About Us

Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)

A qualified veterinary surgeon and translational academic scientist, Tim has dedicated much of his career to bone metabolism research including the role of the adrenomedullin receptor in several biological processes, most recently in cancer. As Co-Founder and CSO, Tim will provide invaluable support for the development of Modulus’s AM₂R antagonist portfolio.

Tim graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 1980 and went on to conduct PhD research on the mechanisms underlying bone response to exercise. It was during Tim’s time as Professor of Cellular and Molecular Biology in York that his research on bone biology and drug targets for osteoporosis moved towards the biology of a group of receptor activated modifying proteins (RAMPs) and lead to the current focus on small molecule modulation of the AM₂ receptor.

This research interest in the biology of the adrenomedullin receptor transferred with Tim to Sheffield University. He and his team have developed an unrivalled expertise in the biology of this family of heteromeric cell surface receptors, namely the calcitonin and calcitonin-like receptors, their associated receptor activity modifying proteins (RAMPs), and the interactions with their ligands.

Post-doctoral research conducted by Dr Gareth Richard in Tim’s lab, a successful partnership with Professor Joe Harrity in Sheffield’s Chemistry department, coupled with a productive collaboration with pharma industry medicinal chemists, has resulted in a number of small molecule AM₂R antagonists which form the research focus at Modulus.

Co-Founder and VP of Preclinical/Biology

Gareth graduated from the University of Portsmouth in Pharmacy and Pharmacology and joined Tim Skerry at the Royal Veterinary College in London to undertake his PhD on the role of Receptor Activity Modifying Proteins (RAMPs) in bone biology.  Gareth recognised the implications of the AM₂R receptor and its ligand, adrenomedullin, in cancer and generated further biological validation for this. Gareth moved to Sheffield to conduct further research in this emerging area in Tim Skerry’s lab. Since his PhD, Gareth has been awarded BBSRC/RSE Enterprise and the Yorkshire Forward Enterprise Fellowships. Both have enabled a commercial research perspective and provided a network of industry contacts. These insights have facilitated an applied research programme generating compelling data to validate the utility of small molecule AM₂R antagonists in cancer. In his role at Modulus Oncology, Gareth will ensure the conduct of a preclinical programme to facilitate the translation of the company’s development candidate into clinical development. 

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Alan is an experienced and successful biotech entrepreneur with in-depth and extensive knowledge of drug discovery, particularly in the oncology area. Previous roles include CEO of the successful biotech, IOmet Pharma which was acquired by Merck (known as MSD outside North America) in 2016 and senior drug discovery roles in large Pharma (GlaxoSmithKline). Alan also has a deep academic and industry expertise in G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) biology. This includes specific experience and scientific insights into the receptor family targeted by Modulus Oncology’s small molecule portfolio. Alan spent much of his academic career in this area and his research was published in a Nature paper that reported the initial discovery of the RAMPs which are fundamental to the Modulus development programme. Alan obtained his PhD biochemistry at the University of Leeds and conducted post-doctoral research at Glasgow University.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO)

Glen has extensive experience in translational medicine, particularly the early development of anti-cancer compounds, from lead optimisation to clinical proof of concept in both solid and haematological malignancies. His experience extends to small and large molecules, cytotoxic chemotherapy, anti-sense oligonucleotides and vaccines, and covers therapeutics targeting hormonal regulation, invasion and angiogenesis, DNA damage repair and immune modulation. His previous roles included Senior Medical Director in the Oncology Innovative Medicine Unit of Astra Zeneca. Since 2016, Glen has been involved with a number of innovative early stage biotech companies in the oncology area. 
Glen has a particular expertise in innovative phase I study designs in oncology which allow flexibility with regards to dose escalation of single agent and combination approaches. He also advocates strong mechanistic and biological understanding of the mechanism of action of the assets that move into clinical trials to enable the most appropriate molecular sub-types of patients to be recruited into trials to improve the chances of clinical benefit. Glen has been the industry representative for several academic and regulatory alliances/think tanks, was elected a Fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine in 2012, sits on the Science and Innovation Advisory Committee of the UK Bio Industry Association, and is a tutor and lecturer in the School of Pharmacy at Manchester University. Glen is honorary professor of translational medicine at the University of Sheffield, where he conducted is medical degree.

Chief Business Officer (CBO)

With a PhD in cancer cell biology from the University of Edinburgh and a 30-year career in clinical development in the oncology biopharmaceutical sector, Clare’s in-depth experience in the contract research organisation (CRO) sector has given her a wide exposure to different oncology asset classes and a highly valuable perspective on the key attributes for successful oncology drug development.
Clare founded the niche CRO, Nexus Oncology, which became the partner company of choice for a number of biotechs developing new cancer therapies. Clare sold Nexus Oncology to Ockham Development in 2012 in a cash and share transaction, with a second successful exit two years later when Ockham was acquired by Chiltern Development.

Since then, Clare has sought to maximise opportunities as a biotech entrepreneur and founded Cumulus Oncology in 2017 to realise this ambition.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Keith is a chartered accountant who has spent most of his career providing corporate advisory services to the owner-managed sector across a wide range of industries. He has extensive knowledge of the life sciences sector, having held a number of non-executive/board advisory positions with companies involved in this area (Nexus Oncology, Ockham Developments Inc, Spero Oncology, Dacro and Datatrial) providing strategic and financial advice as well as negotiating and advising on exits, exit planning and fundraising.

Keith previously worked in the venture capital industry (3i plc) and in the accounting profession (KPMG/Springfords). Having worked in both industry and profession for over 40 years, as well as running his own businesses, Keith has extensive knowledge of the challenges and opportunities faced by organisations of all sizes. Keith is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and was awared a Master of Arts degree from the University of Aberdeen, with a specialisation in economics and accountancy.

Director of Preclinical programme

Manuelle is a PhD pharmacologist with a background in applied research programmes and translational science. Her experience encompasses the development of new treatments and diagnostic approaches in a range of medical areas including cardiovascular medicine, oncology, and auto-immune conditions. She has worked at biotech start-ups Medannex and aTen Therapeutics and her experience includes the creation, costing, and management of preclinical programmes in the oncology area.

Manuelle obtained her PhD in Pharmacology from Rouen University and has conducted post-doctoral research at the University of Edinburgh. She is also a Saltire Fellow and has an extremely entrepreneurial approach to biotech research.

Scientific Advisor

Andrew holds the Regius Chair of Surgery at the University of Glasgow, a Cancer Research UK Clinician Scientist, a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Academy of Medical Sciences. He is the Director of the Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre which is focused on precision oncology therapeutic development; he also built the Glasgow Precision Oncology Laboratory. 
Andrew has leadership roles in national and international consortia in cancer genomics (Executive Director, International Cancer Genome Consortium), and therapeutic development (Chair, Precision-Panc: a UK-wide Therapeutic Development Platform for Pancreatic cancer). He co-founded Cure Forward, a Cancer Patient clinical trial matching company and consults for the pharmaceutical industry and biotech sector in therapeutic and diagnostic development. He was recently recognised for his efforts in this area and awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2019.

Co-Founder and Scientific Advisor

Joe Harrity obtained his BSc (Hons.) in Chemistry from the University of Strathclyde in 1991, followed by a PhD from the same institution in 1994. He was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Boston College, USA from 1994 to 1997, after which he became a Lecturer at the University of Sheffield. Here he was promoted to Senior Lecturer, then Reader, and finally to Professor in 2009. His research interests are in the development of new synthetic chemistry methods for the synthesis of biologically active compounds, and his work has been recognised by the Pfizer Discovery (2004) and AstraZeneca Research Awards (2006), and the RSC Bader Award (2018).
Joe was the key chemistry expert working on the small molecule AM₂R antagonist programme at TUOS from inception. He therefore has deep insights into the structure and manufacturing aspects of the programme.
As a co-founder of Modulus Oncology Joe will continue to contribute his expertise and know-how to the company’s research and development programme.

Chairman

Tim has extensive experience in the biotech sector, both as a board member for various UK initiatives and private biotech companies and in designing and leading multiple strategic transactions and exits. Tim currently serves as Executive Chair of Karus Therapeutics, non-executive Chair of Storm Therapeutics and Director of AstronauTX Limited. Tim’s previous roles include Governing Board member of InnovateUK, the UK’s innovation agency, Non-Executive Director of the Cell Therapy Catapult, and Chair of the UK BioIndustry Association. He was also a Director and COO of TRex Bio Limited and Enara Bio, both SV Health Investors’ portfolio companies. He was also Chairman of Atopix Therapeutics Limited, acquired by Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA in 2016, and was President and CEO of Cellzome Inc, acquired by GlaxoSmithKline plc in 2012. Tim is also a non-executive Director of Record PLC, a leading global currency management firm, a Trustee of the Institute for Research in Schools, and a Fellow of the RSA, a charity founded in 1754 which drives ideas, innovation and social change. With his extensive experience, Tim will be a great asset to drive Modulus forward.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Alan is an experienced and successful biotech entrepreneur with in-depth and extensive knowledge of drug discovery, particularly in the oncology area. Previous roles include CEO of the successful biotech, IOmet Pharma which was acquired by Merck (known as MSD outside North America) in 2016 and senior drug discovery roles in large Pharma (GlaxoSmithKline). Alan also has a deep academic and industry expertise in G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) biology. This includes specific experience and scientific insights into the receptor family targeted by Modulus Oncology’s small molecule portfolio. Alan spent much of his academic career in this area and his research was published in a nature paper that reported the initial discovery of the RAMPs which are fundamental to the Modulus development programme. Alan obtained his PhD biochemistry at the University of Leeds and conducted post-doctoral research at Glasgow University.

Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)

A qualified veterinary surgeon and translational academic scientist, Tim has dedicated much of his career to bone metabolism research including the role of the adrenomedullin receptor in several biological processes, most recently in cancer. As Co-Founder and CSO, Tim will provide invaluable support for the development of Modulus’s AM₂R antagonist portfolio.

Tim graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 1980 and went on to conduct PhD research on the mechanisms underlying bone response to exercise. It was during Tim’s time as Professor of Cellular and Molecular Biology in York that his research on bone biology and drug targets for osteoporosis moved towards the biology of a group of receptor activated modifying proteins (RAMPs) and lead to the current focus on small molecule modulation of the AM₂ receptor.

This research interest in the biology of the adrenomedullin receptor transferred with Tim to Sheffield University. He and his team have developed an unrivalled expertise in the biology of this family of heteromeric cell surface receptors, namely the calcitonin and calcitonin-like receptors, their associated receptor activity modifying proteins (RAMPs), and the interactions with their ligands.

Post-doctoral research conducted by Dr Gareth Richard in Tim’s lab, a successful partnership with Professor Joe Harrity in Sheffield’s Chemistry department, coupled with a productive collaboration with pharma industry medicinal chemists, has resulted in a number of small molecule AM₂R antagonists which form the research focus at Modulus.

Non-executive Director

Andy Hogben, Cchem, began his career as an industrial chemist before moving into a role in university technology transfer. He now leads the commercialisation activities at The University of Sheffield and is Managing Director of Redbrick Molecular Ltd, a company that develops novel building blocks and screening chemicals for pharmaceutical R&D.