College of Medical and Dental Sciences
PERCAT Newsletter
Welcome to the new MDS Postdoctoral/Early Researcher, Career Development and Training (PERCAT) e-newsletter
30 August 2016
Inside This Issue
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Teaching Opportunities
Training and Academic
Sessions
Funding Opportunities
Other Events
PERCAT Community
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PERCAT Website
College of MDS Website
Athena SWAN
Research and Innovation
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PERCATEvents/Updates

Research Gala

We are pleased to announce the Postdoctoral/Early Researcher Career Development and Training Research Gala will be held onThursday 27 October, Great Hall, Aston Webb, Universityof Birmingham.This event is in collaboration with Birmingham City, Wolverhampton and Aston Universities.
Registration
Registration is free and open to all, pleasecomplete the online formto register for Gala.
Registration will close on Friday 14 October.
Abstracts
Abstract submission now open,submit your abstract online.
PhD students are not eligible to submit abstracts.
Abstracts should be a maximum of 250 words, excluding title.
Abstract submission closes Friday 9 September
Oral and Poster Abstract Competition
Prizes will be awarded to the two best poster abstracts. Each prize winner will receive a new iPad mini
Please note PhD students are not eligible to submit abstracts.
The best oral presentation will receive a £500 travel award.
Keynote Speaker
Professor Steve Watson
BHF Professor of Cardiovascular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Birmingham
Programme
A full programme will follow shortly.
Following the Research Gala there will be a wine reception in the Great Hall, this provides an excellent opportunity for networking.We hope all delegates will join us.
Posters
Posters should be no larger than A0 Portrait.

Masterclasses

Commercialising Intellectual Property in the Life Sciences Sector

The next PERCAT Masterclass will be held on Monday 21 September. Luke Kempton, Partner – Intellectual Property, Gowling WLG LLP

Luke will be speaking on the commercialisation of University-generated intellectual property in the life sciences sector from a legal point of view. He will touch on spin outs but will focus mainly on the issues you should look out for if you are considering entering into a licence arrangement in respect of the results of your research.
Luke has a PhD in biochemistry and qualified as a lawyer in 1994. Luke has been active in the biotech/ pharmaceutical sector for over fifteen years and has considerable experience in both contentious and transactional matters. His experience includes coordinating pan-European patent litigation proceedings and advising on drug acquisition, collaboration and licensing deals for clients such as Advancis, argenx, AstraZeneca, Astellas, BialPortela, Cambridge Antibody Technology (now MedImmune), Eisai, the Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research, the Medical Research Council and Public Health England. He also advises on clinical trial, pharma distribution, diagnostic development and pharmaceutical manufacturing agreements.
He is a on the Industrial Advisory Board of the Faculty of Biological Sciences of the University of Leeds, frequent author of articles on biotech patent issues and on the editorial board of BioScience Law Review. Comments from directories include that “his scientific understanding is extremely good" (Chambers 2013) and that "Luke Kempton is a favourite of many of the world's leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies. He advises on commercial and corporate deals of market-changing dimensions in the life sciences sector." (Chambers 2016).

Further details

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Teaching Opportunities

Teaching is an excellent way of testing what you know, reminding yourself of what you once knew, and gaining strong communication skills that will help you as you present your research to the scientific community and the public. Some of you might even decide it is the right profession for you.

Current teaching opportunities are advertised on the PERCAT website

PERCAT Training for Teaching in Higher Education Workshops

For those who did not attend the training for teaching in higher education workshops we ran last year, we are repeating them this year. Those on offer include:
  • Lab based demonstrating
  • Small group teaching
  • Learning from lectures
  • One-to-one tutoring
These courses are accredited by CLAD and can be topped up to the full academic teaching qualification if you wish to pursue this.
These courses will be held in the IBR Seminar Room or CM4, Medical School in the week commencing 19September
Monday 19 September – 11.00 – 1.00 Lab based demonstrating - Dr Karl Nightingale (IBR Seminar Room)
This session focusses on what undergraduate lab practicals offer students as a learning experience, how this can be optimised, and what lab demonstrators can do to maximise the experience.
We will discuss practical aspects of what will be expected of you, and howto approach some of the issues that may arise.
Monday 19 September - 2.00 - 4.00One to one tutoring - Dr Karl Nightingale (CM4)
This session is for those involved in the immediate lab supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate students undertaking lab-based research projects. It will discuss the aims of this type of project, and how to ensure it is a good learning opportunity for the students.
We will discuss the practical aspects of what you are likely to encounter, including how there can be differences between supervisors and students expectations, and how to approach some of the more frequent issues that arise.
Tuesday 20 September - 2.00 - 4.00Learning from lectures - Dr Alex Conner (CM4)
Practical conversations, tips and tricks of the trade - you are not alone.
Friday 23 September – 12.00 – 2.00Small group teaching Dr Alex Conner (CM4)
Practical conversations, tips and tricks of the trade – you are not alone.
Registration
Registration is free, pleasecomplete the online formto register for the workshops orcontactLesley Bodenham
Other Events


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Training and Academic Sessions

Scriptoria Scientific Writing Workshop

The next Scriptoria Scientific Writing workshop will be held 18-19 October.
All Postdoctoral researchers within the College of Medical and Dental Sciences now have the opportunity to attend this workshop as they have proved to be a valuable investment for the College. Researchers who have attended the course have rated it very highly. Since attending PIs have noticed an improvement in the way researchers present ideas and results, and it also boosts confidence. Unfortunately PhD students are not eligible to apply.
Further details
Funding Opportunities
Marie Curie Individual Fellowships - deadline 14 September 2016
Our EU officers can help you with the process and in developing your applications. They provide dedicated support as follows:
  • Medical and Dental Sciences, Life and Environmental Sciences (Biosciences/Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences) - Margaret O’Hara
Please email to take forward.
Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund Fellowship Programme - Deadline for applications – 21 October 2016
The KKLF Fellowship Programme offers support for outstanding and highly-motivated biomedical clinicians and scientists who wish to pursue a career in haematological research into Leukaemia and associated malignancies. Junior and Intermediate Fellowships are available and offer support for 3 and 4 years respectively.
Further details are on the attached poster.
Fund’s website

PERCAT Community

We have both a PERCAT academic and postdoc committee within the College of Medical and Dental Sciences. This gives us the opportunity to build a community with a wide range of support facilities to improve your experience as a Post/Early Career Researcher. We want to hear from you, the Researchers who make the PERCAT community. If you wish to write to us about experiences or top tips to help other researchers we can include them in this newsletter.
Postdoc/Early Career Researcher Committee
  • Immunology and Immunotherapy:Ditte Hedegaard and Evaggelia Liaskou
  • Applied Health Research: Bai Li and Grace Turner
  • Metabolism and Systems Research:Louisa Jeffery, Hannah Botfield and AlpeshThakker
  • Inflammation and Aging: Lisa Hill and Valentina diPietro
  • Cancer and Genomic Sciences:John Reynoldsand Helen Stone
  • Cardiovascular Sciences: Elizabeth Haining, Malou Zuidscherwoude and Myriam Chimen
  • Dentistry:Mohammed Haddis
Academic Committee
  • Professor Roy Bicknell-Chair
  • Dr Sally Roberts - Deputy Chair and Institute Lead, Cancer and Genomic Sciences
  • Dr Nick Jones- Institute Lead, Immunology and Immunotherapy
  • Dr Dave Withers- Deputy Institute Lead, Immunology and Immunotherapy
  • Professor Attila Sik-Deputy Institute Lead, Clinical Sciences
  • Dr Vicki Smith - Deputy Institute Lead, Metabolism and Systems Research
  • Dr Zubair Ahmed- Institute Lead, Inflammation and Aging
  • Dr Richard Shelton-Institute Lead, Dentistry
  • Dr Melissa Grant-Deputy Institute Lead, Dentistry
  • Dr Raoul Reulen- Institute Lead, Applied Health Research
  • Dr Karla Hemming-Deputy Institute Lead, Applied Health Research
  • Professor Steve Watson- Cardiovascular Sciences/Clinical Sciences
Administration
  • Lesley Bodenham - Project Manager
  • Mrs Karen Carter- Research & Knowledge Transfer Office
  • Vince O'Grady-People and Organisational Development
  • Jackie Hawkins- Senior Research facilitator
Ex officio
  • Professor Prem Kumar – Head of the Institute of Clinical Sciences

MDS PERCAT
College of Medical & Dental Sciences
University of Birmingham
Contact Lesley Bodenham () or