Background
PharmaGuide (originally ScienceInform) was established in Cambridge
UK to deliver How the Drug Discovery Industry Works, a
course designed to highlight the key processes and jargon employed
in this complex enterprise. Delegates have included scientists and
non-scientists from a variety of backgrounds including research,
financial, legal, technology transfer and medical translation, the
course being run in different locations within the United Kingdom. A
second course Presentation Skills for Scientists was
developed to help young scientists in their professional
development. The course itself is now discontinued, but the relevant
content is available in a book published by Cambridge University
Press (see Books).
Trainer
As well as founding PharmaGuide, Dr Edward Zanders creates and
delivers the courses based on his experience in big Pharma and small
biotech companies. After gaining a PhD in biochemistry and
conducting postdoctoral research in biochemistry and immunology in
the UK and USA, he joined Glaxo Group Research to become a senior
scientist and research manager. Later he was involved in small
biotech startups in Cambridge UK during which time he developed the
idea of creating courses in drug discovery based on experience
gained in both a major pharmaceutical company and small biotechs. In
addition, his experience in delivering and listening to many
scientific presentations has been put to use in the Presentation
Skills for Scientists course, but also for the online feedback
sessions run by BioUK (formerly the Oxford Biotechnology Network (OBN)) for those
preparing pitches for BioSeed investment meetings.