May
19
to 20 May
Military Surgical Science Symposium 2026
Join us at Military Surgical Science Symposium 2026 - Hosted in partnership with the Conflict Wound Research Network (CWRN), this event promises to bring together leading surgeons, military clinicians, scientists, and industry partners from across the UK and overseas. We are proud to welcome you to the inspiring surroundings of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
The conference will once again provide a platform for military and civilian surgical communities to exchange expertise on the challenges of trauma care, innovation in surgery, and the translation of battlefield medicine into civilian practice.
Confirmed speakers & panellists
Contributors
MS³ 2026 brings together senior leaders from military medicine, academic surgery, government science, and clinical innovation.
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Mr Tim Mitchell
President, Royal College of Surgeons of England
Tim Mitchell is a Consultant ENT Surgeon at University Hospital Southampton. He has been a MRCS examiner since 2004 and was Chair of the Court of Examiners at RCS England from 2014–2017. Elected to Council in 2017, he served as Vice President from 2020–2023 and was elected President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2023. He has been a strong advocate for equity and inclusion and led the implementation of RCS England's response to the Kennedy report.
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Colonel Professor Nigel Tai CBE
UK Defence Professor of Military Surgery
Colonel Nigel Tai CBE is the UK Defence Professor of Military Surgery. He undertook a research fellowship in novel vascular conduits at University College London, gaining a Master of Surgery degree in 2001 before spending a year as a Trauma Fellow in Johannesburg General Hospital, South Africa. Appointed to the Royal London Hospital as Consultant in Trauma and Vascular Surgery in 2005, he has undertaken numerous deployments overseas and has served in leadership roles including Director of Trauma at the Royal London Hospital and Founding Head of jHubMed — the Defence Medical Services' Innovation Accelerator. He is a Clinical Professor of Trauma Surgery and Innovation at Queen Mary University London, where he currently leads a team of trauma academics and computer scientists developing decision support tools for military and civilian trauma clinicians.
Major General Philip Carter
Surgeon General, HM Armed Forces
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Professor Karim Brohi
Professor of Trauma Sciences, Queen Mary University London
Karim Brohi is Professor of Trauma Sciences at Queen Mary University of London and Consultant Trauma and Vascular Surgeon at The Royal London Hospital. He is Director of the Centre for Trauma Sciences at QMUL and a Non-Executive Director of the London Ambulance Service. His research focuses on the response to injury, haemorrhage, coagulopathy, and precision trauma care.
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Professor Lucy Chappell
Chief Scientific Advisor, Dept of Health and Social Care & CEO, National Institute for Health and Care Research
Professor Lucy Chappell is Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the UK's largest funder of health and care research. She has overall responsibility for DHSC research and development and provides science advice to ministers across the range of health topics. Prof Chappell is also Professor of Obstetrics at King's College London, working mainly in clinical trials in pregnancy, and a practising Consultant Obstetrician at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.
Colonel Jennifer Gurney
Chief, Joint Trauma System
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Dr John Holcomb
Professor of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Dr John Holcomb received his MD from the University of Arkansas in 1985 and served in the US Army for over two decades, including as Commander of the US Army Institute of Surgical Research and Trauma Consultant for the Army Surgeon General. He helped establish the Joint Trauma System and has had multiple combat deployments. A three-time recipient of the Army's Greatest Invention award, he has published over 800 peer-reviewed articles. Over the last 5 years he has helped lead the implementation of prehospital blood programmes in the US and has volunteered in Ukraine 5 times.
Professor Aneel Bhangu
Professor of Surgery, University of Birmingham
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Surgeon Commodore Jason Smith
Medical Director, Defence Medical Services
Surgeon Commodore Jason Smith CBE KHP is the Medical Director to the UK Surgeon General and Head of Research and Clinical Innovation for the Defence Medical Services. A consultant in emergency medicine at University Hospitals Plymouth, he is the Emeritus Defence Professor of Emergency Medicine and Editor-in-Chief of BMJ Military Health. He is the Chief Investigator of SWiFT, a multi-centre randomised controlled trial of whole blood in frontline trauma recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2025.
Dr Abi Spear
Senior Principal Scientist, Dstl
Mr Lawrence Tallon
Chief Executive, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
Miss Terouz Pasha
Surgical Innovation Fellow, RCS England
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Dr Valentina Vitiello
Head of Clinical Translation, London Institute for Healthcare Engineering
Dr Valentina Vitiello is Head of Clinical Translation and Governance at the London Institute for Healthcare Engineering, King's College London, where she leads programmes accelerating the safe adoption of innovative medical technologies into clinical practice. She holds a PhD in Medical Robotics from Imperial College London and specialises in surgical technologies, regulatory strategy, and clinical study governance. Her work focuses on overcoming barriers to implementation to convert innovation into deployable clinical capability.
Scientific programme
Plenary sessions, panels & workshop
Full timetable to follow.
Day 1 — Tuesday 19 May
Opening address
Opening Address
Mr Tim Mitchell, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
Plenary
Large Scale Combat Operations — the challenge for Defence Medical Services, the Armed Forces and the UK
Maj Gen Philip Carter, Surgeon General HM Armed Forces
Plenary
What does preparation for Large Scale Combat Operations mean for surgeons?
Colonel Jennifer Gurney, Chief Joint Trauma System
Panel discussion
Research during Large Scale Combat Operations — what we have, what we want and what we need
Professor Karim Brohi · Professor Aneel Bhangu · Professor Lucy Chappell
Day 2 — Wednesday 20 May
Breakfast workshop · 0815–0915
How to get published in military and conflict trauma science
Led by Surgeon Commodore Jason Smith, Medical Director Defence Medical Services
Plenary
Conflict Wound Science — the key questions we must answer before Large Scale Combat Operations
Dr Abi Spear, Senior Principal Scientist, Dstl
Panel discussion
Rapidly converting knowledge into capability — what are the blockers and how do we defeat them?
Miss Terouz Pasha · Dr Valentina Vitiello · Mr Lawrence Tallon
Plenary
Lessons from Ukraine — which research questions will matter in the next big war?
Dr John Holcomb, Professor of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Abstracts & posters
Oral & poster presentations
Abstract submissions are now closed — corresponding authors will receive notification by 31 March 2026.
30
Oral presentation slots
5
Oral sessions across 2 days
2
Poster viewing sessions
MS³ is delighted to partner with BMJ Group. BMJ Military Health is the official journal of the event and will be publishing the top abstracts from the symposium. The submission of full papers to the journal is also encouraged.
Evening programme
Gala Dinner
The Gala Dinner is a highlight of the MS³ programme. Held at The Army & Navy Club on Pall Mall — one of London's most distinguished private members' clubs — the evening offers a chance to continue the day's conversations in a more relaxed setting. A VIP after-dinner speaker will be announced shortly.
The Army & Navy Club
Tuesday 19 May 2026 · Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JN
Reception drinks · Three-course dinner with wine · Cheese and port · Coffee and petit fours · After-dinner speaker
Delegates may also purchase an additional ticket for a guest.
£100 per ticket · Purchased separately from conference registration
Registration
Conference Tickets
Secure your place at MS³ 2026.
We are pleased to offer concession tickets to Students (Undergraduate, Postgraduate and PhD), Early Career Researchers/Postdocs (Within 5 years of PhD), Resident Doctors (Pre-consultant level) and Allied Health Professionals.
Join us at The Army and Navy Club on Tuesday 19th May for our Gala Dinner. Held in one of London’s most prestigious private clubs, this event is set to provide an enjoyable evening for all. Delegates may also purchase an additional ticket for a guest.