Student Prize winners share their experiences at Diabetes UK Professional Conference 2025

Sarah Hassen’s experience

Sarah participated in a wide range of sessions focused on the latest advances in diabetes care and research. On the first day, she explored new technologies for diabetes monitoring and management, such as continuous glucose monitoring and closed-loop insulin pumps. These sessions were directly relevant to her PhD work on diabetes development and helped her expand her knowledge of the field.

The second day featured discussions on the links between diabetes, heart, and kidney health, as well as the importance of managing multiple long-term conditions. These topics closely matched Sarah’s research interests in cardiometabolic and renal conditions. 

On the final day, Sarah presented her poster on long-term conditions in people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This interactive session provided valuable networking opportunities and constructive feedback on her methodology and research approach. The questions and discussions encouraged her to look at her work from new perspectives and consider future research opportunities. Sarah reflected that presenting her work and receiving feedback not only boosted her confidence but also helped her develop a more critical approach to her research. 

Sara Naderpour’s experience

Sara’s abstract, "Association Between Type 2 Diabetes and Fracture Risk: Site-Specific Differences," was shortlisted for the Diabetes UK Primary Care Poster Award. She presented her research in a dedicated five-minute session followed by a Q&A, and later displayed her poster, which led to in-depth discussions about her systematic review and meta-analysis.

Sara attended several symposia on topics such as predicting and preventing diabetes complications, health inequalities, stigma in healthcare, and diabetes in people who do not appear overweight. She also explored the exhibition area to learn about the latest products, research, and initiatives in diabetes prevention and management. 

The conference also provided excellent networking opportunities, allowing her to connect with researchers and professionals for valuable discussions and potential future collaborations. 

Apply for the next Student Prize

Sarah and Sara’s experiences show how the Student Prize can support academic growth, skill development, and professional networking.

The prize offers up to £500 to cover the cost of attending a conference (where a paper or poster is being presented), for research data collection, or for specialist training not available at your university.

Interested students are encouraged to apply for the next round to take advantage of these opportunities. 

For more details, visit:

https://arc-em.nihr.ac.uk/news/next-round-student-prize-now-open-4