Translating great British science into great products

A new Summit designed to address the health of the UK bioscience industry, The Pulse of British Bioscience, is expected to draw 350 industry executives, investors and academics together today at Oxford University.

This unique thought leadership summit is focussed on the crucial issue of how to maximise the translation of the UK's great biomedical research base into commercial products for economic and societal benefit. One decade after his publication of the Cooksey Review of UK health research, Sir David Cooksey will set out his view on unfinished business around the first gap in translation.

This novel collaborative event is hosted by Oxford's Department of Pharmacology, advised by Jon Rees Associates and supported by OB by Panacea, and brings together industry execs, investors and academics in the first truly 'triple helix' event the UK has seen.

Importantly The Pulse will reflect views from the US, UK and the rest of Europe, drawing perspectives with investment banks, institutional investors and venture capitalists, the pharmaceutical industry, research charities and universities. Discussions of core issues around government’s role and responsibilities, the comparative financing situation in the UK vs. US start-up environment, best practice in technology transfer will combine to address the overarching question of how to maximise research translation into innovative commercial products.

The inaugural edition of The Pulse is sponsored by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Sidley Austin, Milton Park, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, EP Vantage, Merton College Oxford, supported by OBN, with Consilium Strategic Communications as communications partner.

Nigel Emptage, Head of the Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford said:

'I am delighted that the Department has been able to convene this innovative and creative platform where we can hear diverse perspectives that we hope will facilitate academic-industry dialogue on ways to maximise the translation of the UK’s research base. Across its 100 year history the Department has contributed to many pharmaceutical drugs and is proud to contribute to Oxford’s success as a leading biotech cluster within Europe.'

Mina Bekheet, Founder and President of OB by Panacea, said:

'OB by Panacea’s commitment to The Pulse has allowed us to bring together entrepreneurial academics from Europe, together with investors in start-ups and the pharmaceutical companies that may take their products to market. We are committed to creating a rising tide for Europe in general, and as the leading biotech hub in the UK, Oxford is ideally positioned to spark that conversation. In such a way, we are providing our thousands of members with an important initiative to complement our translational toolkit and ensure the next generation of bioentrepreneurs is even more successful than the last.'

Jon Rees, Managing Director, Jon Rees Associates said:

'The Pulse provides genuine dialogue on a crucial issue. We intend to build on the event through a Working Group during 2016, in order to shape some of the new ideas put forward today into a White Paper which reflects both industry and academic perspectives [and is intended to provide government, academics and industry with clear concepts to improve translation of research.'

350 delegates are registered representing over 20 investment firms, several of the top pharma companies, 60 research and development companies and over 100 academics from twenty-five universities from across the UK and rest of Europe, the US, Asia and the Middle East.

About The Pulse

The Pulse of British Bioscience 2016 is a new invitation-only international one-day summit, focusing on developing policies and best practice to improve the health of the British bioscience industry.

The Pulse is attracting some of the most senior thought leaders including leading academics, investors and bankers from both sides of the Atlantic, as well as the bioscience industry community and government officials. The experts gathered will explore how Britain can capture a greater share of the global bioscience innovation sector, by maximising the translation of its excellent science base into innovative commercial products, achieving greater economic impact and societal benefit.

Drawing together transatlantic perspectives, The Pulse’s invited participants will hear from global leaders from the US and Europe

For more information and to view the full programme visit: http://www.britishbioscience.com/