MRC Technology Appoints New Director of Corporate Partnerships

LONDON, January 17, 2011 - MRC Technology announced today that Mike Johnson has been appointed
Director, Corporate Partnerships. Mike joins MRC Technology to act as the
principal conduit for communication between the UK's Medical Research Council
(MRC) and MRC Technology, and to build productive partnerships with
technology and funding organisations both nationally and internationally
while ensuring operational delivery of the new 10 Year Strategic Plan.

Mike joins with a background as Managing Director of two manufacturing
companies, Soundcraft Electronics and Combined Optical Industries Limited
Latterly, with Carclo plc, his remit was to find new technology - this led to
the founding of a successful start up company; Conductive Inkjet Technology
Limited.

"I am absolutely delighted to take on this huge challenge, which has the
potential to make a real difference to people's health," commented Mike. "It
is clear that the existing model by which Pharma companies turn research into
products is not working. MRC Technology has built its reputation by
successfully commercialising MRC intellectual property, and it now plans to
offer a similar service to other global players, be they Universities or
Pharma companies. Also by expanding the Centre for Therapeutics Discovery,
our early stage drug discovery labs, we can help to take ideas from the lab
to a stage which a commercial partner might take them on - bridging the gap
being vacated by Pharma companies as they continue to invest more research
spend in alternative activities."

CEO Dave Tapolczay said, "Mike brings a very valuable commercial
perspective across a range of business areas that helps broaden our thinking
and approach to delivering our strategy. I am sure he will help the team to
succeed in this very exciting and changing environment, which in the long
term can only benefit the patient. With the renewed focus on Science and
Innovation Translation, the timing of the appointment is very relevant as it
is important to spread the message of MRC Technology's capabilities and
desire to partner."

Notes to Editors

MRC Technology acts as the exclusive technology transfer company of the
UK's Medical Research Council and is responsible for the development and
commercialisation of some of the finest biomedical research in the world. It
also has its own drug discovery laboratories - the Centre for Therapeutics
Discovery.

www.mrctechnology.org

Media contact: Suzannah Hargreaves, Marketing and Communications Officer,
shargreaves@tech.mrc.ac.uk, +44(0)20-7391-2770

Media contact: Suzannah Hargreaves, Marketing and Communications Officer, shargreaves at tech.mrc.ac.uk, +44(0)20-7391-2770