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In January 2023, the John Dawson Drug Discovery and Development Research Institute was launched following a £5million donation from Alumnus John Dawson and his wife Sam. John is the former CEO of Alliance Pharma, a world-leading international healthcare organisation. The new Research Institute will play a key role in turning laboratory research and innovation into life-changing therapies for clinical practice, working closely with the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry.

To support the ongoing sustainability of the Institute, invest in the career development of young scientists, and in students who will be future advocates for the University, the John and Sam Dawson PhD Scholarship Programme was launched following the opening of the Institute. Sarah Helm, Georgia Howick and Jenileima (Jeni) Devi are the first John and Sam Dawson PhD Scholars.

Pharmacy students are benefitting from a tablet press machine thanks to former student and inventor of the Gamlen Tablet Press, Doctor Michael Gamlen, who studied Pharmacy at the University from 1973-76. Dr Gamlen returned to City Campus in October 2024 to gift one of his tablet press machines to students at the School of Pharmacy. The press is on loan to the University for five years.

Sunderland graduate-turned global CEO, Florian Hildebrand, returned to campus in 2024 to deliver a talk to students about his career journey.

Florian, from Germany, graduated from the University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2013. He has founded two companies that have raised over €100 million and employed over 200 people.

He co-founded Greenlyte Carbon Technologies at the end of 2022, a company with the ambition to develop a low-cost, robust Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology that captures CO2 at world-leading energy rates, while supplying hydrogen as a by-product.

Of his visit, he said, "I was last here over ten years ago and now I’m back where it all began. Without the University of Sunderland, I would never have had the opportunities which brought me to where I am today. I hope the students who come to my talk take away self-belief, to trust in themselves and be brave – to know they have the guts to go out there and do what they want to do.”

Alumni Rebecca Dewhurst, Elise Randall, Eleni Avgenaki, and Foteini Kallipolitou returned to campus on 23 September 2025 to support the launch of a new biosciences employability module. This new Year 3 module prepares students for the world of work by:

• Highlighting the key graduate attributes they've developed during the course
• Building awareness of the range of biosciences career opportunities available
• Helping them reflect on their strengths and learn to communicate them when preparing for job applications
• Emphasising personal development, with a strong student-directed ethos to learning and assessment

A former student and respected leader in the pharmacy sector, Mark Burdon, took up a new role as Chair of the Board of Governors at the University of Sunderland in August 2025. Mark graduated from the University with a degree in Pharmacy in 1999. He went on to found a successful chain of local pharmacies in the north-east of England and has been active in pharmacy governance both nationally and internationally.

He said: “As an alumnus of the University, I’m incredibly proud to be appointed Chair of the Board of Governors. It’s an honour to support the executive team in delivering a truly transformative experience for all our students.

“Sunderland is a city on the rise, and I take great pride in the university’s central role in its regeneration.

“We are a university with a proud legacy and heritage, recently shortlisted for the THE University of the Year award. Building on this momentum, I am committed to advancing our strategic ambitions—ensuring that students and staff remain at the heart of everything we do.”

The Chancellor’s Scholarship, supported by our Chancellor, Sunderland alumna Leanne Cahill, provides a fully comprehensive package of financial assistance, industry internships and shadowing, professional training and mentoring to support students' education and career development in the exciting, varied and expanding retail sector.

The scholarship includes a £5,000 cash bursary, a paid summer work placement, a work-shadowing experience at Bravissimo HQ, a dedicated mentor, and an additional opportunity pot of up to £500 (to be used for additional training or opportunity)