"Placing People First" is a Next Phase podcast celebrating innovations in life sciences. In this episode, Steve Twinley is joined by Kasia Averall, Head of Cluster Development at Cell & Gene Therapy Catapult. Watch the whole video at www.nextphaserecruitment.com/podcast. The purpose of this episode is to explore the current state of the Advanced Therapy sector in the UK, and the role that Cell & Gene Therapy Catapult play in facilitating the growth of pioneering businesses who are developing innovative therapies that may not have any logistical precedent. We found it fascinating hearing Kasia describe how her varied career has evolved, starting as a Microbiologist, learning about patient-named products, moving into Rare Diseases, transitioning into Regulatory Affairs and Quality, and 2 years ago becoming Head of Cluster Development, a brand-new role to bring together all different elements of what Cell & Gene Therapy do. This episode is not to be missed if you have an interest in the ongoing development of the Advanced Therapy sector, whether from the perspective of Quality, GMP Manufacturing, Clinical Trials, or different stages of scientific and process development. For further details about this or future podcast opportunities, please contact Steve Twinley at steve.twinley@nextphaserecruitment.com or on +44 (0)1403 216216, or visit www.nextphaserecruitment.com.

"Placing People First" is a Next Phase podcast celebrating innovations in life sciences. In this episode, Steve Twinley is joined by Alka Stansfield, Quality Systems Specialist at Virocell Biologics. The theme of this episode is Career Plans – something that every single person can relate to. We make our career choices because of a whole range of factors, both personal and professional. We found it fascinating hearing Alka describe her varied career, which includes the last 15 years in cutting-edge Cell & Gene Therapy and Biologics organisations, building on her earlier experiences as a Biomedical Scientist in the NHS and being a Lab Manager at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Alka knows very well what it means to have a ‘career plan’….and understanding that it is ok for this plan to change. This episode is not to be missed if you have an interest in the ongoing development of the Biotech, MedTech, Drug Discovery and Advanced Therapy sectors, and the exciting career opportunities that these sectors provide! For further details about this or future podcast opportunities, please contact Steve Twinley at steve.twinley@nextphaserecruitment.com or on +44 (0)1403 216216, or visit www.nextphaserecruitment.com.

"Placing People First" is a Next Phase podcast celebrating innovations in life sciences. In this episode, Steve Twinley is joined by Ayokunmi Ajetunmobi (AJ), Venture Development Director at Pioneer Group. Watch the whole episode at www.nextphaserecruitment.com/podcast. The theme of this episode is how start-up and spin-out life science organisations can establish themselves and grow, through building collaborative partnerships and having clear objectives. AJ describes how The Pioneer Group provide a variety of services to help turn innovative scientific ideas into viable, scalable businesses. AJ also talks about the different aspects that start-up businesses need to consider when getting started, to ensure that they are prepared for being scrutinised and challenged by potential investors and regulatory authorities. The Pioneer Group deliver high-quality laboratory and office space to rent, investment, accelerator programmes, scale-up training, and connections to esteemed figures from the world of science and technology. With a presence at 12 different life science parks across the UK & Ireland, and partnering with over 300 individual organisations, they play a major role in facilitating the development of pioneering scientific ideas at the centre of the UK's life science innovation. This episode is not to be missed if you have an interest in the ongoing development of the Biotech, MedTech, Drug Discovery and Advanced Therapy sectors! For further details about this or future podcast opportunities, please contact Steve Twinley at steve.twinley@nextphaserecruitment.com or on +44 (0)1403 216216, or visit www.nextphaserecruitment.com.

"Placing People First" is a Next Phase podcast celebrating innovations in life sciences. In this episode, Steve Twinley is joined by Nuno Madeira do O, CEO of Reflection Therapeutics. Watch the whole episode at www.nextphaserecruitment.com/podcast. The theme of this next episode is how the Cell & Gene Therapy sector has evolved in the last few years. Nuno explains how the current financial climate, combined with the increasing technical expertise of CROs and CDMOs, has made virtual business models a more viable and sensible option. Nuno describes how co-development between organisations can be more efficient, more cost-effective and ultimately more beneficial to patients. Nuno joined Reflection at the end of 2022 to help develop their innovative approach to Treg therapies, to address the unmet clinical need for Inflammatory Disorders. He has a fascinating background which includes over 4 years with Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, in which he gained a deep understanding of how the Cell & Gene sector is continuing to evolve. This episode is not to be missed if you have an interest in the ongoing development of Advanced Therapies! For further details about this or future podcast opportunities, please contact Steve Twinley at steve.twinley@nextphaserecruitment.com or on +44 (0)1403 216216, or visit www.nextphaserecruitment.com.

"Placing People First" is a Next Phase podcast celebrating innovations in life sciences. In this episode, Steve Twinley is joined by Stefan Lukianov, Founder & CEO of Salve Therapeutics.

In this 33-minute podcast, Stefan gives a fascinating insight into why and how he created Salve Therapeutics a couple of years ago. His vision for Salve is not to go straight for trying to secure private equity investment, but instead to build his business organically, reinvesting profits to help develop his technology further and build partnerships with other like-minded collaborators. One of Stefan's entrepreneurial influences is the filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, who invested the profits from each movie into the next and was therefore able to build a portfolio of films without compromising his vision or style, therefore preserving his integrity.

Stefan explains why it is so important for a start-up to have a strong IP strategy, and for business owners to really do their research into how to obtain IP that will protect their invention (in this case, a pioneering AI platform to improve the speed and efficiency of R&D within Cell & Gene Therapy). For anyone considering creating a Start-up, or managing one already, whether in the US or UK or elsewhere, this episode is not to be missed!

For further details about this or future podcast opportunities, please contact Steve Twinley at steve.twinley@nextphaserecruitment.com or on +44 (0)1403 216216, or visit www.nextphaserecruitment.com.

"Placing People First" is a Next Phase podcast celebrating innovations in life sciences. In this episode, Steve Twinley is joined by Sean Kennedy, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist at BenchSci.   

Watch the whole episode at www.nextphaserecruitment.com/podcast.   

In this 27-minute podcast, Sean gives a fascinating insight into the growth and development of internal teams within one of the world's most exciting and pioneering AI companies in the field of Biomedical Science. As an experienced Recruiter, Sean has worked with a variety of organisations in the past - so when he talks with such passion about BenchSci's vision, technology and people then it is clear they are a business that others can learn from.   

Sean explains the importance of having a Mission that everyone believes in. He also outlines the findings from a recent survey in which Flexibility was determined as the most important factor for workers in the UK in 2023. With this in mind, Sean then talks about the different ways in which BenchSci promote a flexible working culture that is also highly collaborative and welcoming. This episode is essential viewing for anyone who is somehow involved in the recruiting, training and development of teams - particularly those who are based remotely.  For further details about this or future podcast opportunities, please contact Steve Twinley at steve.twinley@nextphaserecruitment.com or on +44 (0)1403 216216, or visit www.nextphaserecruitment.com.

"Placing People First" is a Next Phase podcast celebrating innovations in life sciences. In this episode, Steve Twinley is joined by Martino Picardo, Chairman of Discovery Park in Sandwich, Kent.  

In this 30-minute podcast, Martino reflects on his own career and the different choices and circumstances that enabled him to build on his PhD in Biochemistry and become Chairman of one of the UK's most exciting and innovative science parks. Martino explains how a science park is an 'Innovation Ecosystem', providing opportunities for collaboration between businesses, as well as places where individuals can thrive in a range of STEM-based careers.  Martino is one of the pioneers of modern life science innovation in the UK, with a colourful career that includes being one of the founders of the Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst.   

For further details, please contact Steve Twinley at steve.twinley@nextphaserecruitment.com or on +44 (0)1403 216216, or visit www.nextphaserecruitment.com.

"Placing People First" is a Next Phase podcast celebrating innovations in life sciences. In this episode, Steve Twinley is joined by Sheela Upadhyaya, a Life Science Consultant and expert in Rare Diseases.   Watch the whole episode at www.nextphaserecruitment.com/podcast.   

In this 30-minute podcast, Sheela summarises her own background and what has driven her to progress her career in the Rare Disease sector. She discusses the current setup for developing rare disease treatments in the UK and how developers of ATMPs can try to avoid the potential disconnect between their innovative concepts and the practical limitations within the clinic. Sheela also talks more generally about how organisations can get the most out of their collaborative partnerships, to help look at the bigger picture and longer-term benefits of developing ATMPs correctly right from the start.  

For further details, please contact Steve Twinley at steve.twinley@nextphaserecruitment.com or on +44 (0)1403 216216, or visit www.nextphaserecruitment.com.  

Sheela can also be contacted via LinkedIn to discuss the ways in which she can provide value to ATMP organisations who are developing pioneering new therapies, particularly within the Rare Disease space.