Students explore the future of medicine in biotechnology outreach series
Students from Tonbridge, Weald of Kent Grammar School and Tonbridge Grammar School gathered for the final session of a three-part outreach programme exploring the science behind gene therapy and modern biotechnology. Designed to bridge A Level Biology with real-world biomedical research, the series introduced students to how scientists identify the genetic causes of disease, develop innovative treatments and collaborate across disciplines to bring therapies from the laboratory to patients.
Designed by Dr Ali Alidoust, Founder of Ednova and Fermentation Manager at The Francis Crick Institute, and delivered by Ednova with Dr Azadeh Kia, Vice President of Research at Beacon Therapeutics, the programme combined expert talks, case studies and interactive discussions, exploring how modern biotechnology is reshaping healthcare, from personalised treatments to advanced gene therapies.
Reflecting on the sessions, Dr Alidoust said, “What surprised me the most was the quality of thinking of the students, their engagement and curiosity. These sessions ran at the end of the school day, but they still brought a lot of energy, curiosity, and they asked some excellent questions.”
He also highlighted the importance of real-world context in science education, explaining, “The reason that I think it’s valuable for students to connect A Level studies to real world science is it turns biology from a subject into pathways and it answers the questions: why does it matter to learn this?”
Dr Kia, whose work focuses on gene therapy for retinal diseases, spoke about the transformative potential of biotechnology in medicine. She noted, “Advanced therapies as a whole, including gene therapy, would shift healthcare from managing symptoms to addressing the root causes at the genetic and molecular level.”
Students worked in groups of five and took on the role of a venture capital (VC) investment committee. Each group reviewed three contrasting gene therapy project scenarios (varying in disease area, risk, cost, regulatory complexity and impact) and decide which project they would invest in, explaining their reasoning. Once the groups reached a decision, one member briefly explain which scenario they have chosen to back and why to the rest of the group.
