Cyclacel

Developing drugs to fight cancer and other killer diseases is critical work involving the best talent and at Cyclacel, international graduates are an intergral part of the team.

The Dundee, Cambridge and New Jersey-based biopharmaceutical company has recently recruited two Indian graduates under the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme to help with the research and development of its product pipeline, which includes treatments for cancer and other cell proliferation diseases, such as kidney disease and Type 2 Diabetes.

Madhu Kollareddy already had a BSc in life sciences when he came to Scotland to study in 2005 and has now graduated with an MSc in Biotechnology from the University of Abertay in Dundee.

Abhijeet Choudhary also has an MSc in Biotechnology from Abertay. Both graduates had worked with Cyclacel on industrial placements while they were studying and have now joined the company full-time under the two-year Fresh Talent scheme.

"They are lab-based research assistants using technical skills to carry out a variety of molecular and cell biology techniques within our research and development team," explained HR director Gill Christie.

"Madhu and Abhijeet both developed some of the technical skills needed to carry out this type of work while they were with us on placement, so by the time they had finished their MSc's they were already productive. Our supervisors are also very good at training them and developing their individual skills to make them an effective part of the team."

Madhu added: "I developed my skills here in Scotland and want to use them first here, and be involved in core research in my chosen field, so that when I go back to my own country I will feel a real sense of achievement and can offer so much more."

Cyclacel's team also includes international recruits from China, Bulgaria, France, the US, New Zealand and Ireland, while chief executive Spiro Rombotis is Greek.

"There are some highly specialised skills across the company that we've brought in over the years and we have to recruit from a global talent pool to find these," Christie said.

Case study:March 2007

CONTACT

Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals Inc
Dundee Technopole
James Lindsay Place
Dundee
DD1 5JJ

Tel: 01382 206062
www.cyclacel.com