“The BPS Pharmacology 2025 meeting was held in Belfast at the ICC, in partnership with the Irish Association of pharmacologists. Coming from the small pharmacology community in Aotearoa New Zealand, it was inspiring to see this kind of collaborative engagement. It also served as a reminder of the important role ASCEPT plays in supporting pharmacology across Aotearoa.

This was my second BPS meeting, and once again I was impressed by the breadth and quality of science presented across the symposia and poster sessions. A particular highlight was the Sir James Black Drug Discovery of the Year Prize presentation. In 2025, the award was presented to a team from AstraZeneca for their development of AKT blockers for breast cancer.

For me, however, the dedicated focus on education was a standout feature of the meeting. I teach into the University of Auckland’s pharmacology programme at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, so the chance to hear about the experiences of fellow educators and participate in interactive workshop sessions was especially valuable.

At the gala dinner, it was wonderful to see many Australian pharmacologists recognised-and many present on the night to share the occasion. Staying with the education theme, congratulations go to Dr Chantal Donovan (University of Technology Sydney), who received the Rang Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching.”