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Professor Qasim Rafiq gives Inaugural Lecture
24 February 2025
This inaugural lecture, titled "From Blood to Bioreactor: Manufacturing the Therapies of Tomorrow" was given by Professor Qasim Rafiq following his academic promotion to Professor in Bioprocess Engineering at UCL Biochemical Engineering
Qasim is a Chartered Engineer (CEng), a Chartered Scientist (CSci), a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and was recognised as one of the top 20 influential and inspirational individuals in Advanced Medicine for 2020 by The Medicine Maker listed amongst Nobel Laureates, multi-national CEOs and leading scientists.
“In an era where personalised medicine is at the forefront of healthcare innovation, my work focuses on developing scalable, efficient, and robust bioprocessing solutions to advance cell and gene therapies from the laboratory to the clinic. Central to this effort is the engineering of manufacturing platforms for CAR-T cells, stem cells, and viral vectors—technologies that hold transformative potential in treating cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Through a multidisciplinary approach integrating automation, digitalisation, and bioprocess engineering, I collaborate with leading clinical, industrial, and global academic partners to optimise therapy manufacture. My research addresses the critical challenges of scalability and cost-effectiveness, ensuring these advanced therapies become accessible to patients worldwide.
Alongside my research, I am passionate about training the next generation of bioprocess engineers. At UCL East, I founded the MSc in Manufacture and Commercialisation of Stem Cell and Gene Therapy, equipping students with the expertise needed to innovate in this rapidly evolving field.”
Professor Qasim Rafiq. 2025
Qasim also took the opportunity to thank the people who had been part of his journey, from his own lecturers, academic colleagues, students and professional service team members, through to friends and his family who have supported him on his journey to becoming a professor.
“In addition to his research activities, Qasim has also made major contributions to educational and outreach initiatives in the department since his appointment in 2017. In particular, he was instrumental in the establishment of the MSc in Manufacture and Commercialisation of Stem Cell and Gene Therapies, which is the department’s contribution to the teaching activities of the UCL East Manufacturing Futures Lab. Qasim is an active member of the department’s ED&I Committee and has recently led on submission of the department’s application for an Athena Swann Gold Award.”
Professor Gary Lye, Head of the Department of UCL Biochemical Engineering when Qasim joined the academic team, as well as being Qasim’s original supervisor. 2025
Find out more
- Professor Qasim Rafiq’s UCL Research Profile
- Manufacture and Commercialisation of Stem Cell and Gene Therapies MSc