Introducing The Science Tribe: BioSpain 2023
Biotech in Barcelona
The Science Tribe Podcast
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With many are just freshly returned from Bio-Europe in wintertime Munich, we’d like to take the opportunity to draw attention to another meeting that already took place in late September in Barcelona, and which many might want to check out when it returns in two years’ time - BioSpain 2023.
Discussed in this podcast
What can the history of computational chemistry teach us about the potential of AI in drug discovery? Will it live up to all of the expectations?
What’s the latest in metallotherapeutics and how is this field transforming oncology?
What could your watch tell you about your biological age and how your habits influence it – whether working out or partying?
How does Spain’s biotech scene compare to the UK, and Canada?
“Allow me to state here how much I love Barcelona, an admirable city, a city full of life, intense, a port open to the past and future.” – Le Corbusier
When one thinks of Barcelona, one might imagine beautiful architecture, weekend breaks in the sun, extensive city beaches, and tapas bar after tapas bar. The place that Picasso considered his true home, or where Gaudi’s still unfinished basilica masterpiece la Sagrada Familia towers over millions of international visitors every year.
It is also home to a burgeoning life sciences hub, the Barcelona-Catalonia area, which has become a popular site for companies’ R&D, including the area of Advanced Therapies. The region boasts several clinical centres of excellence which can host clinical trials with efficient operating costs, as well as the availability of skilled talent. In fact, AstraZeneca recently announced that its investing €800M to establish a global innovation hub in Barcelona focused on developing new therapies.
BioSpain occurs biannually, or once every two years, and several regions in Spain – Catlonia, Asturias, the Basque region, Galicia, Valencia, and Andalucía, are represented, with a roster of exciting, rapidly-growing local companies and organisations. Spanish-speaking countries such as Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay are also well-represented. There was a strong UK delegation, with representation from both the UK Department of Business and Trade (DBT) and membership organisation BioPartner UK, and also eleven companies attending from Canada.
At the conference, I was struck by the variety and hidden gems the conference held – from talks and pitches to fantastic opportunities for networking and informal chats in a more intimate setting than one might find at a larger trade show. The entertainment was also notable – at the National Gallery of Catalonia and a Tapas tour in the town centre. Everyone I met who attended found that the meeting provided invaluable networking opportunities, for example with potential partners and investors.
We had the privilege of speaking to a few notable companies and trade organisations at BioSpain 2023, including DBT, BioPartner UK, Future Space Technologies, Charles River Laboratories, Bold Therapeutics, ETERNADx, Trade and Invest BC, and the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC). We got absolutely fascinating insights and opinions and learned about the interviewee’s backgrounds, experiences, and inspirations. Here is a summary of the great people we spoke to and their organisations.
The organisations and the people.
The UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the UK’s department for economic growth. It supports businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. DBT is a ministerial department, supported by 19 agencies and public bodies. At DBT, Jessica Griffiths is Senior Trade & Investment – Lead Biotech & Pharma, Chemicals – Spain.
BioPartner UK is the independent, accredited trade organisation that supports UK international trade. It works with conference organisers, in-country agencies and overseas networks to provide the best business opportunities for its members as well as UK companies travelling with outward delegations. Emma Kocsi-Martin is Event Manager at BioPartner UK and has over 25 years of experience working in administrative, project and event management roles.
Frontier Space Technologies is a Space Biotech company breaking down barrier to access microgravity for life science advancements. Dr Aqeel Shamsul is the company’s CEO and co-founder.
At Charles River, as a multi-disciplinary CRO, it is passionate about its role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Its mission, excellent science and strong sense of purpose guides the company in all that it does, approaching each day with the knowledge that its work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. Dr Maria Herva is Charles River’s enthusiastic Associate Science Director, with a strong background in Neuroscience gained through 20 years of research experience in Academia, Pharma and CROs. Her research has focused on misfolded proteins in the context of neurodegenerative diseases such as Prion, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS and Huntington’s disease.
The CCDC has a team of world-leading experts in structural chemistry data, software and knowledge for materials and life sciences research and development who compile and distribute the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). Graham Birchis CCDC’s Global Sales Manager and runs the Business Development team. He has 22 years’ experience in pharma and is proud to help these organisations change the innovative space that is healthcare. Agustin Pantano is CCDC’s Sales Executive for Southern Europe and South America. He has over six years of experience in international business development. He believes in working for organisations that can make the world a better place.
Trade and Invest B.C. works with international enterprises to help them build strong connections to the resources, skills and businesses that make British Columbia (B.C.) the natural place to work, live and invest. It matches sellers with buyers, investors with opportunities, and companies with talented employees, whether selling products or services to the people of B.C. or working with its local communities to export products worldwide. Laetitia MacDougall is Trade and Invest B.C.’s Investment & Trade Specialist – Europe.
Bold Therapeutics is one of Canada’s leading biopharmaceutical companies. It is in late-stage clinical development, focused on the development of novel metallotherapeutics in the treatment of colorectal and other difficult-to-treat oncology indications. Its CEO and founder, Russell McAllister, is Life Sciences industry veteran with almost two decades of previous experience. This includes roles such as Managing Director in equity research (emerging biopharmaceuticals) and investment banking (strategic advisory) for some of the leading life science investment banks in San Francisco and New York.
ETERNA Diagnostics has developed a revolutionary method for monitoring biological age called ACTIVAGE. Marcos Ladreda, the company’s CEO, is an extreme sports enthusiast and has a background in biomarker discovery.
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BioSpain: Discovering Biotech in Barcelona, 2023 edition.
Listen now (132 mins) | The Science Tribe With many having just returned from Bio-Europe in Munich, we’d like to highlight another key meeting that took place in Barcelona in late September, with a focus on the thriving Spanish Life Sciences ecosystem - BioSpain 2023. We had the opportunity to speak to some really interesting attendees and organisations at the meeting. Have a …
Note that opinions expressed by podcast participants are theirs and not those of The Science Tribe or SciTribe.
Host: Dr Priya Kalia
Springing out of the biology lab into communications strategy, public relations, and writing over 9 years ago, Priya runs her own boutique consultancy, SciTribe, where she works with leaders and their organisations across science, the environment, and technology – ensuring that their exciting stories are heard on a global stage.
Priya has over 12 years of experience in regenerative medicine research. She studied Molecular Biology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto, Canada, has a PhD from University College London, UK, and carried out Postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge and Kings College London, UK.
Originally from Canada, the UK is Priya's adopted home. She loves reading, spending time in her local community, outdoor swimming, gluten-free baking, and chatting over a lazy Sunday roast.