Contact Details

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Position

Doctoral Student

Affiliation

Julia Fan Li

Research Interests

• Biotechnology/pharmaceutical strategy for base of pyramid markets
• Innovation value chain in global health delivery
• Social entrepreneurship

Current Research

Julia is currently exploring technology management and innovation by biopharm firms for Base of Pyramid (BoP) markets under the supervision of Dr Elizabeth Garnsey as a Gates Scholar . Julia's research examines push and pull incentives that encourage the private sector to invest in healthcare innovations for all. Her research aims to expand understanding of financing alternatives for the biopharm sector in creation of sustainable business models to increase product access for the global population.

This research focuses on innovative, market-oriented approaches to tackle global healthcare challenges. It aims to address mechanisms which help alleviate the funding gap for product development.

• Public-private partnerships
• Collaboration of business and academia (including University spin-outs)
• Adaptation and evolution of traditional pharma business models
• Philanthropic venture capital
• Medical research council and governmental health agency innovation funding structures
• Disease-specific NGO funding support
• New financing incentives to stimulate focused private sector activity (eg. Advanced market commitments, X-Prize)

Publications

• LI, Julia F. & GARNSEY, E. (2011) Entrepreneurship and Global Health: Catalyzing the Ecosystem. University of Cambridge Centre for Technology Management - Working Paper PDF [650k]

Background

• University of British Columbia BCOM (Finance/Immunology)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants Canada - Chartered Accountant & Master's in Professional Accounting 
• University of Cambridge MPhil Bioscience Enterprise

Julia completed her undergraduate education with a dual concentration in finance and immunology. She started her career with KPMG LLP in Vancouver and worked in financial services with a range of biotechnology companies. She further worked on financing rounds for start-up enterprises in China and business development in the pharmaceutical sector in Switzerland.  Her public sector experience include research projects on the Access to Medicines Index, hospital capital expenditure analysis in Rwanda  and working as a technical officer with the World Health Organization and GAVI Alliance. Julia has worked at the intersection of business and science on four continents and recognizes both the challenges and opportunities in global health. She is hopeful that research can be a useful tool to help translate ideas into solutions.

Current Projects

• African Innovation Prize: Business Plan Competition for University Students and Rwanda Entrepreneurship Week
• Launch of Young Professionals for Acumen Fund - social venture capital London Chapter