Dr Andrea Taylor, CEO of Edinburgh Innovations Ltd

Why did you choose to study here? 

I was drawn by the reputation and research excellence the MRC Human Genetics Unit had in human genetics. I had studied genetics in Nottingham and several distinguished professors who provided mentorship to me recommended I look at the MRC HGU in Edinburgh for my PhD. 

What did you study and why? 

My PhD was on Genetic Instability in Colorectal Cancer in the laboratory of Professor Malcom Dunlop. At the time, the discoveries around mismatch repair and the APC gene were very current and the field was exciting and dynamic. During my first year, I completed three rotation projects (including one in industry at Smith Kline Beecham – now GSK) and the taster in year one in Prof Dunlop’s laboratory cemented my desire to progress my PhD in this field.  

What was the most rewarding aspect of your time here? 

The culture and environment of collaboration. There was a small group of students who formed a very supportive cohort and there was a lot of interaction such that I engaged with many labs to receive an enriching experience. I had a chance to work on patient-centric research and wrote three published papers with the opportunity to present at international conferences. This was combined with commercial exposure, including time spent on industry placement and engaging in the national Biotechnology Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (our team got to the finals). It made for an overall highly rewarding period and set the foundations for my future career.  

And the most challenging? 

Experiments failing, cells getting infected, the challenges of worrying about if you have enough data and insight to progress in the PhD.  

What have you done since completing your course? 

I spent several years in post-doctoral research in the field of cancer research, moving to the Weatherall Institute in Oxford to work on HIF/Hypoxia with Adrian Harris and Peter Ratcliffe. I also worked within the drug discovery industry in a biotech called Oxford Glycosciences (which is now part of UCB).  

I then took up several commercial consultancy positions providing market forecasting analysis and dealmaking support to a wide number of national and international companies in the healthcare and chemicals industries, as well as working with investors providing technical and commercial due diligence to support investment and expert reports in outfits in Oxford and Cambridge (PharmaVentures and Cambridge Consultants).  

I came back to Edinburgh and spent six years in Scotland’s Economic Development Agency (Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International) supporting CEOs achieve company growth and working across a global team attracting inward investment.   

Seven years ago, I came full circle returning to the University of Edinburgh where I am now CEO of the University’s commercialisation arm Edinburgh Innovations. Our 160-strong team supports the University to create impact from research through commercialisation. In 2023/24, we supported the University to create 127 new companies including 116 student start-ups and five staff spin-outs. Our companies achieved investment of more than £141m. Partnerships with industry led to more than £150m in industrial and translational research income and we supported academics to undertake £16.5m of consultancy. Our in-house venture arm Old College Capital has grown from £2m to over £70m under management in the last six years with over 100 companies in the investment portfolio. 

How did your time at IGC help you in your career? 

It provided the foundations for a deep passion for high quality science underpinned by collaboration (both with other partners but also in connection to the NHS) plus the exposure to commercialisation. The interest in making sure research drives forwards to impact was ignited though my time at IGC and carried forward into developing my career at the interface between academia and research. The experiences combining scientific excellence and commercialisation are brought together in my role at Edinburgh Innovations.  

What are your future career aspirations? 

As the CEO of Edinburgh Innovations my desire is we provide a first-class commercialisation service to the University of Edinburgh, its staff and students, that can underpin its innovation ambitions - in particular to double commercialisation outputs by 2030. At a broader level, that we can be a leader for the sector in the UK and an international attractant for industry and investment.