Prof. Declan Doogan
Chairman
Declan has over 30 years of industry experience in both major pharma and biotech. He was the Head of Worldwide Development at Pfizer, where many multi-billion-dollar programs were delivered (e.g., Viagra, Lipitor and Zoloft). He has held a number of executive positions in Pfizer in the US, the UK and Japan. Since leaving Pfizer in 2007 he has been engaged in executive roles in small pharma.
Declan was CMO and acting CEO of Amarin (AMRN: Nasdaq), transforming it from a failing neuroscience company to a vibrant cardiovascular company. He went on to co-found Biohaven (BHVN: NYSE) specialising in neurology and psychiatry. Declan is also an investor in emerging biotechnology and technology companies. He holds a number of board appointments, principally in pharma companies, and has also Visiting Professor at Glasgow University Medical School.
Dr. Derek S Gilchrist
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Derek is a bio-medical research scientist with 20 years of molecular biology experience. He graduated with a degree in Molecular Biology from University of Glasgow before completing his PhD at the University of Liverpool.
Working at the University of Edinburgh he developed transgenic technologies to study the embryonic origin of the haematopoietic system. Returning to Glasgow he investigated the role of microRNAs in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.
During this time, he discovered the differential targeting of collagen type 1 and 3 by miR-29a. Derek leads the scientific and commercial TenoMiR. Derek graduated from INSEAD’s Entrepreneurs in Clinical Academia Course and MIT’s Entrepreneurship Development Program. Derek has an honorary Senior Lecturer position at the University of Glasgow.
He is well respected with a broad network within the UK banking, investment, venture capital and corporate finance communities.
Dr Neil Gibson, PhD
Neil brings more than 25 years of drug development experience to Causeway. Neil has held various senior positions within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry including senior vice president, BioAtla; chief scientific officer, Regulus Therapeutics; chief scientific officer and oncology therapeutic area head, Pfizer Oncology; and chief scientific officer, OSI Pharmaceuticals.
While at Pfizer, Dr. Gibson was also a member of the Pfizer Oncology Business Unit Executive team. Dr. Gibson has been involved in the successful discovery, development, and commercialization of four approved oncology drugs, including temozolomide, sorafenib, erlotinib, and crizotinib.
While at Regulus, Dr. Gibson was responsible for leading all research and development efforts resulting in 3 distinct oligonucleotides being advanced into clinical development and the establishment of human proof of concept with the lead molecule RG-101.
Dr. Gibson has also been involved in the growth of new biotechnology organizations and significant fund raising.
Chris Jones
Chris brings 25 years of success leading new medical products from concept through to market adoption in VC and Fortune 500 companies.
Currently Chairman of Mologic, and NED for Deltex Medical, MediSieve and Health Enterprise East, Mr Jones is a US national who came to the UK in 2008 to become CEO of GlySure. He has raised over $40 M in funding from Venture, Corporate and Angel investors. At GlySure he led the development and CE approval of the world’s first continuous intravascular glucose sensor.
From 2005-2008 he was CEO of Tensys Medical developing and commercialising the first continuous NIBP monitor resulting in the sale of the company in 2008. In his current role Mr Jones provides both strategic direction and hands-on support for critical areas including: market assessment, commercialisation, partnerships and IP strategy.
Mr Jones is a graduate of Yale University with a B.S. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry.
Gregor Cardow
Gregor is the Executive Director of Finance at The University of Glasgow.
He joined the University in March 2016 as the Group Financial Controller and was appointed as Executive Director of Finance in August 2020. As the Executive Director of Finance, Gregor is responsible for the overall financial health and prosperity of the University.
Gregor’s previous experience includes nine years with Royal Dutch Shell, laterally as the Head of Finance for Risk and Insurance after senior roles in financial controls and cost sharing.
Prior to this he spent eight years with Motorola and Freescale Semiconductors in a range of roles including Factory Controller, EMEA internal audit manager and EMEA Shared Services Manager.
Alexander Pickett
Alexander Pickett is Managing Director at Juvenescence, where he oversees new opportunity onboarding. Since 2014, he has worked with Juvenescence founding partners Greg, Jim, and Declan at Mediqventures, Ltd., a multi-family investment partnership and merchant bank where he supported existing investments at Portage Biotech Inc., including Portage Pharma Ltd. and Biohaven (NYSE:BHVN).
Alexander worked with Ian Walters to help found SalvaRx Limited, a cancer immunotherapy-focused investment company that was later merged into Portage Biotech.
Prior to joining Mediqventures, Alexander was an associate at Flatley Venture Capital, a cystic fibrosis-focused investment arm of the John J Flatley Company, where he was responsible for investment analysis and scientific due diligence. Alexander co-founded Real Life Sciences, a start-up focused on software-based patient-engagement solutions to improve patient recruitment to clinical trials.
Alexander has a BA in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Harvard College, where he was a Microbial Studies Initiative Undergraduate Fellow and a team member in the International Genetically Engineered Machines Competition.
Advisory Board
Prof Iain B McInnes CBE
PhD FRCP FRSE FAMedSci Prof. McInnes is the Director of the Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation in the University of Glasgow.
He is a clinician-scientist and brings a long and successful track record in the conduct of clinical trials in rheumatology. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2008, and a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2012.
Iain is currently President of the European League Against Rheumatism. Additionally, Iain sits on the advisory boards of Pfizer; BMS; AstraZeneca; Janssen; Novartis and NovoNordisk.
Professor George AC Murrell
Professor Murrell is an orthopaedic surgeon and Director of the Orthopaedic Research Institute at St George Hospital and Professor at the UNSW. Professor Murrell specialises in shoulder surgery.
He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery and Elbow Surgery, Techniques in Shoulder and Elbow Surgery and the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Prof. Murrell is an internationally recognised Key Opinion Leader in Tendinopathies.
Dr Neil Gibson
Neil brings more than 25 years of drug development experience to Causeway. Neil has held various senior positions within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry including senior vice president, BioAtla; chief scientific officer, Regulus Therapeutics; chief scientific officer and oncology therapeutic area head, Pfizer Oncology; and chief scientific officer, OSI Pharmaceuticals.
While at Pfizer, Dr. Gibson was also a member of the Pfizer Oncology Business Unit Executive team. Dr. Gibson has been involved in the successful discovery, development, and commercialization of four approved oncology drugs, including temozolomide, sorafenib, erlotinib, and crizotinib.
While at Regulus, Dr. Gibson was responsible for leading all research and development efforts resulting in 3 distinct oligonucleotides being advanced into clinical development and the establishment of human proof of concept with the lead molecule RG-101. Dr. Gibson has also been involved in the growth of new biotechnology organizations and significant fund raising.