Pharma Factory

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Pharma Factory, Horizon 2020 funded project, London College of Communication, University of the Arts London

This EU Horizon 2020 project is a collaboration involving five biotech SMEs and four academic institutions across Europe. The LCC team, led by Prof Alison Prendiville and including Dr Silvia Grimaldi and Dr Rosie Hornbuckle) worked with St George’s University on the public engagement work package, using participatory design methods in an iterative manner with the scientists developing new biotechnologies for vaccinations, treatments and diagnostics, and with the patients and publics affected by these technologies, to create a shared understanding of the obstacles and opportunities for dialogue. 

Final outcomes include reports, a series of academic papers, and an international exhibition.

I work in participatory, iterative, and human centred ways with the project partners (scientists, biotechnology R&D, and pharmaceutical producers), patients, and publics affected by these technologies to create spaces for dialogue and co-design between the different stakeholders. Through this research, I have developed a shared understanding of obstacles and opportunities for patients, clinicians, and publics to engage with new pharmaceutical products and production technologies. 

This work contributes to commercial developments in production of new biotechnologies for medical treatments, diagnostics, and vaccinations, and encourages further involvement of designers in shaping public acceptance of novel biotechnology. My findings have led the scientific partners to reframe how they present technological developments to a general public, and reshaped outcomes of further work packages. Our work will also be presented through an international exhibition about Plant Molecular Farming, addressing common questions and misconceptions, and establishing an equal dialogue between R&D scientists and publics.