1 6th Issue | Spring 2018

Building an Ant ibody Innovat ion Pow erhouse Exclusive interview with CEO, Jan van de Winkel PAGE 3

How t o do Clinical Trials w it h a Cancer Drug Interview with Dorte Klokker, Head of Clinical Operations at Roche PAGE 6

Part ner Insight s Featuring Accelerace, Regulatory Affairs and Roche PAGE 10

1 2 Cont ent s

Main Art icles In Ot her New s 3 Building an Ant ibody 20 Doing Business In Innovat ion Pow erhouse Synapse was fortunate to have two team members attend Doing Business In 2018. Jan van de Winkel, CEO of Genmab, attended the Life Science Summit as a speaker. We caught him for an 21 The 13t h Danish interview. Conference on 6 How t o do Clinical Trials Biot echnology Coverage of the annual conference organized w it h a Cancer Drug by Danish Biotechnological Society A video interview about the purpose of clinical trials with Dorte Klokker, Head of Clinical Operations at Roche . Career Help & Advice 22 Synapse Career Aid Kit Event s & Short New s Tips and tricks for students attending 7 Event Announcem ent s conferences List of events to attend. 24 Synapse Says 8 Short & Sw eet Industry professionals answer magazine readers' questions Short news in life science.

Synapse Part ner Insight s Ext ras 10 Part ner Insight s 27 iLAB - Int erdisciplinary Featuring Accelerace, Novo Nordisk Life-Science Applicat ion Bus Regulatory Affairs and Roche. The winner essay of the Copenhagen Life Science Summit 2018 competition Synapse Wit hin 16 Synapse Mem ory A look back at our past events.

17 Synapse Insider Emily Barot opens up about the SCUK team.

18 Synapse Connect UK 2018 Andreas Obers from Synapse shares his experience with Synapse UK Connect.

Cover photo designs by Mark Out ridge [email protected] Pictures taken by Jonas Krøner [email protected]

6th Issue | Spring 2018

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Building an Ant ibody Innovat ion Pow erhouse steps.?

How does Genmab stay in touch with the scientific Written by Sven Hollmann Team Member of Synapse community and collaborate with academia? ?We are organizing a lot of lectures and At the Copenhagen Life Science Summit 2018, Jan van de Winkel, the Chief Executive Officer symposiums, next month we will open up a new (CEO) of the international biotech company R&D facility in Utrecht. Before the official opening, Genmab A/S, held an inspiring presentation we have already organized an international about building an innovative powerhouse. After the presentation, Synapse had the symposium earlier this week with amazing chance to talk with him. speakers, as a clear signal that we want to communicate with the outside world and attract Thank you for a great presentation here at the people from academic institutes, to really help us CLSS 2018. We are curious to know what it is like to think about how we can address treatment of be a CEO when you have a background in life diseases in a better way. So we are very actively science? working together with academia. Furthermore, as a ?I think it actually helps, because biotech is about global company, we have great interactions with both having an eye for the details, as well as for the different teams in Denmark, the and broader picture. The fact that I was the CSO for the the US as well as academic interactions across first eleven years helps, because I also learned a lot Europe and the US. These academic interactions about the business in those years, and it actually are always focused on certain disease targets or gives a better, clearer, and more transparent way to certain scientific approaches. So we are already understand the business and think about the next involved in a lot of collaborations, and we will in

3 4 fact intensify our efforts for collaboration in the been very clear and transparent on the fact that we coming time.? want to create an independent business. There are not many hostile takeovers in our industry. Usually What have been the biggest challenges for companies are acquired when they have signaled Genmab in the company?s relatively short that there may be better prospects for the existence? company by being part of a bigger entity. I believe ?The challenge is that you are developing drugs that we can build far more substantial value by over a 10-year time frame and sometimes the staying independent as an innovation powerhouse, market does not give companies that time. Events that is what our strength is. I do not see a scenario occur in the market; economic crises or other where Genmab has thousands of employees, I see crises, which then can make it very difficult for a a scenario where the company has maybe several company to recapitalize. In the early days Genmab hundred very talented employees. Our motto is: needed a number of funding rounds, but keep the brains inside and hands outside of the sometimes funding was not available due to the company. What we mean by that is that we can macroeconomic situation. So the biggest challenge outsource some of the operational tasks, but keep was to ensure continued market support to help the knowledge and the strategy ? the intellectual develop the products and ultimately the company. part ? inside the company. A good example is the Like any other industry, it is all about the products deal we have with Janssen [ Janssen in the end. The challenge with biotech products is Pharmaceuticals obtained the exclusive global that it takes such a long time to develop them, so rights to commercialize from what you need is a very strong business plan, which Genmab in 2012]. Janssen is the military machine gives the business clear direction and focus. for development and commercialization, and they Obviously there needs to be flexibility in that do that really well ? I have the deepest respect for business plan, because things do change over time, how they execute the development of especially in an industry such as ours with long daratumumab and commercialization of the drug. development timelines. So for Genmab, we have The Genmab team is not set up to do that, but I am recognized that we need to be well capitalized at all very proud of the fact that we created the times, so that the business is independent of the molecule. This is also our future strategy. To have market. Right now the company is in a state where manufacturing and large clinical trials carried out it is sustainably profitable with a growing income by CROs [Contract Research Organisations] and stream, so from here we can build a stronger and other organisations under our guidance. I can see a better company. To create this situation has scenario where we would have a number of sometimes been challenging during the past preferred relationships with partners we know decade.? really well. With CROs and CMOs [Contract As you said, Genmab is now very well-funded, but Manufacturing Organisations] so we have solid how did Genmab avoid getting acquired by a relationships with them and really get to know the bigger player during the company?s early years? employees from those companies that we work with.So we create real relationships as you would ?I think it is a combination of being very focused on with colleagues in the same company.We have 16 our future development and very clear in our partnerships, 6 with pharma companies and 10 communication that our aim is to build an biotech company partners. Our aim is to be a independent strong biotech company. I think it preferred partner, that is, to be a partner of choice helps to ensure you are well capitalized, so as a for companies because we create such good company you are less vulnerable to potential working relationships in our interactions. That is takeover attempts especially during the early years. how I see a future for our industry. That we are The best defense for a takeover is a high share connected and partnered so that biotech and price and Genmab?s stock did really well. We have academia can build on ideas and processes

4 5 together.? stress?

To remain an innovative powerhouse, Genmab ?Of course there is a level of stress, but I don?t feel it will... has much of an impact on me. I create more energy from my work than I actually put into it. I believe ?Focus on what we are really good at and connect that if you can say that, you are in very good shape. with the outside world. For example on academic I relax at the weekends by swimming and I would groups for access to scientific knowledge and love to be able to do that more often. Swimming partners for manufacturing of kilograms of benefits all the muscles in your body and it has this antibody, and for help in running clinical trials repetitive aspect, which allows me to think and (CROs). Then our own employees can concentrate relax, whilst also keeping my my body in shape. on specific critical work and strategy. We will be the Hard work comes with the job, and by now I am connector, we will be the spider in the web used to it. If I were not able to handle it, then I basically.? would not do it and as I said, I still generate a lot What advice would you give to your younger self? more energy from my work than I put into it, and ?To young Jan as a student; believe in yourself, that makes me able to keep going and be energized follow your heart, and focus on where you can about the future.? make a difference. That is what every student What did we not ask you, that you would like to should do - life is too short, and I think people tell the people who read the Synapse Magazine? should focus on areas where they truly make a ?Bite into Life Science! Life Science is the most difference. Also, keep believing in yourself, you can exciting sector I can think of, and right now, you are do much more than you think at times. And once entering it at the right time. There are so many you believe in yourself and follow your heart, you exciting developments for example with will have a great future.? immunotherapy and . The link With high expectations from stakeholders, between the biotech industry and information patients, etc. how do you handle the pressure and technology will catalyze revolutions in the future. So focus on this fantastic area and try to make this world a better place, by contributing to it.?

5 6 How t o do Clinical Trials w it h a Cancer Drug

A videointerview with Head of Clinical Opereations at Roche Denmark, Dorte Klokker who explains the purpose of clinical trials and elaborates on what a cancer drug undergoes a within the different steps of clinical trials

Studying life science may give you a vast knowledge Synapse payed a visit to Roche Pharmaceuticals about how a pharmaceutical drug is supposed to which is located in Hvidovre. Here we met with go through the different phases of clinical trials Dorte Klokker, Head of Clinical Operations at Roche before it gets approved and can be used by Denmark. We asked her to share her insights and patients. But you might be curious about what teach us more about the purpose and content of exactly happens within each phase of the clinical clinical trials. trials and what a big pharmaceutical company as Roche has to be aware of during the process.

Filmed and edited by Videokompagniet

6 7 Event Announcem ent s New events from Synapse and our partners

Jun 19th: Medicon Valley Alliance: Summer Reception

Jun 21st Talk på toppen - Hvordan bliver du gammel? (Danish)

Aug 13t h - Aug 17t h Synapse: BioBusiness Sum m er School 2018

Aug 20th Symposium om hel-genom sekventering med henblik på tidligt forebyggende sundhedsindsatser (Danish)

Aug 20th - Aug 22nd Conference: Preventing Overdiagnosis 2018

Aug 23rd Symposium: Future Perspectives, beyond whole genome sequencing in neonatal screening

Aug 26th - Aug 28th 18th Nordic Symposium on Catalysis

Apr 28th Fra læge til opfinder v/ Habib Frost (Danish)

7 8 Short and Sw eet Here you have the latest life science news served short and sweet

Genm ab and Janssen suffer com binat ion Danes have invest ed 695 m illion DKK in Kåre t herapy set back Schult z Janssen, which obtained the exclusive global rights Private Danish investors have strong faith that Kåre to commercialize daratumumab from Genmab in Schultz will be able to turn around the Israeli 2012, will discontinue a Phase Ib/II study of pharma-giant Teva. According to a new report from daratumumab in patients with non- small cell lung the Danish National Bank, Teva has been the most cancer. This marks a major setback for Genmab, popular foreign stock among private Danish since daratumumab will not be developed further investors since 2017. By the end of April 2018, 695 and the company is unlikely to profit from the wave million DKK has been invested in the company. of interest in immunotherapies. Following the ?The main part of the investments in the company news, Genmab?s stock price dropped by around was made from September 2017 an ahead, which 20%. coincides with that the company gained a Danish Neither combination therapy improved the propor- CEO,? writes the Danish National Bank, with a tion of patients whose tumor size was reduced, and reference to the news from the 11th September some even increased mortality- related events in 2017, where Kåre Schultz announced his exit from the lung cancer trial. .

Ant ibody t reat m ent for m igraine get s closer t o Danish biot ech com pany Biosynt ia raises approval in t he EU financing t o advance m icrobe engineering t echnology The first treatment specifically intended for heavy migraine is headed in the direction of the first Biosyntia, based in Copenhagen, has raised ?4M in European patients. After being approved in the Series A financing to continue developing its USA, EMA?s Committee for Medicinal Products for biosynthetic selection technology to produce Human Use (CHMP) granted a positive opinion on complex compounds by fermentation. The funding Aimovig (erenumab), developed by . was provided by both Sofinnova Partners, a new investor and leading European life science VC, and Aimovig works by blocking the signal molecule Novo Seeds, an existing investor. called CGRP, which exists around blood vessels in the brain. Two clinical studies have demonstrated The company has focused its efforts on the that the drug is effective against both chronic and production of vitamins, which are still episodical migraine. The development of Aimovig is predominantly produced chemically. According to based on research made by Jes Olesen, professor, Biosyntia, its approach can reduce the cost and chief physician and founder of the Headache time it takes to develop a bioprocess to produce Center at Rigshospitalet in Glostrup, Denmark. vitamins. The vitamins can then be used in a variety of products, such as flavors and feed additives. Biosyntia designs and engineers microbes to only Regeneron sends Ebola-m edicine t o DR Congo grow if they produce the desired product in high Control of new Ebola incidents and quarantine for quantities. the existing ones is in full work in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Now another pharma industry player will be added to the mix. According to a press release from Regeneron, the company has sent its experimental treatment REGN-EB3 to the country, to be used as a treatment for patients who have already developed the disease. The drug is in its early stages, and has shown promising results in phase 1 studies. It joins the group of different disease interventions, under consideration for or already in use to control the Ebola outbreak.

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Find addit ional inform at ion on: ht t p:/ / w w w.synapse-connect .org/ m ent orship/

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Part ner Insight s

Feat uring Accelerace, Novo Nordisk Regulat ory Affairs and Roche

10 11 Accelerace

Accelerace won the award for best accelerator in entrepreneurs. In particular, it?s one-to-one advice, the Nordics 2017 by Nordic Startup Award and has mentorship, access to industry experts, relevant raised $1,7 million in investments from The Danish serial entrepreneurs as well as access to a network Growth Fund, Færchfonden and Symbion to help of larger established companies and investors. To even more startups to scale their businesses. This find out more about how Accelerace can help you investment will provide the additional resources with your business ideas please visit Accelerace needs to expand its services to https://www.accelerace.io/life

A short introduction to Accelerace

* This material is sponsored by Accelerace

11 12 A day in t he life of a Novo Nordisk Regulat ory Affairs graduat e

Written by Elisabeth Buhl Thubron (anti-diabetic) insulins area, particularly on the PhD, Regulatory Affirs Graduate at Novo Nordisk older products. My work therefore centres on life cycle management activities (after the drug has reached the market) to ensure our drugs stay on the market. But a lot of things can happen that can It is time we put a myth to bed have clinical and/or labelling impact on the drug(s); "Aren?t Regulatory Affairs professionals simply Does the safety profile of the drug change, are ?paper pushers???, I heard you (and countless there studies on newer drugs using it as a others) ask. This is certainly not the case. You may comparator (which means more data on our drug!), then have retorted, ?Show me the money!? * Jerry what's the progress on our trial observing its use in Maguire throwback* . So, let us settle this once and pregnant women or toddlers down to the age of 1 for all. year? As you can see, a lot goes on even after a drug has reached the market! When I was finishing up my PhD less than a year ago, I was not all too familiar with Regulatory Let's take a look at one of the recent Tuesdays Affairs (RA) or how a day may look like in the life of I had, and keep in mind I've left the specifics out an RA professional. What do they really do if they?re regarding projects to make it more public-friendly - not reading long documents or trawling through I just want you to get a feel for how one of our days databases day in and day out? Now that I?m on the could be divided up, and to illustrate how we are RA graduate programme, I will take this opportunity rarely just sitting/standing at our desks (at a push to unveil what one of my working days looks like at of a button our desks can transform into standing the Novo Nordisk Headquarters in Denmark. Of desks!). course, it does not entirely reflect that of a [Extra snippets of info: EMA - European permanent RA employee, but it can be just as Medicines Agency; a risk assessment plan is varied without all the extra graduate-associated routinely submitted to EMA to provide updated tasks I have. data to demonstrate whether the benefit-risk I currently work within the RA therapeutic profile of the drug(s) in question remains

12 13 favourable, and that sufficient routine across other departments. This is thanks to pharmacovigilance activities are in place. cross-functional meetings, seminars, and off-site Important/potential identified risks in the plan (and team-building events. Importantly, with your potentially the label!) may also be support network of graduates (both old and new) eradicated/minimised if there is enough evidence from ALL of the programmes (marketing, market to support this.] access, global procurement, European finance..) you are never alone - you regularly meet up for lunch, you live with other graduates, you explore My impressions of the programme so far: the sights and smells of your new city together, and < 2 months in: Challenging. Overwhelming. essentially learn from each other what tasks the Invigorating. other programmes are working on. > 4 months in: Challenging. Invigorating. Rewarding. What happens after the first rotation? It is a steep learning curve at first, but once you are Our second 8-month rotation is in fact abroad - the caught up to speed with what RA is, what corporate confirmed destinations this time round are a life is like, what the Novo Nordisk processes and production facility in Chartres (France), the US culture is all about, and after having met all of your affiliate in Princeton (U.S.), and the regional office training needs, you feel like a fully-fledged Novo for AAMEO (Africa Asia Middle East and Oceania) in Nordisk employee. You obtain larger responsibi- Dubai (United Arab Emirates). This means a new lities for tasks and projects, ultimately gaining a learning curve, and a widening of our personal and sense of accomplishment and confidence. professional horizons.. we could not be more There are opportunities to meet and talk to excited! colleagues not only within RA departments but also Have I enticed you to apply? Deadline for the Novo

* This material is sponsored by Novo Nordisk Regulatory Affairs.

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Meet Benedict e, st udent I am probably not your average student in this magazine because my line of education is not and in t he m edical indust ry within healthcare. I study International Business at CBS. That?s why the medical industry has another Medical devices: hot or not for a 22-year old level of relevance for me,? explains Benedicte and student from CBS? We have asked Benedicte, who continues: is working as a student assistant at Roche ?My studies encompass a broad array of subjects. I Diagnostics in Hvidovre. am working in marketing, so I primarily use the Thanks to a large-scale civil engineering feat, tools from my education that are suited for this Avedøre Holme was constructed in the 1960s and is purpose. But now that I?ve been with Roche for tucked away behind the construction magnate Bøje some time, my role has evolved and my tasks are Nielsen?s notorious office building from the 1980s, becoming of the more digital variety and I am along the Amager motorway in Hvidovre Munici- getting more involved with the business develop- pality. ment part of the medical industry. This also gives me a great opportunity to develop and try out Behind the the embankments in a landscape different roles within the industry. One of my characterized by the striking profile of the old friends is also working in the medical industry, and combined heat and power plant and the numerous so far she has been working with IT systems and much younger wind turbines, 9.000 people go to marketing, and she has considered the finance work every day. department. You always have the opportunity to As such, it cannot possibly be the 4,5 square develop, and that is not always the case in all kilometer industrial area with its grey concrete industries. It is also a very knowledge-intensive in- buildings that made the position as student as- dustry. I am very curious and fond of learning, so I sistant at Roche Diagnostics A/S on Industri- like being around people who are different from holmen 59 an appealing student job for Benedicte me and have other competencies and experience. Schiersing. That is very rewarding.? What is it, then? ?Finally, it is also important to mention that I have chosen the medical industry because I am a firm ?The medical industry offers a plethora of different believer in the practical value offered by the roles that are interesting for me. 14 15 industry. That actually means a lot to me. To be ?It has also been very useful in helping me finding working with something that I can vouch for and out what line of study to choose for my master?s that is making a contribution to the community,? degree. If I hadn't had this student job, I would not she emphasizes. have gained that knowledge. That's why I think it?s really important to have a study-related job instead Was your choice of Roche a deliberate one? of working in Irma; even if you are fairly assured ?Yes, apart from the before-mentioned aspects of about your interests, you may gain a certain degree the medical industry that I find appealing, I have a of professional certainty.? very international perspective. I am very interested Have you been confirmed in your choice of trade and in international relations ? and the opportunities environment? and the challenges they bring ? and this is also reflected in my choice of studies. That makes Roche ?I believe my student job has accomplished exactly ideal for me because of its global nature, so I get to what it set out to do: It has delimited my scope of explore the subject up close. I am in contact with a interest and given me a firmer understanding of lot of different nationalities, not only when it comes real life. And, besides, it's nice to see what to colleagues at the workplace but also with Roche difference a product can make for a person. That's employees in other countries. This gives me an why I have been ? and still am ? really happy about insight into how different cultural backgrounds the medical industry, and I find it very exciting and influence human interaction and the strategic ap- brimming with opportunities. But at 22 I am, of proach to marketing. You are also encouraged to course, also eager to try out new things. So I apply for positions at Roche?s offices abroad, if you haven?t really made any final decisions about feel so inclined. That is why I am really happy with anything and I wouldn?t mind switching to another Roche and based on my knowledge of the com- industry, if an interesting opportunity presented pany, I?d love to work here. Actually, I do have a itself. Fortunately, strategy and business develop- family member in Switzerland who did investments ment are very ?industry-portable?, so you are not in biotech companies for Roche and she enjoyed confined to the medical industry for the rest of that very much. That was also a contributing factor your life, if that is something you fear. As a student to my choice,? Benedicte affirms. it may be beneficial to choose a subject area in this category if you are a little uncertain of your choice Is the medical industry accessible for students? of industry. That?s how you ensure flexibility,? ?Definitely. On the other hand, you shouldn?t under- concludes Benedicte. estimate that I don?t understand the more medi- With its 94,000 employees, the Swiss life science cally specific dimensions of the discussions, when company F Hoffmann-La Roche ? or just Roche ? is the talk turns to instruments and assays. I think one of world?s largest and leading companies. that most people in the medical industry with a CBS Furthermore, the company owns a number of af- background can acknowledge that. However, that filiates around the world, working under their ori- doesn?t imply that it is inaccessible, because there ginal names. is quite a demand for strategic work. That is also the reason why more and more student assistants Here in Denmark, Roche is divided into four enti- are being hired by Roche, which really highlights my ties; the research and development center Roche point. And it does make it more fun to work here,? Innovation Center Copenhagen, one of Roche's says Benedicte with a hint to the social aspect. seven international research centers, situated in Forskerparken in Hørsholm, plus Roche Pharma- In the ideal world, what would you be looking for as a ceuticals, Roche Diabetes Care, and Roche Diagnos- student and as a graduate? tics, all domiciled in Avedøre Holme. ?As a student I find it very helpful to be able to try Roche has been globally recognized as the world?s out some theoretical stuff in real life. Not only to most sustainable life science company by the Dow gain more knowledge, but more specifically to Jones Sustainability Indices for nine consecutive narrow down my scope of interest. As I said before, years. my line of education is very broad and I wasn?t exactly sure what direction to take. But because the medical industry and my job allows me to try Text: Lars Berendt my hand at different things I have been able to Photo: Henning Månsson determine what it is that I want to work with going Caption: Benedicte Schiersing is a student assistant in the medical industry. And she?s happy with her choice. forward, and that is in a more strategic direction,? * This material is sponsored by Roche says Benedicte about the learnings she's picked up so far from her job, and she continues: 15 16

Synapse Mem ory Written by Adrian Ramon Santoja We reflect on our most recent activities, Team Member of Synapse events and programs

This spring has been dedicated to enlightening the Copenhagen Bioscience Lect ure: The Unfolding career paths for Life-Science Students in different fields of t he Int est inal Microbiot a such as research in the industry, the intersect between We started our spring season with O. B. Pedersen engineering/technology and life sciences. These and A. Bencard. Professor and Principal Investiga- exciting events were accompanied by several different tor, and Associate Professor respectively, both from Copenhagen Bioscience Lectures, and the spring The Center for Basic season culminated with the one week-long seminar in Metabolic Research. They held a lecture within the the UK, ?Synapse Connect UK?. field of microbiome research, where they talked about aspects like the human health, the micro- biome and how it impacts our culture.

Synapse present s: Today's research, t om orrow 's solut ion For our next event, we wanted to come back to the key motivation for science: research; and its relevance in industry. For this event, we invited 5 speakers from different companies who presented state of the art research within their companies, such as Screening Assay or Formulation Research. Tech in Life Science For this event, we invited speakers who focused on the world of technology and engineering revolving life science. They covered several aspects such as pharmaceutical production of medicines,the creation of medical devices and advanced diagnostic tools.. They offered the opportunity for students to gain insight into the different career paths one can pursue in the life science industry and the many ways science, engineering and technology intersect.

Synapse Connect UK 2018 Copenhagen Bioscience Lect ure: How Does Public Skept icism Influence Science? Synapse brought 50 students to Cambridge and London to enjoy the one week-long seminar Klemens Kappel, Professor at KU, addressed how Synapse Connect UK. It was a great opportunity for new and emerging life science and plant science studentsthem to learn from some of the technologies are often considered controversial world-leading companies and organizations, such among members of the public, despite scientific as Lonza, GSK or EMBL. During the seminar, they consensus that they can be used in safe and dove into topics such as research, leading English beneficial ways. He remarked how public view on research, entrepreneurship, IP and skepticism has come to play a major role in patenting. The event ended with a case regulation, funding decisions and developments of competition. It was a week filled with learning, research strategies in the life science and plant networking and fun! science industry.

16 17 Synapse Insider In this issue of the Synapse Magazine, we have asked Emily Barot from the Synapse Connect UK team about what they do and how it is to work there. What ?s t he role of t he SCUK group w it hin Synapse? The SCUK team plans the annual week-long seminar to the UK. This year we took 30 students with us and visited a wide range of companies in both London and Cambridge (for a full rundown of the trip see Andreas Obers? full coverage of the trip on page 18).

What is t he best part of being in t he SCUK t eam ? We are a great group of motivated, fun loving people (like the whole of synapse!). It was especially fun this year as we were a mix of SCUK newbies and veterans, so a lot of trust and teamwork went into planning this year, with the Oldies trying to calm down the Newbies. The best part by far was seeing all the participants enjoying the trip and getting to actually experience all the amazing things we had planned throughout the year.

When planning t he t rip, w here do you draw inspirat ion from ? Our inspiration is usually drawn from reflection upon the previous trip ? looking at what worked and what didn?t, and then moving on from there. Throughout the history of SCUK we have always tried to keep in new an up-to-date for example this year we had an entire day dedicated to Big Data and the role that bioinformatics and data sharing will have on the future of life science.

What s on t he SCUK agenda over t he com ing m ont hs? We are just finishing our evaluations of the trip, with input from both participants and the SCUK Team ? from there we can start to plan next year, because it really does take a full year! Explain t he SCUK t rip in 10 w ords. Companies in London and Cambridge, too much fun, lots learned!

17 18 Synapse Connect UK 2018

Written by Andreas Obers Team Member of Synapse

The thrive of future professionals originates from connecting with industry at its heart. This is why 30 life science students from Denmark joined Synapse for a week-long seminar in Europe?s greatest biotech clusters, Cambridge and London, to connect with representatives from The following day was spent at the Babraham companies, organizations and universities. Research Campus. CEO?s from F-star, Mission Therapeutics and Phoremost, alongside Allan Cam bridge Bradley, CSO from Kymab were pleased to share their career as a personal example ? this was highly Starting off in Cambridge, the students had the appreciated as their diverse personality types chance to visit the Granta Park, which is home to enabled us to see the journey of becoming a leader leading life science companies, including from several different angles. Nonetheless of MedImmune, Lonza and OneNucleus. Some of different approaches, communication and tTheir executives and department leaders were connection to people remain the leading driving enthusiastic about sharing the vast opportunities forces. This is why everyone had the chance to available as well as diverse qualities needed from network and talk with them individually. science graduates to succeed in the industry. But They also ellaborated on the challenges their The last day in Cambridge was spent with the companies companies face challenges and how the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), competition is highly driven by how well do they Europe?s home for biological services, research and perform in recruiting and attracting the right training. The day was filled with interesting talks talents. What skill or expertise is needed to stay at from ElixirNodeUk, Eagle Genomics and the top of this globally recognized biotech cluster? GlobalGeneCorp, all of which shared with us their Tony Jones from OneNucleus saidys; ?Soft skills are mission to provide services for researchers and getting more important and outcompete the ones industry to better handle genomic data, and enable with a specific expertise?. open innovation by Europe?s SMEs. Not only were the students inspired by company representatives, but also by Hannah Currant who spoke about her life as a PhD student at EMBL-EBI. This was especially interesting as Hannah explained to us that it is not required to be a hardcore bioinformatician to succeed in their programme. Finally, the participants were invited for an extensive tour around the modern and huge campus before heading off to London for another exciting three days.

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associates convinced some of our students that regulatory affairs can be a sexy option as a science graduate. The final and most exciting day of all was spent at Wellcome Trust hosting our unique SCUK case competition. Following an introduction to Wellcome Trust and their graduate programme, our six SCUK case competition teams presented their creative solutions to a panel of judges from Wellcome Trust. For one month ahead of the trip, the teams had been working on a creative solution to rare diseases, lifestyle diseases, mental health, London oncology, neglected tropical diseases or infectious diseases. With an amazing and constructive The ties between participants and British students feedback from the judges, the Oncology team was were strengthened on the first day in London by awarded the winner as their T/Tabs solution to holding a joint event with the Science Innovation detect prostate cancer was innovative, had a large Union, a British student organization that ? similar market and a clear funding model. This case to Synapse ? aims at closing the gap between competition was an immense learning experience academia and the life science industry. Four and a lot of fun for everyone involved. experts were discussing advances in immunotherapy and all the opportunities that Besides this extensive, diverse and qualitative CAR-T cell therapy holds for the future treatment of strong programme, the students were socially cancer. They actively engaged in a subsequent active in team building games, traditional punting panel discussion and a networking session. The day in Cambridge and several fun nights out, which finished with a fantastic night out in one of definitely strengthened our social networks. All London?s famous bounce bars. combined, this week-long seminar is one of the best ways to bridge the gap between students and the greatest life science cluster in Europe, expand their networks and be inspired on various levels.

For the third year in a row, we were kicking off the next morning with the fellow student-driven society SynBIC at Imperial College to learn about SynbiCITE, which is dedicated to promoting the use of synthetic biology in industry. They support innovation & collaboration across over 30 universities worldwide, through their model: ?nucleate, incubate, accelerate?. After a morning learning about biotech start-ups, ventures and accelerators with RebelBio, SynbiCITE, ThinAirWater, CustoMem and DesktopGenetics at Imperial College, we were excited to spend the afternoon learning about innovative drug development at GSK with a guided tour around their campus, before ending the day with an exclusive event at TOPRA, where several regulatory

19 20 Doing Business In

Written by Sven Hollmann Team Member of Synapse

From the 16th to the 29th of March, Doing Business In (DBI) 2018 took place, and in Synapse we were fortunate enough to have two members participating in the annual case competition. 30 students from different fields and universities, got an unique insight into how business is done in Malaysia and Singapore, which were the destinations of this year's DBI. The participants the groups were split into their own meeting room made visits to affiliates of companies like Carlsberg in the BCG office in Kuala Lumpur, and work mode and Mærsk in the two countries, but also visited was on for an intense day and night. All of this were local companies like the bank Malaysian RHB, and a combined with a festive program, that made sure a vegetable oil mill. lot of fun was also a part of the trip. E.g. two days were spent on a trip to the Malaysian jungle with river rafting and hiking, plenty of lunches were at small local street food shops and the team went out and had fun in town on several nights.

It all culminated 14 days post arrival home, where the team gathered at HQ in Bagsværd, and the different groups presented their solutions for a very competent judge panel consisting of a R&D Vice President and a Director of Digital Transformation from Novozymes together with a Partner and Managing Director from BCG.

The two partner companies of the trip, BCG and What is DBI? Novozymes, also had two representatives being Doing Business In (DBI) is Djøfs annual case together with the participants for the whole trip. A competition and study trip, which is organized by whole day was spent at Novozymes beautiful Djøf and 4 selected volunteers in close cooperation affiliate in Kuala Lumpur, where the team got with Novozymes and The Boston Consulting Group introduced to the challenges that the Danish (BCG). As a DBI-participant you are handpicked to biotech-giant faces in the region. In the vibrant city an array of unique experiences. With DBI you get a of Singapore the team also made a visit to the top once-in-a-lifetime possibility to travel to a foreign modern BCG office in the middle of town, and country with representatives from Novozymes and learned a thing or two about structured problem BCG as well as 29 other top students from all over solving and presentation skills. The trip ended with Denmark and from a wide range of disciplines. a 24 hours case on how Novozymes with a digital initiative could penetrate the local vegetable oil With DBI you will, in groups of 5 across disciplines, industry, to sell more enzymes and optimize the oil solve a complex real-life case concerning a real production in a sustainable way. Here the challenge of Novozymes in the destination country participants got to use all the information that they and get an exclusive insight to how business is had gathered on the current macroeconomic, done in our destination country through e.g. economical and cultural trends in the two company visits and workshops. countries. The setting for the case was just right, as

20 21 The 13t h Danish Conference on Biot echnology

Presentations ranged from big data in population Written by Melissa Herman health and genomics research, to implications for Team Member of Synapse precision medicine and ways to expedite the drug development process. New methodologies in single This year, Synapse ? Life Science Connect cell analyses, new applications of high throughput genomics, new techniques in statistical mapping, partnered with the Danish Biotechnology and new and evolving legal issues in big data, were Society to award 40 ambitious Master?s just a few of the topics covered across the students with scholarships to attend the 13th conference through sessions, presentations, panel Annual Danish Conference on Biotechnology discussions, poster presentations and networking and Molecular Biology (DCB13). With a focus opportunities. on big data in biotechnology and A real program highlight, Matt Might, Ph.D., biomedicine, the 2-day conference, held at captivated the conference with his presentation, ?The Algorithm of Precision Medicine?. A strategic the Munkebjerg Hotel in Vejle, brought leader appointed to the White House Precision together students, researchers and Medicine Initiative by former President Barack professionals from across Denmark and Obama, Dr. Might shared how his son?s diagnosis of around the world. an ultra-rare genetic disorder led to his own pioneering efforts in precision medicine. Through his innovative utilization of social media, search engine optimization and novel drug re-purposing, Dr. Might leveraged research collaborations and his own profound understanding of computer science and pharmaceutical chemistry to find an effective therapy for his son within 6 years. This is unheard of within traditional drug development; typically the process takes 12-15 years, even up to 20. Dr. Might?s presentation powerfully reminded the audience of the human implications of the potential of big data and precision medicine. Synapse was thrilled to collaborate with the Danish Biotechnology Society and to meet the Photo taken by Valentijn Broeken engaged, ambitious MSc. students able to attend The impressive program represented national and through conference scholarship. It was truly an international research initiatives, companies and inspiring and enlightening two days. Already we are institutes, such as Former President Obama?s looking forward to the 14th Danish Biotechnology Precision Medicine Initiative, IBM Digital Nordic ? Society Conference 2019, and are especially proud Watson, Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, that a former Synapsee, Christoffer Lynge Microsoft Research New England, the Sanger Halvorson, will be deeply involved in shaping the Institute UK, and the Broad Institute of MIT and conference through his new role as the Chair of the Harvard. It also included leading Danish research Danish Biotechnology Society. institutes, such as the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, the Copenhagen University Center for Advanced Studies in Biomedical Innovation Law, and researchers from the Danish Technical University (DTU), Aarhus University (AU) and Aalborg University.

21 22 Synapse Career Aid Kit Tips and tricks for students attending conferences So for the next conference you attend, how 3. Net w ork st rat egically: can you make the most of your limied time After a presentation, speakers usually get between all the sessions and speakers? A little surrounded by participants and colleagues eager to effort can go a long way! Below are few tips ask questions. Try to catch a speaker during a coffee break, meal time, or networking session ? to make the most out of your time at a they will likely have more time for you, and conference. appreciate that your interest extends beyond the immediate moments after their presentation. And 1. Plan ahead: after you engage with someone, peer or speaker, Review the program ahead of time, identify and whether to ask a question or even in just a presentations you want to see and highlight friendly conversation over lunch? add them on speakers you would like to try to engage with. LinkedIn. Consider how different presentation topics could complement one another, to give you the broadest "Be yourself ? let your curiosity, passion and understanding of an area or field. If you have work excitement shine through. You?re in the perfect you know you?ll need to do while at the conference, place for it.". consider waking up early or taking advantage of longer breaks within the program to complete it, 4. Ask quest ions during present at ion Q&A instead of missing sessions, working during a sessions: presentation, or having an early evening. Especially Yes, it can be intimidating to ask questions in front with evening networking events, it can be difficult of a large audience ? but when you do, it makes to judge how long they will last, and you don?t want everyone in the room aware of your interests and to miss out on engaging with interesting people provides a great springboard for future and having great conversations because you have conversations. Don?t be surprised if other deadlines. participants approach you after the session ends, saying they found your question interesting and 2. Do your research: looking to discuss further. Once you have identified speakers you would like to connect with, search them on LinkedIn, have an overview of their recent work/projects/papers, and consider one or two questions you would like to ask them if the opportunity arises. And returning to the point of planning ahead; you can even reach out to them ahead of time and suggest meeting for a coffee during the conference. This is a way to efficiently use both your and their time, since you are both there anyway, and to secure a chance to discuss for a longer period of time. Finally, though it is an easily overlooked detail, research and take 5. Know your current event s (aka st rive for advantage of the conference and accommodation conversat ions t hat are bet t er t han t he venue as well! Is it very close to nature, perhaps the w eat her): woods or a river? Suggest a walk with a speaker or coffee outside on a bench. Does it have a fitness While you should have specific people you would center? Suggest to your peers that you start the day like to engage with, you never know who you?ll exercising together ? it?s important to connect with meet during ?down? times (such as meals or in the your academic peers as well. Not to mention a walk elevator) or when an interesting conversation will or some exercise is a great way to start the day or arise in between a presentation. refresh between sessions.

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Oftentimes, these interactions can prove to be as walked up to check in as well? and was one of the interesting and valuable as the conference program speakers! itself? arguably if not more. And for these moments, From this instance, he and our group had an do yourself and the other person a favour: be able to immediate familiarity, which we built on speak about more than the weather. If you?re attending throughout the conference. a national or international conference, it can only help to be familiar with current events both within and ou tside your field of study ? politics, sports, business, tec h, health, etc. If you don?t regularly keep up with the news, try skimming the headlines of major newspapers/websites jus t before the conference so you at least have an idea. Being able to speak on a wide variety of subjects all ows you to engage genuinely and connect with those around you beyond the conference topic, while also demonstrating your knowledge.

And these conversations, the ones that are a little different, are the ones people remember!

6. Be kind t o everyone, alw ays: To be clear, this applies for all of life, but especially at a conference. People remember how you treat them, not only at networking events. In the time before and after the official program, it can be hard to judge who is a speaker, who is the Ph.D student of a speaker, and who is a peer you will cross paths with again in the future. Treat everyone with kindness and respect, always. A great example ? in preparing to take a taxi from the train station to the conference, a man tried to secure a cab which had previously agreed to transport my colleagues and I, but was waiting for our last colleague to retrieve her bag. It was a bit tricky, because this was the only cab in sight, both he and our group were very short on time and we both had a meeting to attend. 7. Last but not least : be confident , dow n t o We turned the situation into a friendly joke, and the eart h and yourself: man kindly agreed to take another cab. 15 minutes later, as we were checking in to the hotel, he Remember, speakers are people too and were once students themselves! And they would not have joined the conference if they weren?t interested in engaging with like-minded peers and future scientists. Have the confidence to ask questions, either in forum (as mentioned above) or one-to-one.Be down-to-earth and considerate in your approach; remember it?s a long day for everyone at the conference. And finnaly, be yourself - let your curiosity passionand excitement shine through. You're in the perfect place for it.

23 24 Synapse Says Professionals in the Synapse network answer our readers' questions. Send yours to [email protected]

Janine Erler

Professor at Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, UCPH

What set of skills do you think are the most important to acquire during one's studies? ?I would say: time management skills; ability to apply textbook knowledge to problem-solving; ability to use your imagination to think outside of the box and challenge dogmas; self-discipline to undertake boring but necessary tasks; self-motivation and drive to do your best and achieve the maximum possible; and critically, develop healthy ways to deal with stress as it only gets more challenging!?

Will Wright

Business Accelerator and Investment Manager at Accelerace Management A/S

What set of skills do you think are the most important to acquire during one's studies? "The skills that allow you to better learn and adapt are going to be the most valuable in the long run as the majority of your personal and professional growth will come from this lifelong learning. Opportunities for this whilst at university is attending cross-disciplinary courses to expose yourself to new subject areas, taking on new projects outside your comfort zone as part of student run societies, entering idea and case competitions such as iGEM, Venture cup or innovation in action, gaining new knowledge through summer schools or training new skills like coding using online courses such as Edx.org or Coursera, Other opportunities are to engage with new cultures on exchanges or with international students here, also well as gaining insights from career mentors or experience from relevant study jobs or internships. Of course last but not least the soft skills of networking, teamwork and communication will always be an asset no matter what path you choose.?

24 25 Hans Genee

Co-founder and CSO of Biosyntia

What is the best way to approach a company for a master thesis?

?Never be shy to shoot an email and ask. At Biosyntia we have a lot of positive experiences of hosting master thesis students and I know that many other companies can say the same. Industrial thesis projects are mutually beneficial, and typically as a student, you get to work on real-life challenges and you learn and contribute at the same time. When being approached by students I personally prefer to receive an email with a full CV and a motivation letter. It's critical that you show initiative without expecting a very specific project since often the company will try to match your profile and interests with the current needs of the company. It's likely that you will not get an answer to your first email. Then ask again and try sending it to another person. No answer only rarely equals a rejection.?

Biosynt ia current ly has posit ions for a m ast er t hesis! Deadline: June 24t h 2018 https://biosyntia.recruiterbox.com/jobs/fk01u8c/

Jesper Vind

Senior Science Manager at Novozymes A/S

What is the best way to approach a company for a master thesis?

?Before you venture on the journey for a master thesis, you will have to figure out, what makes your heart tick faster. When you have given that some serious thoughts, the next step is to scan the market for the companies you could find interesting. Once that is done, you are in for a bit of research. Preferably, you will find and read articles, written by employees from the company, and which relates to the subject you are interested in. This will give you some names on people, that you can contact in the company. With a bit of luck, you can write directly to the employee (or via the corresponding author), and state that you have read some of their articles and find the subject interesting. You can ask, if they by any chance take master students, and if that is the case, maybe you could have a small meeting over a cup of coffee? This is a very direct approach, that works if you do some good prior research. An alternative is to ask around among the teachers at the university, and hear if any of them have experience with collaborations with companies in the context of a master thesis. There should be a good chance. A connection through a teacher often makes it easier to get the contact with the company. Another possibility is to ask around among the older students, to see if any of them are doing a master thesis at a company, and maybe could introduce you. Often there will be spinoff projects from a master student, that is about to finish, and whose work you can continue. The older master student will also be able to provide you valuable information on how it is to do a master thesis at the given company. All in all, there are a number of ways to approach a company, but they all require some prior networking and research.? 25 26

M.Sc. Project - Synthetic Biology and Cell Factory Design and Development Deadline: June 24th 2018

26 27 Copenhagen Life Science Sum m it Essay Com pet it ion

As part of this year's summit, Synapse launched an essay competition where students could submit their take on how to improve interdisciplinarity within the life science environment. Mads Krogh Larsen who studies Molecular Biomedicine at University of Copenhagen won with his essay about the "iLAB". iLAB - Int erdisciplinary Life-Science Applicat ion Bus World famous physician Albert Einstein once said: ?We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them? and this reflection unquestionably defines the need for more interdisciplinary collaborations in the academic and industrial areas of life sciences. But how do you involve students, professors, AND businesses in an innovative setting that generates synergy and out-of-the-box thinking? You put them on the Interdisciplinary Life-Science Application Bus (iLAB) and go on a road trip. The Interdisciplinary Life-Science Application Bus is a concept idea of a bus that is specifically designed for creative thinking and group discussions. The bus would have tables with seating for four individuals at each table and huge windows all the way through the bus. Studies have shown that it?s easier to come up with ideas if the brain is focused on something else and in this case, it could be looking at the surroundings while driving through the Danish landscape. The point of having groups of only four individuals at each table is that usually when academic and/or business ideas are discussed it?s either in a lecture setting or in a bigger meeting and by having smaller groups, you can purposely design and shape the dynamics of each group. One way to effectively do this is by applying the Z-model for problem solving and knowing every participant?s JTI profile before the event. This would give you the opportunity to proactively shape the groups according to the profile of each participant by doing a ?match making? between the different assets of each personality. During an event you could easily change the groups in this accessible and interactive setting and do a ?speed-dating? concept where the participants go through different discussions with different people throughout the event. The overall idea is that the bus would contain different tools to spur creative problem solving and effective teamwork across all experience-levels but other than that, it?s up to the individual events to effectuate the unique mobile setting. The bus could be used to facilitate inter-university collaborations by driving between universities with participants from both institutions for experience-sharing on similar classes, or it could be used to host a symposium for PhD students, or a life science company could invite academic professionals and students on a discussion trip to get a new perspective on their products and you could end the trip at the company?s headquarters. No matter if you want to facilitate a conference on the future of diabetes treatment, or the prospects of the gut microbiome, or the use of nanotechnology in medicine, the iLAB would be a perfect new way to spark some creative collaborations between every part of the Danish life science sector. And new thinking is exactly what we need to solve our problems.

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