Last month a large group of ACE members attended ICTMC26. ICTMC is the leading international platform for researchers and practitioners to present the very latest in trials methodology. Over 1200 delegates from 32 countries attended the conference which was organised by MRC-NIHR Trials Methodology Research Partnership.
The 2026 conference took place from 14-17 September at the ICC Birmingham featuring workshops, keynotes, parallel sessions, training opportunities and networking events.
Some ACE members who attended ICTMC26 have summed up their experiences and reflections of the conference below.
Vitri Darlene, Research Assistant
"I've only attended two external conferences during my PhD, both ICTMC, and each has been great for geeking out on methodology side of me. One of my favorite sessions is the pilot and feasibility trial, fascinating talks there- interested in following updates on that area going forward. A rough first 18 hours after the airline lost my poster, but my lightning talk excitement outweighed it. Gladly the replacement sorted out timely, and it was great that several people stopped by to chat, as well connecting and catch up with others. Next is Glasgow in 2028 - let's go!"
Abbie Stephen, Research Assistant
"This was my first ICTMC conference, and it was a fantastic and inspiring experience. It was a pleasure to present two posters (one on the BaDRaP study and the other on the Greener Trials project) and to share my work with researchers working in related fields. As an early career researcher, the conference provided an excellent opportunity to explore future research directions and engage with other presenters. I was particularly interested in the parallel sessions exploring the accessibility and acceptability of research studies. These sessions prompted me to reflect on how research is communicated to potential participants, and how study documentation, such as participant information sheets, can be designed to maximise accessibility and understanding. I left ICTMC feeling inspired, with new ideas to consider in my own research and an enthusiasm for the future. I am already looking forward to ICTMC 2028"
Malavika Acharya, PhD Student
"This was my second ICTMC and my first time presenting a poster of my own research from my PhD. There was a whole plethora of topics this year, with many more talks on patient and public involvement compared to last year. With researchers attending from all over the world, it was really nice to have the opportunity to meet new people in the field and hear about how trials methodology is done worldwide. I was even fortunate enough to meet a PPI contributor who is also interested in more inclusive PPI who I have been able to connect with even after the conference. All-in-all, a very interesting and informative conference!"