Olivia Turner

Olivia has recently completed her second year studying Biomedical Sciences at Sheffield University. Choosing to take the Physiology and Pharmacology route in her second year, Olivia is currently on a placement year (jointly with ApconiX and Aptus Clinical) to gain greater understanding of drug development and the pharmaceutical industry. She hopes to be able to finish her degree and move straight to studying for a Ph.D. Versatile, enthusiastic and highly adaptive, Olivia is a great addition to the ApconiX office as she learns about the essential role of drug safety in pharmaceuticals as well as what it’s like to be part of a growing company.

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Andrew Winkley

PhD, DABT

Andrew has over 20 years of drug safety experience in industry at AstraZeneca and Vertex. He has a broad scientific background that includes mechanistic and regulatory toxicology, and biochemistry. His drug development experience covers the complete life cycle of drug development from discovery to late-stage development in several therapeutic areas including orphan indications, neuroscience, pain therapeutics, inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, and oncology. Andrew has been involved in bringing several candidate molecules to clinical trials and most recently completed an NDA/MAA for a cystic fibrosis drug. Andrew is a highly adaptive project toxicologist who can assimilate and interpret a broad range of data from various disciplines to provide clear guidance to the project team.

Dr Paul Duffy

PhD, ERT, FBTS

Paul is senior project toxicologist with particular expertise in new modalities including RNA therapeutics and regenerative medicines. He is an extremely highly experienced project toxicologist with invaluable submission experience in multiple territories including repurposing of existing drug projects for new applications. He has served on the BTS Executive and Communication Committees and SOT Committees and has many publications in peer reviewed journals. Paul is former senior Project Toxicologist at AstraZeneca and a former board member of Stem cells for Safer Medicines (SC4SM).  Paul is a Fellow of the BTS and the RSB and a UK/EU Registered Toxicologist.

Marie Cumberbatch

MSc

Marie is an established immunologist with over 30 years of experience gained in industry and academia. She has specific immune expertise in oncology and toxicology, most recently in the field of immuno-oncology biomarkers for efficacy, mode of action, patient selection and safety across all phases of the drug discovery process from early target identification through to clinical trials. Marie has many peer reviewed publications in her specialist area of immunology and is a former team leader the AstraZeneca Oncology Translation Sciences.

Dr Damian Deavall

PhD

Damian is a project leader with notable expertise in global drug development, gained over more than 20 years. He has led the nonclinical safety assessment of 50+ candidate drugs encompassing a wide range of modalities (small molecules, antibodies, peptides, oligonucleotides, therapeutic viruses and vaccines) in multiple therapy areas, including oncology, infectious disease and metabolic disorders. Damian has contributed to drug development at every phase, from discovery, through clinical trials to marketing approval applications in EU and US. He leads and manages drug safety programs for biotech and larger pharma clients, bringing a pragmatic and considered approach to those collaborations, which teams greatly appreciate.

Dr Peter Ballard

PhD

Peter is a senior drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic (DMPK) expert with extensive experience in global discovery and development small molecule projects across multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, infection and cardiovascular. He has a proven track record of international project delivery from early drug discovery through to clinical development and compound registration from 40 years in the pharmaceutical industry with GSK, Astrazeneca and as an independent consultant. He has maintained a high academic profile with more than 30 publications in peer reviewed journals and presentations at international conferences. Peter has a keen analytical mind and a pragmatic approach to understanding  and resolving DMPK issues.

Dr Jane Stewart

PhD, ERT, BVM&S, MRCVS

Jane is a senior toxicologist with world leading expertise in reproductive toxicology and the safety assessment of pharmaceuticals. Jane is renowned for her expertise in problem solving for general and reproductive toxicology as well as in the investigation of endocrine effects and carcinogenesis. Jane has authored numerous pregnancy labels and has helped draft international testing guidelines for pharmaceuticals. Jane is a PhD qualified veterinarian with a degree in pathological sciences.  Jane is known for her analytical mindset and ability to identify and resolve key issues.

William O’Brien

MA, MBA

William is a specialist R&D tax and finance advisor.  A seasoned leader, he has worked across a wide range of industries including Biotech, Medical Devices, Formula One, Defence and Finance. William has a degree in Neurophysiology from the University of Cambridge and an MBA from Manchester Business School.  William is a natural fit for ApconiX as he began his career working as a scientist at the Babraham Institute near Cambridge, using patch clamp and fluorescence imaging to study the role of GTP binding proteins in exocytosis.

Dr Kimberly Rockley

PhD

Kimberly Rockley leads the microelectrode (MEA) hiPSC-methods team and conducts MEA seizure liability studies for clients. Kim developed our iSLA (in vitro seizure liability assay) for which she has received a number of accolades including the BioNow Rising Star award in 2022. She holds a PhD in Pharmacy from Durham University where she used novel in vitro methods to investigate anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity and its mitigation by perturbation of angiotensin signalling. Kim is passionate about the use of in vitro techniques to improve preclinical safety and reduce animal testing.

Ian Slater

MSc

Ian is an experienced toxicology Study Director and Study Monitor with expertise in GLP and non-GLP toxicology studies across diverse therapy areas.  He has extensive experience in working with CROs gained during his more than 20 years at AstraZeneca.  Ian was Chair of the Study Director Workshop of the British Toxicology Society from 2011-2015, providing a forum for the sharing of good practice and supporting the development of junior toxicologists.  Ian is a practical and pragmatic toxicologist who brings his wealth of experience to the design, conduct, delivery and reporting of toxicology studies.