Our Board of Directors

Our 24-strong team boasts deep experience in RNA biology, bioinformatics analytics, neuro-translation and development.

Heather Preston

Chair

  • Non-Executive Director of Oxford Biomedica, Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc and of Aligos Therapeutics
  • Senior Advisor of TPG Biotech
  • Served as a Director on the Boards of Oxford Science Enterprises plc, Karuna Pharmaceuticals and Akouos Inc.
  • Over 30 years of experience in healthcare, as a scientist, physician and management consultant and an investor in life sciences and biotechnology for more than 20 years.
  • Degree in Medicine from the University of Oxford

Christian Jung

Investor Director, Dementia Discovery Fund

  • Partner at SV Health Investors and co-lead for the Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF) currently representing the fund on the Boards of Harness Therapeutics Ltd, Amphista Therapeutics Ltd, Leal Therapeutics, LLC and LoQus23 Therapeutics Ltd
  • Previously Principal with Wellington Partners and Senior Investment Manager for High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF)
  • MSc degree in Molecular Biotechnology
  • PhD with distinction in Medical Science and Technology from the Technical University of Munich

Jiaping Gu

Investor Director, Takeda Ventures

  • Takeda Ventures - Partner
  • 8+ years of experience in public and private life science investments. Previously Vice President at Hillhouse Capital covering private stage biotech investments in the US and Europe
  • 10+ years of research experience focusing on neurodegeneration as a scientist in the pharmaceutical industry and academic institutions.
  • Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Rutgers University and B.S. in Biological Sciences from Tsinghua University

Mary Canning

Observer, Epidarex Capital

  • Partner: Epidarex Capital
  • Director: Caldan Therapeutics, LUNAC Therapeutics and Glasgow University Holdings Ltd
  • Commercialised academic research with MRC Technology
  • PhD and postdoctoral research in molecular biology

Dirk Landgraf

Observer, Dementia Discovery Fund

  • SV Health Investors: Principal and Dementia Discovery Fund
  • Biogen: External Innovation and Business Development
  • Whitehead/MIT: Postdoctoral research on protein misfolding toxicities
  • PhD Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School

Haruhito Tsutsui

Observer, Ono Venture Investment

  • Investment Director: Ono Venture Investment
  • Senior Manager: Discovery Research Alliance, Neurology Research Center, Ono Pharmaceutical / Ono Pharma UK
  • Researcher: Biomarker Research, Ono Pharmaceutical
  • PhD in pharmacology, bioanalysis

Paulo Fontoura

Independent Director

  • Roche: Senior Vice President and Global Head of Clinical Development for Neuroscience, Immunology, Ophthalmology, Rare and Infectious Diseases
  • Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship Stanford University
  • MD PhD New University of Lisbon, Neurology training, summa cum laude

Jan Thirkettle

CEO Director

  • Freeline Therapeutics – CEO and CDO
  • GSK – Discovery to Manufacturing
  • Strimvelis – the first ex vivo gene therapy approved by EMA
  • MA in Chemistry and a DPhil in Biological Chemistry, University of Oxford

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