About this Event
Firstly, we are delighted to collaborate with Arc Oxford on Garsington Road, Oxford OX42SU who are letting us use their venue for our thirteenth Creative Disruption Forum (CDF). This is for industry thought leaders, business leaders (CXOs), and R&D Directors of emerging biotech and biopharma companies, investors, service companies, our future and aspiring leaders plus anyone else who is interested and curious.
For this discussion on What's Next in Translational Research we will have some fantastic keynote interviewees lined up interviewed by our resident thought-leader Prof Tony Sedgwick. Those keynotes will be announced in due course.
All our CDFs so far have been received very well, you will see many photos, positive comments and separate LinkedIn posts from participants and sponsors from our previous events. Here is a small collection of the testimonials:
"These #creativedisruption events are a genuine and wonderful exchange of ideas. An elegantly crafted format by Tony Sedgwick and Graham Combe." - Prashant Shah, Managing Partner, O2h Group and CEO of O2h Discovery.
"So pleased to represent Sitryx at the fantastic #creativedisruption forum. As always, Tony Sedgwick challenged us to think about how we do #drugdiscovery and what opportunities we see in the future." - Jon Ellery, Director of Biology, Sitryx
"Being creatively disruptive with such a great group of people made for a great event." - Suzy Dilly, CEO, Valirx Plc.
Creative Disruption Forum – 18 Sept 2025 - What's Next in Translational Research - breaking down the silos.
The Creative Disruption Forum, hosted by Tony Sedgwick and Graham Combe at ARC Oxford on the Garsington Road in Cowley, will comprehensively examine the big picture on how we can translate more successful medicines into the clinic given all the new technologies we have to hand and also new complexities with different modalities and new delivery technologies etc. We can do this process of drug discovery and development better, and one thought is we should break down the traditional barrier between discovery and clinical, which we will debate, along discussions about new modalities and complexities.
In the wake of groundbreaking advancements in drug discovery, the clinical development landscape is undergoing a transformative shift. As new modalities such as antibody-drug conjugates, RNA interference (RNAi), and gene and cell therapies emerge alongside innovative non-animal models (NAMs) gaining traction with regulators, the imperative for clinical development to keep pace has never been clearer.
Traditionally, the clinical development process has functioned within distinct silos, with discovery teams often operating separately from development teams. This separation can hinder the seamless translation of potent new entities from the lab to the clinic. The increasing complexity and specificity of innovative therapies demand a more integrated approach, where clinical and preclinical teams collaborate from the earliest stages of drug development.
Current thinking suggests that establishing cross-functional teams may be essential for aligning discovery and development efforts. This collaborative model can facilitate the sharing of insights regarding safety, efficacy, and mechanism of action, ultimately accelerating the translation of novel therapeutics into clinical trials.
Regulatory agencies are increasingly open to adaptive pathways and innovative trial designs, which can benefit from real-time data sharing between discovery scientists and clinical teams. Moreover, regulatory frameworks are evolving to accommodate the unique challenges presented by these therapies. Discussions are underway around the necessity of updated guidelines that reflect the capabilities of new technologies, such as NAMs, which can provide valuable insights while adhering to ethical standards.
Ultimately, rethinking the interaction between discovery and development could enhance the efficiency of bringing transformative therapies to patients. By fostering collaboration, encouraging open communication, and promoting agility in research and regulatory processes, the biopharmaceutical industry can better navigate the complexities of modern drug development, ensuring that tomorrow’s breakthroughs reach the clinic in a timely manner.
The Agenda in Summary
10-10.30 am arrival with coffee & teas, biscuits & fruit
10.30-10.35 - Intro from the Host sponsor, ARC Oxford
10.35-10.45—Introductions from our other supporting sponsors, Mariana Vaschetto from CDD Vault and Jack Corbett, GeneRx
10.45 -12.15 pm - Keynote Interviews
12.15-12.30 pm - coffee & tea break
12.30 - 1.30 pm - Keynote Interviews
1.30-2.30 pm - Light lunch with coffee & refreshments
2.30 - 3.30 pm - Workshops - 6-8 workshops on different topics keeping to event theme
3.30 - 4.30 - Group Leader Workshop Presentations -
4.30-5.00 pm Round-up of the day's learnings & Thank you and Goodbyes
End.
5.45 pm - "Unofficial Drinks" in the Oxford Retreat near Oxford Train Station - BYO
ADMISSION FEE for Service Companies such as CROs, CDMOs, Law Firms and Patent Attorneys, Consultancy Firms = £120 - ALL-INCLUSIVE
ADMISSION FEE for Innovative Emerging Life Science Companies and Independent Consultants = £60
Investors can apply for free entry by writing to [email protected].
Thank you to our sponsors.
More General Information about the Creative Disruption Forum
At all our events, we encourage dialogue in the room with the keynotes and participants expertly moderated by our resident thought leader, Prof Tony Sedgwick. Tony and I have worked together developing our Agile Leaders, Biotech Buddies, #coffeebuddies and now our Creative Disruption Forums over the last eight years. During the pandemic, we did 3-4 #coffeebuddies "shows" weekly, linking our UK community to others worldwide. Our aim for each participant in all our events is to be engaging, informative and entertaining - with no more death by PowerPoint! lol
To spark new thoughts and ideas and build friendships
As organisers, we promise always to entertain, engage, inform and be interactive during our thought-leadership interviews and Creative Disruption workshops. This is to help you spark new thoughts and ideas and build friendships with peers, clients and collaborators.
How do you benefit from attending?
As a "Leader" in the biotech sector, or aspiring leader, you will benefit from this "Creative Disruption" Forum. It will allow you to share common challenges and build deeper connections and trust with your peers. In turn, the aim is to build your confidence when working in areas typically outside your comfort zone by learning and discussing with this / your "Agile" peer-to-peer network.
You can broaden your understanding of the key aspects of the commercialisation journey and how to overcome potential barriers. You can speak to people in a similar position about issues you may not have the opportunity to talk about elsewhere. You can discuss your challenges by learning from other people's experiences to help you find a solution or spark an idea. Why let leaders of emerging companies reinvent the wheel to be successful when we can learn from the experiences of others who have faced similar challenges before?
Chatham House Rules apply - "what goes on in the Forum, stays in the Forum - so to speak!"
Our mission is to help you build your innovation-enabled healthcare business so it is "fit for purpose," genuinely innovative and attractive to the global markets. Helping you build solid, trustworthy networks with your peer group and help spread your creative R&D business network nationally and internationally. Our motivation and focus are on helping you build long-term reliable business relationships and support you on your journey through our supportive business community.
Prof Tony Sedgwick, the self-professed www.ThoughtDisruptor.com, facilitates this workshop. Tony has an esteemed career in academia and business; he is a trained pathologist. His accolades include once being the Global Head of Clinical Reseach at Roche AG, being a VC and being one of the UK's first Biotech CEOs. Tony has now been CEO of four life science companies, Chairman of over 10 Companies, and held many positions within the academic community. He is also an active psychologist, which has helped him develop his passion for "Agile" community group development. He is a Jiu-Jitsu Grand Master VIII and Jiu-Jitsu trainer. Last year, Tony published the book "The Mighty Advisor", which became a number 1 best seller in the Amazon STEM Business Management category.
We will start this Creative Disruption Forum on Thursday 2 July 2026 at ARC Oxford on Garsington Road, Cowley, Oxford with a 10.00 am arrival followed by a prompt 10.30 am start with interviews of prominent thought leaders.
We promise that our #CreativeDisruption Forum will be like no other life sciences event or business network you have experienced. Our aim is that you'll be walking out of the session inspired, educated and more connected.
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GENerX Life is a specialist leadership and talent advisory firm dedicated to the Life Sciences industry. Built alongside industry experts, we go beyond traditional search to provide strategic leadership solutions that drive long-term success. Our support strategy is built around three main pillars:
OrganisationAs trusted advisors to Life Sciences companies, we provide expertise in organisational design, strategic board guidance, and leadership structuring. Our expert-led approach helps businesses navigate growth, investment, and transformation with confidence.
LeadershipWe develop high-performing leaders through executive coaching, behavioural assessments, and leadership development programmes. Our tailored approach equips leaders to drive innovation, build resilient teams, and lead with impact.
TalentThrough state-of-the-art search and selection, we deliver Executive Search and Interim Management solutions, identifying leaders who not only meet technical requirements but also align with company culture, values, and strategic goals—ensuring lasting success.
ARC Oxford is a leading life science and innovation campus, bringing together scientists, entrepreneurs, and businesses in a collaborative ecosystem. It offers state-of-the-art labs, offices, and shared spaces, fostering discovery and growth. Located in Oxford’s knowledge cluster, it connects world-class research with commercial opportunity.
Collaborative Drug Discovery (CDD) provides an intuitive software suite extensively used by creative biologists and chemists working in academic, biotechnology and pharmaceutical settings. Their flagship product, CDD Vault, enables researchers to intuitively organize and analyze both biological and chemical data, and to collaborate with partners through a straightforward web interface. CDD helps scientists register entities, track inventory, manage assay data, capture experiments, calculate Structure-Activity Relationships (SAR), and mine their data for drug candidates. CDD was founded in 2004 and presently serves thousands of researchers doing drug discovery all around the world. Learn more at www.collaborativedrug.com
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
ARC Oxford, Garsington Road, Oxford, United Kingdom
GBP 60.00 to GBP 120.00
