ApconiX Welcomes Dr Emma Bishop
ApconiX is delighted to welcome Dr Emma Bishop who joins the Safety Science Group (SSG) as a Senior Scientist Immunotoxicologist and will be working with Dr Sean Hammond, Immunotoxicology Lead.
Academic Career
Emma graduated from the University of Birmingham with a degree in Biomedical Science. For her dissertation, Emma worked on investigating the plasticity of Th17 cells and type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) through regulation of transcription factors. She found it a great introduction to immunology and allowed her to learn many lab techniques.
She followed with a PhD through a doctoral training program at the same university. This program consisted of an initial Master’s year with 3 rotations projects, from which she could then choose for her thesis. Through her research, Emma identified a novel role for the inflammatory cytokine TNF-α in controlling CD4+ T cell metabolism and function. She investigated this dysregulation in the context of rheumatoid arthritis.
Following her PhD graduation, Emma joined RedX Pharma here in Alderley Park in the Biology Department. She worked across multiple oncology projects at different stages of drug development, from screening compounds through cell assays to candidate nomination in vivo studies. She particularly enjoyed analysing blood samples from clinical trial patients for changes in immune cell populations, which felt like the work of the company was really helping making a difference to patients’ lives.
Working at ApconiX
Previously working at RedX Pharma, Emma knew of ApconiX already, and when she saw a job advertisement for a Senior Scientist immunotoxicology position, nothing could stop her from applying. Emma was very keen to go back to her roots of immunology and started in the summer 2025.
Sean commented “It is great to have Emma on board. Emma’s strong background in immunology and scientific thinking skillset are already proving valuable in supporting client projects.”
Interests Outside of Work
Growing up in Swindon, studying in Birmingham, and now working in Cheshire, Emma joked that she is “slowly making her way up the west side of the country”. Outside of work, she likes to stay active with running and sometimes swimming. She is considering Manchester Half marathon but said she hasn’t committed yet. Emma also enjoys live music and goes to the weekly local pub quiz in her village.
