WideCells pouring resources and energy into WideAcademy

Stem cell treatment insurance-focussed healthcare services group WideCells Group published a strategic update on WideAcademy, its 100% owned education and training division, on Monday.

The London-listed company said its recent strategic developments followed the board appointment of Alan Greenberg, former director of education at Apple, as non-executive director of WideCells Group and senior vice president of WideAcademy, as well as a recent Placing.

WideCells said its current mandate was to establish WideAcademy as “the thought leader” on stem cell technologies and innovation for medical professionals and families, with the proposition needing to not only be self-funded but profitable.

Its strategy was to ensure WideAcademy could secure and work with strategic partners in the tech and education sectors to produce and deliver “trustworthy, authentic and digestible” content and courseware focussed on the stem cell industry.

The board said WideAcademy would harness technology to drive access to objective educational tools and content worldwide. It will firstly focus on creating resources for English-speaking communities.

It planned to develop a number of channels to reach its audiences and establish WideAcademy as the “go-to portal” for stem cells.

WideAcademy had reportedly identified three core communities which would benefit from a strengthened understanding of stem cell innovation, being medical professionals, enterprise and industry, and the public.

Both digital distribution channels for the dissemination of free content, as well as revenue generative initiatives including courseware, were being investigated to deliver “intuitive information” to target markets, the WideCells board said.

Joining Alan Greenberg would be Jimmy Leach as editor-in-chief to WideAcademy.

He was described by the board as “an experienced digital consultant” who had previously been head of digital diplomacy at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, editorial director for digital at The Independent, head of digital communications at Downing Street, and executive editor for The Guardian online.

As editor-in-chief, Leach would be responsible for driving “intuitive, informative and engaging content”, the board explained.

WideAcademy was also in the process of making further key appointments, including a vice president of education and a vice president of enterprise.

“WideAcademy is focused on bringing stem cell innovation to the world,” said Alan Greenberg.

“Through my involvement with Apple Education and formative role in launching educational podcasts I have first-hand experience of the huge impact engaging digital content can have in driving education.

“Technology will be key to unlocking our proposition, which is centred on creating and distributing easily-digestible and trustworthy content, much of which will be free to access, share and 'like'.”

Greenberg said courseware, accreditation, and the access to “distinguished networks” would come at a price, enabling the proposition to become self-funding.

“We believe that these offerings will be valuable to both individuals wishing to enhance their knowledge and to professional institutions such as a doctor's surgery, a teaching hospital, university or medical school department.

“I believe stem cell technology is set to transform our medical world and I am delighted to be a part of the WideCells team as we look to bring this innovative industry to the wider market.”

WideCells Group CEO, João Andrade, said WideAcademy's focus on promoting “best-practise and quality” whilst driving innovation was “highly synergistic” to the principles held by the rest of the WideCells Group.

“It also fits ideally with WideCells' mission to make stem cell treatment accessible and affordable to all.

“By helping people to understand this growing industry from multiple perspectives and angles, WideAcademy will help drive the uptake of products and services and in turn investment across the entire sector,” Andrade explained.

“It is this commitment to both innovation and education which recently resulted in us being ranked as the 21st most disruptive company globally by DISRUPT 100, which is an annual index celebrating the businesses with the most potential to influence, change or create new global markets.”

Andrade said the board looked forward to continuing to disrupt and advance the rapidly growing stem cell industry through its multi-focus approach, which alongside the educational focus of WideAcademy included stem cell storage and research and a “first of its kind” insurance plan, CellPlan.

“With multiple value upside triggers ahead, including imminent maiden revenues from CellPlan, I very much look forward to the opportunities ahead.”