Posted by Claus Andersen, Partner
Life after Brexit: the challenges and opportunities facing the UK’s Life Sciences sector
“The life sciences industry represents one of the dominant economic sectors in the UK.
It brings significant jobs and growth to virtually every region. To retain the UK’s competitive edge in this sector, there is a requirement for sustained effort over a longer period of time”.
Professor Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine, University of Oxford and Chairman, Office for the Strategic Coordination of Health Research.

There is no doubt that the UK’s life sciences sector is exposed to Brexit. The close integration of the UK’s regulatory and research environment with the EU and the international nature of the sector means that separation is likely to be difficult and disruptive.
Meet our key speakers
However we believe that with the right strategy the sector, despite Brexit, can thrive:
- The UK is one of the best places in the world for life sciences – there are five world-leading universities clustered around Oxford, Cambridge and London
- It leads the way in emerging fields such as genomics and mitochondrial donation therapy
- The Government is committed to protecting the sector and its industrial strategy has had life sciences at its centre – there is a new Life Sciences Council which brings together ministers and industry
- Global life sciences businesses are continuing to invest in the UK – last year the UK received the highest level of life science foreign direct investment in Europe
Our event will look at the challenges facing the sector and discuss the opportunities to ensure that the UK is the best place in the world to develop and launch innovative medicines, technologies and diagnostics.
We are delighted that Professor Chas Bountra, Pro Vice Chancellor, Innovation, University of Oxford will be delivering the keynotes with Bill Haynes, MD, Site Head & Vice President, Novo Nordisk Research Centre, Oxford. There will then be a Q&A panel discussion chaired by Lord Wood of Anfield.
Event details:
Date: Thursday 28 March 2019
Time: 5.30pm – 9pm
Venue: The Ashmolean, Oxford
Agenda
5.30pm Arrival and registration
6.00pm Welcome and introduction
6.10pm Keynotes:
Professor Chas Bountra, Pro Vice Chancellor, Innovation, University of Oxford: Global challenges, transformative science, unique infrastructures, novel partnerships and great leaders
William Haynes, MD, Site Head & Vice President, Novo Nordisk Research Centre Oxford: Novo Nordisk Research Centre Oxford – from innovative biology to disruptive therapies
6.40pm Q&A and panel discussion chaired by Lord Wood of Anfield
Our panellists:
Priya Mande, Chief Operating Officer, PsiOxus Therapeutics
Stephen Conway, Director of Research Services , University of Oxford
Claus Andersen, Head of Life Sciences, Royds Withy King
Thomas Bjorn, Life Sciences Consultant, Royds Withy King
7.25pm Closing comments
7.35pm Drinks and networking
9.00pm Finish
For further information or to book your place, please contact us on:
events@roydswithyking.com Email us