GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) advances research excellence

The University of Strathclyde has developed a framework that enables GSK employees to work towards a higher research degree through their work-based research projects.

GSK’s objective

GSK wanted to provide their chemists with an environment of continuous professional development to better equip them with the skills to develop even greater scientific excellence.

The intention is for this programme, together with other initiatives within GSK, to contribute to that success.

GSK chemists will be exposed to alternative research strategies ... and we will have motivated chemists striving for greater scientific excellence in their research.
Dave Allen, Senior Vice-President of Respiratory Drug Discovery at GSK

What we did

Building on previously successful partnerships, GSK and the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry at Strathclyde worked closely together to build a framework for collaborative MPhil and PhD programmes.

The framework we developed is flexible to accommodate the students’ full-time jobs, sensitivity of the research, and has provision for career breaks.

The team also incorporated the existing work-based learning programmes within GSK to provide the taught element for the MPhil or PhD qualification.

The learning experience

GSK students are included in Strathclyde’s initiatives and participate in problem solving sessions and research meetings associated with the University.

The standards achieved by the GSK students are of the highest level, and are at the least equal to those achieved by postgraduate students in full-time studies.

Successful outcomes

As a result of the experiences of the students and the success of the programme to date, the framework has now been extended for GSK scientists in the area of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK). It is also currently being evaluated for other areas, such as analytical chemistry.

The success of this partnership was recently recognised by the Life Sciences Cross Party Group of the Scottish Parliament and has been endorsed by a Scottish Parliamentary motion.

At the initiation of the Chemistry MPhil programme, there were five GSK chemistry employees enrolled, with the objective of having 20 students on the programme within two years.

Due to the popularity of the programme within GSK, this objective was achieved within 14 months. Twenty students were registered by February 2011. As research projects are progressing, students are now transferring onto the PhD programme.

The number of students receiving the GSK Exceptional Science Awards, which is given for outstanding contributions to research projects, has now doubled. One of the GSK chemists, was designated as most meritorious runner-up of the 2011 EFMC Prize for a Young Medicinal Chemist in Industry. This prestigious prize acknowledges and recognizes an outstanding young medicinal chemist working in industry within Europe.

Since joining the programme many of the participants have shared their positive experiences at external conferences and internal seminars.

How we can help your organisation

We would love to talk to you about developing a continuous professional development programme for your employees. Just get in touch with us.

Yvonne Kinnaird 
Knowledge Transfer Officer
yvonne.kinnaird@strath.ac.uk 
0141 548 4368 

Fiona Strang
Commercial Manager
fiona.strang@strath.ac.uk
0141 548 2517 

Research & Knowledge Exchange Services (RKES)
University of Strathclyde
Level 3, Graham Hills Building
50 George Street
Glasgow G1 1QE

Email rkes@strath.ac.uk
Website www.strath.ac.uk/rkes