Company announces the appointment of Julia Brown as Chairwoman and Keith Blundy, PhD as Non-Executive Director
Edinburgh, UK – 17/11/22 – Nodus Oncology, an emerging biotech company which is focused on developing first and best-in-class molecules inhibiting novel DDR targets, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Julia Brown as Chairwoman of the board and Dr Keith Blundy as Non-Executive Director.
Julia Brown is joining the Nodus Oncology Board as Chair following a career in life sciences and supporting early-stage companies. She is an experienced Non-Exec Director and Chairperson with a broad scientific background and wealth of experience in both industry and the public sector. Julia has designed and managed non-clinical and clinical development programmes for a range of global biomedical companies. She led the transition of a novel biotech from bench to late-stage clinical testing and out-licensing. She co-founded a clinical CRO which successfully expanded its operations into the USA. Julia has worked closely with companies, government, and the higher education sector to support Scotland’s economic development. This included diligence on investment opportunities for Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Investment Bank. Most recently, Julia was Chair of the UK Knowledge Transfer Network, KTN Ltd and former Non-Executive Director of Cumulus Oncology.
Keith Blundy is joining the Nodus Oncology Board as a Non-Executive Director. Keith is a former Chief Executive with experience in molecular biology R&D, drug discovery, strategy & licensing as well as extensive venture capital fund raising experience with a world leading cancer technology commercialisation company and a pioneering biotech start-up. Keith joined STORM Therapeutics as CEO in January 2017 and left in March 2022 with the company entering the next phase of growth and clinical development of its first in class METTL3i. Prior to STORM (from 2007), Keith was Chief Executive of Cancer Research Technology Ltd, the commercial arm of Cancer Research UK (CRT), where he drove the development of CRT to become a global leader in the commercialisation of cancer discoveries. He was instrumental in the launch of the £70m Cancer Research Technology Pioneer Fund in partnership with the European Investment Fund (EIF) and BACIT, developed risk sharing drug discovery alliances with AstraZeneca, Teva (formerly Cephalon), Forma, Merck, and MRCT, negotiated the formation of the CRUK – Medimmune antibody therapeutics laboratory and developed CRT’s geographical reach through establishment of CRT Inc. in Boston (USA) and partnership with Cancer Therapeutics Pty in Melbourne, Australia.
“We are pleased to welcome Julia Brown and Keith Blundy at Nodus” said Ian Waddell, CEO of Nodus Oncology. “Their deep experience in leading cutting-edge biotech and research organisation will be invaluable to Nodus as we grow our pipeline and company.”
The Nodus’ board is completed by Dr Clare Wareing, CEO of Cumulus Oncology who represents Nodus’ investor, Dr Ian Waddell, Nodus’ CEO and Scott Doak, Nodus’ Finance Director. Dr Nicola Broughton, CBO of Nodus and Dr Manuelle Debunne, COO of Nodus also join the board in an observer capacity.
