Virothera Ltd is an affiliate of the Milner Therapeutics Institute of the Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre within the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, UK, enbedded within the heart of the leading life science cluster in Europe.
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Our offices are supported at the St John’s Innovation Centre in the Cambridge cluster.
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Awarded NIH/NIAID, USA, Preclinical Services programs for preclinical in vivo evaluation of our lead candidates prior to clinical translation.
Development further supported by undisclosed seed rounds raised by senior biotech and tech business Angel investors.
Board of Directors and Leadership
Ursula Gompels, PhD, CEO and Director, Founder
Over 25 years deep domain expertise in molecular cell biology, virus genomics and immune modulation. Previously Professor in Molecular Virology, London School Hygiene & Tropical Medicine at University of London, Wellcome Trust Senior Fellow in Basic Biomedical Sciences at University of Cambridge and Royal Society Industry Fellow at GlaxoSmithKline. Served WHO consultation on regulatory for nucleic acid vaccines and on International Committee Taxonomy Viruses. Awarded MSc Virology University of Chicago, USA and PhD Pathology University of Cambridge, UK; MA Management, University of London, UK. 60+ peer reviewed publications and 6 patents.
Alain Thibault, MD, Clinical Non-Executive Director
Over 25 years clinical expertise in immunotherapy drug development and the regulatory requirements for clinical progression. Senior clinical oncology leader. He previously held CMO and other senior medical and scientific roles in the USA and Europe at Argen-X, Regeneron, Johnson & Johnson, and Roche (leading to 4 drug approvals in oncology and autoimmune diseases). More recent experience with TVM Capital supporting the development of a number of biotech startups including Auricula Biosciences and Recurv Pharma. Alain trained in clinical medicine at McGill University in Canada and at the National Cancer Institute in USA.
David Wright, FCA, Chief Financial Officer and Director
Over 25 years of experience within corporate finance, previously 15 years in senior finance roles within Amgen Europe. Extensive international experience across Europe and USA including management of tech M&A and investment for major pension funds. Gained an MA in Mathematics and Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge, became Chartered Accountant with PwC, working in UK and Sweden, then awarded Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales with the ICAEW Diploma in Corporate Finance.
Scientific Advisory Board
Edward Mocarski, PhD
Emeritus Professor at Stanford University and Emory University Vaccine Center, USA;
Past MedImmune Distinguished Fellow.
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Persephone Borrow, PhD
Professor of Viral Immunology at University of Oxford, UK.
Expert on cellular immunity.
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Ann Kwong, PhD
Antiviral industry leader and EVP, R&D at Pardes Biosciences; previously Head of Infectious Diseases and VP, HCV Franchise at Vertex Bioscience, EVP Research at Dewpoint Therapeutics and CEO co-founder of Trek Therapeutics, USA.
Jeffrey Almond, PhD
Visiting Professor of Microbiology University of Oxford, former Global Head of Research at Sanofi Pasteur, member of UK Medical Research Council and UK Spongiform Encephalopathies Committee. Fellow American Academy Microbiology and European Academy of Microbiology. Member several Boards and SAB. PhD University of Cambridge. Expert on Vaccines and therapeutics.
Corporate Advisory Board
Michael Martin, FCCA – Corporate Finance Adviser
Healthcare and edtech startup investor advisory. Past in private equity (Anvil Partners LLP), IPOs, Pharma M&A, international investment banking (Kleinwort Benson), accounting (Price Waterhouse).
Edward Blair, PhD – Co-Founder
Quadram Institute Trustee, Director Integrated Medicines Ltd, UK. Formerly Director Clinical Diagnostics at GlaxoSmithKline, Biomarkers lead UCB and BMS.
Laboratory
Working together with specialist CROs our laboratory staff support preclinical in vivo evaluation of our candidates with preclinical in vitro evaluation SOPs.
Sean Briggs, MSc - Laboratory manager
Distinction Immunology, Newcastle University, UK.
Our partners
