A team of budding young engineers and scientists from Loughborough's Centre for Biological Engineering were finalists in this year's Biotechnology Young Entrepreneur Scheme (Biotechnology YES), beating off stiff competition along the way.
Juan Guijarro Leach, Mark McCall, Qasim Rafiq and William Bowen, all students part of the Doctoral Training Centre in Regenerative Medicine, set up a fictional biotechnology company, Scigen Biotech, which had developed a novel bacteriocin, Plurisin. Plurisin eliminates gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria as well as possessing anti-fungal capability and the primary application for such a product would be its use as a biopreservative, thereby increasing food safety and extending its shelf-life.
The team from Loughborough were amongst the 9 finalists, having earlier progressed from the Southern regional qualifier. The final, at London's prestigious County Hall, involved pitching the idea to a panel of investors in a Dragons Den style format and then responding to questions.
Whilst the team did not win the "Best Business Plan" award, other prizes were on offer and Qasim Rafiq, was awarded the "Best Presenter" award.
This national competition is run by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the University of Nottingham Institute for Enterprise and Innovation (UNIEI).
Four-year integrated research programme and a competitive annual tax-free stipend (tuition fees covered) for suitable candidates
Loughborough University, in conjunction with Keele University and the Universities of Leeds, Nottingham, Sheffield and York, is making two early career Fellowships available for exceptional candidates from the tissue engineering and regenerative medicine communities.
For more information please click here. or view the recent webinar here
