Supported by an experienced board
Dr. Chris Torrance, Chairman
Dr. Chris Torrance is a cancer researcher and entrepreneur. In 2007 he founded Horizon Discovery to translate advances in human genome editing into a range of research tools and services to accelerate the discovery of new and improved ‘Personalized Medicines’.
In 2014, Dr. Torrance founded PhoreMost Ltd, a drug discovery company focusing on drugging “Undruggable” targets using a new technology called “SITE-SEEKER®” that systematically identifies cryptic drug sites throughout the human proteome and ties them to useful therapeutic functions.
Dr. Torrance has a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Technology from Sheffield Polytechnic; a PhD in Biochemistry from East Carolina University (U.S.A) and completed Post-Doctoral training in the laboratory of Professor Bert Vogelstein at the Johns Hopkins University (U.S.A).
Dr. Cassie Doherty, Investor Director
Cassie is Investor Director representing Parkwalk Advisors. She specialises in Healthcare and Life Sciences investments. Prior to joining Parkwalk Cassie worked for IP Group Plc leading investments into UK University spin outs. She holds a BSc and PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Leeds. Her interest in commercialisation started in her first role in a start-up where she led the development of drugs identified during her PhD into Phase II clinical trials.
Dr. Debora Dumont, Investor Director
Debbie is co-founder and Managing Partner of Bioqube Ventures. Previously, she served as Head of Health & Care at LRM, a Belgium-based private equity and venture capital firm and was a business developer at the Biomedical Research Institute of Hasselt University and manager of the local life sciences cluster organization. Debbie holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences and a master’s degree in Bioscience Engineering. She is also the Vice Chairman of the Limburg Cancer Foundation.
Lucy Edwardes Jones, Investor Director
Lucy is an investor in BGF’s early stage team where she focuses on the life sciences space. She is based in London and Cambridge, sourcing and executing new investments as well supporting portfolio companies. Prior to joining BGF Lucy spent five years at CIL Management Consultants where she conducted strategy and commercial due diligence projects in the healthcare and life sciences sectors.
Tim Rea, Board Observer
Tim joined BGF in 2018, and joined our Board in August 2022. He is based in London and Cambridge and is a part of BGF’s early stage investment team with a specific focus on tech and life sciences propositions. Tim has been active in the venture capital and start-up ecosystem for over 20 years, initially as an entrepreneur and then as an investor with SoftBank, NEC and DFJ ePlanet Capital.
Dr. Karolina Zapadka, Board Observer
Karolina has nearly a decade of experience in building life sciences and healthcare companies within the Cambridge Cluster. She played a pivotal role in securing pre-seed and seed investment from a stellar syndicate of investors. In 2018 she co-founded and successfully delivered the first life sciences startup accelerator with a portfolio of 20 early-stage ventures in Cambridge. She started her career as a scientist at a leading biopharmaceutical company delivering a portfolio of products to clinics. Karolina completed a PhD in biophysics (diabetes & neurosciences) from the University of Cambridge and carried out a drug development postdoc work at MedImmune/AstraZeneca.
Elaine Eggington, Board Observer
Elaine is Executive Director (Consulting) at IP Pragmatics, an established and respected specialist management consultancy that provides a range of intellectual property management and commercialisation services. Following a career in biotech and the lifescience industry, Elaine has been successfully commercialising early stage technologies through venture capital investment and consultancy since 2000. She has worked with The Babraham Institute to support their Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation activities for several years, and helped to spin out Enhanc3D Genomics from their cutting edge research.
Dr. Debora Lucarelli, Chief Executive Officer
Debora has a wealth of experience in technology development and a strong track record of successfully delivering large-scale projects in academia and industry. Previously, she led a cancer signature discovery program at Cambridge Epigenetix, directed laboratory research in large population studies (Head of laboratory, MRC Epidemiology, University of Cambridge) and worked on the development of the Oxford Nanopore’s technology. At Enhanc3D Genomics Debora is driving development of the technical platforms, establishing partnerships across the pharma and biotech industry and advocating the advent of a 3D genomics era.
Dr. Louise Jopling
Louise is an immunologist with over 20 years of experience in drug discovery, development and commercialisation. Louise leads the commercial team at Eastern AHSN, is an advisory board member for MedTech Integrates conference, and is a mentor on a number of accelerator programmes including Accelerate Cambridge (Judge Business School) and Start Codon. She is also an Editorial Board member of Immunotherapy Advances for the British Society for Immunology. At Enhanc3D, Louise guides the strategic development of the scientific and commercial focus and brokering key partnerships to enable execution of the Company’s strategy.