Award will link business with academia

A University of Exeter Medical School scientist has received a prestigious Industry Fellowship award, aimed at connecting Academia and Industry.

Andrew Randall, Professor of Applied Neurophysiology in the Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, was granted the award by the Royal Society. It allows him to forge new collaborations with Lilly UK, the Surrey-based arm of the international pharmaceuticals company Eli Lilly. The research concerns cutting-edge imaging and how it can be applied to understanding dementia.

Prof Randall said: “This is a key element in furthering our understanding of the causes of dementia, which could ultimately unlock new routes to future therapies. The project will bring state-of-the-art optical methods for the study of brain physiology and pathology to the University of Exeter, where other scientists in the rapidly growing Neuroscience community will also be able to benefit from them.

“The Royal Society Industrial Fellowship recognises the important role innovative companies like Lilly can play in the UK's economy,” said Prof Randall. “The Fellowship will allow me to work with the company as it develops new innovative products directed towards areas of substantial unmet clinical need.  Continuous research and innovation are vital for the success of companies like Lilly and the fellowship will allow us to contribute to the company's future successes. To enhance our newly formed interactions I am also delighted that Lilly UK and the University of Exeter have committed to co-funding two new doctoral students to work in my group starting next academic year.”

The scheme provides each scientist’s basic salary for the duration of their secondment, which lasts for up to two years full-time or four years part-time. Prof Randall is one of eight scientists nationwide to benefit from the new round of Industry Fellowship awards.