Empowering Women in Biotech: innovation, inspiration and inclusion

Bionow’s increasingly popular Empowering Women in Biotech event returned for 2025 at Waters Corporation’s Wilmslow office, where 116 attendees met for a day of sharing stories, discussion and networking.
 
The agenda was packed with opportunities for women in the industry to share their expertise, celebrate their achievements and vent their frustrations, as well as highlighting how to help others achieve their potential, with sessions including Innovating for Impact: Women Pioneering Biotech Innovations and Work-Life Balance: Achieving Success Without Burnout.
 
On the theme of empowering women regarding better access to healthcare, the first keynote, How I Discovered Your Fingerprint Could Detect Cancer, presented by Sheffield Hallam University’s Professor of Forensic and Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry, Simona Francese, examined a potential innovative non-invasive breast cancer detection technique.
 
It was stated that, with one in eight women developing breast cancer and screening uptake as low as 50% in some areas due to NHS backlogs, reduced resources, cultural barriers and invasiveness of some screenings, amongst others, other methods were looked at. It was discovered that, using mass spectrometry imaging, fingertip smear testing could identify breast cancer in the patient, with a proof-of-concept study demonstrating 97.8% accuracy. This test would represent a breakthrough in screening if validated as it would save the NHS money and would be non-invasive, painless, radiation free and highly accessible, increasing compliance and, crucially, saving lives.
 
The second keynote, Diagnosing the Scent of Parkinson’s​ with Mass Spectrometry and Joy​, by Perdita Barran, the Director of The Michael Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass Spectrometry at the University of Manchester, which highlighted the story of ex-nurse Joy Milne, a woman with an extraordinary sense of smell who noticed a distinct change in her husband’s scent years before he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
 
Inspired by her ability, scientists investigated whether volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a person's sebum could serve as biomarkers for Parkinson’s, based on previous research reporting a link between the two.​ After successful clinical trials by the University of Manchester with Joy playing a key role as Honorary Lecturer in Molecular Olfaction, this discovery has led to the development of a "smell test" for Parkinson’s, which could enable earlier and more accurate diagnosis. The next step is to develop and translate a test of clinical utility​, with over 3,200 participants and counting.
 
Reflecting on the day’s inspirational presentations, one attendee commented: “Seeing how mass spectrometry can really help us to understand disease in greater detail makes working for an instrument vendor even more special as it reminds me of the ‘why’.
 
I was especially moved by the work carried out with Joy on Parkinson’s. The sentiment that Perdita ended on, outlining that changes in smell encourage a natural instinctive increase in care to those who need it, really resonated with me. I now sit reflecting on the day cuddling my toddler, nose nestled in his neck, making the most of the precious time before he no longer smells the same.”
 
Throughout the day, inspiring stories of resilience, innovation, and how commercialisation turns biotech ideas into real-world impact were shared. The panellists talked about their journeys, the challenges they've faced as leaders and the moments when they had to be brave to take the leap into entrepreneurship, identifying passion, persistence, authenticity and courage as keys to success. The importance of mentorship and role models – sometimes found in the most unexpected places – was also highlighted, as was how support, collaboration and determination have helped shape careers. It was also noted that major obstacles, such as the lack of women in leadership and investment roles, create difficulties in female-founded companies securing funding.
 
The topic around work-life balance and the realities of burnout really resonated in the room, with the panellists sharing their personal experiences. Different ways to find balance, the importance of a strong support system, and how to recognise the early signs of burnout before it becomes overwhelming were all discussed. Focusing on personal happiness rather than societal expectations and comparison was deemed to be essential!
 
Commenting on another successful event, Bionow’s Executive Director of Business Development, Stella James, said: “I am thrilled to see this event back on the Bionow calendar, and it really does provide a space for women to come together and share their success in a positive and uplifting environment. We want to encourage as many as possible to come to these events and be a part of the change we want to see in the sector. Conversations like these are exactly why events like this matter, and I am so happy to see them carry on beyond today.”
 
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The partner for this Empowering Women in Biotech event was Waters Corporation.