Showcasing the benefits of collaboration at Yorkshire Bio-Partnering 2023
Back at the University of Bradford on 25th April after a successful inaugural year in 2022, Yorkshire Bio-Partnering had a packed agenda focusing on the benefits of industry-academic collaboration and the sharing of funding strategies from experts in the region.
Discussion topics covered collaborative research funding, the challenges facing businesses and academics in sourcing funding and support for collaborative projects, case studies showcasing partnership successes, and the key elements that make a successful translational research project. An insightful Bradford Inaugural lecture by Klaus Pors, Chess, Cancer and Cures? Why disguising the next move could win the battle, also took place following the drinks reception.
Two keynote speakers shared their thoughts on successful partnerships: British Business Bank’s Director of UK Network (Midlands and North of England), Sophie Dale-Black, and Chris Twelves, Professor of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Oncology at the University of Leeds School of Medicine and Director of the NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility.
The first keynote examined how life sciences businesses can finance innovation and growth, and with investment deals down 24%, with life sciences slipping to the 4th highest UK sector by number of deals announced from 3rd in 2021, the most important point to discuss was the reduction of regional imbalances in access to funding and investment by targeting the creation of a more diverse finance market for smaller businesses. Funding and finance available in the region was highlighted, including the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, the Life Sciences Investment Programme and Future Fund: Breakthrough.
Issues with accessing finance were also discussed, with a lack of awareness of options available, access to the supply of finance and the associated costs being key obstacles to businesses obtaining the right funding. The role of the business support community in improving access to funding was emphasised, which included helping companies to know where to find investment, to have a good plan and financial forecast and to have the right team around them.
The second keynote of the day showcased the UK Clinical Research Facility (CRF) Network’s role in supporting collaborations between academia and the NHS in developing novel therapeutics. The NIHR Leeds CRF was identified as a successful example of collaboration, operating on five sites in a single Trust. Since the CRF was formed, it has seen a four-fold increase in NIHR CRF estate and 3-fold increase in staff, with more patients, with a variety of diseases, across the age ranges, taking part in more clinical trials, and a new focus on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and health inequalities.
It was also highlighted how the NIHR Leeds CRF was able to support researchers and industry, with investigator led early phase and translational trials, grant supported trials and a commitment to meaningful patient and public involvement and engagement, as well as contacts with key opinion leaders to identify opportunities and challenges, and access to large, diverse patient populations being just part of their offer.
Bionow’s Membership Manager for the North East & Yorkshire, David Holmes commented: “This was another great bio-partnering event, with some excellent presentations and plenty of opportunities for the academic and industrial communities to network and share ideas. We hope to see some exciting partnerships evolve as a result of the meetings at this event.”
Yorkshire Bio-Partnering 2023 is supported by Avacta Life Sciences and CrystecPharma.
