Imran Haq

Imran has an extensive background in scientific research (15+ years) working in genetics, biochemistry, biophysics, and drug discovery in major universities (University College London, University of Cambridge) and large pharmaceutical organisations (GlaxoSmithKline). He is a strong advocate for using technical education and work-based learning and assessment to ensure development of workforce skills needed for greater innovation and success across the health sciences sector. During his academic career he has developed and taught researchers from undergraduate R&D placement projects to post-graduate PhD completion, run research groups and published extensively in internationally recognised scientific journals. In addition to his PhD in Complex Disease Genetics, he holds a Fellowship to the Higher Education Authority and Membership of the Royal Society of Biology.

In addition to his work in research and education, Imran has co-founded Cellomatics Bioscience, a Contract Research Organisation, and held commercially related director level roles in digital health related start ups before applying this experience to a UK Government innovation role to support the drug discovery industry at the Medicines Discovery Catapult. He has developed successful TNE collaborations, secured research and capacity development funding and has led on set up of labs, quality systems, projects and skills training programmes. A major part of his work is now focused on supporting innovative commercialisation strategies and capacity building for universities that lead in biomedical research.

He is currently the advisor for Lab Sciences on the Technical Education Advisory Board for UK T-level qualifications. T Levels represent a revolution in the UK Government’s technical education policy and will combine both academic and work-based learning components to develop practical skills that will relate directly the learner’s chosen field of employment. Imran is advising on the skills and competencies needed for young people to secure entry-level roles within the sector and how apprenticeship and work-based learning models can accommodate this. 

He has extensive experience in TNE, work-based learning systems, public-private partnership for healthcare sector innovation, vocational education innovation, project development and bid writing for research initiatives. He intends to use his focus on development of workforce skills as a driver for health sciences to collaborate with international partners to strengthen and scale up healthcare innovation across the world.