A discovery in the field of genome editing technology has been awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in chemistry, with scientists Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer DOudna the first two women to share the prize.

According to the BBC, the discovery – known as Crispr-Cas9 genetic scissors – is a way of making precise changes to DNA.

Since the two scientists made their discovery, the use of the tool has exploded, contributing to many important discoveries in basic research. In medicine, meanwhile, clinical trials of new cancer therapies are now taking place, as a result.

It’s also possible that the technology could be used to treat or potentially cure inherited diseases, with research now ongoing into whether it could treat sickle cell anaemia, a condition that affects millions of people around the world.

Professor Charpentier from the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens in Berlin said of being one of the firsts two women to share the prize: “I wish that this will provide a positive message specifically for young girls who would like to follow the path of science … and to show them that women in science can also have an impact with the research they are performing.

“This is not just for women, but we see a clear lack of interest in following a scientific path, which is very worrying.”

Where genome editing itself is concerned, leading researchers from all over the world have now called for the creation of a global citizens’ assembly to govern and regulate the practice.

A paper recently appeared in the Science journal, emphasising the fact that genome editing is characterised by a complex and complete “web of national and international regulation” and that poor governance could result in “ethics dumping”, with those keen to edit genes in order to create perfect humans heading to countries with little governance in place.

For help with life science recruitment, get in touch with Agenda Life Sciences today.

Whatever life science vacancies you’re applying for, chances are that you’ll be in a competitive field of candidates. Getting noticed when there are so many applicants for jobs can be a challenge, but one area that could help you stand out is highlighting your soft skills on your CV.

Soft skills are increasingly sought after by businesses in all sectors, which is why it can be advisable to showcase your skills in this area. But what are soft skills and how can you develop them?

An article for Personnel Today shared the findings of a recent survey for McKinsey & Company, which revealed that 87 per cent of companies are currently experiencing skills gaps, or expect to experience skills gaps in the coming years.

Interestingly, employers also shared that they would prefer to replace employees with traditional skillsets with those who have soft skills. If you’re a bit lost as to what soft skills are, they refer to how you work as opposed to the specific tasks you might carry out as part of your job.

Resilience, empathy, interpersonal skills and time management are examples of the soft skills that employers are looking for.

As Riccarda Zezza, from Lifeed, explained in the article, having these skills “leaves workers well-prepared for a rapidly changing landscape where adapting to new technologies and environments will be pivotal”.

She cited the findings of PwC’s 2020 Annual CEO Survey, which noted that organisations in all industries need to build a workforce of people who have these transferable skills, because the jobs available are evolving so rapidly.

Ms Zezza also suggested that emotional skills will become more important than ever as a result of the additional stress placed on job seekers and workers due to the pandemic and the uncertainty this has resulted in throughout jobs markets.

For anyone who wants to develop their soft skills, the good news is that there’s a reasonable chance you’re doing just that by living through these tumultuous times. Ms Zezza explained that going through lockdown trained many of us in flexibility, self-determination and empathy, for instance.

She added that it’s highly likely you already have many of the soft skills employers are looking for, but the trick is “to constantly reflect on where such skills could be applied to a workplace context”.

An article for the Irish Times also offered some advice on how to identify and develop soft skills during the pandemic.

The news provider suggested that if you’re looking to identify your soft skills to highlight them on your CV or a job application, you should spend a little time practicing self reflection. Think about your strengths in terms of how you work.

You don’t only have to rely on your own perceptions for this. You could ask your friends or former colleagues to share their thoughts on what soft skills they believe you excel at. It can be difficult to quantify some of the soft skills employers are looking for, such as creativity or being curious. However, you shouldn’t let that put you off.

Research conducted by an undergraduate student at the University of Dundee has helped develop our understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic.

Deadline News reported that Conchita Fraguas Bringas carried out a computer-based bioinformatics project exploring how the SARS-CoV-2 virus shares similarities with another SARS-like virus in terms of how an important protein works.

Her research focused on the Spike protein, which plays a vital role in the transmission of Covid-19.

Using the computer programme, Conchita observed the “lock and key” mechanism that is found between the Spike protein in the virus and the ACE2 receptor, which is what allows the Covid-19 virus to enter human cells.

This protein has been a focus of the various vaccine trials happening around the world.

The work carried out by Conchita has led to important findings relating to these Spike-receptor interactions and she’s hoping that her research using computer programmes can be followed up in the laboratory.

Speaking to the news provider, Conchita explained that she travelled to Spain early in the pandemic to be with her family, while also completing her work for her undergraduate degree.

“I felt that if I had the chance to help out in any way, I would try to do so. I was well-versed in bioinformatics as I had completed my thesis using online tools, and was lucky to have access to them back home,” she said.

With the assistance of her advisor of studies Dr David Booth, Conchita carried out her research and submitted her findings to the journal Access Microbiology. Dr Booth said he was happy to support her and pointed out that it’s impressive for an undergraduate student to have achieved publication of their research.

“I thought Conchita’s instincts were on point, as she correctly asserted that in the 2002-2004 SARS outbreak no vaccine was produced even though there is a suite of research exploring the molecular mechanisms of the viral infection,” Dr Booth stated.

In the UK, a team from Imperial College London is set to begin trials of an inhaled vaccine for Covid-19. They will be using two vaccines that have been developed in recent months, one at Imperial and the other developed at Oxford.

The BBC explained that researchers believe delivering a vaccine directly to the lungs could create a better immune response than a conventional injection. 

Around 30 healthy volunteers will be given doses of the vaccine initially, with these administered in the same way as asthma drugs using a nebuliser and a mask or mouthpiece.

Professor Robin Shattock, research lead on the Imperial vaccine, told the news provider that it’s vital for researchers to explore alternative ways of administering vaccines.

There are currently almost 180 vaccines for Covid-19 being explored, but none has yet reached the end goal.

“It may well be that one group has the right vaccine but the wrong delivery method, and only trials such as this will be able to tell us that,” Professor Shattock stated.

If you’re looking for assistance with life science recruitment, get in touch with us today to find out more about our services.

Trials are about to get underway to assess the safety and efficacy of two coronavirus vaccines currently in development to see if they could be delivered via the airways, instead of being injected into muscles.

A clinical team from the Imperial Network for Vaccine Research, led by Dr Chris Chiu, will compare two vaccine candidates being developed by Imperial College London and Oxford University to see if they could be administered as airborne droplets, with the hope being that this could induce a more effective immune response.

Currently, trials are being carried out to assess the effectiveness of multiple vaccines delivered by intramuscular injection, but scientists are also keen to explore their potential for delivery to the respiratory tract. It’s possible that this could induce a localised and possibly more specialised immune response.

Dr Chiu explained that there is evidence that delivering flu vaccines using a nasal spray can protect people both against flu but also help reduce transmission and the team is now keen to explore if this could be similarly achieved where covid-19 is concerned.

“The current pandemic is caused by a respiratory virus which primarily infects people through the cells lining the nose, throat and lungs.

“These surfaces are specialised and produce a different immune response to the rest of the body, so it is critical we explore whether targeting the airways directly can provide an effective response compared to a vaccine injected into muscle,” he went on to say.

A total of 30 healthy volunteers are expected to be recruited for these trials, which will see the vaccines delivered as an aerosol, in much the same way that inhaled asthma medication is administered.

The study is now recruiting for healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 55, with trials due to begin at a facility in west London in the near future. Volunteers won’t be exposed deliberately to live or inactivated coronavirus for the study.

Imperial College London has also just joined an international coalition that is dedicated to protecting the world from future pandemics in the wake of 2020’s health emergency. The Trinity Challenge will provide access to £10 million in funding for innovations that could improve global responses and recovery from pandemics and other health threats.

The Challenge calls on participants to make use of data and analytics to learn and share lessons from the coronavirus crisis, driving innovation and advances in behavioural sciences, economics and epidemiology.

Launching the Challenge, Dame Sally Davies – former UK chief medical officer – observed that there will be another pandemic and now is the perfect opportunity for the international community to learn lessons and prepare for future events.

For help with life science recruitment, get in touch with the team here at Agenda Life Sciences today.

Researchers have identified the area of the brain from where Parkinson’s disease originates, which has raised hopes that treatments can be developed to prevent or maybe even reverse the condition.

According to Mirage News, the researchers from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University and the Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre, University of Oxford, conducted a study of the genes from over 6,000 cells from the substantia nigra, a region in the centre of the brain from where many neurological diseases originate.

Parkinson’s occurs when the cells that produce dopamine begin to die, but very little is known about what triggers this reaction. The research into the cells from the substantia nigra will help scientists refocus their efforts on those cells that should be producing dopamine, which is known for being a key part in the regulation of movement and cognition.

Claire Bale, head of research at Parkinson’s UK, said that understanding the sequence of events that leads to the neurological disease would be vital in finding a way to halt the progress of Parkinson’s, and even find a cure.

“This is a really exciting development. By applying this knowledge to future research we can work faster towards delivering new treatments that can slow, stop or reverse Parkinson’s. That is a day which cannot come soon enough for the 145,000 people currently living with the condition in the UK,” she said.

The brain utilises dopamine to send messages which control movement. A shortage of this chemical can trigger stiffness, slowness and tremors. Researchers had wondered whether immune cells in the brain, known as microglia, were causing the loss of dopaminergic neurons, similar to Alzheimer’s disease.

However, this was discovered to not be the case on further study of the cells from the substantia nigra. Instead, the cause of Parkinson’s disease appeared to be found directly in the dopaminergic neurons. Now that the origin of the disease has been located, researchers hope to find a drug that can halt the process.

The research was carried out by the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University and the Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre at Oxford University.

Study leader Professor Caleb Webber explained that the discovery holds huge implications for the understanding of Parkinson’s now that scientists know where to look.

“Our findings suggest we need to refocus our efforts into what is going wrong in the dopaminergic neurons early on in Parkinson’s brains,” he said.

Ms Bale added that by the time many sufferers have been diagnosed, they may have already lost up to 80 per cent of their dopamine-producing cells.

She said that Parkinson’s UK is always encouraged to see new developments and research, such as this study, particularly from the Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre, in which Parkinson’s UK has invested £11 million.

Professor Bart De Strooper, director of the UK Dementia Research Institute, said: “With the UK’s prevalence of Parkinson’s disease expected to almost double by 2065, the need for breakthroughs in treatment is imperative.”

The breakthrough study was published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

If you are looking for life sciences recruitment agencies in the UK, contact us today.

With many employers, recruitment agencies and science graduates prioritising safety in the current circumstances, there has been a gigantic rise in the number of telephone and distance interviews.

Even if the role will lead to work in a laboratory or office, often the first step of the recruitment process will involve a distance interview, using a tool like Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet.

It can sometimes be hard to prepare for distance interviews but for science graduates looking for their first role in life sciences, here are three tips to maximising your chances of getting recruited. [https://careersidekick.com/zoom-interview-tips/]

Check Your Equipment

A common problem both employers and candidates face is dealing with technical issues. That being said, the more comfortable you are setting up your microphone, camera and software, the more comfortable you will be in the interview itself, and the less time you need to get your equipment ready is the more time you can use to sell yourself.

Treat it as a Face to Face Interview

It is easy to relax and not take a distance interview as seriously. However, employers do treat distance interviews as essentially identical to a face to face interview, and the best way to win over an interviewer is to treat it as such. Dress professionally, ensure your body language conveys your enthusiasm and be sure to ask questions to show your enthusiasm.

As a recruitment agency for science graduates, Agenda Life Sciences is here to help you at every step of the process. Visit us today for more information.

In a bid to help regional economies around the UK recover following the Covid-19 pandemic, the government announced its £900 million Getting Building Fund, which will be used to support developments and other projects that create jobs, skills and infrastructure around the country.

Birmingham is one of the regions that’s set to benefit from some of this pot of money, with the University of Birmingham revealing that it will receive £10.8 million to kick start the construction of the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus (BHIC).

When it’s completed, the BHIC will be the only science park in the West Midlands that’s dedicated to health and life sciences.

Under the proposals for the development, BHIC will feature high-quality lab, office, incubation and innovation facilities designed to attract forward-thinking businesses to the area.

The BHIC will sit “at the heart of a critical cluster of health excellence led by Birmingham Health Partners – a strategic alliance between the University of Birmingham and two co-located NHS foundation trusts”, the university explained.

Construction is ready to begin on the project and the hope is that the buildings can be up and running within 18 months.

The first building on the site that will be constructed is the Precision Health Technology Accelerator, with the facility allowing clinical trials to take place and supporting the development of new medical technologies.

“By developing an environment specifically designed to help life science businesses to form, scale, collaborate and grow, BHIC is set to create 3,000 jobs in the first ten years, along with adding more than £180 million GVA to our local economy,” Professor Tim Jones, provost and vice-principal at the University of Birmingham, asserted.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, added that the funding the region is receiving, which amounts to £66 million in total, will not only boost the local economy in the short term, but will also have positive long-term impacts on the area.

“The £66 million is also an investment in our future, to secure the West Midlands’ place as a global leader in green and clean technology, life sciences and the transport of the future,” Mr Street stated.

Earlier this year, the BHIC was named as a Life Sciences Opportunity Zone by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

It is one of only six sites around the UK to receive this designation, which was awarded in recognition of the work that has been done to bring together academics from the University of Birmingham, clinicians at the University Hospitals Birmingham and Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trusts, as well as those in the broader life sciences industry.

Once construction on the BHIC is complete, it will provide up to 750,000 sq ft of space for health and life science businesses in the Birmingham area. Among its aims are to connect businesses directly to the NHS to help the health service access cutting-edge technology.

The BHIC will also boost the UK’s capability to run clinical trials, and help to deliver “data-enabled healthcare innovation”.

Whether you’re looking for a job in life sciences or are struggling with scientific professionals recruitment, contact us to find out how we can help.

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of our NHS more than ever, and in the last week the government has announced two new ways in which it will support our health system and the people who work for it, through life science recruitment with additional university places and launching a scheme to support staff wellbeing.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We have seen more clearly than ever before the heroic efforts of our public workers during this pandemic.” He went on to say: “The fantastic teachers, police officers and NHS workers truly are the pride of the nation and embody the spirit of public duty that every one of us can aspire towards.”

Additional University Places for Nursing

On 29 July it was confirmed by Universities Minister Michelle Donelan that the government has approved over 9,000 additional places at UK universities to help deliver vital services over three important areas of education—science, engineering, and nursing.

Out of the additional 9,000 university places, 5,611 places have been assigned for healthcare courses, with 3,803 of these additional places going specifically to nursing courses.

Michelle Donelan said: “These courses not only deliver some of the best outcomes for students, they will also be integral to driving innovation, helping our public services and building the skills the country needs.”

NHS People Plan for Staff Wellbeing

The government has also announced the new NHS People Plan, which puts the wellbeing of NHS staff at its heart, with a brand new recruitment, retention and support package.

The People Plan builds on innovations driven by NHS staff during the coronavirus pandemic and sets out how the NHS can embed them, including practical support on the job, such as there being safe spaces to rest and recuperate on shift, and ‘wellbeing guardians’ to help keep staff physically safe and healthy. It also addresses:

“Every single person working in the NHS has contributed to an unprecedented national effort to beat back this virus and save lives,” said Matt Hancock, the UK’s Health and Social Care Secretary. “They have protected us and in return this government will do everything in its power to protect and support them.”

The People Plan will also work together with other initiatives to find and promote positive changes made before and during the pandemic. It could include allowing NHS staff to use secure messaging services like WhatsApp to communicate with patients, so they can benefit from quick access to information.

This would also make it easier to link millions of primary care records to the latest coronavirus data and help the government in the undertaking of the world’s largest research and analysis of Covid-19 risk factors.

For help or advice about life science recruitment, get in touch with us today.

A former St Andrews University spin-out firm behind a device that aids in the detection of urinary tract infections (UTIs) has announced plans to triple its workforce.

According to The Herald, medical technology company ODx currently employs 30 people in Inverness, having moved there from Fife where it was founded at the University of St Andrews. The firm says there would be up to 60 new roles, including assembly technicians, and lab, office, and clinical staff.

The new jobs will be working on the development of a device that helps in the detection of antibiotic resistance in UTIs, which will significantly speed up diagnosis and treatment. The device is capable of producing test results within an hour, which compared to the previous timeframe of three days, will save money on over 172,000 hospital admissions, lab time, and antibiotic prescriptions.

ODx chief executive Giles Hamilton said: “We are delighted to start our next phase of recruitment in Scotland. We’re committed to supporting the NHS and communities in the Highlands, Islands & Moray.

“Our local partnerships, support from HIE and the commitment to medical technology from the Scottish Government were big factors in ODx deciding to place these jobs in Inverness rather than overseas.”

He added that the new roles and the creation of jobs in the region will help the local economy as Scotland tackles the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

ODx, who received £1.75 million from the Highland and Islands Enterprise (HIE) when they relocated last year, have been supporting the NHS’s COVID-19 response with offers of its analytics equipment, and its expertise in setting up clinical testing on the Inverness Campus.

This will be the second jobs boost for the Highlands region after technology outsourcing firm Capgemini was awarded a five-year contract to operate the Ministry of Defence’s IT Service Centre in Inverness and Dingwall.

The chief executive of HIE, Charlotte Wright said it was good news for the region. When ODx established its centre on Inverness Campus, it was anticipated that there would be 30 new jobs over the following three years, but the new announcement will raise that level to over 90 new jobs in a year.

“Inverness and the Highlands and Islands more widely is increasingly recognised for its growing life sciences sector. ODx is at the heart of this. Their work fits well with the collaborative and innovative ethos of Inverness Campus, as demonstrated in the efforts to tackle Covid-19, and we are very pleased to see the company grow in the region,” she said.

Ivan McKee, the Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation told of Scotland’s global recognition for the ground-breaking work conducted in the region’s life sciences sector, and the role of investors in the creation of new jobs.

“It’s wonderful to see one of them expanding in this hugely exciting sector,” he said.

If you are looking for life sciences recruitment agencies in the UK, contact our team today.

Significant partnerships have been agreed with BioNTech/Pfizer and Valneva, pharmaceutical and vaccine companies that are developing new vaccines to protect against coronavirus, with the UK securing early access to 90 million doses of promising vaccine candidates.

Access to treatments containing covid neutralising antibodies has also been secured from AstraZeneca, with the aim being to protect people who can’t be vaccinated, such as immunocompromised and cancer patients.

This move could mean that the UK could have sufficient doses to vaccinate and protect priority groups like health and social care workers, as well as others at increased health risk.

A new vaccine research registry has also been launched that will allow members of the public to participate in clinical studies. The hope is that 500,000 will be signed up by October, considered to be a vital step in the fight against covid-19.

Alok Sharma, business secretary, said: “The hunt to find a vaccine is a truly global endeavour and we are doing everything we can to ensure the British public get access to a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine as soon as possible.

“This new partnership with some of the world’s foremost pharmaceutical and vaccine companies will ensure the UK has the best chance possible of securing a vaccine that protects those most at risk.”

However, speaking to Sky News, chief executive of Valneva Thomas Lingelbach said that the drug wouldn’t be widely available before the middle of next year, explaining that they’re now trying to accelerate a ten-year development cycle and get it done in ten months.

For help with life science recruitment, get in touch with Agenda Life Sciences today.

We get it—applying for a job is always going to be a nerve-wracking affair. You might have the right life science qualification under your belt, and you might have found the perfect animal research position to apply for, and dusted off your finest get-up so you look like the epitome of a young professional…

But your palms are still sweating, your mouth is dry, and you’re wondering why you can’t seem to remember your own name right now. First of all—deep breaths! Your interviewer wants to get to know you, so shirking off the pressure to be an alternative is the first step to interview success.

Controlling your nerves aside, there are also a few practical things you can do to help your interview go as smoothly and positively as possible. Here’s what you need to know:

Know your stuff about the company

It might sound obvious, but brush up on the organisation you want to work for. Preparation is key to interview success, so be ready to answer questions about why you want to work for them, how you meet the job specification and what else you believe you can bring to the table.

You can’t do any of this if you don’t know about the organisation—research is key!

Use your social media wisely

In this modern day and age, being social media savvy is all part of your preparation, too. That doesn’t mean you need to be a digital marketing expert, just that your social media needs to represent a positive and professional person.

So make sure your Instagram isn’t overflowing with that messy Malaga holiday you went on with 18 of your university mates. Your prospective employee doesn’t need to see you bleary-eyed, dancing with glow sticks and drinking from a fish bowl at Dave’s Disco Bar…

Remove any photos that make you look irresponsible, up your security settings, and make sure you have an up to date LinkedIn account.

Tell stories about yourself

And no, that doesn’t mean the Malaga stories, either…

But you need to be ready to answer questions about yourself, and back up your answers with examples. So if you’re asked about working in a team, or in a high-pressured deadline-driven environment, or your organisational and planning skills, then you’ll have a bank of stories to showcase your skills, attributes and abilities.

Ditch the ego

You’ll hear a lot about being confident in a job interview, but be careful you don’t bolster up so much that you veer into what appears to be arrogance…

Forbes recently wrote an advice piece on what interviewees should stop doing, which included accidental entitlement. Forget “I’m going to interview them as much as they interview me” or challenging the interviewer on negative things you’ve read/heard about the company (though hopefully that’s nothing).

Essentially, know your place in the interview room. Be energetic, enthusiastic, knowledgable—and humble.

Be ready for a video call

During these coronavirus times, you may find yourself being asked to do your job interview on a platform like Zoom, instead of face-to-face.

This might help you feel a bit more comfortable if you’re nervous, but remember you need to maintain absolute professionalism, even if you’re sitting there in your bedroom.

Set up a smart background (no one needs to see your washing), dress appropriately and try not to fidget. And keep a ‘cheat sheet’ on your desk—anything that will help you. One of the perks of a Zoom call is that you can have some notes/prompts in front of you and no one will be any the wiser…

Are you looking for the perfect animal research position? You’re in the right place. Agenda Life Sciences specialises in a wide range of life science and animal research jobs. View our job vacancies to find out more about how we can help you kick-start your career.

While there has been much in the press in recent months about the research being conducted into Covid-19 and the race to find a vaccine for the virus, there has been less mention of all the research projects that have been put on hold or delayed as a result of the global pandemic.

The Guardian reported that a group of 50 cross-party MPs, as well as a number of charities in the UK, are calling on the government to provide financial support to vital life sciences research in fields such as dementia, heart disease and cancer.

The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) is asking for the government to support the Life Sciences-Charity Partnership Fund. The aim is that the government will provide £310 million in funding, which will be matched by the charities it helps for at least the next three years.

Several charities have revealed that the pandemic has seriously affected the funding of their work. For example, the British Heart Foundation estimates that it has lost £10 million a month as a result of the pandemic, while Cancer Research UK has revealed it will reduce its workforce by around one-quarter.

Other charities, including Great Ormond Street Hospital, Diabetes UK and Alzheimer’s Research UK have all lent their backing to the fund.

Politicians including Hilary Benn, Ed Davey and Sir Roger Gale are some of those who are calling on the government to provide this support to the country’s medical research charities.

Aisling Burnand, chief executive officer of the AMRC, told the newspaper that these charities “play an integral role” within the UK’s research sector.

“The UK’s world-leading research and development sector is one of our biggest strengths as a nation, stimulating new ideas and discoveries and playing a central role in advancing our economy, social wellbeing and health,” she asserted.

In the open letter to chancellor Rishi Sunak, the AMRC explained that medical research charities did not benefit from the £750 million already promised to charities in April.

It also revealed that charities are planning to reduce their spending on medical research by 41 per cent as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in a £310 million reduction in investment in this area in 2020.

Ms Burnand also stressed the significant contribution that medical research charities make to the UK’s research and development landscape, pointing out that collectively they have invested £14 billion since 2008, with £1.9 billion invested in medical research and development in 2019 alone.

A spokesperson for the Treasury stated that the government is working with medical research charities and others in the sector to “understand how it has been impacted and what can be done to ensure patients continue benefiting from charity-funded research”.

Earlier this month, research conducted by think tank IPPR revealed that life sciences firms in the north of the UK receive considerably less funding than those in the south of the country. Overall, organisations in the north of the UK receive £4 billion less in health research and development funding per year than their counterparts in the south.

As a result, the IPPR has recommended that the government take steps to ensure that the potential of the country’s life sciences sector in the north of the country is realised by helping channel more research and development investment to the north of the UK.

If you need support with life science recruitment to grow your team, get in touch with us today.