HDR UK & ELIXIR-UK Joint Hackathon

Bringing together UK professionals in health data and life sciences to tackle shared technical challenges across the ecosystem. Join us for three days of creativity, innovation and collaboration at the HDR UK & ELIXIR-UK Joint Hackathon.

Dates: 12-14 February 2025

Location: Jubilee Hotel and Conferences, Nottingham, UK

Format: In-person

Registration cost: Free

Registration Link: https://hdrukelixirhackathon.eventbrite.co.uk

Contact: hackathon@hdruk.ac.uk

Join us for three days of creativity, innovation and collaboration at the HDR UK & ELIXIR-UK Joint Hackathon. We are bringing together UK professionals in health data and life sciences to tackle shared technical challenges across the ecosystem.

  • Wednesday 12 February 2025

    • 12.00 – 13.00: Arrival and lunch
    • 13.00 – 13.15: Welcome
    • 13:15 – 14:00: Project flash presentations (1 slide, 3 mins per project)
    • 14.00 – 15:30: Hacking session 1
    • 15:30 – 15:50: Coffee break
    • 15:50 – 17:30: Hacking session 2
    • 17:30: Networking drinks
    • 18:00: Dinner
    • 19:30: Social activity (quiz)

    Thursday 13 February 2025

    • 8:00 – 9:00: Breakfast
    • 9:00 – 11:00: Hacking session 3
    • 11:00 – 11:20: Coffee break
    • 11:20 – 13:00: Hacking session 4 and prepare project reporting
    • 13:00 – 14:00: Lunch
    • 14:00 – 14:30: Project reporting – goals and challenges (1 slide, 2 mins per project)
    • 14.30 – 15:30: Hacking session 5
    • 15:30 – 15:50: Coffee break
    • 15:50 – 17:30: Hacking session 6
    • 17:30: Networking drinks
    • 18:00: Dinner
    • 19:30: Social activity (escape room)

    Friday 14 February 2025

    • 8:00 – 9:00: Breakfast
    • 9:00 – 11:00: Hacking session 7 and prepare final presentations
    • 11:00 – 11:20: Coffee break
    • 11:20 – 13:00: Final project presentations – slides and demos (7 mins per project)
    • 13:00 – 13:15: Wrap-up and close
    • 13:15 – 14:30: Lunch and depart

What to expect

Scope: Engage in action-packed sessions where your ideas can come to life, or be part of a team that makes it possible. Projects are aligned with HDR UK and/or ELIXIR-UK’s missions and technical priorities.

Goals:

  • Innovate together: advance the development of an open-source infrastructure for data integration and analysis.
  • Collaborate and connect: bring together technical professionals in health informatics and bioinformatics to work on common interests.
  • Strengthen bonds: increase collaboration between ELIXIR-UK and HDR UK technologists to tackle shared challenges.
  • Create impact: form lasting collaborations that have the potential to deliver solutions to accelerate scientific discoveries.

Who should attend

The Hackathon is designed for a diverse range of participants, including but not limited to:

  • Health data and life science researchers and technologists: engage with peers, share your expertise, and collaborate on your projects or those of others.
  • Non-technical roles: strategic thinkers, engagement specialists, trainers, coordinators, and other technical non-coding professionals are essential to driving projects forward.
  • Early-career researchers: join as an opportunity to gain hands-on experience, build your network, and contribute to significant projects.

Everyone passionate about advancing health data and life sciences is welcome, regardless of technical background. Bring your unique skills and perspectives to help shape diverse solutions to varied challenges.

Projects

The accepted list of projects to participate in can be found on our dedicated Hackathon 2025 GitHub page.

You can find out more about current technical activities at HDR UK, ELIXIR-UK and ELIXIR from their websites, for example:

The Hackathon Programme Committee reviewed all submissions for scope, feasibility and relevance to HDR UK or ELIXIR-UK.

    • Chris Milner, HDR UK
    • Chris Orton, Swansea University
    • Krzysztof Poterlowicz, University of Bradford
    • Mita Vaghji, HDR UK
    • Nick Juty, University of Manchester
    • Nicola Soranzo, Earlham Institute, ELIXIR-UK
    • Phil Quinlan, University of Nottingham
    • Ruth Milne, HDR UK
    • Tim Beck, University of Nottingham (Chair)
    • Xènia Pérez Sitjà, Earlham Institute, ELIXIR-UK

Registration

Registration for the Hackathon is now open.

Please note that spaces for participation are limited and we are currently at capacity. You can join the waiting list though and if a space opens up we will let you know!

Project leads will be invited to pre-register beforehand.

Expenses and funding

  • Registration: Free
  • Travel and accommodation: Self-funded
  • Catering: Complimentary coffee breaks, lunch, and dinner

Registration for the HDR UK & ELIXIR-UK Joint Hackathon is free. However, you are expected to cover your own travel and accommodation expenses. Catering is provided and includes coffee breaks, lunches and dinners. More information will be published as it becomes available.

To maximise collaboration and the value of on-site interaction, participants are expected to stay on-site for the full duration of the event.

HDR UK is offering a number of travel and accommodation grants to support participant attendance from outside the Institute’s strategic programmes, particularly early-career researchers. Please get in touch with us to learn more and discuss your eligibility.