Contacts for the Science and Innovation Team

Head of Science and Innovation: Dr. Jacqueline Ashmore | Profile
Telephone: (617) 245 4530

Senior Science and Innovation Officer: Neelangi Gunasekera | Profile
Telephone: (617) 245-4547

Science and Innovation Officer: Dr. Laura Maliszewski | Profile
Telephone: (617) 245-4548

Intern: Bridget Dolan

Fax: (617) 621 0220
E-Mail: bcgboston.enquiries@fco.gov.uk

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About the Science and Innovation team

Science and Innovation Annual Report 2007-08

The Science & Innovation team at the British Consulate in Boston promotes links between science and technology providers and users in the UK and US. Through its contacts in the US industry, academia and research institutions, the team identifies opportunities for collaboration between those on the cutting-edge of science and innovation in New England and the UK. In addition, they work to see that UK policymakers are fully informed about New England science and technology developments, as well as promoting the UK as a world-class leader in science and technology. The team facilitates international research collaboration and technology transfer, working closely with the Consulate's Trade and Investment teams.

In April 2002 the Consulate and its science team moved to its present location close to the region's technology heartbeat in Kendall Square, Cambridge. The Boston team is also part of the US Science & Technology network, which has offices in Washington, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston and Atlanta.
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Recent news

On September 21st, the Boston Science and Innovation team hosted MIT President Dr Susan Hockfield and a number of MIT faculty and associates for the UK-MIT partnership event. The S&I team has a long history of working with MIT from the inception of the S&I team through the Cambridge-MIT Institute to the present day. The event was an opportunity for both groups to reflect on our shared history and engage in stimulating conversation to drive future activities. Click here to read more, or view President Hockfield's remarks below.

The September 21st Boston Globe featured on the front page an article focusing on the work of the British and Swiss Consulates, putting us at the top of local Consulates who work on science and business opportunities.  We are pleased that the Boston British Consulate's efforts on science and business - just one aspect of our work - rank alongside those of the Swiss, who focus exclusively on science and innovation. Read about Boston's Science and Innovation team, the first in the US, and about the meeting of British ambassador to the US, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, with MIT president Dr. Susan Hockfield. Read more in our newsroom.

Lord Drayson, the UK's Minister for Science and Innovation, visited Boston and Cambridge to meet with local companies to discuss the UK Office of Life Sciences plan for investing in biological sciences and innovation. Click here  to learn more about the Office of Life Sciences and the UK Life Sciences Blueprint. Watch the video below to hear from Lord Drayson about his trip to Boston.

On September 2, Dr. Michael Whitaker of the NorthEast England Stem Cell Institute spoke at the SBS meeting ScreeningStem Cells: from Reprogramming to Regenerative Medicine. Part of asession focusing on the barriers between stem cell-based therapies andthe clinic, Dr. Whitaker’s talk explored the history of cell-basedtherapies and describing stem cells as a new class of medical deviceand encouraging the interaction of scientists and clinicians. Dr.Whitaker emphasized the need to present new therapies as a completepackage; both a product and a method that may require training forproper adoption and implementation.

Dr Michael Whitaker

Ms Lita Nelsen, Director of MIT's Technology Licensing Office, honoured with an MBE


Lita Nelsen MBE with Ambassador Nigel Sheinwald

In June 2009, Ms Lita Nelsen of MIT’s Technology Licensing Office was awarded an MBE in recognition of her service to British-American collaboration on technology and innovation.  Specifically, she played a leading role in the founding and evolution of Praxis, a unique and invaluable organization that provides knowledge transfer training in the UK for commercialization experts from British academic institutions and other public sector establishments.  

In addition, Ms Nelsen has been influential in shaping the UK’s technology transfer capabilities more broadly, and has supported the development of a flourishing and vibrant British community of knowledge transfer professionals.  The photo shows Ms Nelsen with the British Ambassador, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, at the Investiture ceremony at the British Embassy in Washington DC."