News Archive

EUSA Chairman awarded “Outstanding Personal Contribution to UK Bioscience” by BIA

22nd January 2009.
At its Gala Dinner, the BioIndustry Association (BIA)  presented the sixth BIA Award for Outstanding Personal Contribution to UK Bioscience to Rolf Stahel. The award recognises an individual who has made a significant contribution to the development of bioscience in the UK.

Dr Clive Dix, BIA Chairman, said:
“Rolf is a deserving winner of this award. Having started his career at Wellcome, he led Shire through a series of mergers and acquisitions that took it from a loss making private business to the global pharmaceutical company it is today. Since leaving Shire, Rolf has been Chairman and mentor for a number of companies in our sector – many of which have provided successful exits for their investors.”
 
The BIA also launched an industry group for regenerative medicine companies at its 13th Annual Gala Dinner. The BIA RegenMed Industry Group (RIG) will provide a coherent voice for this developing community in the UK.

RIG aims to engage with a range of stakeholders about the emergence of regenerative medicine as an industry, and its potential importance for delivering new therapies to patients. RIG recognises the diverse nature of the regenerative medicine community which includes companies developing therapies that replace or regenerate human cells, tissue or organs. The group has been formed to highlight the issues facing the future development of the sector.

Aisling Burnand, BIA Chief Executive said:
“The BIA has championed the needs and potential of this sector over the last few years. We are delighted to bring together a group of companies that are developing cutting edge technologies and products that will have the potential to transform healthcare delivery for patients worldwide. We will continue to raise awareness of this growing industry and engage with politicians, investors and regulators on how regenerative medicine can deliver health and economic benefits for the UK.”

The BIA’s Gala Dinner comes at the end of a week that has seen a crescendo of activity aimed at creating a diverse, self-sustaining bioscience sector in the UK:
*       Last Thursday (22 January) the Bioscience Innovation and Growth Team published its Review and Refresh of Bioscience 2015 and made a number of recommendations to address the financial and regulatory challenges currently facing companies in the sector.
*       On Tuesday, BIA representatives attended the life sciences summit, with the Prime Minister and other Ministers, at which the Prime Minister upgraded the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group to Cabinet level, with the appointment of Alan Johnson, the Secretary of State for Health, as Chair.
*       Today, at the ninth Annual Parliament Day, 30 senior industry executives joined the BIA for an intensive day of meetings with parliamentarians to discuss the key issues affecting the sector.

Dr Clive Dix, BIA Chairman, said:
“The UK’s bioscience sector is worth fighting for. It has much to offer, and for our part we will continue to strive to ensure that the world leading science and research being conducted in the UK is translated into medicines for patients.”

“The Government has indicated a clear determination to maintain investment in science, and has demonstrated a willingness to work together with industry to maximize the potential of the sector. But action is needed now.”