Speakers
Keynote Speaker - Sir Tony Kouzarides
Sir Tony Kouzarides is a Professor of Cancer Biology at the University of Cambridge. He has spent his career at the intersection of discovery, innovation, and mentorship. Starting his journey as a PhD student at the University of Cambridge, he spent time at the Cambridge MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology and New York University Medical Centre, before setting up his lab in the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge.
His lab works on epigenetic modifications and cancer. Recognizing the need for industry collaborations in translating scientific discoveries into real-world applications, he founded and directs the Milner Therapeutics Institute at the University of Cambridge. His belief in the power of industry led him to co-found several companies: Abcam plc, STORM Therapeutics, Chroma Therapeutics and Vellos. He is currently CEO of Vellos and a Partner at the San Francisco-based venture firm Fifty Years.
Professor Iain McInnes
Head of College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, and Vice Principal, University of Glasgow
He also serves also as the Muirhead Professor of Medicine and Versus Arthritis Professor of Rheumatology in the University. He is Director of the Versus Arthritis Centre of Excellence for Inflammatory Arthritis, lead from the University of Glasgow that includes Universities of Oxford, Newcastle and Birmingham. He serves as a member of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board. He is a Trustee on the Board of Versus Arthritis. He is past chairman of the Foreum (Foundation for European Rheumatology Research) Scientific Committee, lead the European Roadmap programme that is defining the research agenda for European rheumatology for the next decade and is Past-President of the European Alliance of Rheumatology Asssociations (EULAR).
Under these auspices he led the creation of the first pan-European Rheumatology Research Centre launched in 2021. His work is mainly focused upon the understanding of the pathogenesis of immune mediated inflammatory diseases and encompasses basic discovery immunology through phase 1 and proof of concept experimental medicine clinical trials to leadership of pivotal phase 3 trials in the area of immune biology.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. He was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2019 by HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Professor Ross Cagan
Regius Professor of Precision Medicine | Royal Society Wohl Fellow | Scientific Director of the Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre at University of Glasgow
Dr Cagan's laboratory has been at the forefront of developing complex, whole-animal models for studying cancer and genetic diseases, contributing to the approval of the first FDA-approved treatment for Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma. He also led the Center for Personalized Cancer Therapeutics team, which developed a personalised fly-to-bedside, open label clinical trial for thyroid and colorectal cancer patients.
As a leading expert in personalised treatment, Dr Cagan serves as the Academic Lead of the Living Laboratory programme. He is integral to the large-scale effort to develop a thriving healthcare innovation ecosystem in Glasgow, focusing on expanding the city’s existing leadership and infrastructure in precision medicine.
Professor Jesse Dawson
Professor of Stroke Medicine at School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health at the University of Glasgow
Professor Dawson is a Consultant Physician in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow. He is a member of the European Stroke Organization Executive Committee. He has research interests in clinical trials on prevention and rehabilitation in stroke survivors, with special focus on improving long-term outcomes.
Derek Gilchrist
Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Causeway Therapeutics
Derek graduated in Molecular Biology from the University of Glasgow, followed by a PhD at the University of Liverpool and postdoctoral research at Edinburgh and Glasgow universities.
Derek co-founded Causeway Therapeutics, joining the company as CEO taking the lead asset TenoMiR from concept through Phase 2 PoC for the treatment of tendinopathy. Derek currently leads Causeway’s pre-clinical programmes in the role of CSO.
Dr Stuart Hannah
Co-founder and CEO at Microplate Dx
Dr Stuart Hannah is a health technology entrepreneur on a mission to transform the lives of patients globally by developing rapid diagnostic tests to tackle antimicrobial resistance. He co-founded Microplate Dx with the vision to become the leading provider of platform diagnostics to tackle the major global healthcare challenge of antimicrobial resistance in a rapid, scalable and inclusive manner.
Dr Hannah has a PhD in Electronic & Electrical Engineering from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, and has 10+ years’ academic and industrial experience in developing biosensors and diagnostics for healthcare. Since forming the company in 2021 and being awarded a prestigious Royal Society of Edinburgh Enterprise Fellowship, Stuart has already raised substantial equity investment and grant funding for Microplate Dx and won several significant awards for his work.
