Franklin Seminar – Dr Mark Murcko
The Franklin will be holding a seminar given by Dr Mark Murcko on Thursday the 26th March from 10:30-11:15. To watch the seminar online, please sign up on the Eventbrite.
We also welcome RAL site pass holders to attend in person in the Franklin’s first floor Hub, to join in person please arrive in the R113 Franklin foyer at least 5 minutes before the start of the seminar and a member of the team will let you into the building.
Further details on this seminar are included below.
Talk title: Once more unto the breach: a life of building biotechs
Abstract: The creation of biotech companies always occurs under conditions of uncertainty, urgency, and constrained resources. There are many risks, such as choosing the wrong problem to work on, applying a new technology inappropriately, selecting the team unwisely, or cutting corners for reasons of limited time or budget. We will explore some of the challenges that startup biotech companies face and highlight the behaviors that tend to increase the probability of success. We will also discuss how leaders sustain innovation after a first drug candidate—protecting the “research engine” even as clinical spending rises and investor attention narrows. The throughline is resilient, reality-based leadership: building strong teams, communicating a clear vision without over-promising, and staying effective—not just efficient—while turning scientific breakthroughs into medicines.