June News Roundup
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£2.1m award to develop eye cell ‘bandage’
A team of vision researchers from the University of Liverpool have received £2.1m to develop a contact lens that can repair eye damage.
Dr Hannah Levis is leading the team which will, over the next 3 years, work on an eye ‘bandage’ that makes direct contact with the outer layer of the eye, or corneal epithelial tissue, to heal persistent defects.
Bruntwood SciTech celebrates topping out of innovative lab and workspace, Citylabs 4.0
Bruntwood SciTech has celebrated the topping out of its latest innovative lab and workspace offering, Citylabs 4.0 located within Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s (MFT) Oxford Road Campus.
To celebrate this major milestone in the development process, Bruntwood SciTech hosted a two-part event, kicking off with a morning interactive session with patients at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, followed by the official afternoon ceremony with local partners.
Ready to scale up? Five ways that collaborating with a university can support your business growth
Caroline Stanton, Head of SME Partnerships at The University of Manchester, shares how the institution is supporting innovative businesses to scale and grow through partnership and collaboration.
Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Month: Durham University spin-out given the go-ahead to trial new treatments
During Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Month, Durham University's Prof Andy Whiting discussed Durham spinout Nevrargenics Ltd. being given the green light by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to trial new treatments.
AIMday Civic AI and HealthTech - registration extended to 16th July
The University of Liverpool will host AIMday Civic AI and HealthTech on 2nd October 2024 at the Civic Health Innovation Labs (CHIL) situated in the Liverpool Science Park. This event is in collaboration with CHIL, Mental Health Research for Innovation Centre (M-RIC), Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and the Growth Platform.
AIMDay (Academic and Industry Meeting Day) is a workshop where questions submitted by an external organisation are discussed along with expert academics in the field. Any collaborations that are developed on the day will have the opportunity to apply for exclusive funding offered by the University of Liverpool.
Please register your attendance at the AIMday Civic AI & HealthTech by submitting your question(s) on the registration page for organisations by 16th July 2024.
Bionow Members get 24% Super Earlybird discount for BIO Europe until 26th July
Taking place from 4th - 6th November 2024 in Stockholm, BIO-Europe will host over 29,000 one-to-one meetings. The powerful partneringONE platform allows you to effectively and efficiently search for your most ideal partners, meet one-to-one with over 5,500 potential partners to take your company's strategies to the next level. Attend in-person or digitally from wherever you are in the world!
Forge the connections that keep your business moving forward at BIO-Europe's networking receptions held at some of the most incredible locations around Stockholm and position your company among the innovators of the life science industry through a sponsorship package that will improve your visibility with prospective partners.
Study Transformative Oncology, online and part-time at The University of Manchester (MSc, PGDip, PGCert)
Delivered in collaboration with the Manchester Cancer Research Centre and designed with working professionals in mind, this pioneering, patient-focussed course will give you the tools to lead the next wave of cancer specialists and revolutionise the oncology field.
Apply now for September 2024
10% NHS staff discount
University launches new biotech spin-out company
The University of Liverpool has launched a new biotech spin-out company to develop novel therapeutic drugs for the treatment of cancer and fibrotic diseases.
The spin-out, named Galytx, will focus specifically on developing small molecular therapeutic drugs against a highly clinical relevant molecular target called galectin-3.
Seven researchers secure funding through the flagship Researcher to Innovator (R2I) programme to continue developing their commercial ideas
Twenty-two early career researchers have now successfully completed the Researcher to Innovator (R2I) programme, an exciting entrepreneurship training programme for researchers with ambitions to develop commercial ventures and create impact from their academic studies.
The Options Roundabout event on the 12th June 2024 was the culmination of the R2I programme which saw our researchers pitch to a panel of entrepreneurs, funders and commercialisation experts. The event which was an opportunity for the cohort to network and celebrate their achievements was hosted in our MEC Enterprise Zone, a dedicated entrepreneurship space in the Alliance Manchester Business School.
Life sciences company LightOx raises £1.5m to develop oral cancer preventative treatment
A Newcastle-based life sciences company has raised £1.5m worth of investment to help develop a ground-breaking treatment that could provide a treatment for patients suffering from early stage oral cancer.
LightOx has raised money to develop its lead candidate LXD191, an oral gel that is activated by a light device that targets a serious pre-cancerous condition called oral epithelial dysplasia (OED).
The round was led by the GMC Life Sciences Fund by Praetura – a collaborative fund managed by Praetura Ventures and made up of Bruntwood SciTech, Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership and Greater Manchester Combined Authority – with LightOx’s existing investors also contributing, including Newcastle’s Northstar Ventures.
SRG expands into commercial recruitment
SRG, a leading recruitment specialist with over 30 years of experience in STEM recruitment, is excited to announce its expansion into the commercial recruitment sector. This strategic move enables SRG to offer comprehensive recruitment solutions that support a wide range of commercial and management roles, meeting the diverse needs of clients.
Manchester Met opens applications for September cohort of degree apprenticeships in science and sustainability
Degree apprenticeships are a powerful combination of study and on-the-job learning. Apprentices can be new recruits or existing employees - an excellent opportunity for employers to develop in-house experts. Our industry-driven programmes are created with leading employers, focusing on combining valuable transferable skills and scientific knowledge.
Lung cancer study offers further evidence on importance of screening
Researchers from the University of Liverpool and Queen Mary University of London have published the first study in the UK to demonstrate the benefits of lung cancer screening across socioeconomic groups. Evidence in the new study illustrates the value and importance of screening, especially for those who live in areas of economic deprivation.
Bruntwood SciTech launches all new Life Science Accelerator at Alderley Park
Bruntwood SciTech is announcing the launch of its new Life Science Accelerator programme at Alderley Park in a move aimed at supporting even greater innovation and economic growth in the region.
The Life Science Accelerator will begin with an in-person two day bootcamp at Alderley Park on 3rd and 4th July 2024.