UKABIF Time for change summit 2025

 

We are counting down to the UKABIF Summit 2025, which will take place on Monday 3rd November at The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, Manchester, M50 3AZ.   This promises to be a day to educate, enlighten and connect!

*Timings are subject to change

 

8.30 – 9.45 Registration, Poster Viewing and Exhibition

 

9.45– 9.50      Welcome from UKABIF Chair, Professor Andrew Bateman

9.50 – 10.50       KEYNOTE

 

Traumatic Brain Injury Classification: developing a meaningful system beyond 'Mild/Moderate/Severe

Dr Geoff Manley, Chief of Neurosurgery, Zuckerberg General Hospital; Professor & Vice Chair of Neurosurgery, University of California.

 

For many years acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been classified as mild, moderate or severe according to the patient's conscious level at presentation (as measured by the Glasgow Coma Scale). This is often not a good predictor of lived experience for TBI survivors. The community of practice led by NINDS and NIH are moving towards a multidimensional characterisation of traumatic brain injury taking account of not just Clinical factors but the patient's Imaging and Biomarker findings as well as pre-existing health that Modifies outcomes of care for survivors.

UKABIF Trustee, James Piercy will precede the main session with a panel of individuals with lived experience. They will discuss the impact of their mild/moderate/severe diagnoses and how this has affected them and their families/carers.

 

10.50 – 11. 20      Coffee, Poster Viewing and Exhibition

11.20 – 11.50  Walking the Talk: Executive Functioning and Mental Capacity
Arianna Kelly Barrister, 39 Essex Chambers

In this session the presenter will look at Court of Protection case law relating to people with brain injuries, considering executive functioning, ‘fluctuating’ capacity and the need to look at both words and actions in determining capacity

11.50 - 12.00 An Update on the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Acquired Brain Injury and the ABI Action Plan

Sir John Hayes, MP and Chair of the APPG

12.00– 12.30 Using Data to Influence Policy Change

Jennifer Misak, Health Economist and author of the APPG and UKABIF's recent report on the Cost to the UK Economy of Brain Injury

Jennifer will present the economic and wellbeing costs of ABI, explaining the important consequences for policy recommendations. The discussion will also cover limitations and potential improvements in data.

 

 

12.30 – 1.00    The Minister will address the audience - this will be followed by a Q&A session

Ashley Dalton, MP and Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention in the Department of Health and Social Care

 

1.00 – 2.00      Lunch, Poster Viewing and Exhibition

2.00 - 2.30 38 days later...Reflections on the NICE Guideline for Rehabilitation of Chronic Neurological Conditions'

 
Jackie Dean (Case Manager & Occupational Therapist), Dr Gaby Parker (Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist) and Sue Williams (Social Researcher & Expert by Experience) Jackie, Gaby and Sue were all part of the NICE panel for the development of this guidance.

In this session the presenters will reflect on the recently published NICE Guideline 'Rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders including acquired brain injury' and discuss elements to be celebrated, challenges that remain, and how they each see the guideline making a difference.

 

2.30 – 3.30         SYMPOSIUM

 

No Child Left Behind: Improving Educational Support After Paediatric Acquired Brain Injury 

Chaired by Dr Emily Bennett, Consultant Clinical Psychologist & Neuropsychologist, Nottingham Children’s Hospital Chair National Acquired Brain Injury in Learning and Education Syndicate (N-ABLES)

 

40,000 children acquire a brain injury every year. This equates to one child in every class by the time they complete school!

How then, do we have an education system that is unaware,

under-resourced, and unresponsive in meeting the acquired needs of this vulnerable and sizeable group?

 

This symposium will address how through research, policy change and development of communication channels and resources N-ABLES are aiming to improve visibility and support for children and young people with acquired brain injury.

A Missed Opportunity? What the Data Tells Us About SEN Support for Children with ABI

Dr Hope Kent, Research Fellow, University of Exeter

The Education Perspective: What we've learnt from talking to teachers

Joanna Woodhouse SENCO, Member of the N-ABLES Steering Committee and Educational Professional’s Advisory Group

Policy Change to Improve the Lives of Children and Young People Returning to Education

Baroness Morris of Yardley, Member of the House of Lords and Member of the N-ABLES Steering Committee and Eden Sill, Young Expert with Experience of Acquired Brain Injury

3.30 – 4.00 Tea, Exhibition and Poster Viewing

 

4.00 – 4.30 Panel Discussion - Community Rehabilitation and Acquired Brain Injuries: What Does the Future hold?

Moderated by UKABIF Trustee Dr Alyson Norman, Associate Professor of Psychology, Plymouth University the panel will discuss how the NHS 10 Year Plan may influence the planning and delivery of rehabilitation in community settings

 

4.30 – 4.45 Closing Comments

  

DELEGATE BOOKING

Delegate booking is now open online.  An early bird discount will be applied to bookings made before 31st August 2025.  If you are a UKABIF member please be sure to login first to register at the member rate!

Member £190 (10% discount if booked before 31st August 2025)

Non Member £255 (10% discount if booked before 31st August 2025)

Additional discounts can be offered to students and those who work in the NHS and voluntary sectors.  Please email admin@ukabif.org.uk to obtain your discount code.

 

Register for this event here

Fundraising Dinner and UKABIF Awards

We will be hosting our annual UKABIF Awards and Fundraising Dinner on the evening of  Monday 3rd November. The evening will include a three course meal, presentation of the UKABIF Awards, entertainment and a prize draw.  Enjoy the company of the UKABIF team, partners and guests to celebrate the Award winners.  Tables, with 8 seats to fill, and individual places are available to book.

For more information and booking, please email admin@ukabif.org.uk.

 

Call for Poster Abstracts

UKABIF is pleased to offer space for poster presentations at the 2025 UKABIF Summit. We welcome submissions on any non-commercial topic related to acquired brain injury. This is a valuable opportunity to share your work with professionals, families, carers, and individuals with lived experience.

You are also invited to enter the UKABIF Poster Award. It is not mandatory to enter your poster for the Award, you can still submit a poster for presentation and choose to opt out of the award process as part of your abstract submission.

Abstract submission is now closed.