What people say

" The team at 4D Biomedical are well placed to advise emerging biotech businesses on their financing, technology and commercial plans. "

12 April 2011

News release

Can the UK be a world leader in translational medicine? – asks PA Consulting Group and 4D Biomedical roundtable

Cambridge, leading management and IT consulting and technology firm PA Consulting Group, and  translational medicine specialists 4D Biomedical (4D) jointly hosted a roundtable summit at Emmanuel College, Cambridge on Friday 25 March 2011 focussing on new initiatives in translational medicine. Attended by over 50 leading lights in UK biomedicine from the UK's top Academic Health Science Centres, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, device and diagnostics companies, VC and Government, the evening focussed on the potential of unlocking the UK's strengths as a global hub of translational medicine.

Translational medicine, a topic high on the UK Government's agenda, is about accelerating the time, reducing the cost and improving the efficacy of medicines discovery, disease prevention and targeting. This is achieved by enabling the biomedical industry to input clinical insight much earlier and more productively in the discovery and development of new medical interventions than has hitherto been possible, with major benefits for patients, the NHS, universities, UK plc and industry.

Addressing the theme of the evening - Can the UK be a world leader in translational medicine? - the roundtable was chaired by George Freeman MP, who founded 4D before being elected to Parliament last year and who is now Chairman of the 4D Biomedical Advisory Board and outspoken advocate of Life Sciences for the UK economy. Three eminent speakers contributed thought-provoking comments on the question for the evening:

• Prof. David Fish – Managing Director of University College Health Partners (UCL Academic Health Science Centre)
• Prof. Ian Jacobs – Vice President and Dean of Medical & Health Sciences Manchester University and Head of MAHSC (Manchester Academic Health Science Centre)
• Prof. Simon Lovestone – Director of Research King's Health Partners and Director of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health.

Commenting on the evening, George Freeman MP said: "The quantity and calibre of the attendees provided a unique opportunity to share perspectives on the opportunities and challenges for the UK to play a global role in translational medicine. With the pharma industry having to adapt to some profound global challenges in their business model, and new entrants and business models emerging in healthcare, this is an exciting and important field."

Ian Rhodes, head of healthcare technology at PA's Cambridge Technology Centre, spoke about the future of healthcare: "This year's event saw an interesting group of people come together to discuss the future of translational medicine in the UK. It is clear that the healthcare sector is still adjusting to the recent announcements from a number of major pharmaceutical companies that they are relocating R&D initiatives away from the UK and towards emerging markets. Our roundtable debate discussed the potential role of the UK in helping emerging markets implement best practice in healthcare through global healthcare collaborations and how the UK is reacting to the arrival of new entrants to the healthcare sector to support future growth"

www.4d-biomedical.com/