Mindsets, Mechanisms & Metascience: The UK’s Translational Opportunity
Asothia and Renaissance Philanthropy are co-hosting a panel discussion at St John’s College on July 8th exploring how the UK might design next-generation scientific infrastructure - built to support both high-risk research and translational science.
With a critical mass of research talent, globally recognised institutions, and growing momentum for reform, the UK has a rare opportunity to lead in science systems design. Which funding models, institutional mechanisms, and cultural shifts could unlock this potential - and help realise that vision?
Panelists:
Chaired by Maya Gavin, Founder & CEO of Asothia
Professor Ben Johnson: Head of Science at the Centre for British Progress and Professor of Practice in Research and Innovation Policy at Strathclyde. Former Senior Policy Adviser to the UK Science Secretary and longtime leader in UK research policy.
Professor Zoe Kourtzi: Professor of Cognitive Computational Neuroscience at Cambridge and Co-Founder of Prodromic. Her research combines brain imaging and AI to advance early prediction and personalised intervention in ageing and mental health. She leads the EDoN initiative for Alzheimer’s Research UK and is Cambridge Lead at the Alan Turing Institute.
Professor Rob Miller: Director of the Whittle Laboratory and the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre at Cambridge. He leads work on rapid technology development and co-founded the Aviation Impact Accelerator to advance climate-neutral flight.
Dr Claire Donoghue: Programme Director at ARIA and former Senior Director of AI at AstraZeneca. With 20 years’ experience in machine learning, she has led innovation across healthcare, manufacturing, and safety. She holds a PhD from Imperial College London and is an inventor on 19 patents.
Agenda:
5:30 - 6:00pm: Arrival & Networking
6:00 - 6:15pm: Opening Remarks
6:15 - 7:15pm: Fireside Chat
7:15 - 8:00pm: Drinks & Networking
🎟 Limited Spots Available – RSVP Required
Asothia is a new infrastructure layer for the knowledge economy: using AI to connect researchers with funders and unlock ideas stalled by outdated grant systems. We’ve launched in the bio/medical field and are now building tools to centralise UK research and funding data, spotlight underfunded research clusters, and enable more collaborative, high-risk science funding.
Renaissance Philanthropy is a nonprofit dedicated to sparking a 21st-century renaissance by elevating the ambitions of philanthropists, scientists, and innovators. In partnership with ARIA, we are working to supercharge the UK's R&D ecosystem and empower exceptional individuals to translate their research into impact. We'll be launching: a) a community comprised of exceptional scientists and innovators, and b) programs designed to support technical talent in advancing breakthrough ideas and launching novelty-driven organizations.
Powered by The Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA), a UK R&D funding agency built to unlock scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone. ARIA empowers scientists and engineers, from their Programme Directors to the teams they fund, with the resources and freedom to pursue breakthroughs at the edge of the possible.