NEW DATE - WEBINAR: Video Marketing for Life Science Companies: Increasing Awareness, Engagement, and Investment Potential
2022-10-12 10:00 - 11:00 (Europe/London)
NEW DATE! This event was original scheduled for Tuesday 4 October but had to be unavoidably postponed.
Now, more than ever, video provides incredible opportunities, enabling organisations to promote products, explain processes and raise the profile of their brand. In this Life Sciences Marketing Special Interest Group (SIG) webinar, we will be discussing how life science organisations can harness the power of video – tailoring it to the needs of their organisation and audience. We’ll be discussing how video can be used to tell powerful stories, enable viewers to process high volumes of content, communicate complex subject matters and increase their appeal to investors in engaging and memorable ways.
The presentation will be hosted by Robin Bodicoat, Head of Marketing at Touchlight, and the guest presenter will be Tim Bassford, an award-winning filmmaker and Creative Director of Turbine Creative, who specialises in marketing for the life science industry. Tim will provide insights and recommendations on relevant and innovative video solutions related to the industry, which will increase awareness amongst your customer base, maximise client relationships, and support collaboration amongst your employees.
BOOK YOUR FREE PLACE NOW
Learning points include:
• Different video solutions – various video types that can be used to meet different needs
• Latest innovations in video – which can empower Life Science organisations
• How to get the most out of video – practical tips and key considerations
• Delivering video – the most appropriate and successful platforms to use for your needs
• Budget – what sort of costs to expect, and what can be achieved for different budgets
Plus there will be time for the audience to ask questions.
This free-to-attend event is held as part of the INSTILS programme – a project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, click here to be re-directed to further information about the project. This event is classed as State Aid to participating businesses, the value of which is £190, but is delivered completely free of charge to participants.
Please note: whilst this event is held as part of the INSTILS programme, attendance is not restricted to companies in the D2N2/NG area and is open to all.
DURATION: 1 hour
Speaker Profiles:

Robin Bodicoat – Head of Marketing, Touchlight
Robin is the CIM qualified, Head of Marketing at Touchlight Genetics, a London-based biotech focused on the discovery and development of DNA-based genetic medicines, including DNA vaccines and gene therapies. He is also an active Board Member of the BMC (Business Marketing Club), which is the independent voice of the B2B marketing industry. He has 20+ years’ experience in Life Sciences, Pharma and Healthcare, with knowledge in marketing campaign planning and strategy, and brand development. In 2017 he managed the global re-brand of Quotient Sciences

Tim Bassford, Creative Director, Turbine Creative
Tim is an award-winning filmmaker and founder of Turbine Creative, a Nottingham based creative agency working with ambitious brands both locally and across the world. Tim has previously provided expert content marketing services to organisations such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Beckman Coulter, Johnson & Johnson, the BBC and Team GB to name a few. Tim has over 15 years’ experience in the creation of engaging video content for B2B clients and has won industry awards along the way for his innovative, creative and diverse portfolio.

IN-PERSON EVENT: Women's Health: A Holistic Approach
2022-10-18 09:30 - 13:30 | MeetPoint Midlands, Conference Centre, 28 High Street, Kegworth, Derbyshire, DE74 2DA
Tuesday 18th October marks World Menopause Day. We’ll be hosting our next Food Supplements Special Interest Group (SIG) to mark the occasion, with an in-person event dedicated to exploring how nutrition and supplementation can positively impact women’s health. The event will be held at Meetpoint Midlands in Kegworth.
In addition to updates from our event partners, Jenson R+ (Janet Worrell and Mihai Inceu) and SIG co-organiser, Nick Bennett (ADM Protexin), we’ll hear presentations from guest speakers including:

Esther Mills Roberts, HFMA – Collagen: Research, Regulations and Opportunities
George Donnely, Hemogad – Ferritin: Unmet needs and Solutions
Jolanta Borkowska, The Holistic Pharmacist – A holistic approach to perimenopause and menopause: How functional testing, nutrition, supplements and lifestyle factors can help balance hormones and ease symptoms

This event is open to all and intends to provide both an overview of the latest developments and opportunities in the sector, as well as practical guidance for those wishing to learn more about how supplementation, nutrition and lifestyle choices can positively impact women’s health. Secure your place at this timely event via the link below.

BOOK NOW

Speaker profiles

Janet Worrell, Head of Regulatory Affairs, JensonR+
Presentation: Introduction and Panel Chair
Janet is based at JensonR+ Limited’s Nottingham office. She previously ran her own consultancy business, consult2deliver limited, where she collaborated with OTC Experts. She developed her regulatory skills at Thomas Kerfoot and Medeva, before moving to 3M as the global regulatory lead for Qvar. Her first role in OTC medicines began at Boots the Chemist, before transferring to senior roles within Boots Healthcare International. She subsequently worked at Vectura, and later became Head of Innovative Regulatory Affairs at Boots Pharmaceuticals. Janet is the co-founder of the Food Supplements SIG.

Nick Bennett, Head of Product Development, ADM Protexin
Presentation Title: Andropause and Menopause
Nick’s career in food supplements spans over 25 years. He has worked with organisations of all sizes, focusing on the technical and regulatory aspects that underpin product development. His passion is designing formulations that contain a worthwhile and appropriate amount of each ingredient, as well as increasing consumer understanding around choosing worthwhile products that suit their budget and individual needs. A registered nutritionist for 20 years, Nick is excited about joining ADM Protexin as Head of Product Development, producing pre, pro and postbiotic based products for animals and humans which can profoundly support health and wellbeing.

Mihai Inceu, Senior Regulatory Officer, JensonR+
Presentation Title: Product Characterisation: Natural Health Products
Mihai is currently based in London and Nottingham for JensonR+ Ltd. While at the Faculty of Chemistry in Cluj-Napoca, Mihai was awarded a research scholarship for a study monitoring pesticide residue in Romanian wines, while also working on developing extraction techniques to enable the identification of fake food products on the market.
After a short spell at Ranbaxy as a Bioequivalence Scientist, Mihai worked for 5 years at Nelsons within quality control, quality assurance, and later Regulatory Affairs, where he focused on food supplements, cosmetics, traditional herbal remedies and homeopathic remedies. He has expertise in regulatory complications relating to uncategorised products

Esther Mills-Roberts, Director of Communications, HMFA
Presentation Topic: Collagen: Research, Regulations, Opportunities
Esther Mills-Roberts is Director of Communications at the Health Food Manufacturers’ Association. She is a registered AfN nutritionist, and BANT registered nutritional therapist. Well-known for her passion for nutritional science, Esther enthusiastically communicates at every level; business, practitioner and the consumer. She spent many years editing and writing for publications ranging from Journals, through to trade health publications, consumer press and digital

Jolanta Borkowska, The Holistic Pharmacist
Presentation Title: A Holistic Approach to Menopause: How Functional Testing, Nutrition, Supplements and Lifestyle Factors Can Help Balance Hormones and Ease Symptoms
Jolanta Borkowska is a holistic pharmacist and nutritional therapist, helping people transform their health using advanced scientific testing and personalised nutrition and lifestyle medicine.

George Donnelly, Founder & CEO, HemoGAD
Presentation Title/Topic: Ferritin: Unmet needs and Potential Solutions
George Donnelly is the Inventor, Founder and CEO of HemoGAD. A diagnosis of Haemochromatosis in his early 40’s led George to study the effects of Iron overload. Considered a patient expert with his peers, his goal is to educate and help patients manage their care routines effectively.

This free-to-attend event is held as part of the INSTILS programme – a project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, click here to be re-directed to further information about the project.
Please note: whilst this event is held as part of the INSTILS programme, attendance is not restricted to companies in the Derby/Derbyshire/Nottingham/Nottinghamshire area and is open to all.

IN-PERSON EVENT: NHS Adoption of Medical Devices: Pathway to Procurement
2022-10-20 09:30 - 13:30 | Charnwood Campus, Bakewell Road, Loughborough, LE11 5RB
Want expert guidance on how to get your medical device adopted into the NHS? Don’t miss the latest session in our series of events organised in partnership with CHEATA, taking place in person at Charnwood Campus on Thursday 20th October. Our panel brings together leaders from across the NHS, including:

Natasha Brown, Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) Procurement
Professor Dan Clark OBE, Head of Clinical Engineering for NUH
Simon Hall, National Clinical Engagement and Implementation Manager, NHS Supply Chain
Dr Sarah Bolton, Business Manager, CHEATA

This is your opportunity to gain insight from those involved with all stages of the adoption process, and will include ample time to pose your own questions to the panel.

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Speaker profiles

Dr Sarah Bolton, Business Manager, CHEATA
Sarah has been the Business Manager for CHEATA since August 2016. Prior to joining CHEATA, Sarah was responsible for Healthcare and Medical Devices at Pera Technology, a role which included project delivery, client engagement and management, project planning and management as well as bid writing for major UK and EC funding bodies. Sarah is an experienced research scientist with a background in academic and clinical inflammation research where she undertook her post-doctoral studies on inflammatory mechanisms in the brain and activation mechanisms of eosinophils in asthma. She joined AstraZeneca in 2004 as an Experimental Pathologist in the Respiratory and Inflammation Therapy area, specialising in translation pathology of COPD and asthma. After leaving AZ, Sarah worked as an independent consultant continuing the experimental pathology work for a range of academic and commercial clients.
This free-to-attend event is held as part of the INSTILS programme – a project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, click here to be re-directed to further information about the project.

Professor Dan Clark OBE, Head of Clinical Engineering, Nottingham University Hospitals & Director, CHEATA
Dan leads the Clinical Engineering service at Nottingham University Hospitals, one of the largest in Europe, which provides the full scope of equipment services including: device evaluation, commissioning, service and maintenance, decommissioning and disposal. He has considerable experience of evaluating new technologies and medical devices and introducing them into the healthcare setting. Dan also holds an honorary chair in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham and is co-director of the Centre for Healthcare Technologies, a unique collaborative venture between Nottingham University and NUH NHS Trust specialising in the acceleration of curiosity driven science into adopted medical technology. He also chairs the NUH NHS Trust’s Medical Devices Group and sits on a number of trust-wide risk committees. Finally, Dan was an expert member of the NICE Medical Technology Advisory Committee (MTAC) for 10 years until his “retirement” from the committee in 2019. Dan is a director and founder member of CHEATA since its inception in late 2014. Dan was awarded an OBE for Services to Clinical Engineering particularly during Covid-19 in the 2021 New Years Honours.

Simon Hall, National Clinical Lead, NHS Supply Chain
Originally working in urology in London, Simon has spent the majority of his nursing career in community services. Returning to acute care, he became lead nurse for tissue viability at University Hospitals Bristol (UHB), wining the trust’s rising star award for service improvement.
Simon was seconded to work in the Department of Health to establish if clinical input positively impacted the procurement of healthcare products. He returned to UHB as Deputy Head of Nursing, before joining CPP as the National Clinical Lead for Tower 5 within NHS Supply Chain.

Natasha Brown, Deputy Head of Procurement, Nottingham University Hospitals
Natasha has a wealth of public sector procurement experience and hold the procurement and supply chain industry qualification (MCIPS). Natasha holds a Law degree which has provided a solid foundation into the procurement and supply chain profession, and her experience includes procurement within local authorities, universities and housing associations as well as the NHS.
Please note: whilst this event is held as part of the INSTILS programme, attendance is not restricted to the region and is open to all.

WEBINAR: Clinical Trials: Your Questions Answered
2022-11-01 10:00 - 11:00
This year’s final instalment of our Clinical Trials special interest group series, organised in partnership with Afortiori Development, brings together a panel of experts to answer your questions relating to clinical trials from planning through to delivery.
Rather than formal presentations, this hour-long session will take a roundtable discussion / Q&A format. If you’re currently planning or implementing a clinical trial, or anticipate doing so in the near future, it’s an invaluable opportunity to gain in-depth, tailored responses to any questions you may have to ensure the success of your clinical trial.
Our panel brings together specialists from our partners at Afortiori, alongside guest speakers from other industry leaders.
Joining us on the day will be:

Dr Nicola Wall, Afortiori Development
Jo Goble, Afortiori Development
Cheryl Bailey, Afortiori Development
Dr Danielle Bodicoat, Afortiori Development
Kate Pym, Pym’s Consultancy
Matthew Burton, IMed Consultancy

Full speaker profiles will follow shortly. For now, click the link below to secure your place today.
Book your free place now
This free-to-attend event is held as part of the SoLSTICE programme – a project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, click here to be re-directed to further information about the project.
Please note: whilst this event is held as part of the SoLSTICE programme, attendance is not restricted to companies in the Leicester/Leicestershire area and is open to all.
DURATION: 1 hour

EMAHSN Innovation Academy MODULE H Live Q&A Session: Why and how to involve patients and the public in your healthcare innovation
2022-11-08 10:00 - 11:00
The East Midlands Academic Health Science Network Innovation Academy is open to anyone to register. Once registered, participants will have access to a range of modules, each including a webinar, live Q&A session with the experts and online resources.The webinars are on demand, so can be accessed at any time, with the live Q&A session for each module being scheduled throughout 2022
For further details/to watch the ON-DEMAND webinar or join the live Q&A session please CLICK HERE to Sign up for the Academy and to register for this module.
This module explores what Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) is and why it is so important to involve people from the start and throughout. It also gets you to think about where you are with PPI as you inform, engage, involve and co-produce with people as you develop your innovation or service.
It also covers the three important drivers for involving patients and the public in healthcare innovation and why these are critical to getting your innovation moving within the NHS.
Presenter/ expert
Shahnaz Aziz – Patient Public Leadership and Equality Lead, EMAHSN

WEBINAR: How the NIHR can support your route to market
2022-12-13 10:00 - 11:00
This event is part of the West Midlands Academic Health Science Network (WMAHSN) industry event programme, aimed to support the West Midlands innovation ecosystem, and to make the West Midlands healthier, more productive and deliver the best possible clinical outcomes for patients.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) works in partnership with the NHS to deliver high quality research. Join this webinar to gain an understanding of how the NIHR can support your route to market.
Hosted by the NIHR, they will cover:

The role of the NIHR
What NIHR can currently offer to companies; Clinical Engagement, Research Funding, Access to the NHS
Plans for future support/priority areas
How companies should approach NIHR
What can Medilink Midlands and the WMAHSN do to help

DURATION: 1 hour
Click here to secure your free place
Speaker Profiles:
Photo to follow.
Bio to follow.
Ian Newington, Head of Special Projects, Innovation Programmes and IP, NIHR CCF

WEBINAR: Using data and AI to help tackle obesity in Leicester
2022-12-15 10:00 - 11:00
De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) and Leicester City Council have been working with local communities and stakeholders to look at ways to make physical activity and a healthy diet easier across our local population.
Join us for this webinar, organised in partnership with De Montfort University. Our expert panel will share how artificial intelligence and machine learning have supported the analysis of local health data to find “hidden trends” in the lifestyles of people across Leicester.
The project team includes experts from psychology, sport, AI and public health, alongside senior leaders from the university and Leicester City Council – who you will hear from during the event.
Plans to continue this work will provide business opportunities for local partners and providers through the need to inform, design and develop interventions that help to maximise nutrition and physical activity for the future.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR FREE PLACE
This webinar will cover:

The importance of working collaboratively to tackle the health challenges that we face as a community.
Project outcomes and the impact so far (working closely with local providers to share the data and findings of this project).
The future of digital health research and its role in informing public health planning.

This webinar will be chaired by Stuart Hilton, and will feature speakers from De Montfort University’s Digital Health research team and Leicester City Council. Our panel will include:

Prof Ivan Browne, Director of Public Health, Leicester City Council
Prof Bertha Ochieng, Professor of Integrated Health and Social Care, De Montfort University (DMU)
Dr Mario Gongora, Associate Professor, School of Computer Science and Informatics, DMU

This free-to-attend event is held as part of the SoLSTICE programme – a project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, click here to be re-directed to further information about the project.
Please note: whilst this event is held as part of the SoLSTICE programme, attendance is not restricted to companies in the Leicester/Leicestershire area and is open to all.
Speaker Profiles

Stuart Hilton, Head of Commercial Partnerships, De Montfort University
Stuart has more than 30 years’ experience working with businesses and universities, across a range of industries and business sectors, building connections and spotting opportunities for companies to work with academic to support innovation.

Professor Ivan Browne, Director of Public Health at Leicester City Council
Ivan Browne is the Director of Public Health at Leicester City Council and has been spearheading the local response to COVID 19 in the City. He is a professor of public health practice with De Montfort University and has a particular interest in the potential of digital technologies to improve population health and wellbeing.

Professor Bertha Ochieng, Professor of Integrated Health and Social Care, DMU
Bertha Ochieng is Professor of Integrated Health and Social Care, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University. A key aspect of her research is in examining digital solutions that support development of integrated models of health and social care and community engagement.

Dr Mario Gongora, Associate Professor, School of Computer Science and Informatics
Dr Mario Gongora is the Faculty Enterprise Lead and a senior member of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence at the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Media. Dr. Gongora is a leading researcher in the subject of applied computational intelligence, particularly in the fields of Data analysis in large and complex datasets and modelling Natural Phenomena, including identification, simulation, and optimisation.

IN-PERSON EVENT: The Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance: From Bench to Bedside
2023-05-10 09:30 - 13:30 | MeetPoint Midlands, Conference Centre, 28 High Street, Kegworth, Derbyshire, DE74 2DA
The first Infectious Diseases Special Interest Group of 2023 brings together academic, clinician and industry experts to explore the latest developments in the field of antibiotic resistance. We’re pleased to be able to hold this event in person at MeetPoint Midlands, allowing ample opportunity for networking and discussion beyond our exciting panel of formal presentations.
Our Chair, Professor Katie Laird, Professor of Microbiology at De Montfort University (DMU), will be joined on the day by:

Dr Rahmi Yusuf, Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Microbiology, DMU
Dr Grace Edmund, Senior Computational Chemist, Oxford Drug Design
Stephanie Lesage, Co-Founder and CEO, Oxford Silk Phage Technologies Ltd

Moreover, delegates are invited to deliver a 5-minute pitch relating to the broader SIG area. Use this time as you wish – to invite knowledge exchange on a particular area of the subject, showcase a new development that you’re currently working on, and to highlight collaborative opportunities to other innovators and facilitators in attendance.
Interested in delivering a 5-minute pitch? Please email info@medilinkmidlands.com with your name, company, and an overview of what you wish to share within your timeslot.
This free-to-attend event is held as part of the SoLSTICE programme – a project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, click here to be re-directed to further information about the project.
Please note: whilst this event is held as part of the SoLSTICE programme, attendance is not restricted to companies in the Leicester/Leicestershire area and is open to all.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE
Speaker Profiles

Dr Rahmi Yusuf, Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Microbiology, DMU
Presentation topic: Designing a Biological Platform for High-Throughput Screening of Novel Antibacterial Compounds
Rahmi’s journey as a microbiologist began in her home country, Indonesia, after completing a Bachelor in Microbiology in 2008, specialising in Industrial Microbiology. Following a number of short industry internships back home, she enrolled in a graduate programme in Biomedical Engineering at Hochschule Furtwangen University, Germany, which she completed in 2012. Supported by a full government scholarship, Rahmi then completed her doctoral studies at the University of Portsmouth in 2019, researching the fundamental study of bacterial two-component systems and harnessing their potential as synthetic biosensors. Rahmi carried on this research for a further 2.5 years as a Senior Research Associate, before joining the School of Pharmacy at DMU as Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Microbiology.

Dr Grace Edmund, Senior Computational Chemist, Oxford Drug Design
Presentation title: Targeting Antibiotic Resistance through a Novel Class of Gram-Negative Antibacterial Agents
Dr Grace Edmund is a Senior Computational Chemist at Oxford Drug Design where she leads the computational chemistry effort for their tRNA synthetase antibacterial drug discovery project. Prior to joining Oxford Drug Design in 2015, she completed post-doctoral research at the University of Surrey in collaboration with DSTL. She received her MChem in Chemistry from Durham University and PhD in Computational Chemistry from the University of Surrey.

Dr Stephanie Lesage, Co-Founder & CEO, Oxford Silk Phage Technologies Ltd
Presentation title: Deploying Bacteriophages to Preserve Antibiotics
Stephanie Lesage has a multidisciplinary background in biological sciences (BSc), technical textile engineering (MEng) and medical devices (MSc), with 19 years of start-up leadership experience. She is CEO of Oxford Silk Phage Technologies Ltd, a company she co-founded in 2020, developing a novel antibacterial material integrating bacteriophages to produce medical implants which will reduce surgical site infections and antibiotic use. Stephanie is also a founding member of Phage-UK (2021), aiming to make phage therapy more widely available to UK patients and she was recently invited to the House of Commons to provide oral evidence on the potential for bacteriophage therapy in the UK.

IN-PERSON EVENT: NBIC Showcase: Supporting Collaboration for Impact in Biofilm Research
2023-05-17 09:30 - 13:30 | University of Nottingham School of Pharmacy
Delegates at this event will hear about the extensive opportunities offered by the National Biofilm Innovation Centre (NBIC) and Medilink Midlands to support collaboration between academia and industry in the area of biofilm research and innovation. Presentations and tours will provide an opportunity to see the state-of-the-art facilities available to characterize biofilms at the University of Nottingham or through NBIC partners.
A selection of projects that exemplify successful collaborations between academia and industry will be presented by experts in the field, and there will be the opportunity for delegates to pitch ideas for new collaborations. Networking will be facilitated over coffee and lunch breaks, during the tours and by interacting with allied support organisations who will be present.
Innovation vouchers are available, please click here to access the guidance: Innovation voucher guidance
Agenda
09.30 Arrival/registration/coffee
10.00 Welcome and introductions: Kim Hardie (Biodiscovery Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham & NBIC) and Caroline Sykes (Medilink Midlands)
10.05 Miguel Cámara (Biodiscovery Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham & NBIC): ‘Introduction to NBIC: Nottingham research and infrastructure‘
10.25 Platform facilities at the University of Nottingham

Tim Self/Robert Markus: ‘School of Life Sciences Imaging (SLIM): a world class facility’
Dr Matthew Piggott: ‘Nanoscale & Microscale Research Centre (nmRC): Correlative Imaging and Compositional Analysis’

10.40 Pitch 1: Paul S Browning, Freedom Hygiene Ltd
10.45 Pitch 2: Jinju Chen (Vicky), Newcastle University
10.50 Paul Williams (Biodiscovery Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham): ‘Anti biofilm coatings on catheters’ TBC
11.10 Coffee Break
11.40 Alvaro Mata (School of Engineering, University of Nottingham): ‘Biocooperative approaches to engineer biofilm models’
12.00 Sarah Kuehne (School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham): ‘Oral biofilm models’ TBC
12.20 Pitch 3: Jeni Luckett, University of Nottingham
12.25 Pitch 4: TBC
12.30 Caroline Sykes (Medilink Midlands): ‘Nottingham City Shared Prosperity Fund opportunities.’
12.45 Summary and presentations conclude: Kim Hardie and Miguel Cámara
13.00 Networking lunch
13.30 Tours:

BDI pathogen imaging/robots/compound library (Robert Markus)
nmRC (Matt Piggott)

15.30 Depart
In addition to the formal presentations, we are also offering an optional tour, which is anticipated to finish at 3pm.
Directions and Arrival Information: For directions to the University Park campus as well as a detailed campus map, please click here. The event is taking place in at the Boots Science Building, which is building number 44 on the campus map.
On arrival to the Boots Science Building, you will find the Medilink Midlands registration desk in the main foyer, where you will need to sign and collect your name badge.
Arriving by Car: We have a limited number of event parking spaces available to our attendees (not applicable to University of Nottingham attendees). If you require a car parking space, please let me know as soon as possible as these will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, for which you will require a parking voucher. Alternatively, delegates can park in the main Visitors Car Park which is located at the bottom of E2 on the campus map. Please note that there is a short walk from the main car park to the venue and that parking is pay and display. The parking fee can be paid either at the machine or via the RingGo app at a cost of £7 for 4 hours or £10 for the full day.
Arrival by Tram: We recommend the tram as a convenient mode of transport for this event. The University of Nottingham stop on the Toton Lane line arrives directly opposite the Boots Science Building (you just need to exit the bridge via the stairs). Further information is available via the NetGo app, where you can also buy e-tickets for your journey.
Tour of the NBIC facilities:In addition to the formal presentations, we are also offering an optional tour, which is anticipated to finish at 3pm.
This free-to-attend event is held as part of the INSTILS programme – a project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, click here to be re-directed to further information about the project.
Please note: whilst this event is held as part of the INSTILS programme, attendance is not restricted to companies in the D2N2/NG area and is open to all.

IN-PERSON EVENT: 3D Technologies and Augmented Reality: Improving Surgical Planning and Intervention
2023-05-17 09:30 - 13:30 | Dryden Enterprise Centre, Nottingham
The next MedTech & Systems Special Interest Group event will be held in person, with a focus on the latest developments in 3D technologies and augmented reality. The presentations will consider how these fields are creating significant improvements in surgical planning and intervention.
Today, the use of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in healthcare is expanding. Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Extended Reality (XR) are now much more common terms linked to the delivery of realistic interactive experiences through real-life simulation and user immersion. Technologies including the Microsoft HoloLens and the Vuzix AR platforms have provided additional and exciting possibilities linked to healthcare and surgery. Surgeons rely on information from CT scans, MRI’s, X-rays and other patient data sources to determine surgical requirements and to preoperatively plan prior to a surgical procedure. If using wearable technologies, this data could be represented in a surgeon’s line of sight, utilising AR tools to potentially provide significant surgical procedural advantages during an operation and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Chaired by Professor Phil Breedon, Professor of Smart Technologies at Nottingham Trent University, this session brings together a panel of leading experts, including:

Jason Watson, Consultant Maxillofacial Prosthetist, Nottingham University Hospital
Rory O’Connor, Consultant in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Major Trauma, Nottingham University Hospital
Dr Arsham Khayatpoor, Medical Account Manager, Materialise UK

This in-person event will also allow ample time for Q&A and networking.
CLICK HERE TO SECURE YOUR PLACE TODAY
This free-to-attend event is held as part of the INSTILS programme – a project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, click here to be re-directed to further information about the project.
Please note: whilst this event is held as part of the INSTILS programme, attendance is not restricted to companies in the D2N2/NG area and is open to all.
Speaker Profiles

Jason Watson, Consultant Clinical Scientist in Reconstructive Science, Nottingham University Hospitals Trust
Jason completed his post graduate training at the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, in the 1990s. Jason started his my own unit in Nottingham at the QMC in 2002, where the laboratory has become one of the most innovative centres in the field of Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Reconstructive Science.
Jason has published over 30 papers and book chapters. He has also received national awards including the Chief Scientific Officers Award for Leadership and Innovation 2010 in recognition for establishing the first in-house 3D print service in the NHS. Jason has collaborated on numerous i4i and EPSRC grants (Loughborough University/Kings College & Leeds University) in the field of 3D acquisition, printing and manufacture.
Jason co-wrote the Scientist Trailing Programme (STP) in Reconstructive Science (level 7) and was lead writer on the Higher Specialist Scientist (HSST) Consultant training (level 8) with the National School Healthcare Science and Royal College Surgeons (England). He established NUH as the field’s regional training centre in 2006 and has had the highest number of successful trainees through the national programme (STP) since its inception in 2013. Jason was invited by the British Association Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS) to deliver the Presidents Lecture in 2020, becoming only the second scientist to do so in their history. Jason has been an active professional body council member throughout his career, serving in numerous roles culminating in 3 years as the Chair of our association (IMPT)
Currently I enjoy exploring emerging technologies for clinical and technical use in real life situations, sharing ideas and collaborating with new colleges, cars, motorbikes, travel and food.

Rory O’Connor, NHS Consultant in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgency and Major Trauma, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham
Rory is an expert in facial trauma and post traumatic facial deformity with a particular focus on how technology can improve patient outcomes and make treatments more efficient. He has worked as a doctor all over the East Midlands, in London, Cambridge and Switzerland and is keen to collaborate with anyone who would like to improve how we look after the patients of the future.

Dr Arsham Khayatpoor, Medical Account Manager, Materialise

WEBINAR: Validating Digital Health: From Artificial Intelligence to Clinical Evidence
2023-06-14 10:00 - 11:00
We are delighted to be holding our next Clinical Trials Special Interest Group series, organised in partnership with Afortiori Development. This online event will bring together a panel of experts to answer your questions relating to Validating Digital Health: From Artificial Intelligence to Clinical Evidence.
Rather than formal presentations, this hour-long session will take a roundtable discussion / Q&A format.
Our panel brings together specialists from our partners at Afortiori, alongside guest speakers from other industry leaders.
Joining us on the day will be:

Dr Nicola Wall, Afortiori Development
Prof Peter Bannister – Entrepreneur and Expert technology specialist
Dr Lauris Kemp – IP Expert
Timothy Bubb – Regulatory Expert

Full speaker biographies can be found below.
This free-to-attend event is held as part of the SoLSTICE programme – a project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, click here to be re-directed to further information about the project. This event is classed as State Aid to participating businesses, the value of which is £127, but is delivered completely free of charge to participants.
Please note: whilst this event is held as part of the SoLSTICE programme, attendance is not restricted to companies in the Leicester/Leicestershire area and is open to all.
DURATION: 1 hour
Speaker Profiles:

Chaired by: Dr Nicola Wall, Chief Executive Officer, Afortiori Development
Nicola co-founded Afortiori Development after a long career in clinical research within a variety of roles. Nicola has extensive experience and a proven track record in global clinical trial management, quality assurance and process management in the healthcare industry. Afortiori have built an impressive global team of clinical trial specialists, clinicians and biostatisticians with experience in adult, paediatric and neonatal clinical research, and both primary and secondary healthcare settings.

Peter Bannister, Managing Director, Romilly Life Sciences Ltd
Peter has helped build multiple high-growth biomedical businesses, commercialising innovative products for surgery, diagnostics and digital treatment pathways across international markets and leading R&D, regulated product development and strategic business development. He founded Romilly Life Sciences to help cross-sector teams from health, tech and pharma organisations implement, evidence and scale solutions based on data and artificial intelligence (AI). He is also co-founder of Migration Biotherapeutics, Honorary Professor at the University of Birmingham Centre for Regulatory Science and Innovation, Fellow and Chair of Healthcare at the Institution of Engineering and Technology, an Academy of Medical Sciences Future Leader in Innovation Enterprise and Research (FLIER) and serves as NIHR Industry Spokesperson on AI.

Dr Lauris Kemp, Partner, HGF Ltd
Lauris is a UK and European patent attorney and a partner in HGF’s biotech team. She has a strong life sciences background with a first degree in Immunology and Biochemistry; and a PhD and 6 years post-doctoral experience covering cell expression systems, protein purification, mass spectrometry, protein crystallography and bioinformatics. Her patent work reflects this broad base and Lauris handles increasing numbers of bioinformatics applications, securing commercially useful claims for clients. She has drafted and prosecuted bioinformatics applications in metagenomic and microbiome sequencing, in silico drug testing and AI cancer diagnostics. She has also successfully defended bioinformatics patents at EPO opposition proceedings.

Timothy Bubb, Technical Director, IMed Consultancy Ltd
With more than ten years’ experience in QA/RA roles, Tim has breadth and depth of knowledge across the regulatory, engineering, clinical, design and development, and quality assurance disciplines. Tim has a passion for empowering innovation in medical devices and brings insight and pragmatism to projects bringing complex lifesaving and life enhancing products to market.

IN-PERSON EVENT: Medilink Midlands Business Support & Impact Celebration: What's Next
2023-06-21 09:30 - 13:30 | Space Park Leicester, 92 Corporation Road, Leicester, LE4 5SP, United Kingdom
Come and join us to celebrate the fantastic work and achievements that the collective ERDF Projects (INSTILS, ACTIS and SoLSTICE) have provided by supporting over 400 companies across the region in the last eight years.
Delivered through Medilink Midlands, these ERDF Projects have had significant positive impact on the region and the economic growth. We invite you to join us at Space Park, Leicester to share the findings and highlight some of the success stories, built on the funding, support and advice these companies have received.
As part of this celebratory event, you will hear from:

Interim Chief Executive Officer, Melanie Davidson on how the three ERDF projects have impacted the region
Case Study examples of SMEs who have benefited from the project
Medilink Midlands Innovation Advisers will present on future/current funding opportunities
Lewis Stringer from British Business Bank will present on Finance options from the British Business Bank (see profile below)
Dr Helen Compton from NIHR Coordinating Centre will present on Available NIHR MedTech funding (see profile below)
Plus more to be confirmed

This free-to-attend event is held as part of the SoLSTICE programme – a project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, click here to be re-directed to further information about the project. This event is classed as State Aid to participating businesses, the value of which is £508, but is delivered completely free of charge to participants.
Please note: whilst this event is held as part of the SoLSTICE programme, attendance is not restricted to companies in the Leicester/Leicestershire area and is open to all.
Speaker Profiles

Lewis Stringer, Senior Manager, UK Network – East & South-East Midlands, British Business Bank
Lewis joined the British Business Bank in October 2016 as the MEIF Senior Relationship Manager, covering the East and South-East Midlands. The Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) is a £250m ‘fund-of-funds’ launched in February 2018 and providing equity, debt, small business loans and early stage, proof-of-concept funding for SMEs across the Midlands. He transferred to the UK Network Team in the Bank as Senior Manager, covering the East & South-East Midlands and supporting demand-side initiatives, in October 2018. And has more recently worked on the Bank’s high-profile Covid-19 response initiatives. Lewis has 25 years’ experience in economic development including two years at Capital for Enterprise Limited (the Bank’s predecessor), where he worked in the Debt Team on the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme and former RDA legacy funds, ten years at East Midlands Development Agency (emda) in the Business Investment Team and five years at Nottingham City Council, where he managed a team and a series of grant, loan and equity funds, and investment readiness programmes. Lewis also has over five years commercial and personal banking experience with Lloyds Banking Group.

Dr Helen Compton, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, NIHR Coordinating Centre
Helen joined the NIHR in 2016 to lead on stakeholder engagement activity with the charity and medtech communities and provide leadership and delivery for a number of high profile strategic and operational projects across NIHR. Helen has led business/ governance changes at the science-policy interface with > 9 years research programmes commissioning experience. She developed applied research programmes from end to end to address pressing government and industry needs and has extensive experience working across government departments. Helen has developed the evidence supporting a number of national strategies and presented evidence-based findings at all organisational levels and internationally through the OECD. Helen is an innovation advisory board member to CW Innovation, the partnership between Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust and the Trust’s charity, CW+. CW Innovation aims to develop the Trust into a leading real world environment test bed for digital and med tech innovation through partnership with others.

WEBINAR: How to Develop and Deliver a Successful Marketing Strategy for Life Science Companies
2023-06-28 10:00 - 11:00 | Online via GoToWebinar
Does your promotional material lack direction and focus? Are you pressured into going straight into tactics without giving real thought to marketing strategy and ‘big picture’ planning? In this Life Sciences Marketing Special Interest Group (SIG) webinar, we will be discussing the core elements of a marketing plan.
A marketing plan is essential, not only to help you organise everything that you need to do, but also to ensure that you think about what you want to achieve. It will help you identify your target audience, outline what differentiates you from competitors, ensure your messaging is aligned to your audience needs, and help you to select the right tactics and channels. Ultimately, your marketing plan is a roadmap to guide you towards your goals and objectives. Delivered by Robin Bodicoat, Head of Marketing for Touchlight, this session will provide you will the tools to develop the most impactful route.
This free-to-attend event is held as part of the INSTILS programme – a project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, click here to be re-directed to further information about the project. This event is classed as State Aid to participating businesses, the value of which is £127, but is delivered completely free of charge to participants.
Please note: whilst this event is held as part of the INSTILS programme, attendance is not restricted to companies in the Derby/Notts area and is open to all.
DURATION: 1 hour
Speaker profile

Robin Bodicoat, Head of Marketing, Touchlight Genetics
Robin is the CIM qualified, Head of Marketing at Touchlight Genetics, a London-based biotech company focused on the discovery and development of DNA-based genetic medicines, including DNA vaccines and gene therapies. He is also an active Board Member of the BMC (Business Marketing Club), which is the independent voice of the B2B marketing industry. He has 20+ years’ experience in Life Sciences, Pharma and Healthcare, with knowledge in marketing campaign planning and strategy, and brand development. In 2017, he managed the global re-brand of Quotient Sciences.

IN PERSON: New Health Tech Support for the Midlands
2023-08-22 10:00 - 14:00 | Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre, 53 Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2RS
Following on from our webinar in July, this in-person session provides another opportunity to hear about the latest support available if you’re involved in the development of emerging healthcare technologies and are working toward commercialisation.
Held at the Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre, this event will provide you with the resources and support you need to:

Understand your company’s needs and assess your strengths and weaknesses.
Identify the key challenges facing the NHS and the healthcare industry and develop a strategy to address these challenges.
Create and test new products and develop innovative solutions to healthcare problems.
Test new products in real-world conditions.
Expand your company’s market, network of suppliers, and develop new skills and services to meet the needs of the healthcare providers.
Show how your company’s work is making a positive impact on the local economy and health.

This event is the perfect opportunity to learn from experts, network with other health tech companies, and get the support you need to take your business to the next level.
As well as a welcome presentation from Dr Ben Roberts from the Medilink Midlands Innovation Adviser team, we’ll also hear presentations from:

Aston University
Bruntwood SciTech
City-REDI
MD-TEC
Precision Health Technologies Accelerator (PHTA)
University Hospitals Birmingham
West Midlands Health & Wellbeing Innovation Network
WMG at the University of Warwick

WEBINAR: Net Zero Healthcare: Embracing Sustainability for Business Growth
2024-01-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Online via GoToWebinar
As the world grapples with the pressing challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, the healthcare industry has a crucial role to play in adopting sustainable practices and achieving net zero emissions, particularly in light of upcoming NHS and UK government regulations that will mandate healthcare organisations to take concrete action to reduce their carbon footprint.
This event will delve into the compelling reasons why environmental sustainability is essential for healthcare innovators, highlighting the significant business advantages and opportunities that arise from embracing greener practices.

Understand the compelling reasons why environmental sustainability and net zero are essential for healthcare organisations.
Explore the business benefits of adopting eco-friendly practices, including cost savings, risk mitigation, and enhanced brand reputation.
Discover how your technological advancements can empower healthcare providers to achieve their sustainability goals.
Learn from clinical experts about the support they offer in helping healthcare organizations transition to greener practices.
Gain insights from non-profit organisations about the advantages and opportunities that sustainability presents for businesses.

This event forms part of the West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA) event series. Medilink Midlands are one of a consortium of delivery partners for the WMHTIA, a project funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Innovate UK and West Midlands Combined Authority (part of City Regions).

Speaker Profiles:

Webinar Chair: Dr Ben Roberts, Innovation Adviser and Sustainability Lead, Medilink Midlands
Ben joined Medilink in 2022 as an Innovation Adviser in the West Midlands, after graduating with a PhD in Biomedical Research at the University of Warwick. Ben is utilising his knowledge currently in delivering activity under the West Midlands AHSN industry gateway. With a particular focus on sustainability, he aims to support SMEs in the health and life science sector on their journey to Net Zero.

Siân Dunning, Programme Manager, Medical Devices Testing & Evaluation Centre
As well as being Programme Manager, Sian is responsible for the £7M facility within the Institute of Translational Medicine and hosted by University Hospitals Birmingham NFT. Siân has extensive experience in the management of programmes and projects, having worked with UKRI and NIHR for the past 10 years. Prior to this appointment Siân worked in higher education within Innovation and managed various growth programmes including leveraged investment. She has worked within management roles throughout her career and has extensive commercial experience in research innovation, consultancy, sales and marketing, and training, with notable expertise in medical technologies, healthcare and ceramics. Siân’s specialisms are programme & project management, business growth, fund management, innovation, and commercialisation.
Presentation title: Sustainability considerations when innovating for healthcare

Thorsten Kampmann, Supply Chain and Organisational Transformation Consultant, Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC)
He started his career with a PhD in Molecular biology and has extensive experience in supporting healthcare start up companies. Thorsten is leading the engagement of the MTC Transformation Team with the West Midlands Health Technology Innovation Accelerator (WM-HTIA). Thorsten and his team provide supply chain and manufacturing capability gap analysis, and development of capability development interventions. In addition to financial and technical performance optimisation the team is developing solutions for Environmental, Societal and Governance (ESG) optimisation of supply chains. Over the last decade, Thorsten has worked in a range of sectors, including biomedical, healthcare, aerospace, defence, nuclear, construction, general manufacturing, and supply chain improvement.

Florah Waithaka, Research Engineer, Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC)
Florah has an MSc in Civil Engineering and Environmental Management and primarily supports research projects in the MTC that fall in the sustainability field. Florah is involved in the West Midlands Health Technology Innovation Accelerator (WM-HTIA) project to develop solutions for SME’s working with the NHS. This includes supply chain & ESG capability gap analysis as well as capability development interventions for SMEs involved. In addition, Florah has experience working in, Construction, STEM curriculum development and Carbon accounting.
Thorsten and Florah will present together and their presentation title is: Communicating your Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments to the healthcare sector and achieving ESG ratings like the NHS-Evergreen

Morgan Roberts, Project Officer, Sustainability West Midlands
Morgan’s work ranges from producing climate change adaptation support for organisations including the NHS, to running the West Midlands Net Zero Business Pledge, a free initiative involving organisations committed to reducing carbon emissions and supporting them on this journey. Morgan will be sharing an overview of the wide range of business support available in the region, providing guidance on how to identify and get involved in the best opportunities for your business.
Presentation title: Sustainability West Midlands on the wider support available for creating a sustainable and climate resilient business.

Bev Fawdington, Co-Founder/Creator, Rainbow Trays
Bev is the co founder and creator of Rainbow Trays, organisational and colour coded anaesthetic drug trays that support anaesthetists to identify and reduce the incidence of anaesthetic error and reduce cognitive loads. Human factor engineered, Rainbow Trays are recommended by the Association of Anaesthetists as a technical solution for medication error in anaesthesia.
An innovator aligned to sustainability in anaesthesia and healthcare, Bev has been awarded a number of UK Innovate projects that specialise in the use and sustainable end of life recycling of medical plastic waste.
She also specialise in carbon accounting, decarbonisation and climate alignment for business. Partnering with VÖR consulting, we provide a full service to support PPN06/21 compliance with Carbon Reduction Plans, carbon strategy, ESG reporting and verifiable offset programmes.
Presentation title: Carbon Accounts – Are they worth it?

Danny Harrison, Innovation Manager, WMG University of Warwick
Danny is an Innovation Manager at WMG, University of Warwick, where he specialises in micromobility supply chains. He is a passionate advocate for innovation and has a proven track record of helping businesses to succeed.
In his current role at WMG, Danny leads a team of experts who are working to develop new and innovative solutions for supply chains. He is also responsible for managing a number of research projects and initiatives, and he works closely with industry partners to help them to implement new technologies and processes.
Presentation title: WMG Net Zero Innovation Network
