Experts and regional business leaders gathered at Hotel Du Vin in Birmingham to watch the exciting launch of West Midlands Life Sciences Week.
The event, which was one of the best attended events of West Midlands Business Festival, saw over 100 registrations and a rally for extra chairs from the wings! The focus was to highlight the life science sector’s position as an up and coming sector in the region, with many established footprints already at play.
Amy Deakin, Managing Director of the event said “attendees gave excellent feedback, citing it as a ‘great networking’ opportunity for a sector traditionally overlooked, and interesting insights on new advances the region has been nurturing. It was a great taster for what WM Life Sciences Week will entail in September!”
Speakers included:
- Phil Upton, renowned BBC radio presenter, hosted the event with gusto and passion for the region
- David Kidney, Executive Chair of the West Midlands Health Technologies Cluster, chaired a panel session challenging the speakers on ways forward
- Prof. Gino Martini, CEO of Precision Health Technologies Accelerator used his background as former Chief Scientific Officer of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Visiting Professor at Kings College to passionately encourage collaboration to help the region grow and deliver jobs.
- Lord Steve McCabe, the former Member of Parliament for Birmingham Selly Oak, serving as one of the cities leading politicians since 1997, and held roles in the Department for Education & Skills, Home Office and Government Whips Office, exuded a keen interest in the city’s economic growth, skills, and life sciences.
- Judith Stewart, Economic, Commercial and Business Director for Health Innovation West Midlands focussed on bringing together academia, business, commissioners to help accelerate the adoption of groundbreaking ideas and technologies in the NHS for the benefit of all
- Melanie Davidson, CEO of Medilink Midlands also emphasised the importance of collaboration and taking advantage of specialist support mechanisms for economic growth in the region.
- Alex Richter, Professor of Clinical Immunology and Director of the Immunology Services at the University of Birmingham, who has previously worked as a doctor in the military, passionately touched on diagnostic innovations to reduce the risk of infection in immune vulnerable patients that are already at play in Birmingham.
- Neil Mistry from NHS Blood and Transplant provided milestone updates on the ‘liquid gold’ that is plasma, and the lifesaving medicines derived from it; with breaking news that for the first time in 25 years, plasma derived medicines are being produced from UK donate plasma and being used on NHS patients (previously having had to rely on imports).
One of the most key points the speakers agreed on was that the West Midlands as a region simply don’t shout loud enough about all that is being achieved to build momentum and generate more interest, support and activity into the area.
With technology and life sciences becoming key areas of research and industry in the region, the event highlighted the strong connection between Life Sciences and the West Midlands. With the region becoming a key leader in the sector.
The event was part of the wider, inaugural, West Midlands Business Festival, which the Mayor branded a ‘huge success’.
Cooperation and collaboration is what helps life sciences make leaps forward and thrive. Events like this provide an invaluable networking opportunity for businesses, experts and policy makers from across the sector which helps drive for greater partnerships which drive the entire sector forward.
