County Laois, Ireland
Motivated scientific professional, proven leader of high-performance teams and strategic project delivery. An applied immunology expert with significant experience in immune-oncology, paired with a strong interest in both the scientific and business development of bio-therapeutic entities. Experience from R&D to 'at scale' manufacturing and GMP biotherapeutic production. Coupled with extensive root-cause investigations, laboratory start-up & expansion, financial and people management activities. Strong expertise in biomolecule / biotherapeutic analytic techniques and novel technology development. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9748-4704
Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800. I worked in the laboratory of Professor James Whisstock. My main roles centred on the expression, purification and crystallographic analysis of biologically relevant, human health-related proteins. I was involved in drug discovery programs relating to haematological, immunological and neurological disorders. Additionally, I undertook fundamental studies to understand the pathogenesis of disease and the mechanisms of protein function. I had direct responsibility for our antibody generation team and supervised a number of PhD’s and staff on other projects. I had responsibility for our research groups interaction analysis system (Biacore T200).
I operate as an independent consultant (Ireland, UK and Australia) providing expertise in antibody-related legal matters including provision of high-level expert opinion, overseeing experimental design and associated characterisation techniques. This role recognises my expertise and standing in the field. I acted as Expert Witness to the Federal Courts of Australia by provision of services to a Melbourne-based legal firm in patent litigation.
I worked in the antibody discovery group in key areas of our business related to diagnostic, therapeutic and new effector antibody generation, development of alternative formats and therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cancer.
I worked in close contact with commercial partners interested in licencing the antibodies that were developed during my PhD. Additionally, I supervised postgraduate students in projects related to the diagnostic potential of recombinant antibodies for glycoanalysis of cancer biomarkers and novel bi-specific antibodies for cancer diagnostics. During this time, I spent 6 months as a self-funded visiting researcher in laboratory of Prof. James Whisstock at Monash University. This collaborative project examined the structural consequences of antibody mutants for ultra-sensitive diagnostics.
BDI - Biomolecular Recognition Group. Antibody Generation Phage/Ribosome Display Protein Engineering/Expression/Purification SPR Assay Development