A SCIENTIST who set up four businesses to make breast cancer and other diseases more detectable has been mentoring the next generation at an industry festival in the city.

Sir Mike Brady, 70, from Headington, switched his attention from robotics to medical image analysis in 1994 following the death of his mother-in-law from breast cancer.

The professor of oncological imaging at Oxford University met entrepreneurs, young scientists and business owners at this year’s Venturefest to help those in a similar position to him more than 20 years ago.

The annual event brings together investors and industry experts with inventors and scientists.

Sir Mike said: “It’s an invaluable organisation because it brings together a community of people with ideas that will ultimately lead to job and wealth creation .

“Initially it was just my lab who had created the science and I was fortunate enough to run into Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood, who have given me a lot of advice and invested in four of my companies.”

One of those – Mirada Medical Ltd – was set up in 2001 and now has its medical image analysis software installed in almost 2,000 hospitals worldwide.

The former professor of information engineering at the university said giving young inventors and scientists in Oxford advice to succeed was vital.

He said: “I have become dedicated to mentoring and providing advice for young scientists.

“Oxford is an untapped reservoir of creative energy, whether it be from University of Oxford, Brookes or Culham Science Centre.

“The chances of some of these kids starting big blockbuster companies is getting more and more likely all the time.”

Venturefest started 17 years ago and in the past year has expanded nationally.

The event at Said Business School on Wednesday saw a wide-range of business owners pitch up to hear advice from experienced professionals and industry leaders.

Venturefest executive chairwoman Lynn Shepherd said: “Inventors will have expertise in their particular area, but they may not know how to bookkeep, what legal requirements they need to meet or how to file a patent.

“This provides the opportunity to find the people who do know how to do those things .”

Ice cream maker Whipsmiths attended the day with a view to expanding the business. The Surrey-based firm can make ice cream in 45 seconds using liquid nitrogen.

Max Cooper, from the company, said: “We have been running for about three years now and attend these events to promote ourselves. We want to expand and it’s helpful to meet exhibitors and people who can give us advice.”