Which team do you work in and what does that team do?
I work in Business Engagement within the Patient-focused Partnerships Team – we build partnerships that aim to bring new treatments to patients, faster. We do this by bringing together cross-sector collaborations around a collective research agenda to catalyse patient-focused R&D efforts in areas of unmet need.
What’s your role within your team?
I am a Partnership Lead – I am responsible for setting up and providing strategic and scientific leadership and direction to Patient-focused Partnerships in MDC’s portfolio.
I am part of the management team for two of our active programmes – the CF AMR Syndicate and the Hearing Therapeutics Initiative. Both of these programmes bring together expertise and infrastructure in translational research to support innovators developing therapeutics of the future.
I actively engage with external organisations, from academia, industry and the charity sectors to identify unmet patient need and opportunities for cross-sector collaboration where MDC can add value – a current focus of mine is in Infection and working with the community and other colleagues at MDC to help accelerate medicines development in this area.
In three words, what would best describe your team?
Collaborative, Curious and Passionate
What attracted you to the drug discovery industry and Medicines Discovery Catapult?
I have around 15 years’ experience in drug discovery. I’ve always enjoyed being part of a team effort to advance approaches and knowledge in how to treat human disease.
Moving to MDC, it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to interact with so many different players in research and innovation and to work together to identify and deliver innovations needed to accelerate medicines discovery.
I am happiest when I’m learning new things and working with people with diverse expertise and knowledge. My main goal is to connect with people who can help and to keep building on those connections to deliver impact.
How do you stay connected with what’s happening in the industry?
I am fascinated by new technologies and approaches and how they can be applied to medicines discovery.
I am an Associate Editor on the Editorial Board for the journal SLAS Discovery: Advancing the Science of Drug Discovery. Through SLAS I have recently been involved in developing a microcredential program in Phenotypic Screening and through the Royal Society of Chemistry, editing a book on Phenotypic Drug Discovery. These opportunities have given me fresh insight into technologies and strategies across organisations, large and small and introduced me to fantastic and talented people – it is interactions with people during activities like these that help me stay connected.
Tell us something you like doing outside of work.
I really enjoy spending time with the family, we all love being outside whether its growing veggies in the garden, biking or walking in the Peak District.
