AstraZeneca Scientists Visit Life Sciences UTC to Judge Year 12 Vaccine Challenge Presentations
On the first week after Easter, Liverpool Life Sciences UTC had the pleasure of welcoming seven professionals from AstraZeneca for a special showcase event marking the conclusion of our AZ Vaccine Challenge. Over 20 Year 12 students from both Liverpool Life Sciences UTC and The Studio School took part, presenting academic posters summarising their work on a complex and creative scientific challenge.
WHo are Astra zeneca?
Astra Zeneca is a multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company. In their own words, "We push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. Inspired by our values and what science can do, we are focused on accelerating the delivery of life-changing medicines that create enduring value for patients and society." To learn more about Astra Zeneca, click here.
Throughout the year, students have been working on designing a vaccine to combat a fictional viral outbreak of “Airborne Ebola”, as part of a project set by AstraZeneca at the start of the academic year. This task required them to apply their knowledge of biology and extend their research skills to consider a wide range of scientific and ethical factors.
As part of their response, students researched and justified key decisions in areas such as:
- Vaccine type and technology (e.g., mRNA, viral vector)
- Antigen selection
- Vaccine formulation
- Pre-clinical and clinical testing processes
The showcase gave students the chance to present their vaccine designs in an academic poster presentation format, similar to those used at professional scientific conferences. For many, it was their first time presenting in this way—and they did an outstanding job. Our students spoke with confidence, clarity, and real scientific insight, even when faced with challenging questions from our expert visitors.
The judging panel included AstraZeneca staff from a variety of roles, including a Principal Scientist, a Virologist, and a former UTC student, who were incredibly impressed by the quality of the posters and the professionalism of the presentations. In fact, the standard was so high that judging overran significantly as it was so difficult to choose a winner!
As part of the project’s conclusion, at least 10 students will be awarded a bespoke week-long work experience placement at AstraZeneca’s Speke site, giving them the chance to explore various aspects of the pharmaceutical industry first-hand.
This was a fantastic way to end the Vaccine Development Project, and we are incredibly proud of all the students who took part.
Well done to everyone involved. We extend our thanks to AstraZeneca for their continued support.