Dr. Forraz completed his PhD at Kingston University and St George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London, UK, where he investigated the Multi-Tissue Differentiation Potential of Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell Populations with applications to Haematology, Oncology, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine.
In 2004-2005, Dr. Forraz worked as a Senior Researcher in the Stem Cell Therapy Programme directed by Prof. McGuckin at Kingston University. In 2004-2005, he was funded by the British Department of Trade and Industry to promote research links and business activities in the field of Regenerative Medicine, Tissue Bio-Engineering, Space Medicine and Oncology with Research Institutions in Texas, USA. In 2005, he was appointed Senior Research Associate and Business Development Manager in Prof. McGuckin’s Regenerative Medicine research group at Newcastle University.
In 2008, he co-founded CTI-BIOTECH with Prof. McGuckin in France, focusing on stem cell research for biotechnology and clinical applications.
Dr. Forraz was also a visiting scientist at Rice University, USA and the University of Texas Medical Branch, USA.
Dr. Forraz received the Creative Pioneer Programme award in 2006, for his joint work with Prof. McGuckin, by the British National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) providing Business Development support and training for commercialization. Dr. Forraz is a finalist of the UK Research Councils Business Plan Competition 2006 and he won the North East Universities Science and Technology Blueprint Business Plan Award 2006 for his vision and concept for biotechnology commercialisation.
