Cambridge Awards Week 19-23 March: play your part in celebrating Cambridgeshire business success

Companies of all types and sizes are being invited to play their part in Cambridge Awards Week, a major initiative to raise the profile of Cambridgeshire businesses and promote the area as a great place to work and do business.

Granta Park is spearheading promotion of the week, which takes place from 19-23 March 2012, when for the first time Cambridge News and Business Weekly will coordinate their annual awards ceremonies on two different evenings during the week.

Working with key business representatives including One Nucleus, Cambridge Wireless, Cambridge Network and the new Cambridge Cleantech Network, Granta Park will be helping to promote business success in Cambridgeshire, including the launch of a website, www.CambridgeAwardsWeek.co.uk. Companies will be able to use this to promote their own activities and success stories during the week as well as find out about the many events taking place to promote Cambridgeshire businesses. In addition, events will be promoted through local, regional, national and international media including Twitter and Facebook.

Says Granta Park’s Roz Bird: “It is great that the two major business awards have decided to co-ordinate their awards evenings. There is now an opportunity for us all to work together to create further events and initiatives in that week with the aim of raising awareness of the dynamics of the Cambridgeshire business community including recognising business success and the achievements of entrepreneurial business leaders. We’re therefore encouraging businesses throughout Cambridgeshire to contribute in their own way and play their part in a week of celebrations that offers an unmissable opportunity.”

For Granta Park the awards are extension of the work that it continues to do to create a special science community within the Park and beyond.

If you'd like more information about Cambridge Awards Week and to get involved, visit www.CambridgeAwardsWeek.co.uk .

Peter out foxes the competition

Peter Cariuk of MedImmune’s photo of a resting fox has won the ‘People’s Choice’ category in the Wildlife Trust’s regional Wildlife at Work photography competition.

Peter’s photo was runner up in the original competition won by Mike Gittos of TWI and his photos was put forward with two others for a public vote. He wins a voucher for a Wildlife Training Workshop.

A total of 157 images were entered into the regional competition, 53 of which were from staff on Granta Park. Another competition is planned for the Spring. All the winning images can be seen at www.wildlifebcnp.org.

Science Park Cambridge

Cambridge - On November 2nd MedImmune announced the winners of its annual European Cancer Research Abstract Competition, which recognises outstanding research of aspiring scientists. Students and postdoctoral fellows from across Europe submitted abstracts describing their research in the field of tumour microenvironments to compete in the prestigious European competition sponsored by MedImmune, AstraZeneca’s global biologics arm.

Alexandra Avgustinova from The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK was awarded first prize of £2,000 for her research entitled Characterisation of the Tumor-Fibroblast Cross-talk in a Mouse Model of Disease Progression. “For any young scientist, the opportunity to share scientific work is extremely rewarding. Beyond that, having my work acclaimed by a panel of experts is a great honour indeed,” commented Alexandra Avgustinova. “Receiving this award fuels my hope and desire to see my research in practical application in the future. I would like to thank The Institute of Cancer Research for enabling me to conduct this research and MedImmune for the recognition.”

Second and third prizes of £1,000 and £500 were awarded to Metamia Ciampricotti from The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Holly Barker from The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK, respectively Congratulating the winners, Dr Thorsten Hagemann, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK and one of the competition’s judges said, “It is extremely encouraging to see the quality of scientific work being produced by these young scientists. Initiatives such as this competition are an essential part of our fight against cancer – highlighting new research, helping us to discover fresh scientific talent and new therapeutic solutions to human disease. Alexandra’s research is cutting edge science which will have an immediate impact on cancer treatment”.

“MedImmune is committed to fostering the development of the next generation of leading scientists focused on improving human health. This competition provides us with the opportunity to highlight and reward the innovative work of talented scientists, which in the current economic climate we feel is especially important,” said Matthew McCourt, Director of Biology, Oncology at MedImmune. “We congratulate all ten finalists for being selected in this tough, competitive programme and feel privileged to be able to provide some recognition for their dedication.”

The competition was open to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in Europe with ten finalists shortlisted to present their research to an expert panel of judges including Dr Thorsten Hagemann, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK, Dr Christian Blank, Group Leader, Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands and a senior executive from both MedImmune and AstraZeneca. The focus of the competition – tumour microenvironments – reflects the research interests of MedImmune’s UK-based Oncology Department in Cambridge. The three winners were announced at the awards ceremony in Cambridge University’s prestigious Downing College following evaluation of their presentations on the basis of scientific merit, innovation and delivery.

About MedImmune

Located on Granta Science Park Cambridge
MedImmune, the global biologics arm of AstraZeneca plc. (LSE: AZN.L, NYSE: AZN) has approximately 3,500 employees worldwide and is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
For more information, visit MedImmune's website at www.medimmune.com

Picture - Competition winners, from left to right: Metamia Ciampricotti, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands - second place. Alexandra Avgustinova, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK, - first place. Holly Barker, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK, - third place.

Vernalis Achieve Research Milestone in Drug Discovery Collaboration

Vernalis plc, today announces it has achieved a research milestone in its drug discovery collaboration with H.Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck). As a result, Vernalis will receive a payment of £0.3m from Lundbeck in recognition of this achievement.

Under the terms of the collaboration which utilises Vernalis’ fragment and structure-based drug discovery platform against LRRK2, a kinase target, Vernalis will receive fees and a potential share in the downstream success of the product in the form of milestones and royalties on sales. The financial terms of this collaboration are not disclosed.

Ian Garland, CEO of Vernalis commented: “Achieving this milestone further validates the strength of our fragment and structure-based drug discovery platforms. We look forward to continued success in our collaboration with Lundbeck”.

Picture: the Vernalis Building on Granta Park

MedImmune Scientist Among 100 Most Inspiring People in Life Sciences Industry

A leading scientist based at Medimmune’s Granta Park headquarters has been named as one of the 100 most inspiring people in the life sciences industry by a US magazine.

Dr Tristan Vaughan, a senior director of lead generation, was recognised in the list completed by PharmaVOICE 100 for the positive contributions he has made to MedImmune, his communities and the motivation he has provided to colleagues and peers. “Dr Vaughan has continually driven improvements in the technologies that have successfully delivered drugs that make a meaningful difference to patients. This is what motivates him, not position, salary, or recognition,” said the magazine.

“Dr Vaughan exemplifies the spirit of innovation that is central to MedImmune’s mission and we are very proud that his work has been recognised by PharmaVOICE,” said Dr Jane Osbourn, Site Leader, Cambridge, UK and Vice President of Research and Development. “Dr Vaughan demonstrates the inspiring dedication of our scientists to delivering life-changing products to help patients with unmet medical needs.”

Dr. Vaughan has been central to the development of two life-changing medications, including the first fully human antibody to reach the market as well as the first new treatment option for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in more than 50 years. He currently leads a team of more than 80 working on refining the technologies that have successfully delivered drugs that make a meaningful difference to patients.

Says Roz Bird, Granta Park’s Marketing and Asset Manager: “We are delighted that Dr Vaughan has been recognised in this way, his success will undoubtedly inspire many other people working here at Granta Park in our special high-tech community.”

Dr Gail Wasserman from MedImmune in the US was also recognised by the list. Dr. Wasserman’s pioneering development work contributed to the introduction of the first monoclonal antibody approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help prevent an infectious disease.

Picture: Dr Tristan Vaughan

Granta Park science park staff get on their bikes for a day

Despite rain many staff participated in Granta Park’s cycle to work day during National Bike Week at the end of June.

As well as being encouraged to cycle to work on that day, staff were able to get MOTs and small repairs done by OWL, a Sawston-based organisation that provides work for adults with learning difficulties and young people who need extra support to enter the world of work. OWL also took away unwanted bikes and mobile phones brought in by staff for refurbishing or recycling and brought in some bikes recently refurbished for resale, one of which was sold. Grafham Cycling also brought along a selection of brand new bikes for sale.

Says Tracy Thomas, Facilities Management Assistant in the Granta Park Estate Office, who organised the event: “With the Cambridge to Granta Park cycle route in place and further improvements set to take place later this year it is a great time for people to get on their bikes. This day was a great opportunity for staff to find how easy it is to go about it.”

Granta Park staff wanting to cycle to work can pick up a cycle map from the Granta Park Estate Office, get in touch with the Granta Park BUG (bicycle user group) for help and advice and find a BikeBudi to cycle with at www.liftshare.com or visit the Granta Park website and view the video of the ride at www.grantapark.co.uk

Single use technology roadshow comes to Granta Park

Companies at Granta Park are being invited to discuss their toughest single-use technology challenges and see the latest technologies available to help on Monday (18 July) when Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics and Biopharma Dynamics brings its roadshow to the park.

“As well as seeing the latest in single use technologies it will be an opportunity to talk through any challenges companies might have,” says Joe Brennan form BioPharma Dynamics. “We know what products we have and how they fit in but we don’t always know the challenges for the end user. It’s also an opportunity for companies to come to us with their own ideas.”

The event will feature the latest products, upgrades and new applications offered by Saint-Gobain and its authorised channel distributor Biopharma Dynamics. Eight single-use technologies designed for biopharmaceutical applications will be demonstrated, including the newest tubing formulations, sterile connection systems, complete custom manifolds, a full line of biopharm tubing and equipment for automating the production process. The roadshow vehicle will be located in the car park behind the PPD building from 8am until 5pm.

For further details contact Joe Brennan on 07841 460184 or joe@biopharmadynamics.com.