A £20m fund to help manufacturers in the life sciences sector across the country has been open to applications.
The Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund, previously announced in November 2020, was intended to help life science recruitment and development spread further across the country and create economic opportunities in a fast-moving sector.
The fund is primarily aimed at MedTech, medical diagnostics and human medicines projects which are set to cost over £8m.
All successful applicants will receive a share of the £20m fund, helping to boost innovation in a sector worth £80bn annually to the UK and has been a vital lifeline over the past year.
It is also a sector that has multiple hubs outside of London and the South East of England, with two-thirds of life sciences businesses being headquartered in the rest of the UK.
As well as this, manufacturers must be able to meet manufacturing and medical regulations, which differ depending on the end product.
For MedTech and diagnostics innovations, the device needs to meet safety and performance requirements as set by the Medical Devices Regulations. If it is not in place yet, then the application may ask how the device will be proven to meet these regulations.
On the other hand, for medicines and vaccines, the business must hold a license to produce medication, either in the form of an Investigational Medicinal Products Directive (IMP) or Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Human Medicines Directive licence.
If the business does not have either, then it must show that it is in the process of applying for and getting one of these licenses.
Given the reliance on the innovative spirit of the life sciences sector over the past year, in particular, this fund will help complement the work of life sciences accelerator funds in helping to get several innovative medical businesses off the ground.
The funding application process begins with five gateway questions which ensure that the project is eligible for funding to begin with before the full application form is completed.
Once the application form is completed fully then the first round of sifting begins, and the application will be rejected based on the following criteria:
Applications that meet these criteria will be put through to the full appraisal round, with applications prioritised by how closely they are within the scope of the fund.
At this stage, each applicant will work with a case officer, who will ask for details regarding the state of the business in relation to the applications. This includes looking at the financial state of the business and how likely they are to deliver on the project they propose.
After this, the applications will be taken to an investment board, either an internal board for the fund or the Industrial Development Advisory board for applications over £5m.
They will look specifically into the requested amounts and judge whether this is the right amount of money to help support the project.
After this, government ministers in charge of the project will look over the results of these assessments and will choose the projects that will receive grant money. Any that do will get a letter that they must respond to within ten days.
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock set out his plans for the future of the UK life sciences sector at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) annual conference.
The speech, published in a GOV.UK press release highlights the significant advancements made in the life sciences sector since the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, from developing treatments for the coronavirus and launching the first Antivirals Taskforce, to the rollout of the UK’s vaccination programme.
To help the nation achieve its life sciences superpower status, Hancock announced there would be £37 million worth of new investments in genomics projects and data-driven incentives.
Genomics England projects supporting the implementation of the Genome UK strategy will receive £17m, including funding to explore public attitudes to, and the potential value of, newborn sequencing, contributing to the increase in data from ethnic minorities in genomic cohorts and data sets and supporting a next-generation approach to cancer diagnosis.
Hancock said: “We’ve managed to accelerate things, that often happens in a crisis, but crucially, we’ve got to hold on to those things and translate the lessons we’ve learned, especially from the things that have gone well – the discovery of dexamethasone, our vaccines project.”
He said that the UK public has never been more engaged in health research and that enthusiasm needs to be harnessed with further projects that tackle cancer, dementia, and preventing heart disease.
Support for the UK Functional Genomics Initiative will help drive innovative approaches to improve understanding of how genetic changes cause disease. Genomics sequencing will be used as a routine part of everyday diagnosis and treatment.
£20 million will be invested in initiatives to harness UK health data for life sciences research as part of the ambition to make the UK the most advanced and data-enabled clinical research environment in the world.
This includes investment in clinical trials, funding to develop medicines and vaccines, health technologies to support cutting-edge research such as the COVID-19 vaccine trials, and studies supporting the earlier detection of disease.
Hancock also pledged to make the UK a global leader in manufacturing, especially in medicines, to help grow UK-based business and to encourage further investment, highlighting the establishment of the new Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund.
Hancock said a message to would-be investors in the life sciences sector is that the government is committed to free trade and contract law and that the industry, being global in nature, depends on international collaboration and international supply chains, possibly more than any other industry.
“But we know, and I believe fundamentally, that the best way to protect all our supply chains is not protectionism, it’s openness,” he added.
“I want to make crystal clear Britain’s unshakeable commitment to free trade and contract law – a covenant on life sciences, if you like, that gives those who want to invest and build their businesses in the UK the assurance they need that you can export the medicines made here to your destination market.”
If you’re looking for life science recruitment agencies in the UK, contact our team today.
A major life sciences firm that provides Coronavirus-related testing products for the medical sector is set to create hundreds of new jobs across Scotland.
LumiraDX, which already has a UK base in London as well as in the US, has just expanded its manufacturing footprint in Scotland and is set to provide 200 jobs on the site, The Herald Scotland reports.
The site is located at Maxim Park in Motherwell and is owned by Shelborn Asset Management. The initial rent of the ground and first floor of the building last year by LimiraDX is to be supplemented by another 3,000 sq ft as the company takes over the other two floors.
This will not be the sum of its ambitions, however, with another 310 life science vacancies to follow over the next three years as the company rolls out a global expansion programme for its health research, development and manufacturing plans.
Overall, £78 million will be spent on developing “numerous sites across the country”. This funding has come from various sources, including a £15 million grant from Scottish Enterprise.
The firm has said that the new roles will be created at The company specialises in producing POC testing equipment, helping provide tests to keep tabs on infection rates and thus inform health and political decision making while the vaccine roll-out continues across Scotland and the rest of the UK.
Vice president for business development at LumiraDX Peter Welch said the past year “has been an incredible time of growth” for the company as it provides vital testing equipment.
He added: “To keep up with these market demands, it became critical for us to find additional space to devote for our growing R&D teams,” adding that the choice of Maxim Park was due to the area’s good infrastructure and proximity to talent pools made it an ideal location.
The LumiraDX project and the expanding base in Lanarkshire is not the only exciting development in life sciences research in Scotland.
In Aberdeen, work has begun on the construction of the city’s £40 million BioHub, which will be part of the Foresterhill Health Campus. This is designed to be one of the largest integrated health sites in Europe, combining clinical, research, teaching and commercial activities, the Scotsman reports.
A key aim will be to double the number of life sciences firms operating in the north east of Scotland.
The building has been designed by architects BDP and principal at the firm’s Glasgow studio Christoph Ackermann said: “This is an exciting and transformational project for Aberdeen and north east Scotland.”
He added: “The BioHub project is another example of BDP’s expertise in this style of development, creating office and laboratory spaces for start-up companies under a single roof.”
The Foresterhill project has been led by Opportunity North East (ONE) with £20 million of capital funding from the UK and Scottish governments as part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal. This includes a commitment of £5.6 million by ONE to develop the biosciences sector, including the foundation of a new company called BioAberdeen limited.
A large-scale business innovation hub in Birmingham specialising in life sciences and healthcare technology is one step closer to completion after being granted planning permission by Birmingham City Council.
Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, funded by the council and receiving support from the University of Birmingham and major life sciences accelerator Bruntwood SciTech, is set to begin construction work in Selly Oak this summer.
The building will be able to offer 133,000 square feet of office and laboratory space, with a particular focus on precision medicine, digital healthcare, MedTech and biopharmaceuticals, offering a boost to businesses looking to make Birmingham their business hub.
The Campus has claimed several major infrastructural benefits from working with them, from high-quality workspaces to access to a clinical trials translation ecosystem fully connected to the West Midlands NHS trusts.
There are also plans for a cafe, indoor and outdoor events spaces, on-site car parking, cycle storage and a range of meeting rooms.
The Campus is one major step towards positioning the West Midlands as a hub for health innovation and life sciences recruitment, which in 2020 led to over £1.12bn in investment.
By the end of the decade, the West Midlands aims to be the home of over 650,000 square feet of high-end lab and office space, as well as 10,000 new life sciences professionals. All of this is estimated to be worth over £400m extra to the regional economy.
Bruntwood SciTech’s managing director called the Campus the “epicentre” where all the raw ingredients the life sciences sector needs can come together to create important health innovations from early R&D to being a part of everyday life.
If you are ready to take your first step into the life sciences industry, or are searching for your next role, you will know that there is a lot of preparation and form-filling ahead. Combining this with a current full-time position can be a daunting prospect. Many candidates prefer to register with a specialist agency, who can help in the following ways.
A specialist life sciences recruitment agency will save you time and effort by making sure your skillset is matched to the most suitable roles. They will have expertise in their field, often having an educational or industry background in life sciences themselves.
This means they are well placed to help you make the right decisions about your career, and even suggest areas of work which you may not have previously considered. They will be up to date with the latest developments in their fields, and may be able to spot transferable skills in your CV in order to widen your opportunities.
A specialist recruitment agency will have an in-depth knowledge of the job market, and often have a close working relationship with leading businesses. Therefore, you can be streets ahead of the competition, as the agency may put you forward for roles which haven’t yet been widely advertised.
In the thriving and competitive UK pharmaceutical and biotech industry, the agency will be able to get your CV in front of a leading industry giant or a small start-up company before they are flooded with applications, helping you to stand out from the crowd.
A recruitment agency will have a network of relationships ready-made, through social media platforms such as LinkedIn. Online networking is a powerful tool, but can take a lot of time and effort for an individual to navigate without professional help. The agency will have a direct line to the recruiter, discussing the role in person to nail down the fine details.
They may be able to tell you about information which wasn’t included in the job description, such as the exact area or clinical phase of the research, the exact location, and details about the salary range. They will also have an insight into the company culture, and will help you to find a role which is an ideal cultural fit for you.
A specialist recruiter will be able to offer tailored career advice, and show you how to produce a CV which will gain the attention of employers. They will know which skills and experience to emphasise in your interview, and advise the best way to prepare. The agency will have a detailed knowledge of the recruiter, and pass this on to you.
Once you have found a role that is perfect for you, the agency will usually be happy to keep in touch, so you will have up to date knowledge at your fingertips when you are ready to progress your career.
If you are looking to register with life science recruitment, please contact us today.
A multidisciplinary team of experts is working on a project to develop more precise drug dosing for children with cancer, the University of Birmingham reports. The project, named ChromaDose, is a collaboration between the Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, Imperial College London, and University College London.
It is understood that children receiving treatment for chemotherapy process the drugs differently, which can cause inconsistencies in drug concentrations in the blood. This means that in some cases, the patient may not receive enough of the drug dose, or may experience undesirable side-effects, known as cardiotoxicity.
The aim of the new project is to develop a diagnostic drug monitoring tool, which will aid the preparation of optimal drug doses for patients. It will mean that the most common treatment for childhood cancers, anthracycline chemotherapy, can be personalised for each patient.
ChromaDose is a bedside device which can be used by clinicians to calculate the patient’s drug exposure, from a sample of a few drops of blood taken at various times after treatment.
The project co-lead, Professor Pamela Kearns, of the University of Birmingham, said: “In 2021, there are nearly half a million survivors of childhood cancer in Europe and two thirds live with long term side effects from their treatment.”
“One way to improve the side effect profile of a drug is to be more precise in the dosing. ChromaDose has the potential to allow us to individualise the dose of chemotherapy drugs to maximise effect on the tumour while minimising the side effects.”
The team hope to eventually produce a diagnostics tool which will give reliable results within 30 minutes from insertion of the sample. The work is being supported by the National Institute for Health Research, who have provided the team with an i4i Product Development Award of £980,000.
If you are looking for pharmaceutical recruitment agencies in the UK, get in touch today.
A study that looked into the effects of Artificial Intelligence and blockchain technologies on research in the life sciences sector found that nearly two-thirds of professionals in the sector (62 per cent) thought AI would lead to faster results.
The survey, published by the Pistoia Alliance also found that 89 per cent of those surveyed were aware of blockchain technology and 70 per cent believed it had the potential to help with those working, for example, in an animal research position.
The biggest barrier to wide-scale adoption of blockchain appears to be a lack of access to specialists skilled in the field, with 30 per cent of those surveyed citing it.
Other challenges found in the survey was a lack of standardisation (19 per cent) and interoperability (17 per cent) in blockchain
As well as this, whilst over half of respondents (57 per cent) noted that AI was already being used in research, 38 per cent of respondents believed algorithmic bias to be a significant barrier when it comes to the use of AI, with a further 42 per cent worried that it had the potential to be.
Algorithmic bias is where a limited amount of research data is fed into the AI algorithm to train it in what it should look for, and as a result, it magnifies the biases of the limited results it does find.
Ensuring that all data used in a lab is findable, accessible interoperable and reusable will help address some of the data quality issues highlighted in the survey.
If you’ve landed an interview for your dream job at a life science company, you will be keen to make the most of this valuable opportunity. No doubt it has taken you a lot of effort to put together an impressive CV and personal statement, and you don’t want all that work to go to waste. Here are some tips to help you put in a good performance.
1. Research the company. Hopefully you will have already gained some insight into the lab or company during the application process, but don’t just rely on this knowledge. Read all sections of their website carefully and write out some bullet points to consolidate exactly what kind of work or research they undertake. Case studies are always useful.
Carry out a Google search for any funding or grants they have received, any collaborations, research publications and press releases. Get an idea of the structure of the organisation and how you might fit into it, and form an impression of their mission statement and values. Being a good ‘cultural fit’ is often just as important as training and abilities.
2. Read the job requirements again. You might assume that you already know what these are, but person specifications are often very detailed and there may be things you overlooked during the application process. Write down a response to each point, demonstrating precisely how you match what the company is looking for.
3. Prepare answers to possible questions. If possible, try and find out what the format of the interview will be beforehand. Competency based questions are common in the life sciences sector, so do some research into model answers. They are often based around the STAR method, which stands for situation, task, action, and result.
Check to see if the interview will involve psychometric or other forms of testing, group work, or presentations, so you are not confronted with any surprises on the day. Find out if you will be facing a panel, or if it will be more of an informal one-to-one chat.
4. Be prepared to talk about your work. If you already have scientific qualifications and research under your belt, make sure you can talk about it to the interviewer in an engaging manner, highlighting your achievements. You want to show off your proficiency and hard work, but don’t descend into a long ramble as you will lose the interest of your audience.
5. Be punctual. First impressions are important, and this begins with turning up on time. If it is a remote interview, make sure you know what programme will be used, and that it is installed and working on your computer. If you are travelling, check the route beforehand, and aim to arrive at least 10 minutes before the start of the interview.
6. Establish a rapport. The interview will be a much easier process for all concerned if you can relax a little and establish a rapport early on. Smile and look the interviewer in the eye when you meet, and be ready to chat if they make some small talk before commencing. Finally make sure your mobile is on silent— and good luck!
If you are looking for recruitment agencies for science graduates, get in touch today to see how we can help.
Researchers based at the University of Manchester have carried out a study which suggests the diagnosis and monitoring of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is possible through analysis of skin compounds. This could potentially lead to a simple and non-invasive diagnostic procedure, according to a recent report in Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News.
The technique involves using high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) to profile the complex signature of metabolites in sebum samples, the article explains. Researchers took samples from more than 200 volunteers, a portion of whom were Parkinson’s patients. In those where the disease was present, novel diagnostic sebum-based biomarkers were identified.
This outcome raises hopes that in the future, PD can be swiftly diagnosed with a simple and pain-free skin swab. It may also be potentially useful for monitoring the progress of the disease. This can be adapted to clinical trials, to help measure whether experimental treatments are effective in slowing, stopping, or reversing the progression of the disease.
Research lead Professor Perdita Barran commented, “We are now looking to take our findings forwards to refine the test to improve accuracy even further and to take steps towards making this a test that can be used in the NHS and to develop more precise diagnostics and better treatment for this debilitating condition.”
The technique should prove to be cost-effective, as it makes use of existing technology which is already available. Professor Barran, who is based at Manchester, collaborated with teams at Liverpool University, the University of Edinburgh, and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam to produce their research paper, published in Nature Communications.
Currently, the diagnosis of PD is made by a neurologist, based on observation of symptoms. These may include tremor, slowness, stiffness, and problems with balance. However, in the early stages, progression can be very gradual and subtle, and also overlap with other conditions, making formal diagnosis a complex process.
PD is a neurodegenerative disorder which typically develops gradually, and the patient may have been suffering from it for years before seeking medical help. More than 6 million people around the world have a current diagnosis, making it second only in prevalence to Alzheimer’s disease.
The ‘world first’ new testing technique was developed through studying a condition called seborrheic dermatitis, or oily skin. The excess of sebum produced contains lipid-like molecules which, although commonly studied for conditions such as acne, had been analysed very little in the context of disease diagnostics.
The authors of the research paper note: “The use of sebum as a diagnostic tool for PD provides an exciting prospect from which a non-invasive and inexpensive test could be developed to detect the onset of this disease.”
The team are now seeking funding to enable them to further test and explore the results, in order to develop a definitive test to diagnose PD accurately, quickly, and in a cost-effective manner, and to enable monitoring of disease progression. They also hope to investigate whether sebum profiles can be used to develop tests for other conditions, such as Covid-19.
If you’re looking for recruitment agencies for science graduates, talk to us today.
‘Long-Covid’ is the term to describe patients who are suffering from the ill-effects of the virus three months or more after first contracting it. So far, the condition remains little understood, despite an estimated one in ten patients displaying Long-Covid symptoms.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) are funding four new research studies into Long-Covid in the community, according to their website. The funding will be given to four studies which were chosen from a UK-wide call to identify the best research programmes.
So, what exactly is Long-Covid? It is broadly understood to be a range of symptoms which can vary, but the most common complaints include breathlessness, headaches, cough, fatigue and ‘mental fogginess’. The UKRI and NIHR are also funding major studies into the disease in hospitalised patients.
Professor Fiona Watt, Executive Chair of the Medical Research Council, part of UKRI, said:
“There is increasing medical evidence and patient testimony showing that a significant minority of people who contract COVID suffer chronic symptoms for months after initially falling ill, irrespective of whether they were hospitalised.”
“These four large-scale projects will work with affected individuals to better understand and address these debilitating long-term impacts.”
The first project will be led by Professor Paul Elliott of Imperial College, London, and the funding will be spread over three years. The REACT Long-Covid project aims to better understand the genetic, biological, social, and environmental pathways of the condition. It will attempt to explain why some people experience symptoms and others do not.
The research will study 120,000 people in the community, with a mixture of those who tested both positive and negative for Covid-19. They will be asked to complete questionnaires about their symptoms, and also give regular updates to a panel.
They will also be sampled to compare genetic and biological features, which help the researchers to identify common indicators and investigate possible treatments.
Another study will try to identify therapies and treatments for Long-Covid. This will be led by Dr Shamil Haroon and Professor Melanie Calvert, of the University of Birmingham and will run over two years. The research will concentrate on 2,000 Long-Covid patients, who will be invited to record their symptoms on a digital platform.
A further select group of patients will have their heart rate, oxygen saturation, step count, and sleep quality monitored. The researchers will then use their evidence to recommend treatments that should be tested, which will be targeted for individual patient requirements.
A third project will be led by Professor Nishi Chaturvedi of University College London, and will run over three years. The project will aim to define why some people get the condition and not others, what the typical effects on a person’s health and ability to work are, and what factors affect recovery.
It will also look into the best ways of ensuring patients can access the right treatments and support. The survey will use data collected from 60,000 people selected from across all age ranges and geographical locations within the UK.
The fourth project will be led by Professor Sir Terence Stephenson of UCL Great Ormond Street, and will study the symptoms and risk factors of Long-Covid in children and young people. The aim is to establish a medical diagnosis and investigate potential treatments.
If you are looking for pharmaceutical recruitment agencies in the UK, get in touch today.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has been urged to provide more help to expand Britain’s life sciences industry in his Budget this week (March 3rd).
Experts in the sector have said the timing could be perfect for the UK to emerge as a leading light in the field, giving the country a much-needed reputation booster after Brexit and capitalising on the achievements of the sector in the fight against the Coronavirus, Pharamaforum reports.
Among those urging Mr Sunak to strike while the iron is hot are life sciences lead at Accenture Andrew Meade and his colleague Pervaise Khan.
Mr Meade said the past year as seen the UK become “the dominant player in the global life sciences industry”, with the Covid-19 vaccine rollout programme being “the envy of Europe and the world”.
He added that it is “not a coincidence” that two of the ten most valuable FTSE-100 firms – GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca – are pharmaceutical companies.
“Looking to the UK’s future in a post-Brexit world, there is now potential for the UK to become the global poster-child for life sciences, with great economic potential for the country,” Mr Meade concluded.
The pandemic has also led to a surge in investment in the sector, not least in UK firms. The BioIndustry Association reported last month that there had been an unprecedented investment of $2.8 billion into the sector globally in 2020.
AstraZeneca had faced some hostility outside the UK over its Covid-19 vaccine, with the EU becoming embroiled in a row with the firm over supplies. Several countries subsequently refused to licence it for use in over-65s, citing a lack of evidence of its efficacy for older people due to their fairly low representation in trials.
However, following results in the UK indicating the jab is just as effective in the over-80s as the Pfizer vaccine, France has now backtracked and will offer it to this aged 65-74.
A new study has found that professional recruitment companies increase UK productivity by £7.7bn a year. The research, by the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) investigated the social and economic impact of recruitment by specialists, who were skilled at bringing the right people into the right roles.
The results of the study also revealed the changing work environment in a post-pandemic world. According to its findings, 28% of businesses are shifting to a more flexible workforce model, and would consider hiring someone who did not live close to the office. This could potentially open firms up to a wider talent pool and boost productivity.
The survey, titled ‘Recruitment and recovery’, also found that two in three businesses (63%) reported that working with a recruitment agency had increased the diversity of new recruits, and four in five (78%) of new employees thought that their job was a good match for them.
Neil Carberry, CEO of the REC, commented: “From temporary work to permanent roles, at home or at a workplace, recruiters have stepped up through the pandemic to keep the wheels of our economy turning. And they will be more important than ever as we bounce back – helping government, businesses and employees build a better world of work.”
If you are an employer, there are many ways to attract the best candidates for your vacancy, and as the economy recovers from the Covid-19 recession, the talent pool will be wider than ever. Many people have reassessed their life choices during the pandemic, and are looking to re-skill or relocate. Others will be seeking new positions following redundancy.
A recruitment agency who specialises in a particular field, such as life sciences, can help speed up the process and ensure that only the most appropriate candidates are put forward for interview. They will know the job market really well, and will be trained in selecting the best qualified applicants.
Another aspect to consider is that serious candidates will have already contacted recruitment specialists in their field, in order to optimise their job prospects. An agency with a good reputation in your sector will therefore already have access to a network of highly skilled and available candidates.
Professional recruiters will not only wait for the best potential employees to contact them, but actively search them out. This may be through social media, targeted emails, and phone calls. A business will be unlikely to have the time, training, and correct resources to do this themselves, so this is where the power of an agency really comes to the fore.
Perhaps the most compelling reason to use an agency is the amount of work and time that is saved by the employer. From seeking out the best recruitment channels, to vetting CVs and contacting applicants, it is a very time-consuming process. Some agencies will even carry out initial interviews and salary negotiations.
Of course, there is no guarantee of a perfect result whichever recruitment method you choose. However, a reputable agency can offer invaluable industry insight, will be able to write a compelling job advert, and have access to well qualified candidates who are a good match for your company culture.
If you are looking for pharmaceutical recruitment agencies in the UK, get in touch today.