Media Alliance, the international scientific communications agency, is now specialising in medical writing for selected clients. Bill is also writing a historical detective story, while Lois is concentrating more on her musical talents.

While Media Alliance continues its international communications consultancy for selected companies and organisations, we are concentrating much more these days on medical writing, helping our clients communicate directly to doctors and clinical researchers in papers for learned journals and also producing articles for more general dissemination, aimed at healthcare providers, politicians, patients’ associations and the general public.

From 1 September 2010, we are relocating to Florence, Italy, where our two daughters are to attend the International School. Bill is also writing a historical detective story, set in Florence in the 15th century, while Lois is improving her musical skills, through singing examinations and university musicological studies.

Watermill at Posara, ItalyWe also continue to develop our Italian business, running painting holidays and creative writing courses at our house in Lunigiana, Tuscany, The Watermill at Posara. We are building new bedrooms and bathrooms at the mill to provide even better amenities. You can find out more on www.watermill.net.  We will also develop the mill as an intimate conference centre.

After restoring the small, but perfectly formed, 16th Century Castle of Park in Aberdeenshire, and running creative courses and Scottish getaway holidays there in the first years of this millennium, we are looking forward to new adventures in Florence and the rest of Italy.

Some of our current activities and past projects in print communications

  • writing, designing, project management for the production of special boxed ‘User Manuals’ on the preparation of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient of a major anti-influenza medication, for use in the event of an influenza pandemic; writing, producing, recording voice-overs for CDs within the presentation box; preparing associated material, such as a small booklet for use on exhibition stands and a two-minute film loop for use at exhibitions, in presentations etc.
  • Acting as rapporteur at international expert Medical Advisory Boards and writing a series of confidential position papers on the future direction of therapy and research in a variety of neurological and psychiatric topics, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy Bodies, epilepsy, stroke and mood disorders.
  • Acting as rapporteur at international expert Medical Advisory Boards and writing a series of confidential position papers on the future direction of diagnosis and research in CT/angiography of the heart, brain and body, CT, PET scan  reimbursement etc. etc.
  • ghost-writing two review medical journal review papers for international researchers, on neuroplasticity and a systemic approach to therapy for neurological and psychological disease
  • writing articles for leading scientific journals, working with expert authors on core data, on subjects as diverse as MRSA in the ICU; Latest research on the GABA receptor; Trends in the abuse of licit and illicit drugs, Research into colorectal and breast cancer; The sociology of drug abuse; Urinalyses in cases of alleged sexual assault; Sedation and analgesia in the ICU; Communicating with patients; Medical Information the Internet etc., etc.
  • writing, designing and printing a series of eight-page newsletters from the ICAAC conferences on microbiology
  • working with leading French psychiatrists and the Royal Society of Medicine to produce a book in English containing the seminal papers of Prof Deniker, the father of psychopharmacology; preparing a second series of reprints.
  • writing, designing and printing a four-page newsletter from an international conference on the use of ­contrast media, in X-ray, PET scan, MRI etc.
  • writing, designing and printing a full-colour booklet on Quality for a branded antibiotic, to counter generic competition
  • annotating, rewriting, referencing a product monograph for a new anti-cancer drug; preparing training slide presentations.
  • analysing international police drug seizures, writing a confidential report, preparing presentations for Interpol, presenting data at Interpol meeting
  • acting as rapporteur for the Working Group on Risk and the Perception of Risk at the Alpbach Technology Forum; preparing a booklet on the working group’s presentation for the European Round Table of Industrialists
  • writing, with international experts, essays on the medical, scientific and social impact of the benzodiazepines, for a book about Leo Sternbach
  • writing a submission to a leading teaching hospital’s Drug and Therapeutics Committee on moving the emphasis in care in the intensive care unit from sedation to analgesia; writing an article on cost-effective intensive care for a health service journal
  • styling, designing and printing a product monograph on a granocyte colony stimulating factor; producing a CD-ROM version; creating, writing, designing and printing posters and brochures for this product; designing and producing flats for exhibition stands
  • creating, writing, designing, printing a series of brochures for a leading manufacturer of medical devices 
  • writing a series of international press releases on vaccine developments
  • creating, writing, designing, printing and publishing a 64-page handbook on Rational Prescribing of the benzodiazepines, working with two international opinion leaders
  • writing detailed scientific ripostes to WHO Critical Review documents, preparing statements and presentations for expert witnesses, supporting these witness at WHO hearings, in a successful campaign to prevent the rescheduling of diazepam
  • creating, writing, designing and printing a series of handbooks on issue management in the pharmaceutical industry
  • creating, writing, designing and printing a number of 4-page, full-colour newsletters from international medical conferences on Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, anti-malarial therapy, social phobia, antibiotics etc. etc.
  • preparing a commercial intelligence report in the field of antimalarials
  • writing presentations for scientific/medical congress for leading clinicians/researchers/industry leaders, including The contribution of the pharmaceutical industry to 20th century psychiatry; New avenues for neurological pharmaceutical research; Trends in the use of cannabis in people driving under the influence of drugs
  • creating, writing, designing and printing a news magazine celebrating 40 years of the use of the benzodiazepines in anxiety and related disorders; writing a monograph for a New York professor on the History of the Benzodiazepines, published by the Royal Society of Medicine
  • writing a series of Facts files (position papers plus question and answer sections) on a number of drugs for internal use by a pharmaceutical company
  • preparing press releases, creating, writing, designing and printing a news magazine and writing proceedings from the Milford symposium on Scientific Reality and Public Perception.
  • creating, writing, designing and printing a series of newsletters on advances in Parkinson's disease therapy
  • creating, writing, designing and printing a differentiation brochure on the treatment of advanced breast cancer
  • creating, writing and designing a series of marketing mailshots on computer software programmes for the distribution industry
  • writing, design and production of a newsletter on social phobia
  • writing, design and production of a newsletter on the treatment of osteoporosis with an active vitamin D metabolite
  • writing, design and production of a series of newsletters on Sedation in Anaesthesiology, Sedation in Intensive Care Medicine and Conscious Sedation in Endoscopy
  • planning and implementation of a European communications strategy on health economics for a diagnostics manufacturers’ professional organisation, including writing and design of a definitive Health Economics Handbook, which is being used by, key personnel in member countries and companies. Writing review articles for learned journals, press releases
  • writing, design and production of a series of newspapers on advances in hypertension as well as press releases, media packs and an international Media Workshop
  • writing, design and production of a series of scientific brochures on the value of ACE-inhibition in treating hypertension and reversing the pathological changes associated with it
  • designs for a product identity logo and typography for a new calcium antagonist
  • designs for a product identity logo and typography for a new COMT inhibitor

Our activities in new media

  • consulting in online and offline services for a business-communications agency
  • development of online quiz for major interactive network
  • Executive Production of an encyclopaedic CD-ROM Atlas of the Ancient World including management of academic writing teams in England and programmers, artists and designers in Russia, commissioning and directing voice-over artists, composers etc.
  • Executive Production of a series of children’s CD-ROMs for a major partwork print publisher. These range in subject from Natural History to Classical Music, from the Second World War to Anatomy and Physiology

Our current and previous clients include:

  • Amersham Health (now GE Healthcare)
  • Aventis
  • BBC Radio 4, Radio 3
  • BBC World Service
  • BBC1, BBC2 Television
  • Boston Scientific
  • Channel 4 Television
  • Chugai Pharmaceuticals
  • Elan Pharma
  • The European Diagnostic Manufacturers’ Association
  • GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
  • HarperCollins
  • Hoffmann-La Roche
  • The Homoeopathic Trust
  • International Business Systems
  • Macmillan Interactive Publishing
  • Maris Multimedia
  • Marshall Cavendish
  • Medeus Pharmaceuticals
  • The Microsoft Network
  • Philips Interactive
  • Servier
  • Thames Television

Bill Breckon...his early career was as a writer and broadcaster specialising in medical topics and in current and consumer affairs: it spanned newspapers and magazines, radio, television and books. He is senior partner in Media Alliance, the agency which specialises in communications on medical and scientific affairs for doctors, decision-makers, funders, patients and the public.

Bill was Medical Correspondent of The Daily Mail for several years before editing the doctors' newspaper Medical News and then becoming International Editor of The Medical Tribune Group.

He went on to establish his reputation as a radio and television reporter, presenting for many years the BBC Radio 4 consumer programme You and Yours and writing and presenting numerous radio documentaries for the BBC (e.g. The Finger on the Pulse and Reel Evidence series). His television work included writing and on-screen reporting and presenting for BBC1, BBC2, Thames Television and Channel 4, where his films won several national and international awards.

Bill’s books include You Are What You Eat, Your Everyday Drugs, Science versus Crime, The Green Guide to London and Tracing the History of Houses. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and of the Royal Society of Arts.

Lois Breckon...has a track record of successful entrepreneurship with particular experience in publishing and marketing, in both print and electronic media. She continues to work with Media Alliance, but is also concentrating on her musical studies, both in singing and working towards a Diploma in music

Lois has an MA in Zoology from the University of Oxford and an MBA from London Business School.

She was Editor of Designing and The Big Paper published by The Design Council, the government-funded arbiter of good design practice. She then went to Wolff Olins, the largest corporate-identity consultancy in Europe as a Management Consultant. Her clients included Leica and Forte.

Lois then became Director of Business Development with Two-Can Publishing, developing the contract publishing arm in both print, video and electronic media. Clients included The Daily Telegraph, Phillips Electronic Publishing and the RSPCA.