Innovation

Inspiring Minds and Driving Equity: MSD’s 5th Hackathon

September 2025

The 5^th edition of the Health Equity hackathon, hosted by MSD’s LEAD (League of Employees of African Descent) UK Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG) network in collaboration with Eli Lilly’s embRACE, brought together curious undergraduates from across the country, to propose innovative solutions to health equity challenges.

Over 70 students from a range of academic and cultural backgrounds brought inspiring enthusiasm and fresh ideas to health equity challenges. They collaborated in small teams, with the support of a facilitator, to propose solutions to address disparities in health equity. Teams worked across 4 themes, including access to healthcare in older adults, the impact of mental health on outcomes, driving diversity in clinical trials and improving health literacy.

Group photo of Hackathon participants and colleagues from MSD and Lilly

After ‘hacking’ their problem statement, students presented solutions to senior leaders from both companies who served as judges. Despite an incredibly high standard, the judges managed to select winners from each theme. These groups then went on to present in the final round in front of a full auditorium, with Ben Lucas (Managing Director, MSD UK and Ireland) and Christopher Stokes (President and General Manager of Lilly, UK and Northern Europe) sitting on the panel as final round judges.

The winning solution won praise for being innovative, inclusive and patient-focused. It addressed the challenge of improving health literacy in underserved and ethnic minority communities to better understand, access, and use health information to achieve better outcomes. The winning team proposed connecting junior/resident doctors to young people aged 11-16 years old. Through creating this ‘Junior to Junior’ connection, their initiative aimed to increase awareness of the health system and build trust in communities.

Excerpt from the winning solution

Selfie with the winning team!

“I was genuinely impressed by the depth of insight and creativity the students brought to their solutions. Their work demonstrated by their strong technical skills and a deep understanding of social impact allowed for innovative, inclusive and patient-focused outcomes to be designed. The diverse, empathetic approaches to health equity and their ability to tackle complex challenges with passionate and energetic actionable ideas were standout qualities. Judging the event was a privilege and a powerful reminder of the value of fresh perspectives in addressing systemic health issues.”

– Jasveen Chugh, Pharmaceuticals Business Unit Director, MSD UK

In addition to raising awareness of the importance of health equity, across the 2-day event, students were also able to gain a real insight into what a career in the pharmaceutical industry can offer them. Through hearing from, and networking with, a range of colleagues from senior leaders to current placement students (some of whom took part in previous hackathons), they gained an understanding of the diversity of roles available for them to apply for.

Post-event networking session

Hackathon co-hosts Fiona Noah (MSD) and Paige Boateng (Lilly)

MSD is proud of the hackathon’s role in empowering and developing future leaders and forming a pipeline of diverse talent; by attending the hackathon, the participants and winning group will be accelerated through both MSD and Lilly’s early talent programme assessment stages.

Fiona Noah and Mauranda Lewis, Co-Lead’s of LEAD UK offered their reflections on the day:

‘As the leaders of LEAD UK, we’re really proud of how this year’s Health Equity Hackathon went. What stood out most was the students’ passion, drive, and tireless effort. Their creativity, determination, and dedication to tackling tough health equity challenges was inspiring and showed the future leaders and innovators in the making.

The quality of ideas, collaborative spirit, and innovative solutions shared throughout the day was truly impressive. It’s amazing to be able to contribute to an initiative that not only sparks innovation but also champions representation and access in healthcare’

Professional photos taken by Esther Akin

GB-NON-11910 | September 2025

Innovation

Pioneering Sustainable Science: A Breakthrough in Green Chemistry

June 2025

Sustainable science is taking a bold step forward in our labs at the Crick, thanks to the recent work of researchers Olivia Boyd, Mollie Hooker and their dedicated team. Their groundbreaking achievement in green chemistry showcases the innovative use of High Throughput Experimentation (HTE) and biocatalysis to optimise chemical reactions, setting new standards in our industry.

HTE, a platform pioneered across industry by MSD, allows for the miniaturisation of chemical reactions into tiny vials. This enables the simultaneous execution of numerous reactions, systematically altering individual parameters to achieve the highest yield. Olivia’s expertise in HTE, combined with biocatalysis—an emerging field that uses enzymes to catalyse chemical reactions—has led to remarkable advancements in our processes.

Both HTE and biocatalysis align with the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry, which guide the development of sustainable chemical practices. HTE enhances sustainability by reducing waste through miniaturisation and improving energy efficiency. Biocatalysis, inherently green, utilises enzymes derived from bio-sources, requires mild reaction conditions, and employs benign solvents, minimizing environmental impact.

Recognising a challenge in the HTE process, the significant plastic waste generated by disposable pipette tips, Olivia collaborated with Mollie from Quantitative Biosciences. Together, they developed an automated procedure using liquid-dispensing equipment that drastically reduced plastic waste. This innovative approach not only cut down the number of plastic pipette tips by 288 per plate but also slashed the ‘bench time’ for scientists from 1 hour to just 2.5 minutes per plate.

This achievement is a testament to our commitment to sustainability, efficiency, and cross-team collaboration. It highlights our ability to push the boundaries of science while maintaining our dedication to environmental stewardship. We are incredibly proud of Olivia, Mollie, and the entire team for their exceptional work in advancing green chemistry.

Notable contributors include: Rawa Al-Hamadani, Damien Valette, Tetsuji Itoh, with support from David Petrone and Josie Gaynord.

GB-NON-11446 | May 2025

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

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

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