RESILIENCE for a resilient medicines manufacturing workforce of the future

Prof Nik Willoughby – RESILIENCE Centre Lead at HWU
Nik has undertaken research in downstream processing, protein recovery and cellular therapies since completing a PhD at University College London in 1999. He spent several years working in commercial protein purification development for Metris Therapeutics, before returning to UCL to continue downstream bioprocessing research at the industry-academic border, helping to establish the EPSRC-funded Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre for Bioprocessing (IMRC).
Nik established a bioprocessing research group at Heriot Watt University in 2006, and the group currently researches novel separation methods, process development, scale-up and sustainable bioprocessing. Nik’s group has developed novel separation processes for cell therapies as well as processes for the recovery of proteins and amino acids from such diverse raw materials as malt whisky by-products and langoustine shells. Nik acts as CTO for HWU spinout Horizon Proteins, a company that seeks to add value to distillery by-products through recovery of high-quality protein for feed applications, and is currently chair of the Scottish Bioeconomy Council, responsible for the development of the National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology in Scotland.
HWU’s contribution to RESILIENCE is bolstered by the involvement of the HWU-hosted FlexBIO scale-up facility, managed by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC). FlexBIO provides start-ups, SMEs and academics access to scale-up bioprocessing facilities and an on-site, hands-on biomanufacturing process training.

Dr Neil Renault - FlexBIO Facilities Manager
Neil manages the FlexBIO scale-up facility hosted at Heriot-Watt University, which is part of the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC). FlexBIO is a real asset to the RESILIENCE hub at Heriot-Watt University, having an on-site scale-up bioprocessing facility experienced with hands-on biomanufacturing process training (upstream and downstream). This is supported with the wide-reaching network that IBioIC has with industry within Scotland and across the UK.
Previously, Neil worked as a lab manager within R&D in a Scottish-based GMP immunodiagnostics, taking innovative blood transfusion testing from lab bench to full scale manufacturing. Prior to this, he completed a PhD at Nottingham University in food allergy immunodiagnostics. Neil is originally from Kent, where he studied for his BSc in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Kent, but, crucially, he did an industrial placement at Pfizer (formally Sandwich site) in bioprocess development. Neil is a very passionate advocate of work-place learning, from short CPD skills training and work experience to long-term placements to help support the scientists of the future to be work-place ready.

Dr Laura Porcza – RESILIENCE Digital Learning Associate & Outreach Coordinator
Laura has recently completed her PhD in Cancer Bioengineering at Heriot-Watt University, where she pioneered innovative 3D bioprinting techniques to develop novel pancreatic cancer models. With over a decade of experience in academia and cancer research, Laura possesses a deep understanding of the higher education landscape and the challenges of academic research. She is a passionate science communicator, actively participating in public engagement initiatives, such as the Edinburgh Science Festival and Soapbox Science.
In her current role at RESILIENCE, as the Digital Learning Associate & Outreach Coordinator at Heriot-Watt University, Laura leads efforts to promote careers in medicine manufacturing to students across schools, colleges and higher education institutions throughout Scotland. As the hub’s virtual and mixed reality (VR/MR) specialist, she is dedicated to inspiring and training the next generation of professionals in medicine manufacturing, aiming to transform healthcare worldwide.