European Industrial Doctorate a win-win collaboration

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2 Content: 18 Slides (15 20 min) Cover, index, contact, Conference anouncement & end: 4 slides Info about GSK DDW: 5 slides Industrial Doctorate: 9 slides 1. PEOPLE (FP7) & MSCA EIDs and ITNs. 2. The Industrial path to the PhD. The Management perspective - Best Practices. IPR, PhD in 3 years and other particularities. The ESRs and Supervisors perspective. 3. New model - Open discussion for improvement. 2

3 GSK s R&D in Spain Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Madrid Diseases of the Developing World Drug Discovery Center (DDW). Molecular Discovery Research Centre & ultra-high-throughput Screening (uhts) 3

4 Discovery Performance Unit: Kinetoplastids (Leishmania, Chagas, etc), Malaria, Tuberculosis 4

5 Open Innovation Strategy Four Pillars of DDW at GSK Deliver new and better medicines for people living in the world s poorest countries Announced by GSK 20 th Jan

6 Open lab International Collaborations Open Lab Fellowship Program + COFUND: Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (Kinetoplastids): Medicines for Malaria Venture: Global Alliance for Tuberculosis Drug Development: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: Wellcome Trust: IMI - EFPIA Innovative Medicines Initiative: PREDICT-TB European Union: 5 MSCAs (2 EIDs + 3 ITNs) + 1 ERAnet + 1 NMP + 1 Cooperation Health - 1 st EU FP7 Coordinator ( ) 6

7 Marie Slodowska Curie Actions - Active Projects ITNs & EIDs MSCA Projects UPStream PARAmet Fish for Pharma OMC CooperaTB Project Title and Code European Research Training in the Ubiquitin Proteasome System A systematic analysis of parasite metabolism from metabolism to intervention Training Network on Zebrafish Infection Models for Pharmaceutical Screens Medicinal Chemistry Open Innovation Doctorate Hit to lead optimisation of novel anti-tb scaffolds through an academic-industrial partnership Call FP7-PEOPLE-2011-ITN FP7-PEOPLE-2011-ITN FP7-PEOPLE-2011-ITN FP7-PEOPLE-2012-ITN (EID) FP7-PEOPLE-2013-ITN (EID) Overall Budget ( ) 3,307, ,816, ,741, , ,174, Countries/Partners 7 / 11 partners 5 / 11 partners 5 / 10 partners 2 / 2 partners 2 / 2 partners Budget ( ) 256, , , , , No. Researchers 1 ESR (36) 1 ER (24) 1 ER (24) 3 ESRs (36) 4 ESRs (36) Project duration 48 m 48 m 48 m 48 m 48 m Short Project description (optional) Essential role of intracellular protein degradation. The latest technological developments will be used to explore chemical, biochemical, molecular, developmental and genetic aspects of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) and its potential use for drug development. Identification and validation of drugable targets for development of antiparasitic drugs for human and animal disease through application of advanced and specialised methodologies to protozoa of both the kinetoplastid and apicomplexan orders. Animal model validation. FishForPharma aims to deliver the proof-of-principle for drug discovery using zebrafish infectious disease models and to increase understanding of host-pathogen interaction mechanisms to identify new drug targets for infectious disease treatment. Synthesis and evaluation of the antitubercular activity of novel analogues of hit compounds identified in a GSK corporate HTS antimycobacterial campaign and characterization of the antimycobacterial behavior via a combination of assays and technologies Tuberculosis drug discovery 4 ESRs will work on the hit-to-lead optimization of inhibitors of 2 novel drug targets, M. tuberculosis DprE1 and QcrB, building on preliminary work done at Birmingham in collaboration with GSK DDW. 7

8 Industrial Doctorates in EU FP7 & Horizon 2020 Marie Slodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) EID / ITN ITN: lower success rate, more complex project organization (and no ERs in Horizon 2020), higher administrative burden. Interesting as Partner in ambitious new science ITNs. EIDs: Needs Good Science, an interesting project, and Company & University aligned in research and equally committed to the project. You can maintain focus on the aim and influence the project progress. EIDs 100% salary funding - Accumulated efforts of 2-5 ESRs in 3 years = A considerable workforce. Presently: 8 PhD Students (ITN & EID) Post Docs/year (ITNs + Open Lab Foundation and COFUND Fellowships). The point of view of Management, Administration, HR, and Legal departments: preparing the proposals and managing these projects consume lots of time and company efforts. 8

9 Best Practices Preparation of the proposal Management and Scientists - Principal Investigators involved. Compulsory: good science, and good team (Committed Academic Partner). Clear description of the objectives, and structured content in WPs or Individual Projects. The focus in an EID: focus on the ESRs and their PhD, it is a project about Researchers. 1 st Excellence (Science and Training), 2 nd Impact and 3 rd Implementation all over 4.5. Negotiation Involved: Management and Legal Department. Preparation of the Consortium Agreement (IPR Issues, contract or secondments, budget). Revision of Annex I should ensure the objectives can be achieved (in MSCA PhD Theses). Set an effective project management plan (revise and simplify) that can meet the objectives. 9

10 Best Practices Project Administrative Management: Selection Procedure: start as soon as possible. Good selection University Pre-selects. Contract procedures start (make a list of what will be needed in both countries). Start the title validation (Universities) and work permit (Company) procedures asap. Project Science management Kick-off meeting with everyone involved. Supervision: Maintain frequent contact between Partners via online Telco. Follow the DoW: Deliverables/Milestones/Reports/Training/Project meetings. Project Reporting Confidentiality and Data Integrity requirements. The Scientific Officer should be informed of the project progress, not only by scheduled reports. 10

11 IPR Particularities ESRs: Unlike academia where you almost own what you do, in Industry you might/might not be able to publish your work. It depends on the kind of project and the contract under which the work is done Supervisors: Not really: Universities also like to valorize. IP - issues covered by the EID-scheme. Management: Basic good practices on exploitation of results. IP and exploitation of results: All decisions and agreements on IP will aim to facilitate all researchers involved to achieve the objectives contained in their individual projects/pdps and will take into account the need for ESRs completion of their degrees. Weaknesses of the proposal: - The proposal pays special attention in possible patents and IP rules. However, they consider that "compensation actions" will be included in order to avoid timing alterations. This point is not described sufficiently and can be of importance for ESR careers. It is not fair to judge an EID on the basis that IPR issues may complicate the project. If this happens it is for a good reason, is project success. Clear IP policy at both sides. Hopefully Clear Policy also from EU. 11

12 Project duration particularities, a PhD in 3 years ESRs: Short time for the PhD (only 3 years). Moving to a different country is also always a bit problematic e.g. visa issues for non-eu ESRs, documents, accommodation, adapting to new working space. Logistics of the project: starting in one country, moving to a different country and having to come back to the first one for the defense and administrative issues, which can happen after the end of financing. Supervisors: Although it is the MSCA rule, 3 years for a Ph.D. is unlikely to be the ideal conditions. Disruptions of having to move not just to a new lab, but all the way to a new country and sector in the middle of the project. Increases risks and hampers progress. This scheme will limit the breadth of scientific knowledge and experience that would be typically expect from a classic 4 or 5 year PhD. 12

13 Other particularities ESR: The project you undertake might not be on high priority in your company and you might have to defend well your request for certain resources. This does not happen in academia Unlike PhD programs, where the focus is on training, here you may find that there are no tailored or structured courses to follow. You are expected to choose your training, learn and perform on your own This is good in the long run, but might slow you down. Supervisors: Authentication and storage of raw research data according to industry standards. Formal results communication by PhD-students via: Regular written reports on project progress (every two weeks). Regular presentations via teleconference (every month + ad hoc). Scheduled f2f meetings with partner (every six months). Facilitated by: secured internet communication line & access to online project data portal. 13

14 The ESR perspective: Reasons for the Industrial Doctorate Choice WHY? Some ESRs had already been accepted in other PhD projects, they had alternatives, however they chose to embark in an Industrial Doctorate. Why? ESRs: We considered working in industry in the future. It trains you for a future in Industry! We liked the topic and it suited our interests / background. It was results/product-oriented research. Because of the prestige of the Marie Slodowska Curie Fellowships. The Salary is good (also benefits for the family and travel allowance). The international experience. 14

15 Positive points (so far) ESR perspective: Nice bosses ;), Salary, Cultural Experience in a Foreign country, Cutting edge research at fast pace: A result oriented targeted approach to work. Resources: Lab/Database/Assays... Compared to academia, depending on the company you are in, you could have a lot of resources/platforms available for you to learn from and use for your work. Team work: You learn to work in teams and gain the maximum out of your efforts. Networking: A company is a network of experts in difference fields. Hence you are in a good position to get expert opinions when you face problems with your research. Involved in the project development, attending meetings with EU Officer and Advisors. Experience. Management: Bottom up preparation: Good project -Good Partner-Choose Panel-Prepare Proposal. Flat rates, no Timesheets. Quick response from the whole team, understanding of EU requirements. EU: At midterm revision: Good selection procedures. Good management procedures and setup, individual projects focused on already achievable objectives. The 3-year thesis debate is acknowledged 15

16 Some considerations for the open discussion Project Duration: Thesis defense or thesis deposit in 3 years Is it convenient/possible? Project start - in coincidence with academic year. If possible. PhD Fees: Pay while not in the University? Different price for EU/Non-EU or University/Company contract? Bureaucracy: Title Validation, Work permits and (x2) re-location. Time consuming - impact on dedication. Training: PhD & EDCT Training Credits: Should or Must be in the proposal? Approved without them? Merits: Experience in a private company is a recognized merit when applying for a position in Academia? IPR: Compensation actions? Protection of Results is a negative outcome or a scientific objective?. Risks: Limited rescue-options if project fails - Select projects with relatively low risks?? - NO!! Unless these projects are in line with the priorities of the private sector partner, they will not work or be inconsequential. So the main criterion is: is it relevant science? 16

17 THANK YOU! Project deliverable: Best Practices in EID Management: Contact: Francisco Rubio DVM PhD MBA Senior Project Manager Diseases of the Developing World RD Alternative Discovery & Development GSK Tres Cantos, Madrid. Spain francisco-javier.p.rubio-pomar [at] gsk.com 17

18 The Tuberculosis Drug Discovery & Development Gordon Research Seminar. A unique forum for graduate students, post-docs, and other scientists to exchange new data on cutting edge ideas in TB drug development. An exciting opportunity: Girona, Spain. July th 2015 To network and engage with other young scientists (PhD and new post-docs) To see new and previously unpublished data at the forefront of your field To attend the partner Gordon Research Conference (12-17 th July) Seminar Website : Presentation title 18

19 European Industrial Doctorate A win-win collaboration