Enterprise activity continues to be an important facet of the University’s and Faculty’s strategic goals. Last year we were awarded two grants by the MRC to support our enterprise activity, Both schemes are available to the whole Faculty.
The MRC Proximity to Discovery award supports the development of Future Worlds Medicine. Future Worlds is the brainchild of Reuben Wilcock in The Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering. Originally supporting the physical sciences, Reuben branched out and encouraged participation from medicine. This entrepreneurial culture has spread and we have a number of FoM entrepreneurs featuring on the website.
Ten days ago Future Worlds Medicine was officially launched In London, and was attended both by The MRC and Innovate UK as well as a group of mentors, investors and entrepreneurs. Presentations form the FoM were given by John Holloway, Howard Clark and Agnieszka Janeczek. Check out their companies Trimunocor and Renovos. Or better still get involved by contacting Natasha Nater or come to the next Future Worlds Masterclass in entrepreneurship given by Simon Kerry, previously CEO at Karus Therapeutics.
The MRC Confidence in Concept award provides funds to translate basic research. The scheme was 10 fold oversubscribed during the last funding round, and so many high quality applications were turned down. We are delighted to announce a second round of funding. Please check the website out for information and contacts.
It is important to note that the scheme is not a means to pump prime research projects and hence does not support basic discovery research or the discovery of new biomarkers. Industry engagement is welcomed, as is matched funding. Although administered by the FoM the scheme is open to the whole University and successful projects were aided by having a partnership between FoM and other disciplines, although this was by no means a pre-requisite. We encourage applications particularly within the space of a piece of discovery science that needs help to get to the clinic.
Professor Salim Khakoo
Associate Dean Enterprise