MBE students are a very diverse group, both educationally and culturally. However all come to Cambridge with common purpose and students are soon immersed in the activities offered by the programme and within the University.
The three terms of study is a very intense experience, with many new challenges to meet and goals to achieve. Students who have studied on the programme offer a personal insight into their background and their experiences whilst at Cambridge and the benefits the programme delivered:
Johanna Ernst, 2012-2013, Germany
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Why I chose Cambridge?
The University of Cambridge combines an outstanding standard of teaching with an intense focus on the personal development of each individual; It is a center of world-leading research and education, which is built upon an invaluable College system that enables students and fellows from all backgrounds and stages of life to exchange their knowledge and beliefs and learn from each other.
Why the MBE Is right for me.
The Master in Bioscience Enterprise gives a unique insight into the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, covering a wide breadth of areas from the development of a drug or technology through to regulatory hurdles and clinical trials all the way to legal and management processes. The teaching style is based on an interactive model, including individual reports as well as case studies and group work; this way, academic excellence is nurtured as well as the development of personal and soft skills.
Coming from an engineering background, the MBE was not the straightforward choice, however the prospect of an intense insight into the biotech industry as well as the course’s focus on interpersonal development made the MBE the right choice for me.
Fields of Study
Electrical Engineering
Fibre-Optic Sensing
Ultrasonic Devices
Healthcare Management
Education before Cambridge
BEng in Electrical Engineering at the University of Nottingham, UK
Originally from Germany, I completed my BEng in Electrical Engineering at the University of Nottingham in 2012; throughout my studies I had a strong focus on sensing techniques within the field of medical technology, including a research project within the Novel Photonics Research Group at the University of Nottingham.
Experiences before Cambridge
Recura Kliniken GmbH, Germany
Novel Photonics Research Group Nottingham, UK
Activities at Cambridge
Clare squash team, Tennis in the afternoons, CUE, CUTEC, bluesci
Languages
German, English, (Latin, Ancient Greek)
Alberto Libanori, 2011-2012, Italy
Why I chose Cambridge?
Cambridge marries tradition with innovation, linking the best of the past and aiming at setting the grounds for the future.
Aside its academic excellence, (we’re number 1!) the energy is palpable both in the departments and when talking to students across all faculties- you can easily have a 8-hour lecture day on the Challenges of the Pharmaceutical industry and still be so stimulated to venture to a 9pm guest lecture on Dark Matter physics. All of this nicely topped off by a late dinner with post doc archeologists who entice you on the smuggling trade of historical artefacts through Switzerland.
Why the MBE is right for me?
Understanding the pharmaceutical industry in its totality is a task that requires multifaceted insight on many fronts. Only those with first-hand experience can effectively provide this knowledge and contextualise it for students to understand. When your daily lecturers include Nobel Prize winners, former directors of the FDA, CEOs and venture capitalists with 20 years in the field, you are sure to have the best of the best teaching you. Through the MBE I’m hoping to gain a thorough understanding of the Biotech and Healthcare field, both theoretically, and via our internship opportunity within the industry.
Fields of Study
Virology and Molecular biology
Healthcare for the elderly
International trade and cross-cultural business dealings
Education before Cambridge
BSc in Biomolecular Sciences at St Andrews University, UK
Intensive Chinese and Business Diploma, Tsinghua University, Beijing
Experience before Cambridge
China-Italy Chamber of Commerce,
Scottish Structural Proteomics Facility
L’Oréal
UMIST Analytical Chemistry Research Lab
Languages
Italian, English, French, Mandarin Chinese, Swedish
Magdalini Papadaki, 2011-2012, Greece
Why I chose Cambridge?
Amusingly enough, the question I often take is followed by “over Oxford”. But in reality, by being open to encounters and interactions with people from all walks of life, one frequently comes to realize that post-graduate education can be merely a luxury rather than a necessity. Even so, the opportunity to study in any one of the great schools of this world, let alone the University of Cambridge, ranking first according to the 2010-2011 ratings, offers an incomparable exposure to forward and innovative thinking, creativity, excellence, as well as an abundance of motions, organizations and societies. The Cambridge experience is much more than high calibre studies; it is a once in a lifetime chance to make a difference into the world.
Why the MBE is right for me?
From my years as an undergraduate student, I have always been motivated by things that can have an impact for society and this is exactly what has inspired me to move away from the academic bench, or the expensive company car and into scientist-led entrepreneurship. With more than 10 years in a multidisciplinary scientific stride, both in academic research and the pharmaceutical industry, ranging from plant biotechnology to personalized pharmacology and from human gene therapy to drug pricing policies and regulatory affairs, I have developed a fast eye for new prospects in the rapidly evolving biomedical field. It is my firm belief that nowadays, more than ever before, the enterprise of innovation in bioscience is an imperative necessity for the delivery of better therapies to patients. And given that the level of risk and uncertainty in this unique entrepreneurial sector is directly correlated with the quality of science, it is the scientists who have the will and skills to work at the interface of science and business that can make a difference. Down these lines, the quality of studies in the MBE course, the calibre of the admitted candidates and the strength of the acquired network, provide a first class opportunity to combine my scientific and professional experience with the necessary entrepreneurial skills, towards a most productive path at the interface of bioscience and business.
Fields of Study
Agricultural Biotechnology and Molecular biology
Pharmacology and Molecular Pharmacology
Gene and Cell Therapy
Virology and Viral vector development
RNA interference
Drug Regulatory
Activities at Cambridge
MBE student’s representative at the Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Public Relations manager at the Cambridge University Education without Borders Society (CUEWB)
Education before Cambridge
PhD, Gene Therapy and Stem Cells, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens-BRFAA, GREECE.
MSc Pharmacology- Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Pharmacology,
University of Oxford, UK.
BioScience Enterprise and Business skills, Said Business School, University of Oxford, 8-week course.
BSc/MSc Biotechnology, Dept. of Agricultural Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, GREECE.
Experience before Cambridge
Novartis (Hellas): Drug Regulatory Affairs Manager and Medical Advisor for Consumer Health Division. Exclusive responsibility for Greece and supervision of Cyprus.
Post-doc researcher, BRFAA- Athens, Division of Genetics and Gene Therapy.
Research associate: Lab of Pharmacology–Pharmacotechnology, BRFAA, in collaboration with the Cancer Research Center, U. of Oklahoma, USA).
MSc Research:MRC Functional Genomics Unit, Dept. of Human Anatomy, University of Oxford in collaboration with Animal Health Division, Pfizer, UK.
Research associate: Lab of Molecular Biology, Agricultural University of Athens.
Music Industry- Entertainment: VIP Manager/ Foreign Border Organizer in Greece for Live Nation and AEG touring artists.
Teaching experience: Lab sessions
National University of Athens, Dept of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Dept. of Pharmacy: Biochemistry I & II, Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology
University of Oxford, Faculty of Medicine: Pharmacology
Agricultural University of Athens: Dept. of Agricultural Biotechnology and Dept. of Food Science and Technology: Molecular Biology I & II
Languages
Greek (native), English (excellent), Italian (working level)
Victor Dillard, 2011-2012, France
Why I chose Cambridge?
Cambridge is the ideal place to do a masters course, particularly in bioscience enterprise. The choice for me was simple: right in the middle of the most exciting bio-cluster in Europe, Cambridge provides endless opportunities to network, meet new people and share and discover new ideas. Whether this takes place outside campus life in a local pub, inside the college community in gowns at a formal dinner or through the myriad of lectures available to attend (on any topic imaginable), Cambridge is the perfect place to meet and exchange with enthusiastic, bright and diverse people.
Why the MBE is right for me?
The MBE covers biotechnology in all its glory, from drug discovery and development, to medical devices as well as agro-biotechnology. This is done in-depth both in science and business. The MBE gives you perspectives all the way from large pharma to small biotech start-up, as well as regulators and academia. As a result, the course offers the set of skills needed to be versatile, adaptable and knowledgeable in the industry.
From a chemical engineering background, with a focus in pharmaceutical manufacturing and a desire to enter the biotech sector in its broadest sense, the MBE is the ideal springboard to launch my career in the biotech industry.
Fields of Study
Chemical Engineering
Fine chemical processing
Pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing
Education before Cambridge
Imperial College London (MEng) 2011
Experience before Cambridge
Procter & Gamble (UK)
Air Liquide (USA)
L'Oreal (France)
Micro-Finance Institution (Argentina)
Activities at Cambridge
Trinity Hall Rowing Club
Trinity Hall Rugby Club
Various entrepreneurs' clubs (CUE, CUTEC, Beyond Profit, Enterprise Tuesday)
Languages
French, English, Spanish, German
Stella Wooder 2011-2012
Why I chose Cambridge?
I was seeking a course which offered the opportunity to update my technical skills and immerse myself in a completely new science area but one which maintained tight links with the business world. Cambridge fitted the bill; I found all those ingredients (and more!) on the Master’s in Bioscience Enterprise.
Why the MBE is right for me?
I was seeking a course which would maintain the momentum and energy of the commercial environment I had come from and a 9-month course which mixed components of business, science and technology fitted those requirements. The MBE’s “mosaic” of drug discovery and development, medical devices innovation and agro-biotechnology, mixed with regulatory matters, law, biotechnology finance and funding, intellectual property and healthcare economics provides a unique perspective. Hearing at first-hand the experiences of academics, entrepreneurs, CEO’s, regulators, lawyers associated with the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical devices and other sectors brings the detail of the underlying science and technology to life. The diverse backgrounds and geographies of my fellow classmates has created an unforgettable learning environment.
Fields of Study
Mathematical and optical physics
Algorithm development
Enterprise architecture, management information systems & database development
Education before Cambridge
The University of Aston in Birmingham, BSc(Hons)
Imperial College London (Ph.D.)
Experience before Cambridge
Sagentia
Logica
EDS
Chase Insurance
A number of early stage and start-up companies
Languages
English, Greek
Pre-2011
‘’I have thoroughly enjoyed my Cambridge experience in the past year. The MBE-programme provided me with the discipline-specific knowledge, transferable business and management skills and a comprehensive understanding of the global healthcare industry. The professional network I developed through this programme will continue to benefit my career pursuits in the future.’’
"Being entrepreneurial by nature, I identified potential commercial opportunities but realised that I lacked the business skills required to bring these to fruition. The MBE focus on innovation and entrepreneurship aligned with my aspirations, and my ambition is now to put this learning into practice and bring one of my ideas to market. The most stimulating lectures were those where I learned first-hand from entrepreneurs, but I appreciated the breadth of topics covered in the course and the opportunites to hear from people across the industry. The varied educational and cultural backgrounds of my colleagues provided stimulating perspectives for group work and opportunities to combine skills to explore new business opportunities’’.
"After spending several years in healthcare banking, my motivation for returning to university and specifically to this course, was to refresh my scientific knowledge and to make contacts within the entrepreneurial Cambridge community. My aim was to move into venture capital, and in my final term I completed my dissertation with a leading VC firm before taking up a full time position with another international venture capital company.
"The MBE course is ideally based in the Cambridge biotech cluster and the human capital base that we can draw on here is significant. I expect that the contacts I have made on the course, both through the staff and my fellow classmates, will be invaluable in the future. I now have a greater appreciation for the entrepreneurial mindset I have become involved in a start-up medical device company with other people from my class, something I never would have done if I had not attended this course. I am excited about next year and the opportunities that lie ahead."
"The MBE enabled me to complement my engineering education with an understanding of the underlying bioscience which was then contextualised with modules on business. The theory was then put into practice via a real consulting exercise for a biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer. It was directly through this activity that I met my current employers. My professional role has confirmed to me the importance of an interdisciplinary background in today's fast moving biotechnology sector. The Masters in Bioscience Enterprise has given me just that. It has only been since I left that I realised how valuable this education has been to me."
"With an academic background in biological sciences, and work experience in financial analysis (albeit in risk management of hedge funds), I was looking for an opportunity to formally combine the two. The MBE programme has allowed me to do so.
"Over the year I gained a broad grounding in scientific and technological developments in pharma and biotech, and also in agricultural biotech, as well as a foundation in marketing, microeconomics and corporate financial analysis. Highlights of the course have included the opportunities to take part in formulating business plans, and working with a range of talented individuals from across the globe. My experiences over the duration of the course built upon my existing skill set, enabling me to secure a job in a private equity company."
"As a Canadian general surgeon interested in surgical device innovation, I joined the MBE course to learn how to successfully manage the medical device innovation process. The course offered me more opportunities than I could have ever imagined. With the many skills gained from the course I was able to found a surgical device company with programme colleagues. Our company has won several awards both within the university and externally. Thanks to the Professor Lowe's course, I feel that I now have the confidence to help bridge the gap between clinicians and the healthcare industry in Canada."
"There are a number of reasons why undertaking the MBE programme has been a transforming event in my life, not least because of the high-quality of the teaching and excellent organisation, rigorous and thoughtful peer selection, and the valuable experiences available to students on the course such as the organised trip to MIT, and the flexibility to carry out real-world internships. My passion for healthcare in Russia was encouraged by the faculty and I carries out a six-week internship at a Western pharmaceutical company in Moscow, on which my dissertation was based.
"Many of the benefits of the course were due to the intangible nature of the environment that Cambridge offers and being immersed in its entrepreneurial culture. As a direct result of my experience on the MBE course, four members of my class and I set-up a company to commercialise intellectual property for medical and industrial applications. Having started this company, I was selected by the UK Government to undertake an entrepreneurial fellowship to see first-hand the commercialisation process in the US."
"The MBE programme taught me all the necessary tools to be a successful entrepreneur. It thoroughly changed me and my business thoughts and capability, from that of a successful employee to a smart business owner. The differences are that as an employee I look up to the company from a limited angle, and actually can not read clearly how it is running. As an entrepreneur, I can now look over and master a company, as I know fairly well about all its aspects. I have gained the ability to lead and develop it strategically and in a sustainable way.
"After graduating from the MBE program in 2003, I opened a company which now has 80 employees and in 2006 had a substantial annual revenue of more than 2 million USD. Most importantly, the company has sound cash flow and is growing fast. I can not imagine I would be as successful as I am now without the training provided by this course. Thanks to MBE program on behalf of myself and my company."
"The Bioscience Enterprise programme provided me with an excellent overview of the commercial and regulatory aspects of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. I particularly enjoyed the practical sides of the programme, especially the company visits and the consultancy project we did for a vaccine company."
"I used to have a completely different mind set before this programme. My skills were also different. After one year, I have not only gained new knowledge but also changed my perspective of science and business. What I do now, on a daily basis, is something I couldn’t have done a year ago."