The Power of Collaboration

​

Collaborations and Working together have always been a significant hallmark of scientific research and how we (as scientists and societies) have achieved incredible things. This has been shown over and over again and perhaps a recent great example is how many companies, nonprofits and governmental organisations and teams of scientists worked together to bring the COVID-19 vaccines to millions all over the world.

 

At SMDG we believe in the power of collaborations and partnerships and look forward to many new collaborations and partnerships this year. I was recently attending a rare disease conference where in speaking with colleagues, I emphasized this fact.  It is not enough to say that we are receptive to collaborations. The real test is if an organisation is really following what they preach.  Over and over again, when I am giving talks to patient groups, they ask me this question; “What are you doing and are you working together?”  When we get emails from caregivers and family members of patients suffering from debilitating diseases, they ask us the same questions.  It is my strongest belief that we can do better and we should do better when it comes to partnering with other researchers. Therefore, this year, this has become a more emphasized mission for us.  We are here for patients and it is our responsibility to do what is needed to bring safe and effective therapies to patients.

​

Talking about collaborations, we have been busy working with colleagues and partners on a number of recent research projects and publications. An example of one of these papers is a review paper titled; “Perspectives on complement and phagocytic cell responses to nanoparticles: from fundamentals to adverse reactions” published recently.  I hope you take time to read this paper and come back again and visit us as we are working on expanding our paper’s page here on our website and listing many papers that our team has been working on in the last few years.  I would also like to mention that we dedicated this recent paper to our friend, mentor and advisor, Dr. Waseem Malick, who passed away recently.  He is greatly missed by our team.

​

On another important subject, and perhaps related to partnerships and collaborations, I would like to mention that since earlier this year in January 2023, we have been attending a number of international conferences and have continued meeting with potential partners. We look forward to meeting many new colleagues in some of the upcoming conferences and events. Please send us a meeting request to meet with our team at the next event or conference.

​

Finally, I would like to close this blog with some great news.  SMDG has been recognised as a UK Life Sciences Innovator 2023. The announcement, which was made in February 2023, followed a rigorous application and screening process of hundreds of companies by the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT). This recognition for a title which is given to the most innovative UK companies has only been possible because of the hard work of our team and our continued commitment to do better for patients.  I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the hard working people at DBT who have been amazing and so supportive of our team.  

​

​

Please keep in touch.

​

Shadi

​

March 2023