Encouraging tomorrow’s medicine discoverers
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Pharmaceutical firm opens its labs to pupils
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Project hopes to ignite a passion for science and in turn generate more
science graduates
Slough, UK: There can be few GCSE or A-level students who reply when asked about career
plans “I’d like to be a medicine discoverer.” But through a new scheme between a
pharmaceutical company and local schools that may be about to change.
The drug company UCB, renowned for its central nervous system and inflammatory
treatments amongst others, is opening its research laboratories to around 30 science
students, in addition to a plan to send UCB scientists out to teach at local schools.
The company has its UK headquarters at Slough in Berkshire, where it also hosts its world
centre for research into immunology. Some 400 scientists work at the centre looking at
conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and osteoporosis.
The pupils will work alongside the researchers for a week on projects ranging from computer
aided design of new medicines to actually making a medicine to treat high blood pressure.
UCB is undertaking the activity as part of ‘Work in Science Week’, which runs from 10-13
July.
Neil Weir, Senior Vice President of Discovery, UCB, and Chair of the Innovation Board of the
Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said: “UCB has a strong scientific
pedigree. We are one of the UKs top five pharmaceutical R&D investors. But money isn’t the
only way to invest and it’s in our interest to do all we can to protect and champion UK
science. We hope that by bringing pupils out of the classroom to see the scale and
technology of the drug discovery process will spark their imagination and if our scientists
can pass on their enthusiasm as well then we hope to deliver future science graduates.”
He added: “We don’t expect young people to give up their dreams of being an astronaut,
doctor or ballerina but we hope they might come away and add to their career wishes ‘I’d
love to discover a medicine against cancer or AIDS or epilepsy.’ Inventing new ways to treat
or cure diseases is a fascinating and exciting career and one with a proud British history –
we hope we can help that to continue.”
The UK has a long history as a world leader in many fields of research, producing over 10
per cent of global scientific output with only one per cent of the global population. But
despite a wave of educational reforms in the UK over the past decade, fewer school pupils
are choosing to study science and maths beyond the age of 16. UCB hopes that this project
can encourage young scientists to carry on a very British tradition.
Commenting on the project, Imran Khan, Director of the Campaign for Science &
Engineering, said “If the financial crisis has taught us one thing, it should be that we
desperately need young people to be getting excited about discovery and invention. The UK
needs a high-tech future, and that means we need more companies to follow UCB's lead in
inspiring the groundbreaking scientists of tomorrow."
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Roger Thomas, the Headteacher of The Westgate School, based in Cippenham Lane, Slough,
which is sending its students to the company said “We have very well established links with
many local and global businesses. These links benefit our students as they prepare to
become citizens of the future. We are delighted with UCB’s inspirational approach to
boosting school science and proud to work in partnership with UCB. Our students and staff
will benefit from the additional support with practical lessons, science resources and advice
on careers. Our students will also have the opportunity to visit the hands–on interactive
environment at UCB’s world leading immunology hub. We are looking forward to “Work in
Science Week” supported by UCB and the opening of our newly decorated Science Block.”
‘Work In Science Week’ - What will the students be doing?
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Exploring the world of medicinal chemistry, drug discovery technologies, gene to drug
research and biology through a series of interactive lectures and laboratory experiments
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Visiting our state of the art ‘biologics R&D hub’ to developing a deeper knowledge of
antibody research and development
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Learning about the high-skill, high-tech careers that are on offer when you have a
science degree
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Taking part in thought-provoking activities to find out how you take an innovative
medicine from the laboratory to patients
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Meeting and working alongside real scientists from UCB to draw on their knowledge and
experience
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Building their confidence, time management, problem solving, planning, presentation
and team building skills
British pioneers
Britain has a proud heritage of medicine discovery from Edward Jenner and his smallpox
vaccination, through to Alexander Fleming and colleagues with the discovery of penicillin.
More recently we have had the inventions of Sir James Black and Sir David Jack covering
asthma, ulcer and heart disease treatments amongst others.
Beyond medicines, British doctors and scientists pioneered hip replacements, discovered the
famous double helix structure of DNA, invented the CT scanner and produced the world’s
first test tube baby.
Scientific breakthroughs are a very British tradition and UCB is on a mission to ensure life
sciences remain vibrant in the UK and we will continue to be a key contributor to this cause.
Further Information
Scott Fleming, Head of UK Communications
T +447702777378, scott.fleming@ucb.com
About UCB
UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the
discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people
living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than
8,000 people in about 40 countries, the company generated revenue of EUR 3.2 billion in 2011. UCB is
listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB).
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Pupils from The Westgate School
Pupils from The Westgate School and (L-R)
Sukhvir Parmar (Head of Science, Westgate
School), Scott Fleming (UCB), Darren Nicholas
(Deputy Head, Westgate School)
Pupils in the UCB laboratory
The redecorated science area at The Westgate
School
Pupils in the UCB laboratory
The redecorated science area at The Westgate
School
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