Attending Biotech and Pharma
Speaker Profiles
Mrs Kathryn Clayton, Clinical Operations Manager,
Nexus Oncology
Kath qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 1982 and worked within the NHS for 25 years in a variety of therapeutic areas. In 1995 she moved into Oncology in Nottingham, working within a Chemotherapy Clinic for 2 years before moving into Oncology Clinical Trials. As a Research Nurse and Study Co-ordinator she specialised in colorectal and phase 1 studies. In 2002 she began a post as Oncology/Haematology Clinical Trials Team Leader in Leicester, leading a team that conducted a large portfolio of commercial and academic phase I, II and III studies in oncology and malignant haematology.
In late 2004 Kath left the NHS to join Nexus Oncology, a specialist CRO based in Edinburgh, as a Clinical Research Specialist. Whilst at Nexus Kath gained experience project managing phase I and II studies before moving into her current role as Clinical Operations Manager.
Kath graduated from Keele University in 2008 after completing a part time Masters Degree in the Ethics of Medical Research and Biotechnology. She is currently continuing her studies at Keele and has just commenced a professional doctorate in Medical Ethics.
Dr Penelope Ward, Chief Medical Officer,
NovImmune SA
Dr Penelope Ward is the Chief Medical Officer of NovImmune, a Swiss biotechnology company specializing in the development of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of autoimmune disease. Prior to joining NovImmune, Dr Ward was the Head of Rheumatology at Hoffman La Roche. During her extensive industry career Dr Ward has been responsible for the clinical development programs of multiple novel therapeutics (including both small molecules and biologicals) and her work has resulted in the approval of 8 novel therapies for the treatment of infectious diseases, osteoporosis and autoimmune disorders in the US, EU and Japan.
Dr Uwe Meya, VP Clinical Research & Development ,
Synosia Therapeutics
Uwe Meya is a board-qualified neurologist and psychiatrist by background with an impressive track record in pharmaceutical research and development, focused on disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). His experience spans multiple CNS indications and covers the full spectrum of drug development from first-in-man through to regulatory filing.
He was most recently head of research portfolio management for Roche in Basel, where he contributed to the global strategic direction of all therapeutic areas. While at Roche and Novartis, he worked on several of the compounds subsequently out-licensed to Synosia and received the Roche Global Development Leadership Reward in recognition of his effectiveness in building relationships and partnerships.
Prior to joining Roche in Basel, Uwe was with Novartis where he managed a team of researchers in CNS clinical development and later served as a member of a special clinical development management team, overseeing projects from late pre-clinical studies through to the end of Phase I. He previously worked at Ciba-Geigy, Knoll and Schering in CNS research.
Uwe was educated in Germany and studied medicine in Aachen, Germany and Glasgow, Scotland. He received his medical degree from the University of Aachen, where he also completed a doctorate in psychiatry.
He is a member of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology and is a founding member of the International College of Geriatric Psychoneuropharmacology, where he served as a council member for more than three years.
Dr Denis Mir, Senior Manager, Clinical Operations,
Eisai Ltd
Denis first trained as a chemist and Biologist. On completion of his master degree in Biology he entered the pharmaceutical industry where he briefly worked in a marketing position.
Denis then moved to the Clinical Research area where after studying statistics at Pierre et Marie Curie University he has worked in a number of clinical research roles for several pharmaceutical and biotech companies. In which capacity Denis gained first work experience in operational management of global clinical trials in post-marketing studies as well as in early development programs. Denis has recently joined Eisai as Senior Manager, Clinical Operations.
Dr John Shillingford, Global Head Clinical Operations,
Averion International
John Shillingford, PhD is Senior VP in Clinical Operations of Averion International, with responsibility for New Projects initiations in North America and Europe. John is located in Averion’s German office close to Frankfurt. John has had the opportunity to both live and work in a number of European Countries and in the USA. A major focus of the last 10 years has been to successfully commence and manage Operations in the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
John has over 30 years of Pharmaceutical and Contract Research industry experience. He has worked in all phases of drug development and has managed clinical research projects in Eastern and Western Europe, and in North America on behalf of clients from Japan, the USA and Europe. Prior to Averion, he has held senior positions in Management, Clinical Operations and Project Management for PRA International and Imform GmbH.
Dr Peter MacLennan, Director of Project Development and Scientific Affairs,
Orion Clinical
Peter MacLennan has been with ORION Clinical Services for eight years. He is responsible for Business Development, the company’s German Business Unit and the Data Management/Statistics team.
Before joining ORION he worked for other CROs in business and operational roles and prior to that spent four years with Solvay in medical/marketing positions.
He began his career in academic research with a PhD in Biochemistry at Dundee University. After post doctoral work at the University of London he moved to Liverpool University initially as a Research Fellow and subsequently as Lecturer.
Dr Sarah Evans, Research Fellow,
Innovation, Knowledge and Organisational Networks (IKON)
Sarah Evans (BSc, MA, PhD) is a research fellow at the Innovation, Knowledge & Organisational Networks Research Centre (IKON) at Warwick Business School, University of Warwick. She has an interest in technical and biomedical innovation, and particularly on the aspects influencing the process of the translation of new medical technologies into healthcare usage. Her doctoral study, conducted at the University of Nottingham and completed in 2006, explored the factors influencing the translation of discoveries from the molecular genetics field into practical clinical usage. Sarah is currently working on a 2-year research project about how clinical research is organized and managed in the UK. This project developed from the growing concern about the ‘translational gap’ between basic scientific discoveries and innovations which can directly benefit patients, and aims to identify the key challenges associated with conducting different models of clinical research.
Dr Chris Gardner, Director Pharma and Biotech,
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Chris Gardner has been with Citigate Dewe Rogerson for four years and is a Director in the Pharma & Biotech team. Chris provides financial public relations and corporate communications consultancy to companies in the UK, Europe and the US. Chris works with companies at all stages of development and has advised international M&A and on IPOs on the Main Market and AIM in London and also across Europe. Chris has more than 10 years experience in communications, a PhD in molecular biology and a postgraduate journalism qualification.
Dr Rob Williams, Head of Drug Development Projects & Non Clinical Development,
Cancer Research UK
Dr Rob Williams is Head of Drug Development Projects and Non-Clinical Development at Cancer Research UK where he oversees a development portfolio of over 30 novel small molecule and biological agents. Dr Williams is currently also Chairman of the UK Society for Medicines Research. A pharmacologist by training, Dr Williams received his BSc from the University of Birmingham in 1983 and a PhD from the University of Aston in 1986. Dr Williams has worked in drug discovery and development for over 20 years holding pharmaceutical industry positions with Glaxo and Rhone Poulenc Rorer and spending 4 years in the biotechnology sector before joining Cancer Research UK in 2004.
Chris Beattie, Director of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs,
Onyvax
Chris Beattie, MBA, is Director of Clinical & Regulatory at Onyvax Limited. He joined the pharmaceutical industry in 1979. Chris has worked for both large multinational pharmaceutical companies, including Bayer, and small biotech companies, namely Xenova and Onyvax. He has held positions in Quality Control, Regulatory Affairs, R&D Management and Project Management. Since 1996 he has been working on the development of cancer therapies, initially with small molecules and since 2001, he has been responsible for the prostate cancer vaccine development programme at Onyvax. Mr Beattie received his MBA from Warwick University, United Kingdom and studied law at Nottingham Law School, United Kingdom.
Irene Gow, Director of Scientific Affairs,
Nexus Oncology Ltd
Irene is an immunologist by training. During her 16 years in the pharmaceutical industry she worked with several biotech companies before joining Nexus Oncology as Director of Scientific Affairs. Irene started her career as a CRA, then moved to project management and eventually led a successful clinical operations group. She has been involved in many clinical development programmes, including taking a product from Phase 1 to a successful NDA/MAA. Her particular areas of expertise are early phase oncology and orphan drug development. At Nexus, Irene is responsible for consultancy and feasibility projects, as well as providing support for their clinical projects and training programme.
Dr Sally Waterman, ex-Director of Research and Development,
formerly of Protherics plc
Sally Waterman was formerly the Director of Research & Development at Protherics PLC and has over 25 years experience within the pharmaceutical industry. She previously served as Director of Development Operations at Xenova Group plc, following its acquisition of KS Biomedix Holdings plc, where she was Vice President of Research and Development. Prior to this, Dr Waterman held various senior positions within Vanguard Medica plc (now Vernalis plc), inc
Dr Eric Hurden, Associate Director Global Clinical Operations, Oncology,
Biogen Idec
Eric is currently responsible for driving the global expansion of oncology trials within Biogen Idec. Eric holds a PhD in biochemistry from the University of London. He joined the drug development industry as a CRA for Parke Davis UK in 1981. Since then, Eric has held a number of increasingly global clinical roles within pharma and CROs including Marion Merrell Dow, Barnett International/Parexel, Covance, Icon and Astellas. He has worked with the top pharma companies performing process and change management consulting and training. His roles have included extended periods of work in France, the Netherlands and the USA. For the last 10 years he has focused on oncology drug development, most recently with Cancer Research UK.
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