IBMS Awards 2026 – Celebrating Biomedical Science

Hosted for the third year running by Dr Ed Patrick, a practising NHS anaesthetist and stand-up comedian, the event was packed with laughter, powerful stories and emotional moments. Ed’s unique blend of sharp humour and scientific insight made him the perfect host once again, reflecting both the passion and personality of the profession.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's Histopathology wins four awards 

One of the big winners was the team from Cambridge University Hospitals, which was recognised in the categories of Best Use of Innovation or Technology, Sustainability, Team of the Year and Biomedical Science Champion, reflecting a year of significant achievement that included the move to a new state-of-the-art laboratory facility and the introduction of innovative technologies to improve patient care.

The department introduced new technology to improve the detection of lymph nodes in resected tissues, increasing lymph node yield in more than 90% of cases and improving prognostic accuracy. The team also developed a pioneering formalin delivery and waste management system as part of its move to new purpose-built facilities, reducing environmental impact through lower water use, reduced plastic consumption and fewer transport emissions.

Alongside these achievements, the team successfully consolidated five laboratories into a single facility while introducing new technology and ways of working, improving laboratory performance and patient care.

The judges praised the team's commitment to innovation, sustainability and service improvement, highlighting the significant impact of its work on both patients and staff.

Rhys Tassell - Biomedical Science Leader Award 2026

Rhys Tassell, Service Lead in Point of Care Testing at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, won the Biomedical Science Leader Award. The award recognises Rhys's leadership in delivering a fully governed point-of-care viscoelastography service within the maternity unit at Cambridge University Hospitals.

Working with clinicians, hospital managers, theatre teams, intensive care services, suppliers and informatics specialists, Rhys led the development and implementation of the service from initial planning through to clinical delivery. He also played a key role in securing investment for the project and ensuring the service met clinical, governance and operational requirements.

The judges described the project as a model point-of-care testing service that follows national and IBMS guidance while delivering an outstanding patient-centred service.

Professor Sarah Pitt, President of the IBMS, said:

The IBMS Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements taking place across biomedical science. This year's winners have demonstrated excellence in leadership, innovation, education, public engagement and patient care, helping to advance the profession and improve outcomes for patients. We are delighted to recognise their achievements and the positive impact they are making across healthcare.

Rhys said:

This is a culmination of my  dedication to the profession, 21 years after registering as a Biomedcial Scientist I feel very humbled by the experience of receiving this award.  

I have wanted to be a Biomedical Scientist since I was 17 years old and have worked really hard in the POCT field to champion the service and benefits of POCT over the years so to receive this has been a true highlight of my career.

It is great to be recognised by the IBMS and is truly an honour to lead our service and team. I was so grateful for the nomination as it came from a very respected consultant colleague that I have worked closely with to complete a long running project that led to significant patient benefit and implementation of a device into routine patient management within his area.

I hope to continue to inspire colleagues to work hard and achieve great things for their patients whilst also flying the flag for all those that work in POCT and are perhaps hidden away working behind the scenes to do so.

The IBMS Awards are a platform to honour the profession’s brightest stars and showcase their extraordinary contributions to science and society. We extend special thanks to our sponsors, our judging panel, and all those who submitted nominations and attended this year’s ceremony.

The photographs from the awards can be found here.

Social media posts from the event