Our people

Eliot has over 25 years’ experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors. As well as his role at MedCity, Eliot is CEO of clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, F-Star Biotechnology Ltd, Chairman of Avacta plc. and visiting professor at the Universities of Liverpool and Paris, Italy.

Eliot holds a PhD in neurophysiology from Liverpool University and an MBA from Henley Management College.

Eliotforster@medcityhq.com / +44 (0)20 3179 8100

Neelam is responsible for operations and driving the strategy and relationships with key stakeholders and funders. She is also the lead for clinical trials, supporting companies seeking clinical and research expertise and collaborations.

Neelam has extensive experience in Pharma, R&D, NIHR service improvement & strategy.

Please contact Neelam at neelampatel@medcityhq.com or +44 (0)20 3179 8100.

Hak supports, connects and grows the digital health ecosystem from mentoring early stage ideas, and explaining the NHS, to connecting innovators and clinicians to corporates looking to collaborate.

Hak has over 20 years’ experience as an investor and supporter of entrepreneurs and innovation and is an award-winning mentor.

If you are in or want to enter the Digital Health space – contact Hak on haksalih@medcityhq.com or +44 (0)20 3179.

Franca leads on communications and PR for MedCity along with Johanna Cronin, including media opportunities, digital content, events and stakeholder networks.

Franca is an experienced science writer and communications professional with an extensive background working for universities, professional organisations and charities.

francadavenport@medcityhq.com / +44 (0) 20 3179 8100

Ross supports the running of MedCity's Collaborate to Innovate programme and day-to-day activities of the office; including events organising and finance.

Ross has a BSc. in Chemistry Management and Industry from the University of York.

If you have a Collaborate to Innovate enquiry or ageneral enquiry, please contact Ross at rosswilkinson@medcityhq.com or +44 (0)20 3179 8104

Prasshy leads on MedCity’s event planning and execution, develops integrated marketing campaigns, and maintains relationships with key stakeholders.

Prasshy has 10 years’ experience in life sciences spanning academia, industry and clinical environments and holds a DPhil in genetics and neuroscience from the University of Oxford.

Please get in touch with Prashanthini at pjeyarajan@medcityhq.com or +44 (0)20 7234 5860.

Sarah leads MedCity in positioning the greater south east of England as a world-leading, interconnected region for life sciences research, development, manufacturing and commercialisation.

Sarah has a biology degree from the University of Oxford and was previously an NHS manager, Head of Operations for a neuroscience discovery unit, and led the DTI Bioscience Unit.

sarahhaywood@medcityhq.com / +44 (0)20 3179 8100

A biopharma thought leader with nearly 20 years of industry experience, Dr Jenkins has built and led teams advancing programs from scientific research through clinical development, regulatory approval and into healthcare systems globally. Before joining Dimension, she served as executive vice president, head of Global Research and Development for Merck Serono

Prof Weber is acting Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London and Director of the Imperial College AHSC. He trained at Cambridge University and St Bartholomew’s Hospital; took his PhD at the Institute of Cancer Research; and was a clinical senior lecturer in infectious diseases at the Royal Post-Graduate Medical School, before establishing a new academic Department of G-U Medicine on the St Mary’s campus in 1991.

David became Chair of Medicine and Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at University College London in January 2013 and became Vice Provost, Health, in August 2015. He is Head of UCL Medical School and Deputy Chief Executive of the Medical Research Council and also Medical Trustee of the British Heart Foundation. His research interests are the pathobiology of α1-antitrypsin deficiency, the serpinopathies and COPD.

Alan Barrell is a biologist with experience in NHS medical technology, turned salesman turned businessman, entrepreneur and venture capitalist. He is Entrepreneur in Residence at the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, Visiting Professor at the University of Sunderland and in a number of universities in China, Finland and Japan

Kate Bingham is one of the UK's leading life sciences venture capitalists. She currently serves or has served on the boards of companies in the UK, US, Ireland, Sweden and Germany. She has been responsible for past investments in Alantos, Auxilium, ESBATech, EUSA, Hexagen, Kinetix, KuDOS, Leukosite, Mednova, Micromet, PowderMed, RespiVert and current investments including Autifony, Bicycle, Convergence, Pulmocide, Oncoethix,TopiVert and VHSquared

Bill Castell was Chair of the Wellcome Trust from May 2006 to October 2015. He was previously President and CEO of GE Healthcare and a Vice-Chairman and latterly non-executive director of the General Electric Company (GE). He is the founding chair of the Foundation for FutureLondon, a new charity that has been created to help realise the potential of Olympicopolis and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Serial entrepreneur and Co-founder of Amadeus Capital Partners, Dr Hermann Hauser CBE has wide experience in developing and financing companies in the information technology sector. He co-founded a number of high-tech companies including Acorn Computers which spun out ARM, E-trade UK, Virata and Cambridge Network. As vice president of research at Olivetti, he established a global network of research laboratories.

Robert Lechler became Dean of Hammersmith Campus at Imperial College Faculty of Medicine in 2001 and Head of the Division of Medicine in 2003. He moved to King’s College London as Head of the School of Medicine at Guy’s, King’s College and St Thomas’ Hospitals in September 2004 and became Vice Principal (Health) at KCL in October 2005. In June 2009 he was appointed as Executive Director of King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre

Paul Nurse is President of the Royal Society and Director of the Francis Crick Institute in London and has served as Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK and President of Rockefeller University. He shared the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and has received the Albert Lasker Award and the Royal Society's Royal and Copley Medals. He was knighted in 1999 and received the Legion d'honneur in 2003