Michael Whitaker
Michael was educated in Cambridge and moved to the North East of England in 1994 via a chair at University College London. Since 2000, Michael has been closely involved in forming and delivering the North East regional strategy in the Healthcare and Life Science areas, particularly in the areas of ageing, stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. He coordinates the regional pharma manufacturing initiative, FirstforPharma.
He has been active nationally at the Wellcome Trust and has acted as secretary of the British Society for Cell Biology. He is a Fellow of the Society of Biology, the Royal Society for the encouragement of the Arts and Manufactures and Commerce and o the Academy of Medical Sciences. In addition he is a board member of Centre for Excellence in Life Sciences (Bionow), the Cell Therapy Catapult and a trustee of the Marine Biological Association.
Post Professor of Physiology, Associate Dean of Innovation
Institute Medical Sciences, Newcastle University
Programmes
+ Stem Cells for Dummies
Bio
Michael is Professor of Physiology and Associate Dean of Innovation in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle, with the brief of furthering links between the Medical School and the commercial sector. He is co-Director of the joint Durham/ Newcastle/NHS North East England Stem Cell Institute.
Michael is also part of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership’s Innovation team led by Professor Roy Sandbach. Michael’s brief is to work with the region’s universities to coordinate a common approach to Open Innovation based on industry needs both regionally and globally, particularly in Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals.
The North East is the perfect size to develop a network for innovation through an equal partnership between business and universities. We can build on already-existing strengths in high value manufacturing and continue to develop exports and jobs, while also attracting companies to the region by developing the region’s high level skills.
Michael Whitaker
Transplant TV