- Talk
- Science & Technology
- Manchester
- 20 March 2025
Small Particles, Big Impact: Revolutionising Drug Delivery
A talk by pioneering pharmaceutical scientist Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu
20 March 2025
6.30 pm
Manchester M1 3NJ
Lecture Theatre, Renold Innovation Hub
81 Sackville Street
Manchester M1 3NJ
Get directions
£15.00 (non-members)
Overview
Imagine a future where medicines work better and cause fewer side effects. Join us to hear from pharmaceutical pioneer Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu, President of Wolfson College, Cambridge, as she explores the future of medicine through nanotechnology.
Ijeoma and her team are developing groundbreaking nanoparticle technology that delivers drugs precisely where they’re needed in the body. It’s a fascinating breakthrough that anyone interested in technological innovation needs to hear more about.
The Challenge in Drug Development
What if we told you that for every successful medicine, 4,999 candidates fail? Drug development is a complex journey, with only 1 in 5,000 molecules making it from concept to market, at a cost of $1 billion per success. Even in clinical trials, 90% of drugs fall short, often because they can’t reach their target effectively.
Patient Challenges: A Call for Better Solutions
Ever wondered why half of patients with chronic conditions struggle with their medication? More often than not, it’s fear of unwanted side effects that holds them back. But what if we could direct medicines to focus on diseased areas while sparing healthy tissue?
A Breakthrough Approach
This is where the story gets astonishing. Scientists are developing nanoparticles – tiny carriers just a thousandth the width of a human hair – that can guide medicines to where they’re needed most. Professor Uchegbu’s flagship development, Envelta™, represents a breakthrough in pain management. As a non-addictive alternative to opioids, it addresses a critical need: every year, 80,000 Americans lose their lives to opioid poisoning, while in the UK, 40 families face such tragedy weekly.
Building on this success, her team’s research extends into cancer treatments and therapies for sight-threatening conditions, with new discoveries emerging through Nanomerics Ltd., recipient of the 2024 King’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation. Some of these potential therapies are in clinical trials. Join us as we explore the possibilities of this truly revolutionary approach to medicine.
About the Speaker
Professor Uchegbu is a pioneer in pharmaceutical nanoscience and a champion of scientific innovation. As UCL’s Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience and Chief Scientific Officer of Nanomerics Ltd., she has successfully translated laboratory discoveries into clinical applications.
About the venue
Sister is Manchester’s new innovation district, where people come together and great ideas flourish.
Formerly known as ID Manchester, Sister is a joint venture between The University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech that will see the University’s former North Campus transformed into a world-leading innovation district and welcoming new neighbourhood. Sister will be home to the discoveries, technologies and businesses that shape our future and transform the way we live.
A global hub for science and technology, and a community for entrepreneurs, professionals, families, scientists and creatives alike, Sister represents a new way of thinking about innovation. One based on collaboration, not competition.
Sister provides the perfect conditions for ideas to spark, for collaboration to thrive, and for world-changing innovations to scale.
Practical Information
The talk includes a Q&A session. Booking is essential.
Accessibility Information
Please contact us regarding any specific accessibility requirements you may have by emailing events@manlitphil.ac.uk
Imade credit: Photograph of Ijeoma Uchegbu y Richard Stonehouse, Stonehouse Photographic
Professor Dame Ijeoma F Uchegbu FMedSci Hon FRSC
Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu is a distinguished leader in pharmaceutical science and academia. She serves as President of Wolfson College, Cambridge, while holding the position of Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience at UCL. As Chief Scientific Officer of Nanomerics Ltd., she leads the development of innovative medicines for sight-threatening illnesses. Her ground-breaking laboratory work has led to successful licensing agreements with Virpax Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRPX).
Her scientific excellence is widely recognized through fellowships with the Academy of Medical Sciences and honorary fellowship of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Technologies developed in her laboratory have earned prestigious awards from both the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Most recently, Nanomerics Ltd. received the King’s Award for Enterprise 2024 in the Innovation category – the UK’s most prestigious business award.
Professor Uchegbu’s influence extends beyond research through her service on several distinguished boards. She is a governor of the Wellcome Trust, one of the world’s largest biomedical research charities, and sits on the Academy of Medical Sciences Council. Her leadership roles have included Chair of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Scientific Secretary of the Controlled Release Society.
As the immediate past UCL Provost’s Envoy for Race Equality, Professor Uchegbu has been a powerful advocate for change in academia. Her work led to the landmark decision to remove eugenicists’ names from UCL buildings in 2020. She has addressed the UK House of Commons on educational racial disparities and their impact on ethnic minority representation in scientific research.
Professor Uchegbu’s forthcoming popular science book, Chain Reaction: A Journey into the Chemistry that Shapes Us, will be published by Hodder and Stoughton in 2026. Her significant contributions to British society are recognized by her inclusion in Bloomsbury Publishing’s Who’s Who 2024. She was made Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) in the King’s New Years Honours 2025.
