Award-winning partnership opens doors to biopharmaceutical careers
An innovative collaboration between academia and industry is helping students step directly into pharmaceutical careers.
The partnership between the Faculty of Biological Sciences and global healthcare company Labcorp is helping students to build successful careers in the pharmaceutical industry, with 95% of graduates from its Masters programme securing employment in the sector.
Introducing EPIC
The EPIC team (clockwise from top left): Dr Chris Randall, Dr Dimitra Mitsa, Professor Aysha Divan, Professor Michelle Scott, Andy Gibbs and Dr Sian Estdale
The Education and Pharmaceutical Industry Collaboration (EPIC) brings together leading academics and leaders within the faculty and industry experts to bridge employment shortages in the biopharmaceutical sector and address critical skills gaps.
The first partnership of its kind in the UK, this month EPIC has won the prestigious national Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) from Advance HE, one of the UK’s highest honours for innovative teaching practice.
A Masters with a direct route to industry
A key part of EPIC has been the development of the MSc in Biopharmaceutical Development. The Masters course integrates academic excellence with real-world industry expertise, offering flexible study routes and placement opportunities for both recent graduates and working professionals.
Since its launch in 2016, 95% of MSc graduates have secured roles in the pharmaceutical industry, with some recruited by the same company where they undertook their placements. The remaining 5% have progressed to PhD study.
The EPIC initiative has also delivered short training courses and skills bootcamps, engaging more than 700 learners so far. It has also inspired cross-disciplinary Masters programmes in biological sciences with Medicine, Engineering and Business, recruiting around 200 students annually and securing both industry and government funding.
It is one of many approaches the programme at Leeds is taking to provide students with a direct route into industry. EPIC’s success has inspired cross-disciplinary Masters programmes across the University as well as contributing to national curriculum development.
Award represents a ‘meaningful moment’ for the team
The Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) has been awarded to EPIC in recognition how sustained, equal partnerships between academia and industry can drive educational innovation, address workforce needs, and create lasting societal value.
Managed by Advance HE – a charity working with partners across the globe to improve higher education for staff, students and society – the award celebrates excellent practice and outstanding achievement in learning and teaching in the sector.
Professor Michelle Scott, Vice-President and Head of Discovery and Biotechnology Solutions at Labcorp and Visiting Professor at Leeds said:
We’re especially honoured to receive the prestigious CATE award, which recognises the energy, commitment and investment we’ve made in collaboration with the University of Leeds to create and deliver this bespoke MSc programme that directly addresses a skills gap in our industry.
Dr Dimitra Mitsa, Lecturer in Biotechnology in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology and MSc Programme Lead said:
Receiving the CATE award is a deeply meaningful moment for our team. This award celebrates not only our achievements in transforming biopharmaceutical education, but also how we work – through shared leadership, trust, collaboration and a constant drive to keep improving.
Professor Karen Birch, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences, said:
We are very proud of this reward for such remarkable innovation. As a University, we work hard to ensure students at all levels receive an excellent experience that prepares them for their future. This collaboration demonstrates how well we can develop the biological scientists of the future.
Building on previous success
The EPIC team’s work has attracted previous widespread recognition, earning Princess Royal Training Awards in 2020 and 2023, and winning the Sustained Collaborative Excellence Teaching accolade in last year’s University of Leeds Teaching Awards.
Interim Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Student Education and Experience Professor Kenny McDowall said:
Many congratulations to the EPIC team. This is a truly outstanding achievement demonstrating the incredible impact of collaboration that goes beyond traditional academic-industry engagement.
Looking ahead, the team aims to expand its reach through online continuing professional development (CPD) programmes for industry professionals and global placements for international students.
Further information
EPIC’s core team includes:
- Dr Dimitra Mitsa, Lecturer in Biotechnology in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Dr Chris Randall, Director of Student Education in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Professor Aysha Divan, Pro-Dean for Student Education in the Faculty of Biological Sciences
- Professor Michelle Scott, Vice-President and Head of Discovery and Biotechnology Solutions at Labcorp and Visiting Professor at Leeds
- Dr Sian Estdale, Former Head of Scientific Affairs at Labcorp
- Andy Gibbs, Director of Drug Development and Regulatory Strategy at Labcorp and Visiting Senior Lecturer at Leeds.
Read about the Award on the Advance HE website.
Top image: University of Leeds.
