DR THOMAS HANKE

Expert in Residence
Head of Academic Partnerships at Evotec.

Since November 2013, Thomas is responsible for a portfolio of drug discovery projects in the areas of inflammation and immuno-oncology at Evotec. In addition, Thomas’ focus is on building high-value, performance based drug discovery alliances with academia and pharma. From 2007 to 2013, Thomas was Sourcing Director at the Biopharm. Research Unit of Novo Nordisk, where he identified and evaluated partnering opportunities related to compounds, targets and technologies within haemophilia, autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, growth disorders and protein technologies and where he initiated multiple agreements with academic institutions and biotech companies both in Europe and in the US.

Prior to joining Novo Nordisk, Thomas was co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at TeGenero, a German biotech company where he headed the R&D efforts to develop first-in-class immunomodulatory monoclonal antibodies (2002-2007). Preceding his entrepreneurial activities, Thomas was group leader and Assistant Professor for Immunobiology at the University of Würzburg (1999-2002) following a PostDoc at the University of California in Berkeley where he researched basic cellular immunology (1996-1999). Thomas received his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Würzburg in 1995.

He is (co-) author of approx. 30 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals. Thomas particularly likes to work in cross-functional teams, setting directions and fostering innovation and continuous improvement.

DR ANGELA CALVERT

Deputy Head of Licensing & Ventures, Life Sciences ,
Oxford University Innovation Ltd.

Angela leads a team of highly experienced Licensing and Ventures professionals in Life Sciences to successfully translate technologies from the University of Oxford.  This includes management of early-stage therapeutic development opportunities through the identification, protection and management of IP, defining commercial & IP strategies, assessing translational and investment funding and negotiation of license and spin out corporate agreements.  She is the lead for OUI on the LAB282 and Conservation Venture Studio initiatives, represents OU as a Board Observer in Osler Diagnostics and a in range of key stakeholder relationships.  She has previously work in business development roles and holds a PhD and MSC in Plant Genetics.

DR CLAIRE BROWN

Oxford Sciences Innovation.

Claire is a Lead Principal at Oxford Science Innovation, a position she assumed in March 2021. She sits on the Board of Dark Blue Therapeutics.  Prior to OSI Claire headed up Investment at BioCity where she developed the strategy, created a number of early stage ventures and supported companies on the Board in areas such as Therapeutics (Rinri TX, Fast BioPharma and BiVictriX), Synthetic Biology (NanoSyrinX) and Precision Medicine (Kinomica).  Claire has previously worked in AstraZeneca  supporting early drug repositioning and strategy and within the Corporate VC arm and also spent 11 years in the USA at Sanofi- Genzyme and UCB Pharma in a variety of roles covering Scientific to Project management.  She holds a Ph.D. and Honours degree in Physiology, an MBA and is certified in Investment Management

DR JOHN DAVIS

PI & Unit Director, Target Discovery Institute
Nuffield Department of Medicine.

Following postdoctoral training at the Ludwig Institute (Middlesex) and the Salk Institute, John joined GlaxoSmithKline where he led a variety of non-clinical pharmacology research departments for pain and neurodegenerative diseases. In 2010, John and colleagues formed the spinout company Convergence Pharmaceuticals which was later acquired by Biogen. John was Director of Discovery for Selcia Ltd. and a cofounder of Cypralis Ltd. before joining the University of Oxford to lead the Alzheimer’s Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute in 2015.

John has 20+ years of drug discovery expertise from target to phase IIa and has helped steer a dozen drug candidates into clinical development and to four positive proof of concepts.