How do we take the learnings from the COVID-19 vaccines and apply them to other diseases? A global consortium approach has enabled us to reach vaccines in under a year compared to a typical 10-15 years. So why do so many other illnesses and diseases not see this same level of uniting of science, funds and businesses to reach a solution?
For this session we are delighted to be joined by Dilrini De Silva, co-founder of Jāna Bio, a Cambridge-based biotech startup focused on improving pharmacogenomics applications for ethnic minorities and populations underrepresented in genomic research and clinical trials.
Dilrini, a Borysiewicz Biomedical Sciences Fellow at the University of Cambridge, will be giving a lightning talk discussing the ethical, societal and technological issues that need to be overcome to build on this positive scientific achievement, rather than revert to the past, and how we ensure it is equitable across the globe.
Faye Holland, co-founder of Impact Women’s Network, said: “For ImpactWN, the ability to collaborate and share ideas is key. With that in mind we will be utilising Breakout Rooms for further discussion into topics such as improving diversity in datasets, enabling access to advanced therapies in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and AI and digital adoption in the drug discovery and development pipeline.”
“This will be a really interesting session given that vaccines are currently a hot topic. Our sessions are always well attended, and we look forward to meeting up with our committed members as well as welcoming some new faces.”
Impact Women’s Network is a network of female professionals, academics and entrepreneurial women from all sectors, who want to do things differently and have a significant impact on their industry, business, society and the environment. Sharing experience and expertise, we are united in raising the public visibility of impactful women and instigating even greater change together.
The group meet the first Wednesday of every month, 9.30-10.30am, at various locations in Cambridge (when we can) or via Zoom and Twitter. These morning meetings are grounded in women sharing their expertise as well as their experience through Impact Talks, group activities and discussions. If the past year has taught us anything, it is how to use and find new levels of agility. For 2021, the monthly sessions are focused on redefining this new-found agility as ‘inter-resilience’ – both in who we are and what we do, as well as across technology and systems. Each month, we will look in detail at leadership, business models and technology through a range of impactful speakers and thoughtful debate.
These sessions are aimed at challenging our own understanding and approaches to some big societal issues. Everyone then creates their own impact at a personal, professional and collective level.
To register for this free event on 7th July, please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/151632323361. Admission is free. You can also follow along with the conversation on Twitter @ImpactWN #ImpactWN
AGENDA
9:25am Zoom Room arrivals
9:30am Welcome and introduction by Impact Women’s Network Co-Founder Faye Holland
9:35am Lightning Talk given by Dilrini De Silva
9:40am Group discussion in Breakout Rooms
10:10am Group feedback
10:20am Closing comments
10:30am Finish and move to wonder.me for informal networking