Innovate UK honours Bakul Gupta with a purple plaque
Innovate UK has honoured biotech entrepreneur Dr Bakul Gupta with a purple plaque which was unveiled at Imperial College, London, on Tuesday 21 May 2024. The unveiling of the prestigious Purple Plaque, which was organised by Professor Mary Ryan, Vice Provost of Research and Enterprise, and Ben Mumby-Croft, Director of Entrepreneurship at the Imperial Enterprise Lab, commemorates the pioneering achievements of Dr. Bakul Gupta and Deliver Biosciences, the first UK biotech company spearheading the development of scalable and affordable curative therapies for patients in need. Leveraging a ground-breaking nanoparticle-based platform technology, Deliver Biosciences is revolutionising the treatment landscape by genetically modifying cells within patients to deliver transformative cures.
Dr. Gupta, the CEO and Co-founder of Deliver Biosciences, has been driving the company’s vision since its inception in 2019, alongside her colleague, Dr. George Tetley. A distinguished alumna of UNSW Australia, Dr. Gupta holds a PhD and BSc in Nanotechnology and Chemistry. Following her postdoctoral training at Imperial College London under the guidance of Prof. Dame Molly Stevens, she embarked on her entrepreneurial journey with Deliver Biosciences.
Dr. Gupta has received numerous accolades, including being listed among the Top 30 Biotech Entrepreneurs to Watch and receiving prestigious accolades such as Innovate UK’s Women In Innovation award. Her contributions have left an indelible mark on the UK entrepreneurial ecosystem, inspiring future generations of innovators.
The Purple Plaque, awarded by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, signifies the significant impact of Dr. Gupta and Deliver Biosciences in advancing scientific innovation and improving patient care. Innovate UK is dedicated to fostering a vibrant innovation ecosystem that supports businesses in developing life-changing technologies.
Dr Sandeep Sandhu FRSB, Head of Stakeholder Relationships at Innovate UK Business Connect said in her citation, “you may have seen the blue plaques across the UK, there are 900 blue plaques in London alone, but only 1 in 7 is a pioneering female figure that is celebrated. Innovate UK initiated the purple plaque campaign to celebrate innovative female entrepreneurs by commemorating today’s trailblazing women. That is why it is important for us to mark women like Dr Bakul Gupta. She is using her ambition and creativity to spearhead scalable and affordable curative therapies for those in need.”
