Granta Park takes networking to Business Awards

Granta Park took its networking ethos to the Great Hall at King's College last week hosting a table of senior scientists at the Cambridge News Business Excellence Awards and sponsoring an award.

Explains Granta Park's Marketing and Asset Manager Roz Bird: "Granta Park aimes to add value to the science community by creating networking opportunities which could lead to exciting new collaborations. We call it 'engineered serendepity,' it's the idea that through conversations, in this case over dinner, ideas may, over time, be advanced."

On the Granta Park table were (as pictured left to right, top to bottom) Professor Roger Pederson (Cambridge University), Dr Fabio Magrini (MedImmune), Chris Neild (PPD), Dr Paul Whiting (Pfizer), Dr Nic Bowman (Pfizer), Rick de Blaby (MEPC), Dr James Murray (Vernalis) and Roz Bird (Granta Park).

Adds Roz: "I was delighted that we were able to secure a table of senior scientists at the Awards. I took the opportunity to rearrrange the seating plan at the end of every course, moving guests around the table to enable them to all meet each other and to give them time to discuss their fields of interest. This is part of our strategy to make Granta Park a special science park community that our customers can benefit from."

Granta Park sponsored the businessman of the year award which was won by Mark Davenport of waste management company Donarbon and presented by Ricke de Blaby, Chief Executive of MEPC, the national property company which manages 8 business and science parks including Granta Park.

There are a variety of opportunities to join the Granta Park community with office and laboratory accommodation available from fitted out office suites of 765 sq ft on flexible 'Greenlite' leases through to brand new, three storey, 28,000 sq ft building, ready for a company's bespoke fit-out, with high-spec reception and beautiful views of the Cambridgeshire countryside visit http://www.mepc.com/grantapark

Jane Osbourn, MedImmune

At a sell-out black tie event at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Stansted, Jane Osbourn, director of Cambridge-based MedImmune UK Ltd, was presented with the esteemed title.

Judges said: "What was particularly impressive about Jane was her own unique style of leadership that clearly delivers innovative, creative and sustainable results for everyone involved with the business - whilst still retaining her passion and dedication to Science."

The awards have become more and more hotly contested each year and recognise the success and commitment of women running and leading businesses throughout the six counties; Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridge, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

The event saw over 180 business leaders, mentors and award finalists come together to celebrate the process and learn of the winning individuals. Steve Elsom, from main sponsor Lloyds TSB Commercial, said this year's entrants had been particularly impressive and the award ceremony provided a very fitting way to celebrate the accomplishments not only of the winners, but of every shorlisted businesswoman from across the region.

"As the main sponsor for the East of England Businesswoman Awards, we have seen first hand just what an incredible wealth of talent and drive is out there within the business community.

I know that everyone from my team who has been involved in the judging process has really enjoyed meeting these inspirational women and I applaud every finalist and winner for what they have accomplished in their business lives so far."

Alison Beech, Chairman of the East of England Businesswoman of the Year Awards Committee, added her praise for each of the women acknowledged at the award ceremony.

She said: "It is always a great pleasure to meet with women who are determined to succeed in business and who are throwing themselves into the leadership of their own company or are contributing significantly to another enterprise.

I have been involved in the awards for a number of years now and continue to be impressed by the calibre of the entrants and the accomplishment of the winners.

We look forward to seeing what these women will go on to achieve in the future, for themselves, their businesses and the economic success of the region."

Vernalis earns milestone payment in Hsp90 inhibitor collaboration

Vernalis plc (LSE: VER) today announces the achievement of a milestone under the company's collaboration with Novartis on the oncology target Hsp90. The $3 million milestone is triggered by the first dosing in a Phase II proof of concept clinical trial of AUY-922, an Hsp90 inhibitor, in a range of solid tumours.

Ian Garland, CEO of Vernalis said "We are delighted that our programme with Novartis has progressed into Phase II and we look forward to the results of the current Phase II proof of concept study which Novartis has indicated are targeted for 2010".