, mentorship, and integration within the UK Wnt community.
Please note: Attendance is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Submit an Abstract for ECR Day → Showcase your research and be part of the scientific programme.
Apply for ECR Travel Grants → Receive up to £250 to support attendance.
WntUK Annual Meeting – Tuesday 17th November, at the CRUK Scotland Institute
The WntUK Annual Meeting unites researchers across basic, translational, and clinical Wnt biology. The programme features invited talks from leading experts, short talks and posters from submitted abstracts, dedicated discussion sessions, and social events. As the UK’s only meeting focused exclusively on Wnt signalling, WntUK fosters a vibrant, interdisciplinary community, promoting collaboration, knowledge exchange, and networking across all career stages. The meeting also includes an ECR Invited Speaker Slot, giving emerging researchers a spotlight to showcase their work to the full community.
Submit an Abstract for the Main Meeting → Share your latest findings with the UK Wnt community.
Submit for the ECR Invited Speaker Slot → Apply for a special opportunity to present at the main meeting.
Speakers
Confirmed speakers @WntUK ECR Day
Prof Jean-Paul Vincent, The Francis Crick Institute
Prof Julia Cordero, University of Glasgow
Dr Rhys Morgan, University of Sussex
Dr Beatriz Salvador Barbero, Barts Cancer Institute
Confirmed speakers @WntUK Annual Meeting
Prof Jean-Paul Vincent, The Francis Crick Institute
Dr Annie Baker, The Institute of Cancer Research
Dr Josephine Bageritz, Centre of Organismal Studies, Heildelberg
Dr Melissa Gammons, University of Cambridge
Dr Michael Ranes, University of Oxford
Dr Alexander Raven, University of Glasgow
Dr Beatriz Salvador Barbero, Barts Cancer Institute
Scientific Programme
The current programme can be found below and is subject to change.
WntUK ECR Day – 16 November 2026
| 09:30 – 10:00 | Registration, Coffee & Informal Networking |
| 10:00 – 10:30 | Welcome to WntUK ECR Day & Ice-Breaker Activity |
SCIENTIFIC SESSION 1 |
ECR Short TalksChair: David Willnow |
| 10:30 – 11:15 |
Amy Lawlor – Anti-tumour Properties of CBFβ in WNT-Driven Breast Cancer Ines Alvarez Rodrigo – Membrane lipid composition modulates Wingless release from secreting cells and Wingless association with lipid membranes Jessica Edwards – Regional Wnt landscape in the normal colon reflects tumour biology in GEMMs |
11:15 – 11:45 |
Refreshment Break & Poster Session |
| 11:50 – 12:00 | Sponsor Technology Spotlight 1 |
SCIENTIFIC SESSION 2 |
ECR Short TalksChair: Kieran Hodson |
| 12:00 – 12:45 |
Kimberly Hartl – P53 terminates the regenerative fetal-like state after colitis-associated injury Jessica Hembrough – Understanding the Functional Importance of the Wnt Receptor FZD7 in Prostate Cancer Connor Brown – DSS-induced intestinal injury remodels hepatic metabolism and alters clonal growth dynamics in β-catenin/MYC-driven liver lesions |
12:45 – 13:45 |
Lunch & Networking |
| 13:45 – 13:55 | Sponsor Technology Spotlight 2 |
SCIENTIFIC SESSION 3 |
ECR Short TalksChair: Nadia Nasreddin |
| 13:55 – 14:40 |
Caroline Morell – Mechanically regulated WNT5A links fibrosis and immunosuppression in HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma Anton Venhuizen – Autosomal dominant Robinow Syndrome-associated Dishevelled variants promote oligomerisation to disrupt WNT signalling Federico Lupo – Gamma Delta and Alpha Beta Intraepithelial Lymphocytes in Cancer Immunosurveillance: It Takes Two to Tango |
CAREER SESSION |
Chair: Kieren Hodson |
| 15:15 – 16:00 |
Career Talk – Invited Speakers Beatriz Salvador Julia Cordero Rhys Morgan Jean-Paul Vincent
|
| 16:00 – 16:40 | Career Q&A / Panel Discussion |
| 16:40 – 17:00 | Closing Remarks, Prize Announcements & Final Reflections |
| 17:00 | Travel to Social Event |
18:00 |
Social |
| 21:30 | Travel Back to City Centre |
WntUK Main Meeting – 17 November 2026
The Robertson Trust Lecture Theatre, CRUK Scotland Institute
| 08:45 – 09:30 | Registration |
| 09:30 – 09:45 | Opening Remarks – Owen Sansom, CRUK Scotland Institute |
SESSION 1 |
Mechanistic and Structural BiologyChair: Sebastian Guettler |
| 09:45 – 10:45 |
Invited Speaker: Michael Ranes, University of Oxford Ahmed Ibrahim Akhtar – Inhibition of Wnt signaling via cleavage of the Wnt ligand by novel astacin proteases |
| 10:45 – 10:50 | Sponsor Technology Spotlight 1 |
10:50 – 11:20 |
Refreshment Break and Poster Session |
SESSION 2 |
Wnt in Developmental BiologyChair: Helen Strutt |
| 11:20 – 12:20 |
Invited Speaker: Josephine Bageritz, Centre of Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University Gemma Sutton – Rab8a-positive vesicles transport Wnt8a along cytonemes in zebrafish |
12:20 – 13:20 |
Lunch & Networking |
SESSION 3 |
Wnt Signalling in DiseaseChair: Derya Deniz Ozdemir |
| 13:20 – 14:20 |
Invited Speaker: Melissa Gammons, University of Cambridge Ian McGough – Collapse of Glypican-Dependent Wnt Gradients Drives a Skeletal RASopathy-Like Disease State |
SESSION 4 |
Wnt in CancerChair: Andrew Wood |
| 14:25 – 15:25 |
Invited Speaker: Annie Baker, The Institute of Cancer Research Shamir Montazid – AMER1 inactivation modulates just right Wnt/β-catenin signalling in colorectal cancer |
| 15:25 – 15:30 | Sponsor Technology Spotlight 2 |
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Refreshment Break & Poster Session |
SESSION 5 |
Emerging Leaders in Wnt Research |
| 16:00 – 16:30 | Invited Speaker: Erica Oliveira, The Institute of Cancer Research – WNT pathway hyperactivation exposes a vulnerability in therapy-resistant colorectal cancer |
| 16:30 – 17:00 |
Future Leaders: New Lab / New Ideas / New ToolsAlex Raven, University of Glasgow Beatriz Salvador, Barts Cancer Institute – Outcompeting the tissue: How KRas mutant cells use Wnt5a and dormancy to persist David Willnow, The Francis Crick Institute |
| 17:05 – 18:05 |
Keynote LectureJean-Paul Vincent, Francis Crick Institute – Planar diffusion of Wnt protein Sponsored by Disease Models & Mechanisms |
| 18:05 – 18:15 |
Best Speaker and Poster Prize Announcements, Closing Remarks |
| 18:15 – 19:15 |
Networking Reception |
| 19:15 – 21:00 |
Dinner |
Register
Registration is now closed. If you have any questions, please contact wntukglasgow@crukscotlandinstitute.ac.uk
Cancellation policy
Notification of cancellations must be made by email no later than Monday 3rd August to receive a full refund. No refunds can be issued after this date.
Photography
Photography will take place at this event for CRUK SI promotional and archival purposes. This may include newsletters, publications, marketing emails, webpages, and social media.
If you do not wish to be featured, please email: conference@crukscotlandinstitute.ac.uk or speak to a member of staff at reception.
Code of Conduct
Click here to view CRUK Scotland Institute’s code of conduct.
Sponsors & Support
Venue
ECR Day: The Advanced Research Centre (ARC)
11 Chapel Lane
University of Glasgow
G11 6EW
How to get here
Main Meeting: Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute (formerly the Beatson Institute)
Garscube Estate
Switchback Road
Bearsden
Glasgow G61 1BD
Email
Travel
By air
Glasgow International Airport is more convenient than Prestwick. It will take approximately 20 minutes to the Institute by taxi. Further information can be found directly via Glasgow Airport and Edinburgh Airport websites.
By bus or train
Download the West Coast Motors app to access all bus timetables.
Take the train to Westerton station if travelling from Glasgow Queen Street or Glasgow Central station. It is 10-15 minutes on foot to/from the Institute.
By car
Car parking is available at the Institute and subject to availability at a flat rate charge of £9 per day or £4.50 per half day. Booking is required in advance of attending. Taxi contacts
1st Taxis: +44 (0)141 956 3333
Glasgow Taxis: +44 (0)141 429 7070
Full information on how to find us can be found on our website.