Celebrating staff, students and alumni leading the way in knowledge exchange at UCL

The awards recognise and celebrate knowledge exchange activity across every corner of UCL, in everything from drug discovery and regenerative medicine, to energy use and AI.

The event at Senate House was designed to shine a light on the individuals and teams who’ve had particular impact in knowledge exchange at UCL.

Delegates were welcomed by Professor Geraint Rees, UCL Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement). Professor Rees underlined the importance significance of taking UCL expertise out into the world, and the benefits this work brings to our teaching, research and partners alongside significant social and economic impact.

Winners were presented with a certificate, trophy, and funding to host a small event within their department to celebrate their successful knowledge exchange and innovation activity with colleagues.

Demonstrating a spirit of innovation

The Provost’s Spirit of Innovation Award was awarded to Nguyễn TK Thanh, Professor of Nanomaterials and Vice Dean (Innovation & Enterprise) for UCL’s Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MAPS). This award recognises a UCL academic, student or alumnus for their significant commitment to engaging with enterprising activities.

Thanh has helped transform innovation culture in her faculty. She’s opened up funding opportunities, and created a streamlined impact studentships process, and new seminar series for industry leaders, alumni and academics. Passionate about translating research into societal impact, her work has led to several patents and translational grants, including one for using magnetic doped iron oxide nanoflowers in cancer treatment.

Thanh said: “To win this award is fantastic. Knowledge exchange is an integral part of our academic life here at UCL, and it’s wonderful to see a paradigm shift in the number of the academics and students wanted to do more of this work. We’ve taken significant steps to embed innovation opportunities in MAPS, by launching the Innovation and Enterprise prize and knowledge exchange workshops that foster academic-industry collaboration.”

Professor Dean Barratt, Professor of Medical Image Computing from UCL Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering, received the Provost’s Spirit of Innovation Commendation. Dean’s work has been integral in translating several new medical technologies into clinical use, including SmartTarget, an image-guided surgery system that allows prostate tumours to be targeted more precisely.

Dean said: “I’m delighted to be shortlisted for this award. It’s wonderful recognition and hopefully will help inspire others in the UCL community to engage in knowledge exchange activities. Knowledge exchange is hugely rewarding, not only because you’re able to make a positive impact on the world, but also in how it complements and enhances your research and teaching. This activity also benefits your professional development.”

UCL President and Provost Dr Michael Spence said: “I would like to congratulate both Thanh and Dean, this award recognises their exemplary knowledge exchange work. Both have made significant contributions to supporting our mission in taking UCL expertise outside the university and into the parts of society where it can make the biggest difference.”

Recognising innovation activity across UCL

Academic teams weren’t the only ones to be recognised for their commitment to knowledge exchange.

The Structurally Unsound team received the Professional Services Support for Knowledge Exchange Award, for bridging academic, policy and third-sector expertise to tackle persistent structural inequalities in the UK. A collaboration between UCL Public Policy, UCL Grand Challenges and the Resolution Foundation, the project has led to a robust model for co-creation and long-term policy impact.

Meanwhile, tech startup eNOugh, set up by UCL alumni Ina Jovicic (MSc Entrepreneurship) and Gaelic Jara Reinhold (BEng Engineering), won the Most Impactful Start-up Award. eNOugh’s AI-powered protection badge, which Ina and Gaelic describe as a ‘mini bodyguard’, has now been launched to help people feel safer while walking alone at night. The business was supported as part of the Hatchery incubator programme at BaseKX, UCL’s dedicated entrepreneurship hub.

Other awards went to:

• The award for Impactful Partnership with Industry went to Professor Paola Giunti, who’s partnered with Reata Pharmaceuticals, now Biogen, to deliver the first ever treatment for Friedreich’s Ataxia, a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder.
• A team from the UCL Institute of Education won the Impactful Partnership with Public and Third Sector award, for their collaboration with civil society organisations in Lebanon and on the Thailand-Myanmar border on co-designing professional development for teachers in conflict and crisis settings.
• The award for Impactful Partnership with an SME went to Dr Bing Li for working with Graphenea on advanced graphene-based biosensors to revolutionise early dementia diagnosis and management.
• Professor Paul Ruyssevelt won Consultant of the Year award for leading on a consultancy project for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on energy use and operational performance in non-domestic buildings.
• The award for Commercialisation Achievement of the Year went to Professor Quentin Pankhurst for his work on UCL spinout Endomag. The business has now helped 500,000 women access more precise and less invasive breast cancer treatment.

Commenting on the awards, Professor Rees said: “Congratulations to all the individuals and teams who were commended and won. The quality of the award nominees was exceptionally high this year. We’re thrilled to see even more of our innovative community taking their ideas out into the world in such impactful ways.

“UCL is committed to building a strong knowledge exchange culture, and events like this go a long way to providing positive examples and a deep pool of inspiration for our staff, students, alumni and partners.”

Links

Find out more about:

• all the award winners and commendations
• knowledge exchange and innovation support for UCL staff
• entrepreneurship support for students and recent graduates
• support for external organisations to engage with UCL
• how UCL is planning to deliver knowledge exchange and innovation over the next five years

Photo © Lucy Pope