1. Life after Academia
Doug Brown
Head of biomedical research
Multiple Sclerosis Society

2. My journey so far
BSc Biochemistry and genetics, Sheffield
Molecular Biologist, LGC (12 months)
PhD, Cambridge
Post doc, NIMR, Mill Hill
MS Society

3. Thought processes
BSc Biochemistry and genetics, Sheffield

Molecular Biologist, LGC (12 months)
PhD, Cambridge


Post doc, NIMR, Mill Hill
??????
? Postdoc
MS Society ? Industry/biotech
? Teaching

4. MS Society
Largest UK charity supporting people with MS
40,000 members, 300 branches
Research, Info, Support, Campaigning
£4-5m on research every year
Largest charitable funder of MS research in UK

5. My role: Head of biomedical research
Grant round
Programme grants
Collaborations
National/international initiatives: infrastructure/
strategy
Research communications: Media, talks, writing
Fundraising

6. The good, the bad, the ugly
Good:
• Job variety
• Working with Researchers/people affected by MS
• Leading/supporting initiatives that enhances research effort
Bad
• Not enough money
• Speed of research and expectations of patients
Ugly
• Kidnap threat!

7. Well equipped
Understand challenges and opportunities in academia
• To shape research funding processes/initiatives
• To communicate to staff/patients
Understand science
Negotiation
Problem solving
Determination

8. How to enter sector
Roles: management, research comms
Job sites:
• Charities websites , jobs.ac.uk, charityjobs.co.uk, Guardian jobs
Volunteer for a charity – not necessarily in role but just get
experience of how charity works, fundraising
Always good to work for charity close to heart, gets you up in
the morning!