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Welcome to BELS British Educated Life Scientists

BELS is a unique, purpose-led, collaborative initiative that is strengthening connections with British-educated life scientists who have risen to positions of power and influence in the health and life sciences around the world.

BELS expands awareness of and involvement in the UK health and life sciences with the BELS community and a broader international audience.

The BELS community has been developed over the past 20 years. We find British-educated life scientists working abroad, track their careers (sometimes back to the UK), and build engagement and trust with them. Most retain a keen interest in the UK.  BELS serves as a connector to help spark and propel collaboration, commerce, and progress for patients by tapping into their interests, influence, reach and collective spirit

The UK is a sweet spot: large and connected enough to be world leading in research and innovation,
but small enough to be very well internally-networked, with the NHS as a key inherent connector.” 
Tim Clackson,  President & CEO – Theseus Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge MA

The BELS List contains a powerhouse of 3,400 accomplished alumni of UK universities working at over 1,600 organisations throughout the health and life sciences sector in 43 countries outside the UK.   The influence of these executives, researchers, clinicians, academics and investors is considerable.

  • They play formidable roles in pharma, biotech, medtech and healthcare in industry, government, academia, research institutes, and medical charities throughout the world.
  • They hold considerable sway at their organizations, those which they advise, and with their industry peers.
  • They hold more than 500 c-suite positions and occupy over 1,000 board seats.

The BELS List is not shared—both to protect BELS members from being inundated with approaches and to exert a level of quality control over interactions. Members’ contact details will never be shared without their expressed permission.  

Serving as a connector into the UK and out to other global markets
We are plugged into the UK scene and can make connections and fast track access to UK assets.

We curate and share news of developments across this complex, important UK sector which is teeming with activity across the country.