Unlocking deep biotech regulation
Join us for the inaugural gathering of the BIA’s Deep Biotech Community – a members-only forum designed to connect innovators across the deep biotech landscape and shape the future of regulatory policy in this emerging space.
This exclusive event will bring together companies working at the frontiers of engineering biology and beyond to explore the regulatory challenges unique to deep biotech. You’ll gain insights into the BIA’s recent policy work, hear reflections from our team, and contribute directly to a growing body of evidence that will inform our regulatory advocacy.
Through an interactive workshop and networking reception, attendees will share lived regulatory experiences, identify common barriers to innovation, and help define priority areas for policy change.
This is a unique opportunity to be part of a community-led effort to unlock regulatory pathways for deep biotech – and ensure the UK remains a world leader in this transformative sector.
This event is free of charge for BIA Deep Biotech Community members. There will be a small charge to attend for non-members, for further information on BIA communities, please contact the BIA membership team.
Agenda
16:00 – 16:30 Registration and networking
16:30 – 17:00 Welcome and introductions
17:00 – 18:00 Interactive workshop
18:00 – 18:30 Reflections and wrap-up
18:30 – 20:00 Networking drinks reception
Speakers
Linda Bedenik
What does your role at BIA involve?
Linda leads on intellectual property (IP), engineering biology (EngBio), R&D and innovation policy and animal research. She provides the secretariat to BIA's two advisory committees - Intellectual Property (IPAC) and Engineering Biology (EBAC) as well as the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Life Sciences.
Previous experience & achievements
Prior to joining BIA, Linda worked as a Policy Analyst at a non-profit looking into university-business collaboration and knowledge exchange in the UK and as a researcher at a public policy-focused think tank identifying challenges to state-level public service delivery and rural health in India. Linda has an MA in Global Political Economy from the University of Sussex.
If you could invite any scientist or entrepreneur to dinner, who would it be and why?
Santos-Dumont and the Wright Brothers – to have them settle the debate over who flew first.
Maddie Cass
What does your role at BIA involve?
I work on supporting the BIA's expansion into the deep biotech space. Deep biotech is the use of biotechnology to address some of the world's most pressing challenges, particularly the climate crisis. As a part of this I support the Engineering Biology Advisory Committee.
Previous experience & achievements
After studying genetics at Glasgow University, I gained international experience by living and working in Taiwan during the pandemic. In my previous job I provided policy advice on the education sector to head teachers and school governors.
If you could invite any scientist or entrepreneur to dinner, who would it be and why?
I would invite the remarkable cytogeneticist, Barbra McClintock to dinner. Her pioneering work in genetics and her ability to challenge existing paradigms in the field have always been a source of inspiration.
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