Neil Renault

Neil joined the IBioIC in August 2017 as the FlexBio equipment centre facility manager at Heriot Watt University. He now oversees both of IBioIC’s equipment centre, including RapidBio and Strathclyde university.  Reporting to the Operation Director to ensure operational delivery of facility provision, resourcing, timing and pipeline project targets are all met and aligned with the IBioIC's remit to 'accelerate commercialisation' of industrial biotechnology industry and academia projects.

Previously having worked in industry for 8 years, Neil managed an R&D project within a GMP-regulated environment. His previous role was for Scottish-based diagnostic biomanufacturing firm Quotient as a senior scientist and lab manager, bringing a diagnostic chip for blood transfusion (‘MosaiQ’) from proof of concept through to full validated manufacture.

Neil studied his BSc in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Kent, where he is originally from.  During his degree he did a Sandwich year at a Bioprocess development group at Pfizer, focusing on downstream purification and analytical method development.  His PhD was at the University of Nottingham developing a diagnostic protein microarray for antibody-specific food allergy testing.

In his spare time Neil also competes for Scotland in long distance running with a PB of 64:50 for the half marathon and 2:18:23 for the full marathon and was 2nd at the Edinburgh marathon in 2015.  He is also the proud owner of a 23 year old Mazda Bongo campervan. Along with his partner they regularly join the two activities into weekend ‘run-cations’ away all over Scotland and the UK.