Jawdrop Life Sciences Summit 2025: From Gut to Brain - Tackling Obesity, Dementia and Beyond

Convening industry, academia, the NHS, government & investors to explore how the UK Life Sciences can create a healthier future for us all.

📅 Date: Tuesday, 11th February 2025
🚩 Location: Molecular Sciences Research Hub (MSRH), Imperial College London
82 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ

JAWDROP is back! 



The Jawdrop Life Sciences Summit is organised by Imperial College London and Upstream Nexus (a partnership between Imperial and Hammersmith & Fulham Council) and takes place in the White City Innovation District (WCID). 2025 will be its third year and as always, prepare for some jaw-dropping innovations & insights.

Dive into the cutting-edge science and innovation reshaping the future of health at the Jawdrop Summit. This year, we’re exploring how groundbreaking medical research and advancements can help keep us healthy both physically and mentally. Featuring panels on obesity and personalised nutrition, dementia research and care, and investment in life sciences, the summit brings together world-leading experts, pioneering companies, and visionary investors.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversations driving change in global healthcare.

Where we will be: The White City Innovation District (WCID) is at the heart of the ‘innovation borough’ that is Hammersmith & Fulham. Imperial’s White City Campus is a platform for innovation, entrepreneurship and multidisciplinary research. Here, Imperial is pioneering new ways of partnering and co-location through an entrepreneurial ecosystem with support, resources and facilities that span ideation, growth and acceleration. Since 2017, there has been £6 billion of investment in businesses based in H&F, which is three-quarters of the total for West London - and over 13,000 new jobs.Of this investment, £1.8 billion is in life sciences. WCID is the home to Novartis, Autolus and Synthace whilst Hammersmith is home to Orchard Therapeutics, Medidata. Across the borough, there are growing Life Science startups, including many with their roots in Imperial.

Why attend?


1

Connect, Collaborate & Grow:
Jawdrop is where industry, researchers and investors come together to shape the future.

2

Discover Opportunities:
Meet investors, showcase innovations & explore business development.

3

One-on-One Partnering Platform for Industry & Researchers:
Get those meetings in the diary before you rock up! Maximise your event experience with one-one-one meetings.

4

Experience It All:
 Insights, a dynamic startup showcase & an unmissable closing party—be part of 2025's most vibrant Life Sciences event!



Agenda

  • 10:30: Registration
  • 11:00: Welcome & Keynotes
  • 11:30: Panel 1: Cracking the Code: Obesity, Nutrition, and the Science of Personalised Health
  • 12:30: Lunch & Networking
  • 14:00: Panel 2: Brainstorms & Beyond: New Frontiers in Dementia Research & Care
  • 15:00: Break & Networking
  • 15:30: Startup Showcase
  • 16:00: Panel 3: Fundraising Perspectives from Investors & Startups
  • 17:00 - 19:30: Party

Panels

This year, we’re exploring how groundbreaking medical research and advancements can help keep us healthy both physically and mentally. 

Panel 1: Cracking the Code: Obesity, Nutrition, and the Science of Personalised Health

Explore major developments in metabolic health - is solving obesity the way to unlock overall better health? 

Panel 2: Brainstorms & Beyond: New Frontiers in Dementia Research & Care

The average lifespan may be peaking but 55 million people already suffer from dementia and that number will only increase. How can we step back from the precipice? 

Panel 3: Fundraising Perspectives from Investors & Startups

What does it take to succeed with your fundraising? Learn from top investors and innovative startups.

Speakers

Panel 1: Cracking the Code:
Obesity, Nutrition, and the Science of Personalised Health

Professor Gary Frost

Chair of Nutrition and Dietetics (Imperial College London); Director (Melico)

Gary Frost

Professor Tricia Tan

Consultant in Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Medicine (Imperial College London & NHS Trust)

Tricia Tan

Chris Edson

CEO (Second Nature)

Chris Edson

Bill Haynes 

Corporate Vice President, Novo Nordisk Research Centre Oxford (Novo Nordisk)

Bill Haynes

Panel 2: Brainstorms & beyond:
New frontiers in Dementia research & care

Professor David Sharp

Director of Care Research & Technology Centre (UK Dementia Research Institute)

Dave Sharp

Dr. Francesco Aprile

Senior Lecturer in Biological Chemistry and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow (Imperial College London) 

Francesco A. Aprile

Katharine Willmette

Director Adult Social Care (LBHF)

Katharine Willmette

David Reynolds PhD

Venture Partner (Dementia Discovery Fund)

David Reynolds

Panel 3: Fundraising:
Perspectives from investors & startups

Dinika Mahtani

Partner (Cherry VC)

Dinika Mahtani

Karolina Zapadka

Life Science Investor (Parkwalk)

Karolina Zapadka

John Anderson

Chief Investment Officer (Imperial College London)

John Anderson

Matthieu Vallin

Investor (Octopus Energy)

Matthieu Vallin

Partners

Ticketing

To enhance networking opportunities, we are introducing paid tickets for 2025. Free tickets remain available for current staff and students of Imperial College London, Imperial NHS Trust, and life sciences businesses based in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham. To qualify for free tickets, please register using your Imperial or work email address. The organisers reserve the right to deny free tickets if eligibility cannot be verified.

Register now