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24 September 2003
West of Scotland Bioscience Network formally launched Wednesday 24 September
Nexxus, the West of Scotland Bioscience Network, is formally launched at the Glasgow Science Centre today, September 24, 2003.
120 representatives from the bioscience community in Scotland will learn how Nexxus can provide a connection (a nexus) across all elements of the community by facilitating communication, knowledge sharing and collaboration between organisations involved in bioscience related activities from both the academic and commercial sector.
Gillian Cay, Manager of Nexxus, said The West of Scotland already has a thriving bioscience community but very few people are fully aware of the breadth and depth of world class research expertise located here. I hope that Nexxus will raise the profile of bioscience in Scotland by promoting and celebrating our local success and talent.
Chris Packard, Chairman of Nexxus and Research and Development Lead Officer for the North Glasgow University NHS Trust, said "Nexxus has been established to support bioscience excellence in the West of Scotland. It will strengthen the links between these world leading research institutions and a rapidly growing industry sector, which includes many successful indigenous companies and high profile foreign inward investment."
The West of Scotland has a thriving bioscience research and company base. With over 2600 researchers, working in four universities, and a number of research institutes and work in interdisciplinary science/clinical collaborative networks, it is one of the largest in Europe.
It is home to 166 bioscience companies, with over 8000 people working in diagnostics, therapeutics, medical devices, contract research and manufacturing and it enjoys excellent research links with NHS Trust Hospitals.
Nexxus is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Scottish Enterprise Network, the University of Glasgow and Glasgow City Council. David Currie of Scottish Enterprise Glasgow said Scottish Enterprise believes that the bioscience industry plays a key role in the success of the West of Scotland and is delighted to fund Nexxus as part of its ongoing support for the for the bioscience cluster
Todays launch is the first of many events planned to stimulate the bioscience community in the West of Scotland. Nexxus is looking for input from the local community in order that it provides events and services that add value to existing activities.
Additional information
Professor Chris Packard, Chairman of Nexxus, is the Research and Development Lead Officer for the North Glasgow University NHS Trust.
He is responsible for establishing systems in North Glasgow Trust conducive to the conduct of highest quality non-commercial and commercial research and development. He also manages the staff within the Research Offices of the Trusts component institutions and oversees the operations which are fundamental in underpinning the tracking and accounting of both commercial and non-commercial research within North Glasgow.
He is active in the study of cholesterol metabolism and its relationship to ischaemic heart disease. This activity has resulted in over 300 publications. He has been accorded Fellowship of Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath), the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow (FRCP(Gla)) and the Royal Society in Edinburgh (FRSE).
Fiona Godsman, Vice Chair, Nexxus is the Director of Marketing at Q-One Biotech, a West of Scotland biotechnology company with a global customer base. She was educated at Glasgow and Paisley Universities, and subsequently worked in a NHS laboratory and in academic research.
Gillian Cay, Manager, Nexxus is a marketing professional with a wealth of knowledge of the global biopharma industry. Gillian was formerly Marketing Manager for the Strathclyde Institute for Drug Research (SIDR) where she promoted the drug discovery research capabilities of the University of Strathclyde to the biopharma industry, and coordinated the international launch of PharmaLinks, the organisation created to promote the joint research strengths of the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde.
Professor Chris Packard, Chairman, Nexxus will be available for comment on Wednesday September 24th from 1pm- 2pm on
Gillian Cay, Manager, Nexxus will be available for comment on September 24th from 9am 10am on , and from 5pm at the Glasgow Science Centre, Pacific Quay, Glasgow.
If you would like to attend the Launch of Nexxus at the Glasgow Science Centre, please inform the Nexxus Office by Wednesday 24th September by 12 noon on or
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