CEO Update | Monday 17 September

A key part of the life sciences industrial strategy, the Novo Nordisk Research Centre opened in Oxford last Wednesday, which is focused on diabetes research. Work there will focus on deepening scientific understanding of diabetes, understanding the impact diabetes has on other health conditions, and analysing patient data to better understand and detect the onset of type II diabetes. The location of the centre will of course allow collaboration with the local ecosystem, tapping into its large talent pool and knowledge base. 

The UK bioscience industry got a positive boost last week as the Department of International Trade established a ‘BioBridge’ with the largest medical complex in the world, based in Texas. On Wednesday I met with Bill McKeon who explained to me that The Texas Medical Centre has more than 60 world-leading innovators, and this BioBridge means that UK companies will now be offered a package which will allow them to base themselves at the centre. Companies will have access to a network of advisors, investors and medical experts from both the Center and DIT. The set up at the TMC encourages entry into new markets through accelerators, and it provides legal, business, regulatory, and mentorship to start-up companies from both countries. Healthcare trusts in Oxford, Cambridge and Manchester are in talks with TMC institutions that are actively looking to formulate partnerships. 

I’m delighted to see that the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult was granted new licences from the MHRA. These licences will allow the world-class Stevenage facility to produce new cell and gene therapies which will be able to progress faster to clinical trials and commercial supply. The centre was opened in April of this year, and it’s fantastic to see such headway being made so early on in the centre’s development. The MHRA was closely involved with the design and build of the facility at Stevenage, and the licences were awarded following an inspection and it’s great to see the BIA’s MAC committee visit the site this week. 

I was pleased to hear of Sir Harpal Kumar’s arrival at BIA member JNJ Innovation last week as Head of their EMEA operations. Sir Harpal comes from Cancer Research UK, which he has led as CEO for the past 11 years, and he is also the innovation champion on the Board of UKRI and the Senior Independent Director of Innovate UK. I welcome him to his new role and I look forward to continuing to work with him.

I was excited to hear last week the announcement that the Francis Crick have launched their new KQ Labs programme. Innovate UK is investing £400,000 to launch KQ Labs, an accelerator programme at the Francis Crick Institute to support start-ups working at the interface between biomedical and data science. This major initiative, delivered by the The Francis Crick Institute supported by funding from Innovate UK, and with collaboration from Health Data Research UK, Genomics England and London’s Knowledge Quarter, aims to bring together a powerful eco-system in support of data-driven health start-ups.  

The selection criteria have been kept intentionally broad to give the opportunity for support to as diverse a group of start-ups as possible – any start-up working at the interface of where ‘data science meets biomedical science’ is encouraged to apply.  The accelerator programme will be delivered to a cohort of up to 10 start-ups over a period of 16 weeks, with further post-acceleration support available.  I encourage you to let your network know of the programme and encourage any relevant start-ups that you know to apply here before the deadline of 7 October 2018.

I look forward to seeing members this week at our Brexit Lead Network on Wednesday and at our ever-popular Women In Biotech networking event. You may also want to come along to our Finance Breakfast next Friday at Stifel. 

Best,

Steve