The University of Dundee will host the BioDundee conference tomorrow announcing the launch of a new £3 million fund with the Universities of Aberdeen and St Andrews to commercialise bioscience and biomedical research.
Some of the biggest names in biotechnology at the University of Dundee will present their latest discoveries and advances in biotechnology and commercialisation activities.
James Houston, Director of Research and Innovations Services at the University of Dundee will announce that his team has set up a North East of Scotland Technology Fund (NESTech) with its equivalent offices in the Universities of Aberdeen and St Andrews. The fund is specifically designed to fund technologies that the University can licence out or fund projects that can form the basis of a spin out company.
The purpose of NESTech is to provide funding at the riskiest stage of the commercialisation process and bridge the gap between university research and commercial take-up/application.
The fund is designed to work alongside or as a follow-on to Proof of Concept Funding or SMART awards and was created from a successful bid to the Office of Science and Technology University Challenge Fund, together with funding from the three participating universities and their respective local enterprise companies.
Professor Sir David Lane from the University of Dundee will tell the conference that academics and industry need to collaborate more closely to optimise cancer care for patients. He will highlight the fact that the best results from bench to bedside come when all partners work closely together in teams.
Sir Alan Langlands, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Dundee will welcome over 180 delegates from all over the UK, Greece and Sweden.
The delegates will hear presentations from Professor Karol Sikora, Professor of Cancer Medicine, Imperial College, Dr Bob Jackson, Executive Director of Cyclacel and Dr Karen Vousden director of the cancer Research UK, Beatson Institute.
By Jenny Marra, Press Officer 01382 344910 j.m.marra@dundee.ac.uk