Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx) Blog
Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx) Blog
Posted by ma403
23 May 2025On the 29th and 30th of April, I had the privilege of attending the Cancer in Primary Care Research International (Ca-PRI) conference in Manchester, where I had the incredible opportunity to present my undergraduate research as part of the online poster presentations and engage with an inspiring community of clinicians and academics working to improve cancer awareness and understanding in primary care settings across the world.
For my research, I conducted a critical review exploring the complex relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus and colorectal cancer. This work focused on the genetic, hormonal, and gut microbiome mechanisms that may explain this link, revealing potential biomarkers that could be leveraged in primary care to support earlier and more accurate detection of colorectal cancer in diabetic patients, particularly for those with overlapping gastrointestinal symptoms such as IBS, where a cancer diagnosis can often be delayed.
Attending Ca-PRI was an invaluable experience, both personally and professionally. Being immersed in a new academic environment challenged me but also helped me grow in confidence, improve my interpersonal skills and become more adaptable. Learning about emerging research aiming to improve early cancer detection, screening, survivorship and health equity was super fascinating and inspiring. It was incredibly motivating to see how much work is being done to not only build on existing tools but also to develop new solutions to transform cancer outcomes at the primary care level. I was especially intrigued by how frequently colorectal cancer featured in the discussions, which not only deepened my understanding of my own dissertation topic but also sparked new thoughts and ideas for my future endeavours.
Another highlight was getting to spend time with the Exeter Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx) team. It was so lovely to get to know everyone, build connections, and share ideas. Their encouragement and support throughout the conference made the experience even more rewarding and memorable. And of course, I can’t forget the 5km run organised as part of the conference, which was such a fun way to kick off the day and meet fellow attendees.
A nice bonus during the week was submitting my dissertation while at the conference. It was a very full-circle moment presenting my research and then formally handing it in all within the same trip. It was the perfect way to wrap up my degree, and attending Ca-PRI has affirmed my passion for cancer research in primary care. I left feeling inspired, motivated, and incredibly grateful to have been part of the conference.
