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jobs.telegraph.co.uk
THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2009
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
CAREERS IN HEALTHCARE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
The Daily Telegraph
SCIENCE PHOTOLIBRARY
Tomorrow’s world The future of our health looks bright thanks to a UK pipeline brimful of new ideas, says Adam Ramsay
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tiny heart-rate monitor smaller than a five-pence piece implanted in the body to monitor blood pressure — this in itself sounds to the untrained ear like a fresh development in healthcare. But for the research team that’s created it at Imperial College in London, the key cutting-edge feature is that this bit of gear is powered by ultrasound transmitted from a pack worn outside the body. “This monitor is completely wireless, and it receives power from a source external to the body,” says Dr Olive Murphy at Imperial College. “The external device transmits power through the body to drive the sensor, a bit like how an electronic travelcard transmits energy.” And it could be lifesaving. “The potential benefits are untold,” says Dr Murphy. “It should enable patients and clinicians to monitor heart problems more rapidly and efficiently. It allows patient selfmonitoring of blood pressure, and would act as an earlywarning signal for heart failure, which definitely has the potential to be lifesaving.” This little device is a telling example of the fast-moving, farreaching and vital innovations being made in healthcare and medicine, a field in which the UK excels, and in which, every year, government bodies and charities invest hundreds of
LIfesaver: the Imperial College monitor millions of pounds. And there is great demand for people with a wide range of skills to help fuel such developments. Dr Murphy is an electrical engineer by training. “My background is in electronics, specialising in high-frequency electronics with mobile phones. It was interesting, but there was no feel-good factor. The implant uses communications technology, so I applied for the position. I am doing something I never dreamed I’d be involved in, and it makes the work more worthwhile.” The goal of creating a breakthrough that both makes money and helps people is what unites many diverse researchers. “One of the wonderful things about the health industry is that you can do good business while doing something to help improve people’s lives,” says Dr Richard Seabrook, head of business at UK biomedical research charity, the Wellcome Trust. “For example, the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanner was invented at Nottingham University and is now the basis of
an extremely profitable business. In this way, innovation can help to create income and employment, as well as advance the care patients receive.” The field is frenetically busy. “The healthcare industry, including pharmaceuticals, employs several hundred thousand people in the UK,” says Dr Seabrook. “And innovation, with research and development, accounts for probably 25 per cent of the industry. Furthermore, universities have thousands of researchers and investigators working on early-stage development.” UK-based company Smith Nephew, which develops advanced medical devices for healthcare, sees groundbreaking work as the only starting point. “As a medical device company you have to keep at the forefront of medical innovation,” says Dr James Huckle, lead scientist at Smith Nephew’s Biologics Division. “If we don’t innovate, we won’t be here in the future.” One of his company’s projects aims to develop a way to replace metal implants with treatments that regenerate tissue, such as their Exogen device to help heal fractures, as well as technology
‘Innovations and RD probably account for 25 per cent of the industry’
involving adult stem cells. “Stem cells are right at the cutting edge of science,” says Dr Huckle. “We take adult stem cells from donor bone marrow and we grow this in a synthetic medium. We then take doses and inject them into patients, who may, for example, have osteoarthritis. These adult stem cells then hone in to the site of the injury and stimulate the host cells to repair.” While stem cell technology is at the forefront of research and development now, Dr Huckle believes that within a decade it could be a common patient choice for repairing the body. “Innovations arising from stem cell technology could be hugely beneficial. For example, in 10 years there could be up to 100 million people with osteoarthritis, as well as many sufferers of other illnesses, such as Crohn’s disease (an inflammatory bowel disease) and cardiovascular diseases.” As laboratory developments are linked so directly with frontline patient care, it’s vital the two sides work hand in hand. “Innovation is going to be the largest area in the health industry,” says Professor Graham Lord, Professor of Medicine at King’s College London, and deputy director of the NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) Biomedical Research Centre. “It’s at the heart of what we do, developing new approaches to the traditional methods of doing things. What we develop in one lab, we hope will spread around the world.” The NIHR also works on the front line, leading research in a range of areas. “One thing we’re working on is trying to understand the links between genetics and transplantation,” says Professor Lord. “We have a very large genetics study to help us understand what genes determine how long a kidney will last in a transplant case. This would then allow us to allot organs that have the best genetic match between the donor and patient. “Innovation is the only way to improve patient care. We have to question current methods and always ask how we can make things better.”
THE CHEMIST STARTING SALARY: £23,500 raig Johnstone, 39, is a director of chemistry with AstraZeneca, and his area of expertise is cardiovascular and gastrointestinal (CVGI) diseases. “My PhD at Strathclyde University in Glasgow was very much focused on organic chemistry, which is the cornerstone of the pharmaceuticals industry, and one of the main disciplines in drug discovery,” says Craig. “After my PhD I went directly into what was then Zeneca in 1994 as an associate team leader, where I was the manager of a very small team of one or two people in the laboratory.” In 1999 Zeneca merged with Swedish firm Astra to form the international pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, where Craig now works at its Alderley Park site, outside Manchester. “As a director of chemistry I manage a group of chemists working in small teams to drive the chemistry function in drug discovery. Part of my role has to focus on leadership and line management, making sure we are always improving our drug discovery process, making it more customer focused and delivering what patients need in as short a time as possible. Day-to-day the team’s role is to design and synthesise the drug candidate, which will be potent against the disease and also safe for the patient.” For Craig, working in pharmaceuticals is both a massive challenge and extremely rewarding. “For me healthcare and
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pharmaceuticals were always a very attractive area because they demanded using science and innovation in problem solving. They are also a very well perceived and prestigious career paths. Ultimately, I think there are
very few areas where using your expertise can lead to the same level of human impact. “It’s also hugely challenging, where a lot of what you do is unsuccessful. But, at the same time, you know there are patients
who need the results of what you are doing, and when a drug you’ve worked on gets through the hurdles of development and really makes a difference to patient care, then the rewards are enormous.” ADAM RAMSAY
T reating the nation From IT to dentistry, the healthcare sector can offer stimulating and highly rewarding careers across many specialisms. We interview four professionals working on the front line
Petrochemical Business/ Technical Analyst CMAI, the world’s leading independent petrochemical consulting company, provides business advice to the industry as well as to financial and government agencies. As part of its continued growth, CMAI is seeking to recruit a business/ technical analyst who can demonstrate a strong interest and understanding in the technical and commercial aspects of the petrochemical industry. The post includes opportunities for international travel. Full training will be provided. The role provides a unique opportunity to work in a challenging team environment, focusing on client specific assignments. The analyst will work closely with CMAI consultants around the world for the solicitation and execution of varied and challenging assignments. Some examples of work that may be undertaken include: analyzing project economics, business strategies, technology reviews, market analysis and drivers, cost competitive analysis. Successful candidates should be able to demonstrate: • A good chemical engineering degree (preferred) or other technical qualification • Proficiency with the standard Microsoft applications • Excellent oral, written communication ability and strong interpersonal skills • Initiative, willingness to learn in a fast paced work environment, ability to meet deadlines and ability to work on multiple tasks • Ability to break problems down into key segments and to use available resources to assist in the development of solutions Opportunities for personal development are available. Industry experience is desirable but not mandatory. Principal work location is central London. Please submit applications, supported by a CV by email to: Deborah Hassan, DHassan@CMAIglobal.com
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2009 CAREERS IN The Daily Telegraph jobs.telegraph.co.uk J 3 A rosy outlook While the wider economy may be in need of a cure, healthcare remains robust and full of opportunities, finds Thea Jourdan T he public healthcare sector has enjoyed over a decade
J 4 jobs.telegraph.co.uk THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2009 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH CAREERS IN HEALTHCARE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY The Daily Telegraph SCIENCE PHOTOLIBRARY Tomorrow’s world The future of our health looks bright thanks to a UK pipeline brimful of new ideas, says Adam Ramsay A tiny heart-rate moni
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