A 25th year celebration of the Interdisciplinary Research Centre (IRC) in Biomedical Materials was held on 11 November in the Octagon, QMUL. The IRC was inaugurated in 1991, as part of a new initiative supported by the UK Research Council into interdisciplinary research, with staff collaborating across the disciplines. This approach is now firmly ingrained in any research programme. The IRC staff, students and visitors from each of the participating institutions, (Queen Mary, the London Hospital, Royal Free and Institute of Orthopaedics at Stanmore) came back to QM to celebrate the IRC’s development, progress and the international impact that it secured in biomaterials and related research areas. IRC alumni from around the world including USA, Japan and Europe joined in the celebration with our current staff and research students alongside the founding Director Professor Bill Bonfield. Talks, tours and finally a party allowed plenty of reminiscing, catching up and the development of new collaborations.