Life sciences experts gather for debate

LIFE sciences and healthcare experts from all over Europe are gathering in Dundee for two days to discuss international solutions in human and animal healthcare.

More than 100 delegates are expected to attend the 17th annual BioDundee Conference at the West Park Centre today and tomorrow.

Delegates will focus on a wide-ranging programme under the heading of One Health — The Solution?

Among more than a dozen speakers will be secretary for health and sport Shona Robison; Paul Wyatt of the drug discovery unit at the University of Dundee; David MacCallum of Scottish Development International, Mike Sullivan, of Innovate UK and Mark Cook of Medtronic UK & Ireland.

Mr Cook said: “The value of having world class universities with cutting edge facilities, great research capabilities and willing partners in a major teaching hospital cannot be underestimated.

“Dundee has everything a life science company could want from start-ups to multinationals like Medtronic.”

Sessions will include discussions on neglected diseases in the developing world; a new platform for improving human and animal welfare; animal health’s contribution and supporting commercialisation in health and life sciences

One of the highlights will be the pitch perfect business innovation competition in which four companies compete in a live pitch in front of a panel made-up of internationally focused investors and entrepreneurs. A cash prize of £500 will be awarded to the winner.

The BioDundee Conference is a collaborative event created by the life sciences community which brings together people in the sector to present and discuss key aspects of the industry and also showcase examples of excellence and best practice.