Thomas Jamieson
PIPS Host Organisation: UCB Pharma

Project title: Manipulation and engineering of lipid metabolic pathways in CHO cells to enhance processability of cell culture supernatants

During Thomas’s placement at UCB, his industry co-funder, he was responsible for developing monoclonal antibody (mAb)-producing CHO cell lines and evaluating their mAb output under various feed strategies and genetic modifications targeting specific cellular pathways. Throughout the placement, he gained hands-on experience with industry-standard techniques for culturing and maintaining cell lines, as well as analytical methods for assessing therapeutic protein production—skills that are often less accessible in academic environments.

The placement also provided valuable opportunities to present findings in company and departmental meetings, helping him build confidence and adapt to the professional standards expected in the biopharmaceutical industry. This experience solidified Thomas’s ambition to pursue a career in antibody and biotherapeutic research within an industrial setting. Working closely with a collaborative team, he has developed essential research competencies that will significantly enhance his future career prospects in the field.

Following his PIPS placement, Thomas shared that the research he conducted during his PIPS —and continues to pursue during his PhD—has the potential to directly enhance the availability of therapeutics to the public, contributing meaningfully to broader healthcare improvements.