 Press Releases17 November 2003 White Rose University Consortium Newsletter Leading Leeds Scientists Showcase Developments A Leeds company that is leading the way in developing new treatments for patients suffering from cancer and infectious diseases will be showcasing their developments at an international conference. Dr Nicola Broughton from award-wining Photopharmica Ltd, which has secured £3.5 million venture capital investment, will be talking at the prestigious White Rose Bioscience Forum hosted at the UK's Central Science Laboratory in York on 19 and 20 November 2003. The Bioscience sector is hailed as a booming industry in Yorkshire and currently employs over 10,000 people. This is the third annual Bioscience Forum - organised by the White Rose University Consortium of Leeds, Sheffield and York and record numbers of delegates are expected. More than 200 scientists and business representatives from a wide range of industries have so far signed up to attend the conference, which will take a closer look at the business of bioscience - the use of biological processes in the development or manufacture of products and services. Delegates from as faraway as Texas and Canada will be amongst those coming to the event. The conference will include presentations and workshops to encourage more scientists to commercialise their research, and to provide opportunities for other businesses to form partnerships with the region's first class bioscience companies. Photopharmica Ltd, which also recently secured a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) grant for technological developments, will be one of more than 30 of the regions leading-edge bioscience companies in the spotlight. The company's Business Development Manager, Dr Broughton, will talk about specific treatments scientists at the company have created using photosensitisers. These are molecules that harness the energy from light and produce particles to kill unwanted tissues and other organisms. Photopharmica's groundbreaking 'photodynamic therapy' (PDT), sees patients being treated with a specially designed drug which spreads through the body and concentrates in cancerous tissues. Without light, the drug is harmless but when laser light is applied, it is activated and kills the targeted cells. Dr Broughton said: "By attending the Bioscience Forum, we hope to raise the profile of our company and show people just what we're capable of. It can be a struggle to get started as a new company, so we want to inspire people that are attending the conference and let them know it can be done." Dr Broughton will also be talking about other milestones the company has achieved to date, including the use of PDT to kill so-called hospital 'super-bugs'. Alan Aubrey, Chairman of Techtran group Ltd, the commercialisation partner of the University of Leeds will also be presenting at the event. Techtran have recently announced the creation of a new biotechnology company from the university - Syntopix Ltd - which is developing new treatments for skin diseases that have become resistant to antibiotics. Syntopix, headed by microbiologists Drs Anne Eady and Jon Cove, last week announced a £500,000 cash boost from research organisation, the Wellcome Trust, for their pre-clinical research programme. Aubrey said: "Both Photopharmica and Syntopix are great examples of truly world class expertise within the University that can be applied to improve the lives of millions of people worldwide. Bioscience is a huge regional strength that could have a significant impact on the economic future of Yorkshire." Delegates will also hear from representatives from other companies across the Yorkshire region that specialise in areas such as drug development, tissue engineering and plant biotechnology. Chief Executive of the White Rose University Consortium, Martin Doxey, said: This is a fabulous opportunity to hear about the latest developments in the region's bioscience community and to meet people who are driving it forward so effectively. We'll be bringing together an interesting and exciting group of experts in this field - with high calibre speakers coming from as far away as America to share their experiences and knowledge. "Bioscience is experiencing rapid growth - indeed, the region now employs over 10,000 people in this field. We're proud of the fact that by working in partnership we're putting the Yorkshire region on the map," added Mr Doxey. Executive Director of Business Development at regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward, Susan Johnson OBE, said: "Yorkshire Forward is delighted to be the principal sponsor of the third annual White Rose Bioscience Forum. This year's forum once again provides an excellent opportunity to showcase the region's world-class strengths in bioscience and will provide a haven for partnering." > menu |
