By Elizabeth Iwuamadi 
On 18th of July 2024, the first ever Bionow Neuroscience conference was held at Sheffield United’s football grounds and Pharmora participated as a gold exhibitor. Our CMO, Managing Director and a scientist from the team were among the 100+ delegates in attendance. The talks explored some of the current challenges and opportunities facing the neuroscience field, focused on R&D, including identifying funding and incentives for product pre-clinical and clinical development, the need to improve government policies and encourage industry-biotech partnerships in order to make further advances in treating neurological conditions.
According to the World Health Organization, one in three people are affected by neurological conditions, and brain disorders remains one of the greatest threats to public health (WHO, 2024). Therefore, as one of the leading causes of overall disease burden globally, the impact of strategic discussions about the latest research in neuroscience, including more effective options for prevention and treatment, collaborative efforts, in addition to funding, cannot be underestimated.
At this inaugural conference, the first keynote speaker (Professor Dame Pamela Shaw, Director of the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield), highlighted the journey to develop better neuroprotective therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). During this presentation, Dame Shaw identified the major approaches to improve ALS prognosis. These included creating the right research infrastructure, multidisciplinary care and improved symptom management, better molecular sub-classification of ALS into its genetic and molecular subtypes, as we now accept as the norm in oncology, new strategies for neuroprotection such as genetic and small molecule therapies, and considering orphan drug designation for sub-types to encourage development. During the Q&A session, our CMO posed the first question and enquired whether there were plans for investigation of combination therapies, reflecting the comparison to oncology? This spotlighted an important potential treatment modality to be utilised in the treatment of neurodegenerative disease.
Following this fascinating presentation, the second speaker (Fiona Menzies, Head of Proteostasis at Eli Lilly) continued with an interesting explanation of the importance of collaborations between the UK and Europe’s scientific research communities. As well as this, she also spoke about some of the exciting future research into possible biological targets for ALS.
The panel discussion emphasized the underlying and critical challenge with making more strides within this area which is Funding, Investments and Financial incentives for R&D (particularly to pull Big Pharma back into this field as the CNS is seen as a hotspot for drug failure, thereby creating a void in this area). Importantly, collaborations between academia, industry and the NHS were encouraged to ensure that joint approaches and interdisciplinary discussions are utilised to ensure success. Other proposed ideas to support early diagnosis and detection included the incorporation of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Significantly, patients were also invited to share their stories and personal experience dealing with neurological disorders. For example, S.P., a triathlete who was diagnosed with MND in 2019 and is no longer able to move, eat or breathe unaided, has dedicated his life to trying to raise money to fund research in this therapy area. Amazingly, he has raised over £250,000 since founding “Stand Against MND”. Listening to these patients recount the severity and complexity of their conditions, yet remain courageous, was powerful and inspirational. This reinforced the purpose of the conference and why every researcher in the room is passionate and dedicated to making a difference. Their personal stories deeply resonated with everyone in the audience as the event began to wind down for the evening.
As the conference drew to a close, Pharmora decided to liven up the proceedings. During the day, Pharmora had held a competition to win a bottle of champagne! All the contestants had to do was drop their business cards into the wine box at the exhibition stand in order to be entered into a lucky dip. 
Our Director, Ian Pinches, took to the Bionow stage so the winner could be selected and showcased, with Bionow Executive Director Business Development, Stella James pulling the winning card from the box. Congratulations to Karen, the winner of a great bottle of champagne, courtesy of Pharmora!
