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UKRI invited applications for individuals wishing to spend up to 3 years (full or part-time) on secondment within the biomedical sciences sector. Funding was available to create porosity between sectors by enabling career mobility, boosting the skills, knowledge and career development of people and intensifying knowledge exchange between industry and academia whilst adding value to the sector and the UK economy.

For Simon Chandler, CEO of Rinri Therapeutics, a pioneering regenerative cell therapy company in the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss, the Innovation Scholars was ideal in solving a skills and knowledge gap within their growing organisation. The company had strong research links with the Universities of Sheffield and Nottingham, and funding enabled career development and knowledge exchange across the industry and university environment, very much to the advantages of all organisations involved.

Simon says; ‘Both funding calls were an absolute no brainer for us and we are very pleased to be able to develop the careers of two academic researchers at different stages in their careers. The benefits definitely go both ways. Universities often struggle with the needs of businesses and complete immersion for this length of time really allows for learnings from all areas of a biotech business operations to embed, and as a business, we gain access to expertise, leadership and researchers across academic clinical networks that helps us gain insight we would not ordinarily get.’

Dr. Faizah Mushtaq, of University of Nottingham, says; '‘The hands-on and flexible nature of the secondment is enabling me to cultivate my entrepreneurial mind set and continuously enhance my understanding of organisational operations, processes and behaviours. During my first six months, I have already enjoyed taking on a number of varying responsibilities, ranging from clinical project management to organising patient and public engagement activities. These new experiences have not only enhanced my leadership skills and commercial awareness, but have also encouraged me to think outside of the box.

The secondment helps to bridge the gap between industry and academia in the exciting and emerging field of regenerative medicine for hearing loss by encouraging knowledge transfer between Rinri, academics and clinicians. I am able to utilise my previous clinical experience and understanding of translational research to help Rinri mitigate barriers they may experience when planning and delivering a first-in-human clinical trial’.

 

 

In2scienceUK gives young people from low-income backgrounds the opportunity to gain essential insights into STEM careers with dedicated professional mentors. Since 2011, In2scienceUK has provided thousands of young people with the experience, skills, and confidence they need to reach their potential in STEM further education and careers.

The young people that take part in the In2scienceUK Programme are recipients of free school meals, have parents with no higher education experience and live in areas in which progression to higher education is low. According to the Social Mobility Commission, these young people are significantly less likely to progress to careers in STEM with just 9% of life sciences professionals, 15% of scientists, 6% of doctors, 19% of tech workers and 21% of engineers coming from a working-class background. However, with salaries 20% higher in STEM careers compared to other sectors, In2scienceUK aims to provide these young people with a better future and greater social mobility.

One contributor who has made significant positive contributions to ensure In2ScienceUK is able to expand its support to more young people each year is the Avantor Foundation, the philanthropic arm of BIA member Avantor. In the last two years, the Avantor Foundation has provided over 150 young people from low-income backgrounds access to high quality, relevant STEM work placements.

Luke McKelvey, Development Manager at In2scienceUK: “The Avantor Foundation has enabled In2scienceUK to expand from a local organisation mainly operating in South East England to a national STEM engagement Charity that supports hundreds of young people each year across the United Kingdom in areas facing an acute lack of opportunities. The Avantor Foundation is investing in the future of young people from low-income backgrounds and leading the way to greater diversity and inclusion within the STEM sector”.

In2scienceUK’s impact has been recognised by the Queen's Award of Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility 2021 for its exceptional services to young people. In2scienceUK aims to continue to expand across the UK and diversify programmes to promote greater inclusion of underrepresented young people.

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Read In2scienceUK Impact Report

Rebecca McKelvey, Founder, In2ScienceUK: “Our mission, to increase diversity and equal opportunity in STEM, has never been so relevant as it is today. Poverty and social background remain huge barriers to progressing to university and STEM careers. COVID-19 has highlighted the disparity of opportunity between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and those who are more affluent. We need to tackle a skills shortage, improve our economy, and increase diversity in the workforce.”

 

 

To get involved, get in touch with Luke at [email protected]

In 2020, UK Research and Innovation awarded Dr John Hales, of UCL Department of Biochemical Engineering - University College London, the £1.2m Future Leaders Fellowship  to use virus lasers to reinvigorate process analytical technology for biological manufacturing. 

John first began the process of applying for a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship in April 2018. After passing an internal BEAMS School selection panel to become one of those put forward, the application went through several steps before John presented his proposal to an interview panel. The award is for four years, initially, and may then be extended for up to a further three years. The award also includes funding for a postdoctoral researcher as well as equipment, including a streak camera.

Following on from John’s previous work that has been a collaboration between UCL Biochemical Engineering and the London Centre for Nanotechnology, this project will see a collaboration with SwissFEL, the X-ray free-electron laser facility at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland, who are providing support in-kind.

John says; “The long-term vision is to establish virus-laser technology as a once-in-a-generation analytical technology that will have a transformative impact in biological manufacturing, clinical diagnostics and environmental sensing. In this fellowship, my overarching goal is to reinvigorate process analytical technology for biological manufacturing by using virus lasers to directly monitor the critical quality attributes that affect the safety and efficacy of biopharmaceutical products at all stages of the bioprocess. 

I will also undertake multidisciplinary research into virus lasers at the interface of synthetic biology and laser physics which will pave the way for future innovations. I plan to achieve lasing at ultra-low concentrations, establish a biological structure - laser function link using cutting-edge optical detection and the world's leading free-electron laser facility for photobiology, and then use these techniques to investigate in-depth the mechanisms behind a novel detection paradigm unique to virus lasers.”

Further information about UKRI funding

John Hales' Virus Laser Detection Article Published in Nature Communication