Bridgeen Callan & Dr. Roisin Hyde Receive Innovation Awards & 75,000 Euros Grant Each

• Bridgeen Callan & Dr. Róisín Hyde receives Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards
• Each received grant of £75,000 for groundbreaking work
• They were honoured for cancer treatments & sustainable construction

Recently, Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards has honoured Bridgeen Callan from Ballycastle and Belfast’s Róisín Hyde for pioneering cancer treatments as well as sustainable construction solutions. Coming from Northern Ireland, these two females were recognised with the award, having received grant of £75,000 each for their groundbreaking work in their respective industries.

In addition, the Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards celebrates females who are leading innovation with their unique ideas. It focuses on those who are making a significant change/impact in areas that includes healthcare and sustainable construction.

Bridgeen Callan is a native of Ballycastle. Currently, she is the CEO of KLAS Therapeutics. She also holds position of Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Ulster University, where she has been working since 2016. In 2021, Bridgeen joined KLAS therapeutics as Chief Scientific Officer. Besides, she has also worked with Robert Gordon University for over 3 years.

Moreover, Dr. Róisín Hyde is currently working as an Associate Lecturer at Royal College of Art more than a year now. She is also the founder of NoMAD which was established in the year 2021. Considering her academical background, she has also served as a Lecturer at Ulster University and PHD Researcher at Queen's University Belfast.

After winning the award, Bridgeen stated, “Witnessing the devastating impact of melanoma on patients and their families has been a driving force behind our work. Our photodynamic therapy offers a breakthrough in treating metastatic melanoma non-invasively. Receiving an Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award will help us advance our mission and provide hope for the future of patients with melanoma and other types of cancer.”

Furthermore, Fleur Anderson, the Parliamentary under secretary of state for Northern Ireland added, “Congratulations to the Northern Ireland winners, whose innovative work on cancer treatment and sustainable construction has been deservedly recognised by this prestigious award. Supporting women to realise their potential and bring their innovative business ideas into being benefits the entire community, enabling progressive and creative ideas to become reality.”