Scottish Brain Sciences at ONE BioHub, Aberdeen: Bridging Research and Real-World Impact
In an episode of Base to Base Biotech, produced by Deep Tech Digest, attention is turned to the growing life sciences ecosystem in Aberdeen and the role of ONE BioHub in supporting innovation with global impact.
The episode features Scottish Brain Sciences, which opened an Alzheimer’s clinical research centre at ONE BioHub on Aberdeen’s Foresterhill Health Campus. Editor-in-Chief Jim Cornall sat down with Dr Deborah O’Neil, Chair, ONE Life Sciences and BioAberdeen, and Professor Craig Ritchie, CEO and Founder of Scottish Brain Sciences.
For rapidly growing life sciences scale-up Scottish Brain Sciences (SBS), finding the right base in the North East of Scotland was an important milestone to expand access to its clinical research for participants across Scotland. Establishing the centre at ONE BioHub has strengthened access to patient-facing Alzheimer’s research across the region.
In the podcast episode, the conversation explores why SBS chose ONE BioHub for its new Alzheimer’s clinical research centre, which opened in November last year, and the role of Aberdeen and the North East within Scotland’s life sciences ecosystem.
Founded in 2022, SBS is accelerating the development and implementation of new diagnostics and therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. With centres in Edinburgh, St Andrews and now Aberdeen, SBS links world-leading science with clinical care to accelerate new diagnostics and treatments through precision trials and pioneering brain health services. The new centre at ONE BioHub will enable more people living with Alzheimer's disease to participate in SBS’ clinical studies.
Located on the Foresterhill Health Campus, ONE BioHub’s “triple helix” structure connects the University of Aberdeen, NHS Grampian and clinical research facilities, increasing access to and for patients as well as clinician engagement. Speaking about why SBS chose ONE BioHub, Craig said: “All the work we do is patient-facing, so we wanted to make sure we were covering the Scottish population as far as possible. ONE BioHub was a no-brainer! It has all the facilities, the proximity to the hospital and proximity to the university.”
ONE BioHub also provides companies and their founders with critical business support including mentoring, peer support, access to funding, regulatory and commercial expertise, and founder-to-founder learning. Commenting on how ONE BioHub supports high-potential life science companies Deborah said: “It’s not just the infrastructure and the ability to do the science, it’s all the wraparound support. You’re in a fantastic bespoke space with access to the best networks, entrepreneurial support, and founder support. It truly is a unique ecosystem.”
To listen to the full episode, visit: Base to Base biotech podcast 42: Treating blood cancers, Scottish Brain Sciences and One BioHub Aberdeen, and is speech the new blood? | Deeptech Digest.