A cohort of academic theme leads has been appointed to strengthen transatlantic ties through new convergence science and innovation networks.

Representing seven diverse themes of science and technology research spanning technology, the environment, space, health and bioengineering, the academic leads will support the development of Imperial Global USA networks and partnerships to develop solutions to critical global challenges.    

This announcement comes on the same day that scientists from Imperial reveal the findings from a collaboration with tech giant Google who recruited them to test their co-scientist, an unreleased artificial intelligence system with the potential to supercharge the biomedical research process.

“There is a clear synergy between the world-leading convergence science and technological innovation in the Imperial WestTech Corridor in London and the vibrant science and tech eco-system in San Francisco’s Silicon Valley and across the USA." Professor Hugh Brady President

Wendy Tan-White MBE, the first Chair of the Imperial Global USA Advisory Board and CEO of Intrinsic, an Alphabet Company, will support the expansion of Imperial Global USA by helping to connect Imperial academics and entrepreneurs with their counterparts in San Francisco and beyond, and to accelerate the international scientific and economic impact of their work.

Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London said: “We are proud that Imperial has a long legacy of transatlantic collaboration and Imperial Global USA continues this by creating and nurturing the kind of partnerships that will lead to world-changing scientific discoveries.

“There is a clear synergy between the world-leading convergence science and technological innovation in the Imperial WestTech Corridor in London and the vibrant science and tech eco-system in San Francisco’s Silicon Valley and across the USA.  

“I am delighted to welcome the seven academic theme leads to Imperial Global USA whose world-leading academic excellence and entrepreneurial talent will help drive our Science for Humanity Strategy, creating links between our network of global hubs and Imperial’s vibrant research and innovation community.” 

Meet the Academic Theme Leads 

The seven priority themes and the academic theme leads representing each of them are: 

Human and Artificial Intelligence 

Professor Aldo Faisal, Co-Director of the School of Convergence Science in Human and Artificial Intelligence, Professor of AI and Neuroscience in the Department of Bioengineering and the Department of Computing, Faculty of Engineering 

Advanced Materials and Cleantech 

Professor Mary Ryan, Vice Provost for Research & Enterprise and the Armourers and Brasiers’ Chair for Materials Science  

Health Technologies 

Professor Anthony Bull, Co-Director of the School of Convergence Science in Health and Technology, Professor of Musculoskeletal Mechanics at the Department of Bioengineering, Director of the Musculoskeletal Medical Engineering Centre and Director of MedTechOne 

Space and Satellite Technologies 

Professor Jonathan Eastwood, Co-Director of the School of Convergence Science in Space, Security and Telecoms, Professor of Space Physics in the Department of Physics and Director of Imperial Space Lab 

Deep Tech Entrepreneurship 

Professor Ramana Nanda, Associate Dean Enterprise, Professor of Entrepreneurial Finance, and Director of the Institute for Deep Tech Entrepreneurship in the Business School 

Engineering Biology for Health and Environment 

Professor Karen Polizzi, Co-Director of the Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, Deputy Director of the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Proteins, and Professor of Biotechnology in the Department of Chemical Engineering  

Biotech 

Professor Paul Kellam, Professor of Virus Genomics in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Vice President of Infectious Diseases and Vaccines at Kymab Ltd. 

Imperial Global USA partnerships 

The Imperial Global USA hub opened in October 2024, making Imperial the first UK university to have a permanent science and tech base on US soil, providing an ideal springboard for partnership-building.   

One example of a recent Imperial Global USA partnership is the new $150 million Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials led by Imperial College London and supported by California’s UC Berkeley.  The centre’s ambitious aim is to develop a sustainable model for materials production to support the global transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. 

Another example is the cutting-edge research collaboration with the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), a nationally recognised paediatric healthcare system in California, which seeks to advance the use of artificial intelligence in paediatric care. 

The hub also plays a pivotal role in supporting start-ups and spin-outs founded by Imperial alumni to reach new investors and potential partners. An Imperial Global USA venture trek, led by the Enterprise Lab, helped health tech company OSSTEC take their total investment to date up to £2million and brought their innovative bioengineering solutions for orthopaedic implants to new clinical and commercial audiences.    

Join our Imperial Global USA LinkedIn community to keep up to date with the latest US news and opportunities for collaboration.