MSD partners with health technology company to help optimise lung cancer care

November 2024

MSD has teamed up with health technology company Axana, and 12 lung cancer clinicians from across Europe to develop a new digital solution to speed up lung cancer care.

The ‘NextGen MDT’ programme aims to help clinicians to make cancer care more efficient and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes.

Lung cancer care has become increasingly complex¹, with numerous tests which must be completed before clinicians can diagnose and treat patients,² and many treatment options available.¹However, these tests can be difficult to coordinate² and involve different hospital departments or NHS services.³

Clincians specialising in lung cancer gather weekly in multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings to review each patient’s case and dicuss treatment options.⁴ If clinicians don’t have all of the information that they need prior to the MDT meeting, treatment decisions can be delayed, which can have a negative impact on patient outcomes.⁴

At MSD, we’re determined to tackle this problem. We know that, when it comes to cancer, time is of the essence.

The NextGen MDT programme will strive to give clinicians the time and information that they need to care for their patients. Through the use of intelligent software, the programme aims to integrate patient information into one unified dashboard – simplifying the process of connecting different hospital information systems so that all of the necessary insights about a patient’s cancer are in one place, enabling clinicians to make treatment decisions at the MDT meeting.

Our ultimate goal is to improve the lung cancer patient pathway – reducing the workload of clinicians while speeding up patient access to timely, optimal treatment.

Professor Neal Navani, Respiratory Medicine Consultant and Clinical Lead for Lung Cancer Services at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust supported the development of the NextGen MDT programme. Commenting on the project, he said:

“This ambitious NextGen MDT project will help to streamline and improve our cancer MDT discussions, allowing us to make better decisions which will benefit our patients and healthcare systems.”

Rachel Houlding, National Oncology Healthcare Director at MSD UK, said:

“Early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer is crucial to improving patient outcomes.⁵ Making the patient pathway more efficient is one way to helping patients get the right care for them, sooner – and we believe there is a crucial role that technology can play to achieve this. We are delighted to be working alongside Axana and clinicians across Europe develop such a solution, and look forward to entering the next phase of activity in 2025.”

Jeroen van Duffelen, CEO of Axana, said:

“At Axana, we harness the best minds in data integration and artificial intelligence to address critical challenges in oncology. Our goals are twofold: to enhance clinician efficiency and to expedite patient treatments. Our software streamlines patient data collection and coordination of multidisciplinary team meetings facilitating efficient decision-making by clinical teams. We anticipate that our software will optimize lung cancer care pathways, potentially leading to improved patient outcomes.”

For more information about the NextGen MDT project, please contact corporateaffairsuk@msd.com.

[1] Morabito A, Mercadante E, Muto P, Manzo A, Palumbo G, Sforza V, et al. Improving the quality of patient care in lung cancer: key factors for successful multidisciplinary team working. Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2024;5:260–77. https://doi.org/10.37349/etat.2024.00217

[2] UK Lung Cancer Coalition (November 2023). Scottish Pathways Matter. Available from: https://www.uklcc.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-10/Final%20UKLCC%20Scottish%20Pathways%20Matter%20report_Nov%202023.pdf

[3] NHS England. Diagnosis: Lung cancer. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lung-cancer/diagnosis/ [Accessed: September 2024]

[4] Cancer Research UK. Meeting Patient’s Needs: Improving the effectiveness of Multidisciplinary Team meetings in cancer services. 2020. Available from: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/sites/default/files/full_report_meeting_patients_needs_improving_the_effectiveness_of_multidisciplinary_team_meetings_.pdf

[5] Cancer Research UK. Why is early diagnosis important? 2023. Available from: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-symptoms/why-is-early-diagnosis-important/1000#:~:text=Around%206%20in%2010%20people,at%20the%20most%20advanced%20stage.

GB-NON-10247 | November 2024

Innovation

Delivering a shared vision for pulmonary arterial hypertension in the UK

September 2024

What can we do, working as partners, to improve the lives of people with pulmonary arterial hypertension?

MSD in the UK have published a policy consensus statement, A Shared Vision for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in the UK, with recommendations driven by expert insights outlining a unified vision for the future of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) care in the UK.

PAH is a rare subtype of pulmonary hypertension.^[i]The time to diagnosis within pulmonary hypertension remains a persistent challenge. In a recent patient survey, 51% of respondents reported waiting more than a year for their diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension after first noticing symptoms. For a quarter of respondents, this wait took longer than three years.^[ii]

Created with input from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK, and specialist experts from across the UK, this Consensus Statement provides policy and systems recommendations aimed at reducing the time to diagnosis as a route to improve patient outcomes and deliver savings to the health system.

Read our Policy Consensus Statement

PAH is a rare and debilitating condition that has significant personal impact.^[iii],[iv]It also cost the NHS in England an estimated £43.2 million between 2013 and 2017 through repeat appointments and hospital care^[v] and has a broader impact on the UK economy through loss of workforce productivity.^[iii]

The insights and initiatives held within this Consensus Statement reflect the broad challenges in rare diseases. There is no ‘silver bullet’ which could solve all issues, but 16 recommendations across 8 stakeholder groups, which if implemented have the potential to transform PAH care in the UK.

This Consensus Statement and the activities which formed its development were funded by MSD. We thank all who have contributed and have endorsed its recommendations.

Dr Iain Armstrong, Chair, Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK & Nurse Consultant, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, said:

“PAH carries a huge burden of symptoms and too many people are still waiting too long to be diagnosed. The impact of this delay is wide-ranging, but ultimately, it’s devastating for those individuals – and they deserve better. This consensus statement sheds light on the problem, and we hope it will help drive the change that is so badly needed.”

Professor Jay Suntharalingam, Consultant Respiratory Physician, Royal United Hospitals Bath, said:

“Although rare, Pulmonary Hypertension can be treated – often though patients are diagnosed late or not at all. This report offers a number of practical ways to address this, potentially allowing more people to receive potentially lifesaving interventions, now and in the future.”

Jasveen Chugh, Pharmaceuticals Business Unit Director, MSD UK, said:

“Too often, people are waiting too long before they receive an accurate PAH diagnosis, and their care can start. Once patients are diagnosed NHS care is commendable. Delays in diagnosis are multi-faceted, including increased costs to the health service, and most importantly negatively impacting patient quality of life and outcomes. The insights and recommendations from experts within this Consensus Statement deliver tangible ways different stakeholders can work individually and together, to reduce the time to diagnosis for PAH patients.”

[i] N. Galiè, M. Palazzini, A. Manes (2010). Pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension: a clarification is needed. European Respiratory Journal 36: 986-990; DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00038410

[ii] PHA UK (2023) Breathless, not voiceless: What it means to live with PH today. Available at: https://www.phauk.org/research/pha-uk-led-research/breathless-not-voiceless-what-it-means-to-live-with-ph-today/ [Accessed August 2024]

[iii] British Heart Foundation. Research into pulmonary arterial hypertension. Available at: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/research/pulmonary-arterial-hypertension [Accessed August 2024]

[iv] PHA UK (2019). Beneath the surface: the true financial impact of pulmonary hypertension. Available at: https://www.phauk.org/living-with-pulmonary-hypertension/benefits-and-financial-help/the-true-financial-impact-of-ph-survey-results/ [Accessed August 2024]

[v] Exposto F, Hermans R, Nordgren Å et al. (2021). Burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension in England: retrospective HES database analysis. Ther Adv Respir Dis. DOI: 10.1177/1753466621995040. Available at: Burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension in England: retrospective HES database analysis – PMC (nih.gov)

GB-NON-09962 | September 2024

Our People

Employee volunteering – many ways to make a difference

August 2024

All year round our employees take part in a full range of volunteering experiences, from refereeing at swimming events, to painting walls, or mentoring young people.

All MSD employees are given 40 hours of volunteering time to support a cause they feel passionate about. Every effort counts and individuals have found many ways to make a unique positive impact.

Refereeing at the swimming British Championships

MSD Sales Manager, Adrian, has been volunteering every year for the past twelve years at swimming events across the country. After his daughters started competing in the sport, Adrian become involved in the swimming events. He is now proud to be one of the few referees from a diverse background and that the volunteering policy allows him to pursue this passion. Through his commitment, he has now progressed to become a referee and receives invitations to events across the country, including the Olympic trials in London.

One of his most cherished moments from his volunteering experience is when he was asked to present the medals at the end of the British Championships. To Adrian’s surprise, he had the incredible opportunity to present a medal to his own daughter!

Brightening up community spaces

The ALIANZA UK team recently put their volunteering hours to fantastic use by supporting the Latin American House charity! Our MSD volunteers embarked on a two-day project to paint the office areas of the Latin American House Community Hub, specifically the Brazil and Colombia rooms.

Despite the scorching hot weather, the team did a great job and found it incredibly rewarding to the see the transformation. The ALIANZA UK team contributed to creating a more welcoming and vibrant environment for staff, clients and visitors.

Keeping history alive

One of our employees has found immense joy in utilising her volunteering hours at The American Museum in Bath, a museum of American art and culture surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Working in the herb shop, MSD Sales Manager, Janet, collects herbs from the garden to create Tussie Mussies, a colonial American item to sell to visitors. She volunteers regularly and has started taking her daughter along to volunteer with her!

Being one of the four Americans working at the museum, Janet also appreciates the chance to have conversations with a variety of people about her home country, its history and culture. Volunteering has not only provided her with a connection to her home country but has had a positive impact on her mental wellbeing and Janet encourages others to explore volunteering opportunities available to them!

Mentoring for positive change

Vicky dedicates one hour a week to Motivation, Commitment and Resilience (MCR) Pathways, a national mentoring programme that aims to make a meaningful difference to the lives of young people. Volunteering for one-hour a week during the school term, she consistently provides positive support to teenagers facing various challenges.

Vicky underwent training before being matched with her mentee, ensuring she had the necessary skills for the role, with the programme striving to pair mentors with mentees who share similar interests to create meaningful connections.

She claims ‘At first, I was nervous and wasn’t sure what I had to offer but I believe we all have the necessary skills to simply be there for a young person. All they need is someone to be interested in them.’

Our employees have a number of team initiatives also under way including a donation drive and volunteering at the Whitechapel Mission Charity this coming autumn.

The diverse volunteering experiences of our MSD employees exemplify the variety of ways to make a positive impact. These stories illustrate that regardless of the form it takes, volunteering allows individuals to connect to their passions, make a difference and creative positive change in their communities and beyond.

GB-NON-09983 | August 2024

Health Awareness

Supporting Carers in Lung Cancer

August 2024

How can we support individuals who are caring for their loved ones with lung cancer?

In collaboration with the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation (RCLCF), MSD in the UK have developed a booklet specifically aimed at supporting and guiding individuals who are caring for their loved ones with lung cancer, often known as carers. A carer is someone who looks after a family member, partner, or friend that requires assistance and support during their lung cancer journey. The care they provide is unpaid and can involve practical or emotional support¹.

The booklet, ‘How can I support my loved one with Lung Cancer?’, contains valuable insights from Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation’s patient and carer volunteers. These insights provide information that they found useful when they or their loved ones received their diagnosis. Offering prompts for questions to ask at different stages of diagnosis and treatment, important definitions, and information about available support for carers, the booklet aims to empower individuals to effectively advocate for the needs and concerns of their loved ones throughout their lung cancer journey.

Download the booklet

This booklet has been fully funded and developed by MSD, with input from Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation

Why carers?

According to research from the Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC), a worldwide organisation representing those with lung cancer, many individuals with lung cancer rely on their family and friends for support². These carers often take on various responsibilities, such as offering emotional support, accompanying their loved ones to medical appointments, asking questions during appointments, and providing practical assistance at home. However, these carers may require additional information and support to effectively fulfill their caregiving role.

At MSD in the UK, we put patients at the centre of everything we do and it’s critical that we understand, respect, and honour the experiences of patients and those supporting them. We encourage patient communities to become their own health advocates, make informed decisions and be partners in engaging with the health care systems. This booklet was designed to equip those caring for their loved one with the necessary information to support and advocate for them throughout their lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Lorraine Dallas, the Director of Prevention, Information & Support at the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, emphasises the importance of this guide in helping individuals cope with their loved one’s lung cancer diagnosis.

“When someone you love is diagnosed with lung cancer, it can feel overwhelming. This guide helps, giving the key information that you need to prepare yourself and support someone living with lung cancer.”
Lorraine Dallas, Director of Prevention, Information & Support, Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation

MSD is a Trusted Information Creator accredited by the Patient Information Forum. The PIF TICK logo assures readers that MSD’s health information production process adheres to ten criteria, including meeting the genuine needs of individuals, involving end-users in resource creation, and considering health inequalities.

We would love suggestions on how we could do better and things we should do more of. Email our Medical Information team at: medicalinformationuk@msd.com.

¹ NHS England. Who is considered a carer? n.d.; Available from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/comm-carers/carers/ [Accessed January 2025]

² 2021 Patient Experience Survey. Global Lung Cancer Coalition. 2021; Available from: https://www.lungcancercoalition.org/surveys/2021-patient-experience-survey/ [Accessed January 2025]

GB-NON-10717 | January 2025

Responsibility

Shining a light on our work in Diversity and Inclusion

March 2024

MSD’s Chief Diversity Officer, Celeste Warren, strives to ensure that our policies and practices provide an equal opportunity for all so that our workforce reflects the diversity of the world. This she says “enables us to better understand the needs of the patients, health care providers and customers we serve,”

And that means embedding a culture of diversity and inclusion at every level of the organisation, a commitment that’s central to our business growth as well as to our employees’ well-being.

At MSD in the UK, our work is more than just scientific: we recognise that we have an important part to play in tackling health disparities to drive improvements in healthcare access and outcomes for patients across the UK.

We believe in creating a more equitable and inclusive society where everyone has the best chance of staying healthy and well, regardless of their background, identity and circumstances.

Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) are at the centre of everything we do and is part of our ways of working. Our employees with shared experiences and their allies come together as Employee Business Resource Groups (EBRG’s). Providing a community and informing change across our business, our EBRGs help everyone at MSD bring their authentic selves to work, and ultimately champion and drive improvements externally in our mission to save and improve lives.

Prioritising diversity and inclusion benefits employees and our business

We’ve made a lot of progress on our diversity and inclusion efforts in our workplace, including:

- Strong membership growth across our 10 EBRGs globally with approximately 21,500 employees who belong to EBRGs, and many of our UK employees are active participants.
- Launch of an internal Ally Resource Centre to provide access to resources and educational materials to support each employee’s D&I learning journey.
- Development of an integrated disability inclusion strategy to create a disability-confident workplace culture where people with disabilities feel accepted, connected and can fully contribute.
- An annual UK Health Equity hackathon, hosted by our LEAD network (League of Employees of African Descent) in collaboration with Eli Lilly’s embRACE brings together over 55 undergraduate students from a range of diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, inviting curious minds to ‘hack’ the problem of health equity, explore potential solutions, and network. As well an increasing awareness of health equity, the event contributes to a pipeline of diverse talent as the winning group are accelerated through the early talent programme assessments.
- Our UK EBRG’s have recently driven the implementation of a new ‘Transitioning At Work’ policy, a new ‘Menopause Policy’ and a mandatory ‘Sexual Harassment’ training programme for all employees
- MSD is proud to be a member of the Patient Information Forum (PIF) and are part of their Trusted Information Creator accreditation scheme (the PIF TICK) – the UK’s only quality mark for health information. We commit that our public-facing materials are produced in line with PIF’s criteria, ensuring that our information is accessible and accurate.

We are on a journey, and are proud to be shining a light on our work so far. Watch our video and follow our stories on social media over the coming weeks.

GB-NON-09023 | February 2024 (approved for continued use February 2026)

Our People

A leading people-first employer: Top Employer UK/Europe 2024

January 2024

The Top Employers Institute is the global authority on recognising excellence in people practices and for the seventh year running we have been recognised for demonstrating care for the development and well-being of our people.

What makes us a Top Employer?

MSD is certified in seven countries and growing. Being certified as a Top Employer showcases an organisation’s dedication to a better world of work and exhibits this through excellent HR policies and people practices. The certification covers six HR domains consisting of 20 assessment topics. A detailed analysis of our best practices scored us in areas such as People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) and Wellbeing.

Our top scoring sections were ‘Develop’, ‘Unite’ and ‘Engage’, and we were recognised for some of the important initiatives we have in place in these areas.

In the area of ‘Develop’, our support as well as our employee development programmes have taken us above benchmark, in particular our Talent Growth Framework and LEAD your career programme were identified as exemplar in supporting the individual in their development, acknowledging that development is different for everyone.

In ‘Unite’ we scored highly in ‘ethics and integrity’ and ‘purpose and values’ which is integral to our work as a pharmaceutical company and we were also recognised for our work in DE&I where we scored an increase of 9% from previous year for our approach and strategy. This past year we have focused on developing both ownership and accountability in the DE&I space.

Other stand out initiatives include the work of our Employee Resource Business Groups who have driven the implementation of a new ‘Transitioning At Work’ policy, a new ‘Menopause Policy’ and a mandatory ‘Sexual Harassment’ training programme for all employees.

Our focus on ‘Wellbeing’ includes our mental health network of trained first aiders, our new early talent mental health group and a varied and regular programme of education on available employee support and benefits.

It is an honour to be validated, certified, and recognised as an employer of choice UK and Europe. We will not rest on our laurels but are committed to continuously evolving and improving our people practices.

Top Employers Institute: For a Better World of Work

GB-NON-08845 | January 2024 Approved for continued use January 2026

Our People

Empowering new parents at MSD

November 2023

MSD for Mothers UK proudly launched ‘Parent Packs’, a thoughtful initiative dedicated to easing the return to work for new parents and offering a supportive hand to those on parental leave.

There’s no manual for raising little ones, but support, community, and the confidence to manage it all can go a long way!

Recognising the tremendous value a strong and unwavering support system can have for new parents, MSD for Mothers ‘Parent Packs’ programme centres around sharing experiences, boosting confidence, and providing practical strategies to re-enter the workforce with confidence.

The launch was coupled with an engaging group coaching session facilitated by an award-winning partner. New parents and those on parental leave were warmly invited to our Moorgate and Milton Keynes offices for a session focused on enhancing confidence and equipping parents with practical strategies for a seamless return to work.

The morning wasn’t just productive; it was an enjoyable experience filled with enriching conversations and cathartic moments, contributing to the establishment of a robust, supportive community for MSD’s newest parents

By focusing on shared experiences, fostering confidence and community, and working with individuals to craft a robust re-entry strategy, we are elated and honoured to extend our support to all new parents at MSD!

GB-NON-08517 | October 2025

Our People

Behind the scenes: Navigating clinical trial operations

October 2023

Ever wondered about the unseen heroes behind ensuring upholding patient safety in clinical trials?

Patient safety lies at the core of every healthcare organisation, and this holds particularly true for our Global Clinical Trials Operations team (GCTO). Their mission revolves around safeguarding patients during clinical trials, maintaining data accuracy, and serving as the vital link between hospitals and MSD. Often unsung, they play a pivotal role in ensuring seamless and safe clinical trials.

To gain a deeper insight into the dynamic realm clinical operations, we sat down with Noorie. A former work experience intern at MSD who has since flourished into a Clinical Research Associate, we delved deep into her professional journey which ultimately lead her to the heart of clinical operations

Interviewer: Noorie, let’s start at the beginning: could you share how your journey began at MSD, especially considering the impactful experience that motivated you?

Noorie: Well, it all began when I was 15 years old. My mum was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and it was absolutely devastating.

Witnessing the profound impact it had on her health was a real eye-opener, and around the same time I decided to go for a work experience at a pharmaceutical company. I was very blessed to be given that opportunity at MSD.

Interviewer: That’s a compelling start. Could you shed some light on your role within GCTO at MSD?

Noorie: Certainly, I’m an integral part of the global clinical trials operations team at MSD. We oversee and manage the operations involved in executing our company sponsored clinical trials.

Interviewer: What inspired you to work at MSD?

Noorie: So when I went to MSD, I got to talk to many different people in different departments. It gave me a big inspiration because I realized, wow, all these people are working to a common goal trying to cure different types of diseases. It’s actually the people who work at MSD that really inspire me. Everyone works together. We’re all working as a team and working with the NHS staff as well. They all know what is at stake. It’s like one big family.

It’s actually the people who work at MSD that really inspire me… it’s like one big family

Interviewer: Your role involves bridging the gap between hospitals and the sponsor company. Could you elaborate on this vital aspect of your role?

Noorie: Yes of course! I work with a lot of NHS hospitals and that partnership is so key. Being the liaison between the hospital and the sponsor company ultimately has a huge impact on patients and the NHS as my role is ensuring sites compliance to study protocol as well as good clinical practice. Ultimately, it’s about upholding patient welfare and safety and ensuring the data is accurate for regulatory approval.

Interviewer: Your workdays seem quite dynamic! Can you give us a glimpse of what your typical week looks like?

Noorie: I’m a Clinical Research Associate or CRA for short. I’m a field based CRA, which means I work around three days at different hospital and two days from home. At these hospitals I work closely with investigators and the team. When at home for the other two days, I’m catching up with admin.

Interviewer: What are the key things you look at when you go to the hospital?

Noorie: When I visit hospitals, my main focus is on data integrity. I’m making sure patient notes, prescriptions, and everything at the hospital matches what they’re entering onto the database. And without having that, we wouldn’t know if the clinical trial is running smoothly.

Interviewer: It’s clear you’re deeply involved with your work. What would you say is your favourite aspect of the role?

Noorie: The highlight for me has been travelling across the UK and Ireland, engaging closely with research nurses, pharmacies, doctors, and the remarkable hospital teams. It’s an enriching part of the job.

Interviewer: And finally, if you had to capture your MSD experience in just three words, what would they be?

Noorie: Innovative, collaborative, and inclusive. It’s one of the main reasons that I continued working at MSD after I graduated from my Masters; it’s been eight years and I’m very happy here!

To learn more about our GCTO Early Talent roles and explore other positions, head to our jobs page

GB-NON-08144 | October 2025

Our People

Inspired Through Volunteering

September 2023

From gardening at the Macmillan Horizon Centre in Brighton to volunteering at the British Transplant Games in Coventry, individuals and teams across MSD reach out to support charities and not-for profit organisations. We asked what inspired them…

Team Gardening

The Corporate Affairs Team took the opportunity to give back when they undertook a half day of gardening at the Macmillan Horizon Centre in Brighton – a place where the Centre’s patients and families spend time enjoying the allotment’s sea views, vegetable garden and flowers.

“We saw a huge change in the allotment in just one morning and knowing that the Horizon Centre’s patients and families can now enjoy the refreshed allotment for the whole summer is inspiring. We were incredibly lucky with the weather on the day. In total we volunteered for 66 hours in just one morning, that’s over two weeks of full-time work for one gardener!”

When it Comes to Animals

Members of Animal Health’s Equine Team found the perfect place to provide a helping hand. The team utilised their hours volunteering at the World Horse Welfare , the largest centre of its kind in the UK. Starting off with a tour of the facility learning about the rehabilitation and re-homing process for the horses, their day was then spent weeding, cleaning and re- filling water troughs – there are 120 horses onsite!

“Volunteering at World Horse Welfare was a great opportunity for our team to continue to build our strong team culture whilst supporting the equine industry. The day helped us get closer to them as a charity, whose equine health and welfare work share many of the values we do at MSD.”

Going for Gold

Having undergone a kidney transplant two years ago, one of our employees joined the Transplant Sport Northern Ireland (TSNI) charity during his recovery. This year, he helped to raise awareness and promote the life-saving impact of organ transplants by leading the NI team at the British Transplant Games in Coventry. He helped organize logistics and training to take a group of transplanted patients of all ages to Coventry to compete in the Games, as well as taking the chance to compete in the swimming.

“The Games’ main aim is to encourage patients to regain fitness after their transplant and help persuade more people to join the UK donor register. To celebrate the gift of transplant through sport was fantastic. It is also a great way to showcase how organ donation can be truly lifesaving. The Transplant Sport Northern Ireland Team came away with 13 Gold, 9 Silver and 8 Bronze medals this year alongside a lot of great memories.”

Clearing the Environment

The Regulatory Affairs and Pharmacovigilance teams wanted to find a volunteering opportunity to both support the community’s well being and do something good for the environment. What better way than doing some litter picking at Burgess Park with Southwark Council!

“Parks have a positive impact on people’s mental health (as we saw especially during the pandemic) so creating this clearer environment allowed us to give back to a local community which does not have the resources to focus on litter pollution. Preventing dangerous items polluting natural habitats also protects and enhances biodiversity in the park.”

MSD encourages all employees to volunteer in the community granting 40 hours paid leave each year. Hundreds of hours are racked up giving back in varied roles, and so many stories are shared of how truly inspiring they find the experience.

GB-NON-08076 | September 2023 | Approved for continued use Aug 2025

Our People

Smashing Stereotypes for British Science Week 2023

March 2023

The annual Smashing Stereotypes campaign is run by the British Science Association (BSA) during British Science Week, encouraging STEM employees and researchers to share stories about their day-to-day work. The BSA wants to showcase the diversity of the STEM workforce, the broad range of jobs and careers available, and that science can be for anyone.

With short films, interviews, and behind-the-scenes photography, the Smashing Stereotypes campaign profiled 5 MSD employees working across MRL, human and animal health, showcasing how they are smashing stereotypes in their roles as they work to save and improve lives.

By identifying and showcasing diverse role models, we can play our part in helping to break down misconceptions and barriers about who can be a scientist, and what they do

Check out our MSD colleagues’ profiles below to find out how they are Smashing Stereotypes!

MSD has provided partial funding towards the Smashing Stereotypes 2023 campaign

Viola Ntim

After studying pharmacy at the University of East Anglia, Viola completed her Masters degree in International Health Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

At MSD she works as a health technology assessment and outcomes research (HTA&OR) manager, helping to decide whether new medicines are cost-effective through developing and designing models.

‘There’s a stereotype about careers in science or health that you have to work in a lab or hospital. In fact, there are plenty of office-based jobs in the medical field in which you can still have a huge impact on patients. As a Black woman, I am also an example that ethnic minorities can work in science.’

Read Viola’s full profile

Maya Hanspal

After a degree in medical neuroscience from the University of Sussex and a PhD in Chemistry at Cambridge, Maya joined MSD as a cell biologist.

Maya is based in the company’s London Bioscience Innovation centre in Kings Cross, investigating neurodegenerative diseases of ageing.

‘People often think that scientists must be incredibly analytical and mathematically minded. These skills are important, but I think creativity and thinking outside of the box are just as valuable. Science is all about problem-solving after all!

Read Maya’s full profile

Thomas Loseby-Taylor

Tom started working with animals at just 13. His first job was as a kennel assistant at a local veterinary hospital – a role he continued throughout school. At university, he studied Animal Welfare and Veterinary Science before becoming a veterinary nurse.

He is now Senior Pharmacovigilance Officer where he is also Rainbow Alliance Lead for Animal Health.

‘The stereotypical view of science, I think, is that it’s boring and predictable. My experience is the complete opposite: Yes, the fundamentals of science are chemistry, physics, and biology, but what’s possible is almost limitless.’

Read Thomas’ full profile

Jessica Jackson

Jessica grew up swimming competitively and competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia as part of Team England.

She studied Biomedical Science at Plymouth University and during her time there was accepted as a Medical Affairs Associate at MSD as a student industry placement.

Jessica now works at MSD in the Medical Innovation team in Medical Affairs.

‘During my degree, I did a student industry placement at MSD. Initially, I felt like an imposter, but thanks to the support and mentorship I got at MSD, I returned to university with renewed purpose, completed my degree, and then went on to study for a part time Master’s degree at the University of Oxford – something I never thought would be possible for me.‘

Read Jessica’s full profile

Kuldip Sembhi

Kuldip started her working life as a junior lab technician in the NHS before becoming a clinical research technician. After starting a family, she switched careers in her thirties, taking a job in project management at MSD

She is now National Strategic Partnerships Programme Manager, heading up the company’s effort to eliminate Hepatitis C in England.

‘As a daughter of first-generation immigrants from India that came to the UK in the 1960s, I had been guided by my parents to follow a career in teaching so that it would be easier for me to take time off in the holidays when I had children. But following my father’s death, I started reading about cancer and the science behind how cells multiplied. It fascinated and inspired me.‘

Read Kuldip’s full profile