Gratitude

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We have not been in touch for a few months but we have been busier than ever before. It has been through tireless work of our team as well as the support of many other people that this year has been an incredibly busy and productive year.  Usually during the month of November, like everyone else we are getting ready to complete some projects and meet milestones and also do follow-ups before the holidays.  November is also a time I am excited to reach out and thank colleagues and supporters who have been instrumental in our progress and achievements.

 

We started this year with the news of being recognised for excellence in research and innovation and as one of the UK Life Sciences Innovator 2023 in February. We are grateful to the amazing and hard working people at the UK Department of Trade and Business who first interviewed us and selected us among hundreds of companies but also continued supporting us for the last few months.  Another recognition followed with being recognised as one of the 15 most innovative companies by the North East Innovation SuperNetwork.  We are also grateful for this recognition.  These recognitions have given us our launchpad this year for the next coming busy months ahead.

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Throughout the year we continued working hard to further our mission of advancing and developing our life saving therapies and reach out to as many other companies, organisations and academic institutions for collaborative projects. We have established strategic partnerships to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative therapies with several organisations and you will hear more about them in the coming months. These collaborations will enable us to bring first in-class therapies to patients faster and more efficiently.

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Earlier this month, Nature Journal published a Q & A article with me, which was the result of a number of conversations and questions and answers with Ms Raveena Bhambra.  If you meet Raveena, you are immediately struck by her insightful and pointed questions. I was so pleasantly surprised that from over about two hours of conversation and many more questions and answers, she had selected some very interesting highlights of my career path and my reasons for taking a path that was uniquely mine.  From hundreds of emails and messages from all over the world and hundreds of connection invites on LinkedIn right after the publication, I recognised that sharing my journey has struck a chord for many scientists and especially for young women (scientists).  I know many scientists perhaps at some point in their career journey ask the same questions.  I also recognise that many women scientists during their path question their career choices and impact.  For me as I explained to Raveena, I have continuously searched for a purpose and perhaps more importantly “my purpose and impact”.  I want to thank Raveena and the most impressive Nature Careers editors team for all their work on the article.

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I am also grateful to the Rosalind Franklin Society for highlighting the Nature article in their November Briefings.  Earlier this month I received an email from the executive director Karla Shepard Rubinger.  It is a great honour to be included among such accomplished women in their newsletter.  The Rosalind Franklin Society is an interdisciplinary, and international society which recognises, fosters, and advances the important contributions of women in the life sciences and affiliated disciplines, and celebrates the contributions of outstanding women. 

 

I am also excited to be invited to join the cohort of Women's International Networking Programme 2023/2024. The programme has been designed to increase the participation of women-led businesses in international trade with virtual training, business mentoring, panel discussions and peer to peer networking opportunities.

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As this year comes to a close shortly, we also remember our good friend and colleague Dr. Waseem Malick who passed away about a year ago.  Waseem’s dedication to scientific excellence, never ending support of our company and team and commitment to make a difference by bringing lifesaving therapies to patients will always remain a part of our mission.  We continue to honour Waseem's legacy and his mission to make a difference in the lives of patients.

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As we reflect on our achievements including new patents and publications this year, we are eager to embark on new endeavours in the coming year. Our priorities for the next year include: a) Advancing Research. Continuing our exploration of groundbreaking and transforming scientific discoveries and advancing our modalities to the next stage of development; b) Strengthening Partnerships. Forging new collaborations and nurturing existing partnerships to foster the exchange of knowledge and accelerate the development of life-saving therapies; c) Investing in Talent. Attracting and retaining exceptional talent to drive our research and development efforts forward, enhancing our capabilities and bringing us closer to fulfilling our mission; and d) Raising investment for our next stage of growth. All of this means that the coming months will be even busier. 

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We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your continued support and interest in SMDG. Be sure to follow us on social media to stay updated on our latest achievements, partnerships, and breakthroughs.

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Thank you for being a part of our journey.

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Shadi

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November 2023