DataSHIELD Conference
About this Event
Welcome to the DataSHIELD Conference!
The DataSHIELD Conference is an annual community meeting focused on collaboration between researchers, developers and users of DataSHIELD software and infrastructure. Rather than a traditional conference format, it is informal and discussion led, creating space for detailed conversations, idea sharing and shaping future work in an open and relaxed setting.
The 2026 conference will be held in Liverpool, UK from 6th to 9th October, with sessions based at the Hope Street Hotel. The programme will include a mix of talks, training workshops, demonstrations and discussion sessions focused on the development and use of DataSHIELD. Alongside the main programme, there will be dedicated opportunities for networking, as well as social activities across the city.
Abstract Submission
Abstracts submissions are now open: 2026 DataSHIELD Conference Abstract Submission
Abstacts for talks, discussion sessions, and software demonstrations close at 5:00pm on 27th May 2026 (BST). For abstracts requiring visas, where the relevant box has been ticked on the abstract form, the deadline is 30th April, with decisions issued by 15th May.
Call for posters closes 17:00 (BST) 15th September 2026 unless allocation is filled.
Registration
Tickets are £390.00 including VAT and fees, offering excellent value with a full programme of activity and networking. Registration includes dinner, inspiring keynote talks, networking and a range of opportunities for training and professional development. Attendees will also enjoy a conference dinner and a tour.
We’re also offering optional training courses to build your skills:
Introduction to DataSHIELD: £96.96 incl vat and fees
Training course for deployers: £129.05 Inc vat and fees
If a purchase order is required for you to complete payment, please contact the DataSHIELD organising team with your request and details of what is required. Email: [email protected]
Key dates for your diary:
- Abstract submissions close: 30 April
- Submission feedback: 22 May
- Poster submissions open until 15 September
Follow event updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/datashield/posts/ and engage for free in our Forum: https://datashield.discourse.group/
Please note the conference programme is subject to change.
Limited capacity registration may close if capacity filled.
Tuesday 6 October 2026
Tuesday 6 October 2026 – Workshops
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Registration
Host: DataSHIELD Team
Info: Arrival and registration for workshop attendees.
🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Introductory Lecture
Host: Tim Cadman
🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Lunch
Info: Lunch and informal networking.
🕑: 03:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Parallel Workshop 1
Host: Tim Cadman / Dave
Info: Parallel workshop session.
🕑: 03:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Parallel Workshop 2
Host: Tim Cadman / Ruben
Info: Parallel workshop session.
Please note the conference agenda is subject to change.
Wednesday 7 October 2026
🕑: 08:45 AM - 09:15 AM
Registration
Host: DataSHIELD Team
Info: Delegate registration.
🕑: 09:15 AM - 09:30 AM
Welcome and Housekeeping
Host: Becca Wilson
Info: Welcome to the conference and housekeeping information.
🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Keynote speaker Iain Buchan
Info: he conference will feature a welcome address from Iain Buchan of the University of Liverpool, where he is Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Innovation, Director of Civic Health Innovation Labs (CHIL), and W H Duncan Chair of Public Health Systems.
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Refreshment Break and Poster Viewing
Info: Coffee break and opportunity to view posters.
🕑: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Stage 1 / Stage 2 Discussion Panel
Host: Paul Burton / Demetris Avraam
Info: Discussion panel on applying DataSHIELD 1-stage and 2-stage analysis, including considerations around heterogeneity.
🕑: 12:30 PM - 02:00 PM
Lunch and Poster Viewing
Info: Lunch, networking and poster viewing.
🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Privacy, Statistical Methods and Governance
Info: Presentations from Hayley Jones, Elisabetta Sciacca , Roberto Villegas-Diaz, Andreas Mändle covering statistical methods, governance, auditability and analytical tools within the DataSHIELD ecosystem.
🕑: 03:30 PM - 04:00 PM
Refreshment Break
🕑: 07:30 PM - 11:00 PM
Conference Dinner
Info: Details to follow
Please note the conference agenda is subject to change.
Thursday 8 October 2026
🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:30 AM
Registration
Info: Delegate registration.
🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Medical Research Council
🕑: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Edward Burn
Info: The programme includes Edward Burn from the University of Oxford where he is Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Health Economics. His research uses routinely collected health data and the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) common data model to support large scale, privacy preserving health data research across national and international datasets.
🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Refreshment Break
🕑: 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM
Routine Healthcare Data and Applications
Info: Presentations exploring routine healthcare data, secure data environments and privacy-preserving federated analytics. from Kimon Krenz , Olly Butters , Daniel Mwanga and Agnes Kiragga.
🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Lunch
Info: Lunch and networking.
🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Community Software Updates
Host: Opal / MOLGENIS
Info: Community software update session
🕑: 02:30 PM - 03:00 PM
Refreshment Break
Info: Coffee break and networking.
🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:15 PM
Public and Patient involvement
Host: Dale Kirkwood, Maria Soc and Sian Cunningham
🕑: 03:15 PM - 04:15 PM
Community Discussion
Info: Open community discussion session.
🕑: 04:15 PM - 05:50 PM
Networking Reception
Please note the conference agenda is subject to change.
Friday 9 October 2026
🕑: 08:45 AM - 09:00 AM
Registration
Info: Delegate registration.
🕑: 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Nicholas Lane
Info: We’re pleased to welcome keynote speaker Nicholas Lane from the University of Cambridge, where he is Professor of Computer Science and Technology and Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in De-centralized AI. Nic is also co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Flower Labs and leads the Cambridge Machine Learning Systems Lab (CaMLSys). His work has helped shape advances in federated learning, machine learning systems, and on-device AI.
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:40 AM
AI / ML / Innovation
Host: Yannick Marcon / David Sarrat González
Info: Presentations on AI, machine learning and innovation within the DataSHIELD ecosystem.
🕑: 10:40 AM - 11:10 AM
Refreshment Break
Info: Coffee break and networking.
🕑: 11:10 AM - 12:50 PM
Industry, Platforms and Infrastructure
Info: Presentations and software demonstrations covering platform development, infrastructure, deployment and research environment tools from Tim Cadman , Florian Schwarz , Vishnu V Chandrabalan , Saurav Nair Sudhar , Bastian Reiter.
🕑: 12:50 PM - 01:00 PM
Closing Remarks
Info: Closing remarks and conference close.
Please note the conference agenda is subject to change.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 96.96 to GBP 390.00
