University of Leicester Institute Director is one of BioBeat’s 50 Movers and Shakers for 2018

A new report released today unveils 50 female leaders in healthcare business in the UK, including a translational cancer research Professor at the University of Leicester.

Produced by BioBeat, 50 Movers and Shakers in BioBusiness 2018 emphasises the current role of women in leading, inspiring and innovating to ensure new technologies and treatments continue to improve UK research, health and society.

Listed in the leading figures in science is Professor Jacqui Shaw, Professor of Translational Cancer Genetics at the University of Leicester and Director of the Leicester Precision Medicine Institute. Her research focuses on liquid biopsies and their potential to offer an effective way to detect and monitor cancer through blood based tests.

Professor Shaw, a University of Leicester graduate, has been at the forefront of circulating tumour DNA research for over 18 years, she has current substantive funding from Cancer Research UK in breast cancer and as the cfDNA lead for TRACERx, the national Cancer Research UK funded trial in non-small cell lung cancer.

She also leads the cfDNA advisory group for the 100,000 Genomes project led by Genomics England.

Professor Shaw said: “I am delighted to have be selected for 50 Movers and Shakers in BioBusiness 2018, which celebrates the contributions of female leaders in their specialised field in the past year. I am passionate about cross disciplinary collaboration and working closely with industry to deliver innovation in healthcare for both patient and economic benefit. It’s great that this report recognises the breadth of talent of women in BioBusiness.”

Professor Phillip Baker, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the College of Life Sciences said: “Our staff are consistently at the cutting-edge of new discoveries, and this recognition is testament to the outstanding work of Jacqui and her team in the Precision Medicine Institute. I know from personal experience just how transformational Jacqui’s work is, and I could think of no-one more deserving.”

BioBeat Founder Miranda Weston-Smith comments: “Congratulations to the outstanding women leaders who are recognised as the 50 Movers and Shakers in BioBusiness 2018. They are changing what is possible for the benefit of humanity and helping to build a more inclusive, responsive healthcare ecosystem – whether that’s by developing revolutionary products, shaping bioscience through investment, accelerating the innovation pipeline, transforming patient access to healthcare or supporting innovation from concept to market.”

Jane Osbourn, Vice-President Research and Development at MedImmune, which supported the report, comments: “On behalf of the numerous partners and supporters of the 50 Movers and Shakers in BioBusiness 2018 report, we are delighted to celebrate the achievements of this group of talented women. We hope shining a spotlight on these female leaders will support them to forge stronger networks and realise new opportunities to improve patient health.“

A collaborative innovation platform for healthcare entrepreneurs and leaders, BioBeat has celebrated 50 Movers and Shakers in BioBusiness each year since 2014. It champions collaboration by bringing together scientific and business expertise, and creating a forum for investors and entrepreneurs to partner, which ultimately brings benefits to patients in the form of innovative new treatments.