QV BIOELECTRONICS - Key Persons
Alastair Atkinson has over 30 years of industry experience in both corporate and start-up companies, of which the majority have been in medical technology high growth companies. He worked for Hewlett Packard in a variety of leadership positions both in the UK and internationally, before becoming Global Product Director for Optos which was successfully floated on the main London market in 2006. He subsequently served as CEO and COO for DYSIS Medical where he managed the development of the company from start-up to full international expansion. Alastair has a BSc, MSc and an honorary PhD in various technology and business disciplines
Job Titles:
- Research Scientist
- Principal Scientist, Cancer Biology
Ashwin is a cancer research scientist with over a decade's experience in glioma biology. Following his PhD in neurobiology from the University of Insubria, Italy, he recently completed his second postdoctoral research on unravelling the genomic landscape of IDH mutated gliomas at a single-cell level from University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany. His research over the years has focussed on various aspects of glioma biology, be it transcriptional, metabolic or epigenetics
Job Titles:
- Biomedical Engineer
- CEO
- Co - Founder
Christopher is a biomedical engineer with expertise in medical device design, biomaterials, and bioelectronics. In 2018 he completed a PhD in regenerative medicine at The University of Manchester where his research focused on the development of novel graphene bioelectronic devices and the use of electrical stimuli to control cell behaviour. A passionate entrepreneur, Christopher now acts as the CEO of QV Bioelectronics and oversees the business and technical development aims of the business. He is an associate member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Deepak leads the MedTech Committee at Consilience Ventures and has been working with early-stage Biotech, MedTech and consumer health companies for more than a decade. Deepak has an extensive medical background, including as an NHS teaching hospital consultant in intensive care medicine, anaesthesia, and major trauma, as well as a broad range of clinical speciality experience. Deepak has a flexible, analytical, and entrepreneurial approach, with a keen ability to refine key medical and clinical science issues into commercialisation and growth strategies.
Job Titles:
- Biomedical Engineer
- Senior Project Engineer
Doug is a biomedical engineer with experience across a range of neuro-technologies including bio-signal processing for prosthesis control, biomaterials in central nervous system applications and primary neural cell culture. After completing a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Glasgow, he went on to pursue a PhD in the University's Centre for the Cellular Microenvironment (CeMi) focussing on regenerative materials in spinal cord injury, designing and characterising the production and delivery of synthetic biomimetic hydrogel microspheres. Following this, Doug worked in Australia with a multinational biopharmaceutical manufacturing organisation to provide technical support for manufacturing operations, ranging from lab-based non-conformance investigations to predictive modelling of final product characteristics. With QV Bioelectronics, he is engaged in device design and development and support of QARA activities to ensure compliance with required standards and regulations.
Mike is a deep technology commercialisation specialist focusing on bringing early-stage technologies to market in highly regulated industries. He is currently acting as the Head of New Ventures at Veolia Nuclear Solutions. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Manchester alongside an executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business & Technology and is an 1851 Royal Commission Alumnus. In his role at QV Bioelectronics Mike provides consultation on strategy development, risk management, resource allocation, fundraising and commercialisation planning.
Job Titles:
- Principal Scientist, Biomaterials
Nimrah is a bioengineer with expertise in biomaterial production and characterisation. Following on from her undergraduate degree in Applied Pharmacology at Queen Margaret University, where she received The Royal Society of Biology top student award (2015), Nimrah completed her PhD in Bioengineering at The University of Edinburgh. Her work focused on the production of scaffolds to promote cartilage tissue regeneration for the treatment of osteoarthritis. As the Principal Biomaterials Scientist, she is at the forefront of the development of QVs core electrode technology. Nimrah recently won Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award and she is a champion for EDI.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Director
- Co - Founder
Richard is a specialty registrar in neurosurgery and brain cancer scientist based in Manchester. He is a former Wellcome Trust clinical research fellow and NIHR academic clinical fellow in neurosurgery at The University of Manchester. His doctoral research focused on glioblastoma (GBM) stem cell biology. He undertook his medical degree at the University of Bristol and additionally holds a Master of Research (MRes) degree in experimental neuroscience from Imperial College London, graduating with distinction. In 2017 he was awarded the Sir Hugh Cairns Essay Prize from the Society of British Neurological Surgeons for his research into the effects of pedunculopontine nucleus deep brain stimulation (DBS) in patients with Parkinson's disease. Richard serves as Clinical Director of QV Bioelectronics and oversees clinical aspects of device development. He is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in England.
Ryan is a medical doctor, registered with the UK General Medical Council, and qualified from the University of Oxford in 2021. Ryan completed an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience, with medical research applying machine learning methods to detect cardiorespiratory and neurophysiological responses to noxious stimuli in premature infants in ICU. During medical school Ryan held teaching positions in neuroscience and neuroanatomy, and in 2021 he received the Duke-Elder First Prize for placing first in the prestigious national ophthalmology examination. Since graduating, Ryan has practiced as an academic clinician in Leeds, undertaking research activities with the Trust innovation team and completing a PGCert in Health Research. At QV Bioelectronics, Ryan is responsible for developing and executing clinical strategy and research.
Job Titles:
- Scientist, Cancer Biology
Tomisin is a cell biologist with experience in DNA damage repair mechanisms, the DNA damage response, and their relation to mitotic cell cycle regulation. Upon achieving his PhD from the Genome Damage & Stability Centre at the University of Sussex, where he conducted research into the three-dimensional DNA damage response and its effect on local chromatin function, Tomisin gained 4 further years of original research experience as a postdoctoral research fellow. In this role he focused on the interplay between the mis-regulation of mitosis and faithful chromosome segregation, with subsequent investigation into how mitosis-associated DNA damage may initiate cancer genome evolution. As QV Bioelectronics' cancer biologist, Tomisin runs pre-clinical testing of our innovative electric field therapy technology as applied to the treatment of #glioblastoma and other neuro-oncological conditions.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Consultant
- Consultant Neurosurgeon at National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
Mr Marcus is an academic consultant neurosurgeon and was among the first cohort of trainees to be selected for a Walport Integrated Academic Training Pathway, with rotations at the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and University College London. His clinical interest is in "keyhole" endoscopic neurosurgical approaches. To this end, he completed fellowships in endoscopy and anterior skull base surgery (including pituitary surgery) at the Klinik Hirslanden, Zurich and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. His research interest, and the subject of his doctoral thesis under Prof Lord Darzi, is the development and evaluation of new devices that make these keyhole approaches more safe and effective, including augmented reality, robotics, and artificial intelligence. His work has received over £1.5 million in research funding, has resulted in over 75 peer-reviewed publications, and has frequently featured in the national press. In recognition of these achievements he was commissioned by Springer to act as Editor on their first book dedicated to Neurosurgical Robotics, serves as a Member of the Advisory Group on Robotic Surgery in the United Kingdom, and has been awarded several prizes, including the prestigious Hunterian Professorship by the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2019.
Job Titles:
- Consultant Neuro - Oncology Surgeon at University of Edinburgh
Paul is Reader and Honorary Consultant Neurosurgeon at the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian. He combines his operative expertise with laboratory and clinical research into brain tumours. He has expertise in MedTech innovation, and led the clinical translation of an innovative brain tumour blood test from the lab to the clinic, supporting successful significant external investment. Complementing his clinical work, Paul founded eoSurgical Ltd in 2012 along with co-founders Roland Partridge and Mark Hughes. This University of Edinburgh spin-out now provides surgical simulation training in 85 countries. In 2014 Paul helped in the foundation of the Compassion Initiative at the University of Edinburgh. His research and clinical expertise is well placed to positively impact our project and team. As an advisor, Paul brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise as we continue to pioneer life-extending treatment options for terminal cancer patients.
Dr Stephen Minger is one of the pioneering researchers in human stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. Over the past 25+ years, Stephen's has been at the forefront of human gene therapy/stem cell research. In 2002, he was awarded one of the first two licenses by the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) for the derivation of human embryonic stem cells. He was one of the first two groups to be granted a research license by the HFEA in 2008 to pursue Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer to generate "hybrid human embryos". From 2002-2009, he was the Director of the Stem Cell Biology Laboratory at King's College London, and the Global Head of R&D and Chief Scientist for GE Healthcare Life Sciences from 2009-2015. Stephen is the Founder/Director of SLM Blue Skies Innovations Ltd, providing expert analysis in emerging healthcare technologies for biotechnology companies and the investment community in gene/cell-based therapies, human tissue fabrication, implementation of robotics/synthetic intelligence, machine-brain interfaces, and human pluripotent stem cell technologies, amongst others. He has a PhD in Neuroscience and Pathology from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.
Jinwei Zhao (Jin) is a bioelectronics engineer with expertise in implantable electronic devices. Following on from completing his B.Eng. Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, Jin received a distinction M.Sc. degree in Electric Power from Newcastle University. Jin recently completed his PhD at the University of Glasgow, with his research focused on energy harvesting, implantable photovoltaic cells, and a self-powered low-consumption energy harvesting system. During his PhD, Jin participated in the Science and Technology Development Fund) funded project "High-efficiency Energy Harvesting System for Biomedical Devices" and exchanged to the State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-signal VLSI group (University of Macau). During his time in academia, he published 4 SCI Journals, several conference papers and won the PRIME Silver leaf Award in 2019.
Joel is an engineer with significant experience in the design, development and bringing to market of medical devices. He has developed a variety of class I to III devices, within the orthopaedic sector especially, from simple single-use accessories to joint replacement implant systems and their associated surgical instrumentation. Intent that patients get the best outcomes through continually innovating and evolving medical devices, his role as Quality and Regulatory Affairs Manager is to implement and oversee the Quality Management System that ensures the safety and efficacy of QV Bioelectronics' products. A graduate of the University of Bath, he is a Chartered Engineer and Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Liz is an experienced Finance/HR Manager and brings a wealth of skills and knowledge gained from a successful career covering a wide range of sectors - including education, health and social care, housing and science and technology. She brings start-up expertise in finance, admin, HR and health and safety. She is also a qualified and experienced coach, pragmatic and personable with a passion for supporting people development and has extensive experience in change management, leadership development and a broad range of employee relations.
Job Titles:
- Head of Business Development
Qasim is a biotechnologist with an entrepreneurial background, having previously run a number of consumer businesses. Following on from completing his undergraduate degree in biotechnology, Qasim recently completed his MSc in Biotechnology and Enterprise at the University of Manchester, where his research focused on the development of biomaterials for wound-healing applications. During this time, he also further developed his expertise in enterprise planning and analysis with a focus on biomedical technology. Passionate about the future of healthcare, his role is focused on developing the growth strategy of QV Bioelectronics.
Seasoned CFO with 25 years of experience within Finance and Operations. She has held Senior management positions in the past 15 years and helped companies move into and setting up operations in new territories, creating management teams and sitting on their boards. Improved profitability, process implementation and internal procedures for numerous companies, helping to create visibility and clarity on business performances and to guide strategic decision making. Sabine has worked across a wide range of industries such as Robotics/AI, Digital- and Mobile Tech gaming, IoT, Web 3 and blockchain/NFT companies. Sabine has been working closely with and advising founders and CEOs as a CFO on a portfolio of Start-ups located in the UK. Her strong business acumen has made her very successful at helping the start-ups raise funds and get ready to operate and scale.