by Nadia Shivji-Brown
Tell us about a Knowledge Asset innovative project you’re proud of and why?
I am working on a Tuberculosis (TB) Biomarker project at UKHSA. Although I joined the project two years ago and was not involved from the beginning, it represents the culmination of many years of scientific research and business development efforts.
Over the past two years, it’s been great to see it move from strength to strength, to the point where it’s ready for pitching to investors.
At what point and why did you realise you wanted to take this project forward?
I inherited the project from a colleague two years ago. At UKHSA, we maintain a mature patent portfolio with many assets that we work to commercialise.
How has the support from GOTT made a difference to your project?
GOTT has been instrumental in moving the TB Biomarker project forward. The PRIMA Accelerator programme really focused the project and gave us a clear pathway to commercialisation.
PRIMA has helped the scientist involved in the project to significantly improve their pitch skills, which they’ve put to good use recently when they presented to a room full of investors at the BioSeed pitch event.
TB has always been a hard disease to fund, so receiving Knowledge Asset Grant funding has been crucial for the project’s progress, enabling us to develop a prototype Lateral Flow Device. The GOTT team is also always there to support us with any queries we have and has been a great sounding board for all our projects.
What’s been the biggest challenge to date?
Securing funding to move the project forward. With the grant funding, we aim to develop a prototype LFD for TB and attract commercial companies to licence the patents and the diagnostic.
What one piece of advice would you give to budding trailblazers in the public sector?
Build your network. Your network is essential for getting advice, bouncing ideas off each other, and building connections.
For me, having a strong network in the Life Science sector has been crucial in progressing the projects I am working on. It’s important to surround yourself with trustworthy people who you don’t work with on a daily basis.
What’s the best part of your job?
There is great science happening at UKHSA, and it's great to be part of it, helping to commercialise it and making a real impact on public health. Each day brings new challenges and opportunities.
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