Biotechnology entrepreneur Will Dracup set to unveil new vision

Feb 24 2010 by Andrew Hebden, The Journal

ONE of the region's leading entrepreneurs will talk about plans for a pioneering new project at a lecture in Newcastle next week.

Biotechnology entrepreneur Will Dracup has been appointed David Goldman Visiting Professor of Business Innovation at Newcastle University Business School.

And to mark the start of his year in the post, the founder of Nonlinear Dynamics and Biosignatures will talk about his ambitious plans for a major project drawing together businesses, clinicians and academics.

The Lifebank aims to conceive and produce diagnostic testing equipment to detect the early signs of diseases, such as cancer. Mr Dracup hopes to be able to create a database of patient samples, which can be used as the cornerstone of research into identifying anomalies, particularly in body proteins, which can give clues to the causes of disease.

He says leading regional medical research companies, such as stock market-listed IDS and Newcastle-based e-Therapeutics, are keen to get involved alongside the region’s universities and clinicians.

Mr Dracup has been appointed to follow in the footsteps of some of the region’s most successful bosses to take on the title of the business school’s 2010 David Goldman Visiting Professor of Business Innovation. The prestigious title is in honour of David Goldman, the co-founder of software giant Sage, and is awarded annually to a successful North East entrepreneur by a university panel and members of the Goldman family.

Following his death in 1999, the Goldman family formed the endowment to create an enduring legacy in memory of the late entrepreneur.

Previous holders of the post have included Paul Callaghan, chairman of Sunderland technology firm Leighton, Fiona Cruickshank, co-owner and director of SCM Pharma and founder of the Specials Laboratory and most recently the academic who founded IHC Engineering Business, Dr Tony Trapp.

Mr Dracup said: “I am absolutely chuffed to bits. It was completely out of the blue and a real honour.”

The lecture takes place at 6.30pm on March 4 in the Bedson Building, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle.

:: To secure your place at next week's event, register online, click here.