University of Dundee researchers, projects and spinout companies have been named as finalists for the 2026 Scotland’s Life Sciences Awards.
The awards recognise outstanding leadership, innovation and achievement across Scotland’s life sciences sector. This year’s submissions reflected the continued growth, ambition and impact of life sciences organisations and leaders across the country.
Entries were assessed by an independent judging panel drawn from across industry, academia and investment, with four Dundee-linked finalists announced by the award organisers. These are:
- Rising Stars: Extraordinary Talent – Dr Andrew Woodland, CEO of Dundee spinouts Tay Therapeutics & Hawkhill Therapeutics
- Innovation: Animal Health, Agritech, and Aquaculture – RHAPSEDA™ Animal Health, a spinout formed by Professor Helge Dorfmueller.
- Innovative Collaboration Award – PhaSER Biomedical (Dundee spinout led by Professor Roland Wolf) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- Sustainability Award – DesignHOPES (a Dundee-instigated collaboration developing sustainable design-led innovation for a green transformation of health services)
PhaSER, Tay Therapeutics and Hawkhill Therapeutics are all based at the University’s Life Sciences Innovation Hub.
In addition, the Abbott Group’s Dundee site – which began life as Dundee spinout Shield Diagnostics in 1982 – was nominated in the Outstanding Skills Development category.
Dr Paul Davies, Vice-Principal of the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University, said, “Dundee has an excellent record of success at Scotland’s Life Sciences Awards and I am delighted to see another strong showing with so many nominees linked to the University.
“Dundee is one of the UK’s leading centres for life sciences and our researchers, graduates and spinouts are making a massive contribution to the health and wealth of Scotland,”
The Scotland’s Life Sciences Awards will take place on 12 March 2026 in Glasgow, alongside the inaugural Scotland’s Life Sciences Conference, bringing together senior leaders, innovators and stakeholders from across the sector.
A full list of finalists can be found here.