A diverse audience drawn from the life sciences, academia and healthcare attended the ‘Better patient outcomes through partnerships’ showcase co-hosted by the Oxford Academic Health Science Network with OBN and Isansys.
About 40 people attended the event at Milton Park on 19 May, one of a series of seven linked events across the Oxford AHSN region during May 2016.
They were welcomed by John Harris, Chief Executive of OBN. He highlighted the strengthening relationship between the Oxford AHSN, OBN and industry, with 150 collaborative projects ongoing particularly in diagnostics and digital health.
Keith Errey, Chief Executive of Isansys, described how support from the Oxford AHSN coupled with SBRI Healthcare funding had been crucial in helping them disseminate clinical innovations at scale.
Prof Gary Ford, Chief Executive of the Oxford AHSN, gave an overview of the work undertaken over the past year. He highlighted some successes including focusing on 30 patient safety initiatives, supporting the spread of clinical innovations including pneumatic compression sleeves for stroke and gestational diabetes monitoring, and establishing clinical networks which have engaged 2,500 clinicians.
Dr Lindsey Roberts set out some of the projects undertaken by one of these networks – the Medicines Optimisation Clinical Network.
Dr Nick Scott-Ram, Oxford AHSN’s Director of Commercial Development, detailed the Wealth Creation programme, covering the innovation pathway, the five essential questions for entrepreneurs and support available for industry.
He highlighted joint work with Capillary Film Technology and Intelligent Ultrasound, as well as whole genome sequencing, and the establishment of a Precision Medicine Catapult centre of excellence. He also emphasised the constructive relationship the Oxford AHSN has with OBN.
A panel discussion followed, introduced by Nick Edwards of MedInnovate and Chair of the Oxford AHSN Wealth Creation Oversight Group. 
The panel members were:
- Eliot Forster, Immunocore
- Steve Harris, Circassia
- Andy Varde, Owen Mumford
- Peter Nolan, Oxford BioMedica
The discussion focused on varying business models available to small to mid-cap companies. The panel members stressed the importance of collaboration, as well as the challenge of gathering early funding.
In his closing remarks, Nick Scott-Ram said the meeting had underscored the need for region-wide collaboration across industries and highlighted support available for SMEs/mid-cap companies.