Registration

Introduction to London Technology Network
Jolyon White, Technology Consultant,London Technology Network

Opening Keynote

How disruptive technologies play out in the media

Clive Cookson, Science Editor, Financial Times

Clive will discuss media coverage of disruptive technologies past, present and future. Looking back, how accurate were predictions of the impact of discoveries such as interferon, monoclonal antibodies and recombinant DNA? Have journalists exaggerated the likely benefits of genomics, gene therapy and stem cell research? Or does the blame for scientific hype lie more with the researchers themselves than with the media?

Session 1: Gene Therapy

Industry perspective

Dr Stephen Hart, Chief Scientific Officer, Genex Biosystems

The whole area of gene regulation and modification is opening totally new ways of addressing difficult to target diseases with long term therapy. An important component of this involves getting the polynucleotides to the target organ. Genex uses proprietary technologies to address the delivery of large plasmids to siRNA. Gene therapy offers numerous opportunities as well as challenges to disease management in the future.

Academic Technology Showcase

Spotlight on the latest research on disruptive technologies in life sciences from London Technology Network’s Business Fellows

• 09:45 Dr Matthew Wood , Lecturer, Physiology, Anatomy and Gentics, University of Oxford
• 09:55 Dr Michael McArthur, BBSRC Enterprise Fellow, Department of Molecular Microbiology, John Innes Centre
• 10:05 Professor Mary Collins, Head of Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London

10:15 Panel Discussion

Networking break with academic posters

Session 2: Stem Cell Technology

Industry Perspective

Dr Will West, Chief Executive Officer, CellCentric

Epigenetics is the machinery that sits on top of DNA and its associated proteins, and which guides cell fate. A short review of why epigenetics is relevant to stem cell technology will be given, as well as the potential uses of proteins and small molecules that target epigenetic mechanisms.

Academic Technology Showcase

Spotlight on the latest research on disruptive technologies in life sciences from London Technology Network’s Business Fellows

• 11:30 Professor Austin Smith, Director, Wellcome Trust Centre, School of the Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge
• 11:40 Professor Jack Price, Director, Centre for the Cellular Basis of Behaviour, Kings College London
  
• 11:50 Dr Joseph Smith, Research Scientist, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge

12:00 Panel Discussion

Networking lunch with academic posters

Session 3: Integrating disruptive technologies into translational research

Industry Perspective

Dr Mike Romanos, VP, Discovery Technology Group, GlaxoSmithKline

The poor preclinical predictability of drug efficacy and safety is a major challenge in the pharmaceutical industry that has attracted many solutions based on new technologies, though to date most have been disappointing. However, a more systematic linking of preclinical and clinical science is starting to make an impact. I will give examples and discuss the application of stem cell technology and gene modulation therapy, both potentially transforming technologies, in this context.

Academic Technology Showcase

Spotlight on the latest research on disruptive technologies in life sciences from London Technology Network’s Business Fellows

• 13:45 Dr Karl Karim, Lecturer, Organic and Computational Chemistry, Cranfield University
• 13:55 Dr Kieran Tuohy, Lecturer, School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading
• 14:05 Dr Nathaniel Milton, Senior Lecturer, Biological and Health Services, Roehampton University

• 14.15 Professor Michael Shattock, Professor of Cellular Cardiology, King’s College London

• 14:25 Dr Karl Morten, Research Scientist, Nuffield Dept Obstertrics & Gynaecology, University of Oxford

14:35 Panel Discussion

Conference closes