Oxford Spin-out Founders recognised at BBSRC Innovator of the Year Awards
25th March 2009
Two Oxford spin-out companies have been honoured at the inaugural BBSRC Innovator of the Year awards, organised by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The awards recognise UK bioscientists who have been best at turning world-class research into a product, company, service or advice to have an impact on our lives.
Dr Luke Alphey and Professor Jeff Errington, were recognised for their work on technologies that have developed new ways to defeat disease-carrying mosquitoes and crop pests, and new approaches to tackling superbugs like MRSA. They each received £5,000.
Alphey is co-founder and chief scientist of Oxitec, which was spun out by Isis in 2002 to develop biological insect pest control techniques to combat diseases spread by insects such as dengue fever and malaria.
Errington is a founder of Prolysis and the company’s Chief Scientific Officer, continuing to work with the company to develop novel antibacterial compounds.
Alvin Hall, well-known financial advisor, highlighting the importance of innovation in a downturn, said: “It was a total pleasure to attend the Innovator of Year ceremony, to meet the inspiring finalists and to present the prizes. I work with companies on both sides of the Atlantic to help them to develop and grow – and at the moment how to get through the downturn. One thing all organisations need is bright people prepared to take a great idea and run with it. In the finalists of Innovator of the Year the UK has seven individuals who have already done this.”
The Innovator of the Year Award is an annual competition designed to recognise and reward those bioscientists who are taking steps to transfer the UK’s world beating bioscience research base into impacts that positively affect quality of life for UK citizens. The award aims to build a culture amongst the research base where all scientists consider the potential of their research and the steps that could be taken to maximise its social and economic impact. The inaugural award was won by Professor Stephen Jackson from the University of Cambridge.
Professor Douglas Kell, BBSRC Chief Executive, said: “The finalists represent both the pinnacle of bioscientists who are turning their research into impact and, at the same time, just the tip of the iceberg. UK bioscience is world beating and BBSRC is striving to help translate this into economic and social benefits to create world beating companies and products. From tackling superbugs and developing new drugs to higher yielding crops and new animal vaccines, bioscience research generates millions of pounds for the UK economy and saves billions of pounds through policy advice every year. When the world emerges from recession it will be these high-tech, knowledge intensive areas that will help to power the UK economy.”
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