There are trials and tribulations ahead, but honestly, could there be anything more exciting than grabbing the reigns of your own translation and driving it forward? In this episode we get to grips with the specifics of forming a start-up company, we speak to some successful academic founders, figure out what you need to think about as you pull the trigger and form your own company and get some behind-the-scenes gems from a biotech investor.

Appearing in this episode:

Simon Boulton

Principal Group Leader, The Francis Crick Institute

Co-founder & VP Science Strategy, Artios Pharma Ltd

Chief Translation Advisor, Cancer Research UK

Simon’s lab has discovered new DNA repair genes and provided novel insights into cancer. In 2016, Simon helped to establish Artios Pharma Ltd - he is Vice President of Science Strategy alongside his academic roles at the Francis Crick Institute and Cancer Research UK.

Phil Masterson

Associate Director, Ventures, Cancer Research Horizons

Phil leads a team focussed on the creation of innovative and transformative oncology ventures, from ideation to launch.

Professor Steven Pollard

Founder & CSO, Trogenix

Professor of Stem Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Edinburgh

Trogenix is uniting cutting-edge technologies in genomics, oncology, immunotherapy, and gene therapy to create a revolutionary therapeutic approach. Steve's laboratory studies the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate stem cell identity and differentiation and how these operate in the context of human cancer.

Professor Sophia Karagiannis

Co-founder, Epsilogen

Professor of Translational Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, Kings Collage London

Sophia heads up a cancer antibody discovery team focused on immune cells and cancer and on the design of novel agents for solid tumours. She is also a founder of Epsilogen Ltd the first immuno-oncology company dedicated to developing IgE therapeutic agents for cancer.

Jonathan Tobin

Partner, Brandon Capital

Investor-in-residence, Cancer Research Horizons

Jonathan is a Partner with Brandon Capital where he heads the London office, and serves on the boards of Brandon portfolio companies Astronautx, Pheon Therapeutics, Myricx Bio, NRG Therapeutics, and Catalym.

Professor Ed Tate

GSK Chair in Chemical Biology, Imperial College London

Satellite Group Leader, Francis Crick Institute

Co-founder, Myricxbio

Ed's research focusses on chemical biology and chemical proteomics. Myricxbio which is focused on discovering and developing novel payloads for antibody drug conjugates, based on inhibitors of the enzymes, N-myristoyltransferases (NMT) for the treatment of cancer.

Useful links:

Cancer Research Horizons Seed fund

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