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Genetic Influences in Colorectal Cancer: Improving Patient Outcomes

Genetic Influences in Colorectal Cancer: Improving Patient Outcomes
Online Conference, 6 CPD Hours
Tue 24 Feb 2026

Update your knowledge and enhance your clinical outcomes 

Whether you’re looking to refresh your understanding of hereditary Colorectal Cancer, including the latest research around the correlation between genetics and the microbiome or identify how you can improve diagnosis and the referral pathways in your trust this interactive training day is for you. Designed for all NHS professionals working across the colorectal cancer pathway to benefit from a day of expert-led presentations, engaging discussions and practical insights, all focused on enhancing patient outcomes and improving service delivery.

Advance your understanding

As colorectal cancer cases are disproportionately rising in younger adults and remains a prevalent issue in the UK, attending this course will equip your team with the most up-to-date information and skills to effectively support your patients. The attendees on 24th February 2026 left this interactive online forum ready to: 

  • Apply a deeper understanding of hereditary colorectal cancer: Lynch syndrome, FAP, and key genetic drivers 
  • Navigate genetic testing in colorectal cancer: germline and tumour analysis
  • Uncover prevention tools by exploring the gut microbiome's role in colorectal cancer 
  • Advance your practice with streamlined detection and referral pathways
  • Enhance patient outcomes with advanced screening and diagnosis
  • Explore the evolving landscape of oncological and genomic therapies

Online courses

With an enhanced emphasis on interactive discussion and idea sharing, this unique training day provides you with all the elements you need to deliver change through:

  • Listening and watching presentations and speakers’ Q&A with your course chair
  • Deepening your understanding of the genetic factors and the microbiome's influence in colorectal cancer, to enhance patient outcomes
  • Taking part in facilitated interactive discussions, learning from fellow attendees as well as the experienced presenters to support prevention through lifestyle and genetic insight

Available for in-house training

Available as a bespoke course to teams of 25+ people. Please do contact us if you would like this training delivered exclusively to your team, with the content developed to drill into the specific needs of your service. Please email Sarah Kemm or call 01732 897788 for further details.

Learning & development

Oncology National Networking Forums are pleased to be featured as part of the ACCEND Framework

The ePortfolio platform is available via the Greater Manchester Cancer Academy and supports professional development in cancer care.

This forum and all of our events are mapped to the ACCEND Framework and can be recorded in the ACCEND ePortfolio to help you evidence your learning, reflections and competencies.

To find out more, click on the ACCEND tab.

9:00
Join, tech support and opportunity to network in your meeting room
9:30
Chair’s opening remarks and introductions
Mauro Proserpio, Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Genetics in colorectal cancer: pathways and testing
9:40
Understanding hereditary colorectal cancer: Lynch Syndrome, FAP, and key genetic drivers
  • Revisiting the clinical presentation, inheritance patterns, and risk assessment implications for patients and their families
  • Refreshment on how genetic mutations such as MMR, MSI, and APC drive colorectal cancer development
  • Deepen your understanding of bowel screening programmes and guidelines (including population screening, higher familial risk screening, very high risk ‘gene specific’ screening)
Dr Richard Martin, Consultant Clinical Geneticist, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
10:10
Questions and answers with your speaker
10:20
Navigating genetic testing in colorectal cancer: germline and tumour analysis
  • Gaining practical insights into the testing pathways for MMR/MSI to guide patient treatments plans
  • Streamlining identification: enhancing mainstream Lynch syndrome testing
  • Exploring the Lynch syndrome register’s role in improving outcomes for patients and families
Gillian Donald MSC, Clinical Scientist, Molecular Pathology and Sam Seker, Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialist and Lynch Syndrome Champion (Colorectal MDT), Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
10:50
Questions and answers with your speaker
11:00
Screen break
Microbiome, diet, and genetics: understanding risk and prevention in colorectal cancer
11:10
Interactive discussion: Enhancing your knowledge of the gut microbiome
  • What do you know about the gut microbiome so far?
  • What do you currently discuss with patients about diet and lifestyle when addressing colorectal cancer risk? How do you explain this to patients?
  • What barriers exist when trying to integrate lifestyle and dietary strategies alongside medical care? How do you overcome these barriers your trust?
11:40
Feedback from interactive discussion: Enhancing your knowledge of the gut microbiome
11:50
Uncovering the gut microbiome's role in colorectal cancer and emerging prevention tools
  • Dietary factors influencing the gut microbiome: implications for colorectal cancer risk and prevention
  • How microbial and genetic risk factors interact to influence cancer development in Lynch Syndrome and FAP
  • Exploring the interplay between the gut microbiome and tumour initiation, independent of genetic factors
  • Advancing patient outcomes by investigating the interaction between H. pylori infection and genetic predisposition
James Kinross, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
12:20
Questions and answers with your speaker
12:30
Lunch break
Advancing detection and diagnosis in colorectal cancer
1:00
Interactive discussion: Optimising the detection rate and the referral pathway in colorectal cancer
  • What barriers do you encounter in getting patients to complete or return FIT tests? What’s worked when attempting to improve uptake in your setting?
  • What referral criteria or pathways are you currently using, and how confident are you in them? Are there any grey areas?
  • How do you ensure consistent and effective communication across primary and secondary care when referring suspected CRC cases?
  • What strategies have you found or seen to be useful in promoting patient education?
1:30
Feedback from interactive discussion: Optimise the detection rate and the referral pathway in colorectal cancer
1:40
Enhancing colorectal cancer screening and diagnosis
  • Improving the uptake of FIT testing: tackling stigma and barriers in patients and community
  • Advancing diagnostic pathways through COLOFIT’s risk-based algorithm
  • Investigating alternative diagnostic tools and innovations to increase detection beyond 5%
  • Understanding the importance of the national screening programme for optimal patient outcomes
Dr Peter Coyne, Colorectal Consultant Surgeon, The Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
2:10
Questions and answers with your speaker
2:20
Screen break
2:30
Streamlining the genetic referral pathway
  • Updating your understanding of referral guidelines to ensure best practice
  • Identifying red flags in patients under 50 and atypical presentations for prompt referrals
  • Considering the role of patient-facing education in raising awareness and promoting early referral
  • Empowering and equipping GPs with effective tools to detect Colorectal Cancer at an early stage
Manju Khanna, Lead CNS for Primary Colorectal Cancer, St Mark's Hospital, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
3:00
Questions and answers with your speaker
Personalised treatment pathways and the future of colorectal cancer care
3:10
Exploring the evolving landscape of oncological and genomic therapies
  • Solidify your understanding of current oncological treatments in colorectal cancer
  • Insights and updates into immunotherapy and other genomics-guided treatments
  • Understanding how tumour genetics influence eligibility for targeted therapies to ensure effective treatment
  • What is new and what’s coming in? Considering the treatment pipeline, including the use of CtDNA
Dr Nalinie Joharatnam Hogan, Locum Consultant Medical Oncologist (GI & AOS), The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
3:40
Questions and answers with your speaker
3:50
Chairs closing remarks and close of day

Mauro Proserpio

Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Dr Peter Coyne

Colorectal Consultant Surgeon
The Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Nalinie Joharatnam Hogan

Locum Consultant Medical Oncologist (GI & AOS)
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Richard Martin

Consultant Clinical Geneticist
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Gillian Donald MSC

Clinical Scientist, Molecular Pathology
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Sam Seker

Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialist and Lynch Syndrome Champion (Colorectal MDT)
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Manju Khanna

Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist for Primary Colorectal Cancer
St Mark's Hospital, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust

James Kinross

Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Is this for me?

This online training course is ideal for NHS professionals involved the full Continuing Care journey of children and their families. 

We were joined by:

  • Lead Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Oncology/ Haematology Nurses
  • Consultant Clinical Oncologists
  • Macmillan Colorectal Nurse Consultants
  • MDT Coordinators
  • Colorectal Cancer Navigators
  • GPs

If you have a team that is 30 people or more, you can have bespoke training delivered online to your team alone. Please contact Sarah Kemm or telephone 01732 897788.

Past attendee feedback

This online course followed the success of “Best Practice: Colorectal Cancer Service” in January 2023 and “Education Update: Colorectal Cancer Management” in January 2024

Take a look at how our attendees described the day: 

“Informative and educational”
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Best Practice: Colorectal Cancer Service, January 2023
“I found it very useful – thank you!”
- Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Best Practice: Colorectal Cancer Service, January 2023
“Excellent presentations”
- Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust, Best Practice: Colorectal Cancer Service, January 2023
“Really enjoyed the study day, very informative and great speakers”
- Education Update: Colorectal Cancer Management, January 2024
“Very informative. Good networking event”
- Education Update: Colorectal Cancer Management, January 2024
“Great opportunity to share updates and knowledge”
- Education Update: Colorectal Cancer Management, January 2024

View further comments on Oncology National Networking Forums on Trust Pilot.

About the ACCEND Framework

The ACCEND Framework is designed to enhance cancer care by providing a structured approach to education and professional development for healthcare professionals.

  • It defines the essential Cancer Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) and offers a tailored educational structure to support progression at every stage of a cancer care career.
  • Launched in January 2023, the framework aims to transform career pathways and improve training and development opportunities across the cancer workforce.
  • It provides access to the education and training needed to meet role-specific competencies and includes dedicated resources for nurses, allied health professionals and those in cancer-related support roles.
  • The ACCEND Framework delivers a nationally agreed career and education structure underpinned by clearly defined capabilities in practice.

Map your learning

All Oncology National Networking Forum courses listed on the Greater Manchester Cancer Academy’s ACCEND ePortfolio are fully aligned with the ACCEND Framework.

You can easily log your attendance and map your learning to the Cancer Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) through the ACCEND ePortfolio.

To do this:

  • Register and log in to the ePortfolio
  • Click ‘Add Entry’
  • Select 'Choose an item from the library'
  • Change the provider to Oncology National Networking Forums
  • Choose the relevant event you have attended (or plan to attend)

This tool offers a central space to track your professional development, reflections and achievements - supporting your ongoing career in cancer care.

Click here to access the ePortfolio


Sponsorship engagement

Our role at SBK Healthcare is to bring industry together with healthcare professionals so that you can educate and inform your audience. These trail-blazing oncology delivery forums offer dedicated presentations, Q&A, networking and discussion time, each sponsor will be fully immersed into the event and able to effectively engage with your NHS audience.

Your event, managed by us

SBK Healthcare also provides in-house forums. Working closely with you as the client we can research, produce, market and deliver the conference or online forum that best suits the audience and meets your goals.

Reach out today

If you would like more information on our sponsorship options an in-house forum or if you wish to discuss your needs and what solutions may be appropriate for your business, please contact:

Vanessa Pearce 
Contact: 01732 897788 
Email: vanessa.pearce@sbk-healthcare.co.uk