CX 2026 Competitions
At CX 2026 we are running three competitions; Challenging Cases and Complications, The Dragons’ Den and ‘The Footprints Challenge’. These provide an excellent opportunity to showcase your expertise, share innovative ideas, and engage with leaders in the vascular and endovascular community. Please find below relevant information for each event we are running.
Challenging Cases and Complications
We are bringing back the Challenging Cases and Complications session at CX 2026 and inviting trainees and young doctors working in the vascular and endovascular field to submit their most difficult and complicated cases to be considered for in-person presentations. The session will be held on Thursday 23rd April 2026.
A panel of esteemed experts will review and discuss each case, providing valuable insights and feedback. The case that offers the greatest learning opportunity will win a £1000 prize. Presenters must attend in person to present their cases, with complimentary registration provided for those selected.
Guidelines for Submission
Presentations should focus on clinical cases that highlight the complexities and challenges encountered by vascular specialists in real-world practice. Case presentations are invited across all education streams:
-
- Aortic
- Peripheral arterial & chronic limb-threatening ischaemia
- Venous & lymphatic
- Vascular access
- Carotid & acute stroke
- Vascular trauma
Format
- Language: presentations must be in English
- File format: pptx (PowerPoint), 16:9 ratio, landscape format
- Slide limit: 10 slides maximum
- Content requirements: the presentation must include a detailed description of the clinical complication encountered, the treatment provided and the outcome, along with 2 questions posed at a pivotal point where decisions need to be made or where multiple pathways are possible, as follows:
- Case background (3-4 slides): patient history, diagnosis, treatment options
- Question
- Further information (3-4 slides): chosen approach, steps of intervention, description of clinical complication encountered
- Question
- Outcome (2 slides): approach taken and result after addressing the complication, patient outcomes, reflection
- High quality images and/or videos should be included where applicable, particularly if they help illustrate key challenges and procedural steps
- No references to company names or specific medical devices allowed
Presentation submission
- The final presentation should be submitted as a pptx attachment to [email protected]. Please also include your name, location and the proposed title for the presentation
- Any potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed
- Deadline for submission is 5th January 2026
Selection process
- Submissions will be evaluated by the CX 2026 Executive Board based on clinical relevance and educational value, taking into account innovative and unique aspects of the case
- Finalists will be notified by the beginning of February 2026
- Selected authors will present their cases at stage presentations at the CX 2026 Symposium in London, 23rd April 2026. In-person attendance is required for presentation
- The best-case presentation will be determined by a selected panel of experts based on educational value
Registration
- Those selected to present will receive a complimentary registration code for CX 2026
- Registration must be completed by 15th March 2026
- Travel and accommodation are the responsibility of the attendee
- Both the Charing Cross Symposium and BIBA Publishing reserve their right to publish accepted case presentations and make mention of the work in any other publications, including print and online
- The intended presenting author cannot be changed after the acceptance of the case presentation
Deadlines
- Submission deadline: 5th January 2026
- Notification of selection: Beginning of February 2026
- Registration deadline: 15th March 2026
The Dragons’ Den
Launched at the CX Innovation Showcase in 2007, the Dragons’ Den brings together physician inventors with new ideas in the vascular and endovascular field. Candidates pitch for a £1000 prize for the most promising innovation in the management of vascular disease. The prestige value attached has allowed previous cash prize winners to gain additional funding for their technologies.
Guidelines for Submission
- Define the clinical unmet need that you are seeking to address
- Explain how the technology works and that it has IP protection
- Estimate the market potential i.e. is there a viable business to invest in
Date & Location
The Dragon’s Den will take place on Thursday 23rd April 2026 at the ExCel London – part of the CX Innovation Showcase at the CX Symposium.
How to Apply
If you have an idea to put to the Dragons, you can apply by emailing [email protected]. Please include your name, location, the proposed title for the pitch and a short description or slide deck
Deadlines
- Submission deadline: 5th January 2026
- Notification of selection: Beginning of February 2026
‘The Footprints Challenge’
Following ‘The Swollen Leg Competition’ at CX 2025, we are teaming up again with the Rouleaux Club for our trainee competition.
The Rouleaux Club, in association with Charing Cross International Symposium 2026 and BIBA Medical Ltd, are holding a competition to create an infographic and/or infomercial intended to educate healthcare professionals and members of the public about Foot Disease in patients with Diabetes in a competition entitled “The Footprints Challenge”.
Infographics and short infomercial videos are invited from all students and trainees involved in caring for Vascular patients including but not limited to trainee members of the International Societies for Vascular Surgeons, Physiotherapists, Vascular Nurses, Podiatrists and Vascular Technologists.
By submitting you agree to the following:
a. The infographic or infomercial is original work.
b. The infographic or infomercial is scientifically sound and ethically approved.
c. The infographic or infomercial is not an advertisement (so should not contain logos, brands or device names), nor contains anything obscene, defamatory, libellous, unlawful or in any way actionable.
d. The infographic or infomercial does not include any patient identifiable details.
e. You have the permission of any person included in the infographic or infomercial.
f. The Charing Cross Symposium, Rouleaux Club, World Federation of Vascular Societies and BIBA Publishing reserve the right to publish accepted infomercials and infographics and make mention of the work in any other publications, including print and online.
Guidelines for Submission
Infomercial
The infomercial should consist of a video aimed at explaining the warning signs and risks of foot disease in patients with diabetes to healthcare professionals and members of the public. It should be a maximum of 2 minutes long and landscape orientation at 16:9 aspect ratio.
Please do not include author details or information that identifies your unit or hospital in the Infomercial.
Selection of the top 5 infomercials will be the responsibility of the Rouleaux Executive Committee and the submitting author of each case will be contacted on the email address given on the submission (unless a different email address is provided). The top 5 infomercials will be played at CX Symposium 21 – 23 April 2026. The creators of the top 5 infomercials will receive free entry to the symposium. Unsuccessful creators will be eligible to apply for the attendance under the early bird rate. The successful infomercial creators will be informed by the beginning of February 2026.
Attendees at the CX Symposium will be able to view the top 5 infomercials and vote for their preferred one. The winner will be announced at the symposium (exact timings to be confirmed). The prize consists of £1,000, suggested to go towards surgical loupes, leads or another item or educational course relevant to the individual’s practice.
Infographic
The infographic should consist of a pictorial advertisement aimed at explaining the warning signs and risks of foot disease in patients with diabetes to healthcare professionals and members of the public. It should be suitable for display at portrait 9:16 aspect ratio. There is no word count – the format of the infographic is entirely down to the authors preference.
Please do not include author details or information that identifies your unit or hospital in the infographic.
Selection of the top 5 infographics will be the responsibility of the Rouleaux Executive Committee and the submitting author of each will be contacted on the email address given on the submission (unless a different email address is provided). The top 5 infographics will be displayed at CX Symposium 21 – 23 April 2026. The creators of the top 5 infographics will receive free entry to the symposium. Unsuccessful creators will be eligible to apply for attendance under the early bird rate. The successful infographic creators will be informed by the beginning of February 2026.
Attendees at the CX Symposium will be able to view the top 5 infographics and vote for their preferred one. The winner will be announced at the symposium (exact timings to be confirmed). The prize consists of £500, suggested to go towards surgical loupes, leads or another item or educational course relevant to the individual’s practice.
How to Apply
Your informercial or infographic should be submitted to [email protected]. Please include your name, location and the title of your submission.
Deadlines
- Submission deadline: 5th January 2026
- Notification of selection: Beginning of February 2026
