Who we are

Andy has more than 30 years’ experience of development and manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry. He has held a number of senior roles in Technical and Site Management, as well as VP positions in Project and Portfolio Management, Pharmaceutical Innovation and Manufacturing Science & Technology. During his career, Andy has been responsible for CMC development of several multibillion-pound products. Latterly, whilst leading Pharmaceutical Innovation and MS&T in AstraZeneca, he has driven major advances in Modelling & Simulation, Digital Therapeutics and Advanced Manufacturing technologies. From 2013-17 Andy managed AstraZeneca’s Intelligent Pharmaceuticals Group, which was responsible for the development of Connected Devices and Digital Integrated Patient Support Tools to support its portfolio in Respiratory, CVMD and Oncology. In 2016, Andy was recognised as one of the top 100 most influential people in Health Tech by HotwirePR.

Andy currently works part-time for the UK Government leading the £200m Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund in Medicines Manufacturing, which includes the Digital Health Technology Catalyst Collaborative R&D fund. In addition, he consults for a number of SMEs and multinationals. In 2019, Andy took up the role of chair of the Strategic Advisory Board at CatSci Ltd, utilising his knowledge and experience to support the continued expansion of the high growth business.

Robert obtained a BSc Hons in Chemistry from Queen Mary College, University of London, in 1988. He was then awarded a PhD from Southampton University in 1992 after researching the Synthesis and Reactivity of Titanium Metallacycles with R.J. Whitby and P.J. Kocienski. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. After his PhD, Robert was a Process and Synthetic Chemist at SmithKline Beecham before joining GSK, where he later held the position of Senior Director of Particle Sciences, making him responsible for the control of API physical properties for the whole small molecule portfolio from pre-clinical development through to File and Launch. Robert’s technical achievements include developing a solvate version for a now-commercialised Oncology asset; solving physical form and bulk property issues for key inhaled drugs; and applying Particle Engineering techniques as an alternate methodology for making particles of inhalable size. He has also led late-phase project teams, incorporating a wide range of other technical disciplines, as well as the Particle Sciences team at GSK. In 2017 Robert spent a six-month sabbatical working on process improvements at a rural medical diagnostic lab in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

Robert has worked in the field of Crystallisation and Solid State since 2000. His industry experience and deep understanding of the area is crucial in his role as CatSci’s Director of Crystallisation and Solid State, where he solves customer’s problems simply and effectively with a high degree of scientific rigour.

Rob obtained a degree in Chemistry from Queen Mary University of London and a PhD in Pharmaceutics from the University of Manchester. He has over 35 years’ experience within the pharmaceutical industry, covering product and process development with large pharma organisations (Warner Lambert, Glaxo Wellcome), and held senior technical positions with several CDMOs (Quay Pharma, Capsugel, Penn Pharma, Juniper Pharma Services, Catalent). Rob also spent some time in academia as a Research Fellow in the School of Pharmacy, University of Manchester, working on novel drug delivery systems. He maintains a particular interest in formulation strategies for poorly water-soluble compounds and the development of medicines for children.

Rob’s role at CatSci Ltd is to develop the capabilities within the company to support early drug development – principally pre-formulation and pre-clinical support services – and to provide technical support for all early drug development projects undertaken by CatSci.

Nigel completed his first degree in Chemistry and subsequent PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry at Exeter University, UK. Interested by the analytical chemistry challenges within his research at Exeter, his first industrial appointment was with Dow AgroSciences as an Analytical Chemist. After nine years with Dow he moved to GSK as an Analytical Team Leader within the Chemical Development Division based in Stevenage, UK. Whist at GSK, Nigel led the analytical activities to commercialisation for Tykerb (breast cancer medicine) and led GSK’s oligonucleotide therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy into the final stages of development and regulatory submission. He has also worked as Chemistry Lead in a team focused on novel platforms for oligonucleotide delivery. More recently, he held the position of Senior Director within the CMC Analytical Division, leading a department of 55 scientists who focused on analytical modernization and new technology introduction. In 2019, Nigel established McLean Pharma Consultancy Ltd focused on CMC, analytical and oligonucleotide consultancy. As Managing Director of McLean Pharma Consulting, he is committed to supporting the pharmaceutical industry in advancing analytical science and delivering the promise of oligonucleotide medicines. Nigel will provide an invaluable contribution to CatSci’s plans for further enhancing its expertise in process analytical chemistry as a member of the Strategic Advisory Board.

Kate graduated from the University of Glamorgan with a BSc (Hons) in Forensic Science, before moving on to complete an MSc in Pharmaceutical Quality and GMP from the University of Strathclyde.  Kate’s extensive industry experience began with British Biocell Ltd, gaining expertise in diagnostic medical devices before moving to Norgine and gaining experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Kate then joined Penn Pharmaceutical Services Ltd within the QA department where she led multiple lean initiatives before being promoted and gaining her QP qualification. Kate moved into the role of Director of Manufacturing where she was instrumental in the efficient integration of Penn Pharma into Packing Coordinators Inc. (PCI), following the acquisition in 2014. Following this, Kate moved into a newly created position of Director of Strategic Operations with the principal role of developing the five-year strategic plan for the PCI Tredegar site as part of the global PCI organisation. Recently, Kate has built an extensive knowledge of highly potent products having been part of the design and implementation team delivering the award winning, Contained Manufacturing Facility at the PCI Tredegar site.

Kate’s current role as Director QA is a move into the Global Quality Leadership Team, with the primary function of maintaining regulatory compliance for medical products to a global supply chain and providing the strategic direction for the Quality department. With over fifteen years’ experience within the medical device and pharmaceutical industry, Kate will aid CatSci Ltd in its analytical development, including cGMP options.

After completing post-doctoral training at the University of California at Irvine, Alan started as a Process Chemist with AstraZeneca in 2006. Alan joined CatSci Ltd in early 2020 to take up a pivotal role as Senior Principal Scientist. Alan applies his interests in enhanced chemical development, drug substance route invention and process design to projects across CatSci’s project portfolio. In collaboration with the ACS GCI Pharmaceutical Roundtable, Alan regularly contributes reviews of green chemistry and engineering to the wider community. Alan is also a member of CatSci’s Strategic Advisory Board, a board of key opinion leaders who advise how CatSci invests in strategic science to meet emerging customer needs.

Mark graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne with a PhD in 1988, going on to do post-doctoral research with Professor Andy Williams at the University of Kent in Canterbury.   Mark then joined Amersham PLC as a radiochemist, specialising in Carbon-14 chemistry. In this role, he gained fundamental insight into the drug development process and how the external supply chain can enable the wider pharmaceutical industry. Mark’s career in Amersham encompassed a wide variety of roles in management, where he acquired a passion for ensuring his staff were developed to the full. He has carried that passion forward in roles at Quotient Bioresearch and Pharmaron, where he was a key member of the team that constructed a new radiochemical centre in Cardiff. Before joining CatSci Ltd, Mark was the Site Director at Pharmaron, and was responsible for building the world’s first Carbon-14 recycling facility.

Mark is an ardent advocate of the need for innovation partners to be a true extension of the customers’ capabilities, to enable seamless collaboration. Mark is the General Manager at CatSci, responsible for all aspects of the business, and delighted to be part of a diverse and dynamic team. He challenges staff to be the best they can be, and provides the tools for them to achieve those goals.

Sam obtained an MChem from the University of Southampton in 2003 with an industrial placement at Merck GmbH. He was awarded his PhD from the University of Bristol following his work with Prof Anthony Davis on the synthesis of novel steroid macrocycles and measurement of their complexes by high resolution mass spectrometry. In 2007, Sam joined Process R&D in AstraZeneca as an Analytical Scientist, leading analytical components of drug development across pre-clinical to Phase III drug candidate projects. In this role he also worked on analytical method QBD, trace genotoxic impurities and novel approaches to high throughput chromatographic analysis. In 2010, Sam moved to BP and carried out a range of technical and people leadership roles over the next 10 years. He led the formation of the high-resolution mass spectrometry petroleomics facility in the UK, managed a team of 35 staff and left BP as Global Analytical Expert, leading the BP Analytical Science Network.

Sam joined CatSci Ltd in 2020 as the Head of Process Research and Development. He is clear that great people do great science, and is passionate about building a culture and environment that enables the ‘Cats’ to deliver on their own potential, go home safe every day and produce world class science that exceeds the expectations of our customers.

Duncan obtained an MA in Chemistry from Oriel College, Oxford in 1993 where he synthesised derivatised amino acids and characterised them by mass spectrometry and chiral capillary electrophoresis. He then spent the next 7 years in analytical development for API at Wellcome/GlaxoWellcome, performing chromatography method development, method validation and batch release, alongside a secondment into Drug Stability Analysis. In 2000, post-formation of GSK, he joined the newly formed Strategic Technologies department, developing new technology and process analytical methods for API development and manufacture. By 2010, he led a team that had validated and filed novel PAT applications for several NCEs as process controls in batch and flow chemistry. He gained experience in secondary, through leading cross-discipline project teams in particle generation, control, and engineering. His PAT team expanded to cover both API and drug product for small molecule in the UK. With a keen interest in regulatory guidelines, Duncan became the GSK rep on EFPIA for NIR guidance as well as other regulatory advocacy activities with the FDA. He led the cross GSK PAT community bringing together R&D, manufacturing, small molecule, Biopharm and Consumer Health.

Duncan joined CatSci Ltd in 2020, where he is now the Analytical Team Leader. He is excited to be expanding analytical skills, capabilities and capacity to deliver PR&D based on quality analytical data, accelerated using digitalisation and automation. He believes that at CatSci, we differentiate our performance, and he is focused on the growth and development of the analytical team.

Guy obtained a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Bath in 1992 and earned a PhD in 1995 after researching a novel class of phosphine ligand for asymmetric synthesis with Dr Martin Wills. He then went straight into industry, joining the rush to explore the burgeoning area of solid-phase high-throughput synthesis. After just over 3 years, he moved into the pharmaceutical industry, taking a position as one of the first waves of chemists establishing the Vertex UK site. During the next 14 years he accumulated 25 patents, whilst working on many different discovery programmes in the areas of oncology and immunology. Guy then moved into process chemistry with a stint at Almac and broadened his interest in the electronic encoding of chemical information at a start-up, before joining CatSci Ltd in mid-2017. His current role includes leading projects, overseeing the drive to increase electronic data capture, and mentoring early career colleagues.

Siân obtained her MChem from the University of Wales, Swansea, and earned her PhD after researching new stereoselective approaches to highly substituted pyrrolidines with Prof. D. W Knight at Cardiff University. She has 8 years’ experience as an analytical scientist in a pharmaceutical GMP environment, working on drug product testing for products in early development, in clinical trials and those currently on the market. Siân’s specialities include stability testing and method validation to ICH guidelines.

Since joining Catsci Ltd in 2015 as Lead Analyst, Siân has grown the function to a full suite of analytical instrumentation. She designed the current analytical laboratory, procures new analytical equipment and manages the analytical facility, introducing and growing new capabilities. Part of her role is to develop and maintain relationships with vendors and external contractors to best suit Catsci’s growing needs, whilst also serving on CatSci’s scientific ladder leadership team.

Fil obtained his undergraduate degree (Laurea Magistrale) at the University of Milan in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical technology in 2004. After his graduation he moved to the UK, working as a process chemist for Pfizer. During his time there he contributed to the successful scale-up of the synthesis of antiviral compound drug candidates. After 3 years Fil went back to academia, studying for a PhD at UCL with Prof. Tom Sheppard. His research focused on an alternative approach to the synthesis of medium-ring natural products and on gold catalysis. After completing his PhD in 2012, Fil started to work for Abcam as a Principal Scientist, developing the syntheses for the company’s extensive compound catalogue, as well as contributing to R&D activities. In 2017, he joined Evotec, working in Medicinal Chemistry, before joining CatSci Ltd in 2019. Fil currently holds the position of Associate Principal Scientist, contributing to the successful and timely delivery of scalable chemical processes. He recently took up the Technical Expert role, hoping to facilitate the implementation of efficient experimentation procedures throughout different departments.

Jo received her MChem degree in Chemistry from the University of Southampton, then earned her PhD from the University of Bristol with Prof. Tim Gallagher, investigating the synthesis of novel heterocyclic scaffolds. After completing her doctoral studies, Jo briefly joined CatSci Ltd as an Industrial Postdoctoral Scientist before being awarded a Leverhulme Scholarship and moving to Melbourne, Australia to carry out a postdoctoral fellowship at Monash University with Prof. Philip Thompson. At the end of 2017, Jo returned to CatSci as a Senior Scientist and worked on various process development projects, liaising with manufacturing organisations when processes were transferred to plant. Now an Associate Principal Scientist, Jo continues to work on customer-facing projects, contributing to the design and delivery of economically and environmentally sustainable chemical processes. In 2020, Jo took on the position of Team Manager. Through this role, Jo leads CatSci’s efforts to drive continuous improvement within the Chemical Development team to deliver technical excellence.

After completing her first degree in Sri Lanka, Vargini took up a PhD at the University of York with Prof. Robin Perutz. Her PhD focused on the development and mechanistic understanding of nickel catalysed hydrofluoroarylation reactions and investigated halogen bonding interactions including that of metal fluorides. Since joining CatSci Ltd as an Associate Principal Scientist, Vargini specialises in scaling up catalytic transformations, focusing on cross-coupling and asymmetric hydrogenation. Now as a Team Leader, Vargini centres her efforts on furthering the catalytic expertise of the group to drive the growth and excellence of our team in this field.

Dan received a first-class Masters, as well as a PhD from Durham University, which focused on organometallic and catalytic chemistries including redox-active non-innocent ligands. His subsequent post-doctoral study at Texas A&M on rhodium mediated catalysis investigated a range of applications from CH activation through to oxygen-oxygen bond formation. On return to the UK, Dan furthered his research explorations to synthesise novel motifs for gold(III) in Norwich and to determine the energetics of halogen and hydrogen bonding to metal hydrides and fluorides in York. After joining CatSci Ltd, Dan led projects focused on route optimisation for Phase I-II and greatly enjoyed contributing to CatSci’s significant growth since 2014. Currently, as Head of Portfolio, Dan oversees our portfolio of customer projects, including their delivery on time, in full and to the desired quality (OTIFTDQ) and resource management, alongside supporting the technical qualification of new opportunities.

Marc obtained his BSc at Loughborough University, during which he also completed his Diploma of Industrial Studies with one year at GSK. After graduating from Loughborough, he moved to Bristol where he earned his PhD working with Kevin Booker-Milburn and Guy Lloyd-Jones, specialising in palladium II catalysis and mechanistic understanding of new organic reactions. The project was sponsored by AstraZeneca and involved a three-month placement in the Process R&D Department. After a brief stint in publishing with the RSC, Marc joined the Centre of Sustainable Chemical Technologies (CSCT) at the University of Bath as a postdoc, with Professors Steve Bull and Matthew Davidson. He was responsible for leading the chemistry component of a large multidisciplinary project focused upon the development of terpenes as renewable chemical building blocks. As part of this project, Marc developed a strong foundation in the development of sustainable and green chemical processes, aligning and working closely with chemical engineering and biochemistry. In 2015 Marc became the manager for the CSCT (Centre for Sustainable and Circular Technologies, University of Bath), where he was responsible for the day-to-day running of the Centre, as well as helping to deliver its long-term vision. In 2018, Marc joined CatSci Ltd as Principal Scientist and is now a Technical Project Manager, overseeing projects from the technical qualification stage of new opportunities through to successful delivery in the lab.

Katya obtained her MSc degree in Chemistry from the Lomonosov Moscow State University in 2012, receiving the ‘Red Diploma’ Prize for achieving the highest degree classification. In 2016, Katya earned her PhD from the University of Oxford with Prof. Timothy J. Donohoe, working on the total synthesis and stereochemical reassignment of dehydromicrosclerodermin B and microsclerodermin J. Since joining CatSci Ltd in 2016, she has contributed to the research and development of several chemical processes. Katya is currently a Technical Project Manager, ensuring the delivery of our customers complex projects on time and to the requisite quality. She is also involved in the technical qualification of new opportunities.

Sam obtained his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the University of Liverpool in 2008. He then joined Prof. P. Andrew Evans’ research group to work on the development of novel rhodium-catalysed allylic substitution reactions, earning his PhD in 2012. On moving into industry with Albany Molecular Research Inc. (AMRI) in 2013, Sam spent two years in process R&D supporting large scale API manufacturing before embarking on a four-year stint working at the interface of discovery and process chemistry as part of a collaboration with Eli Lilly & Co. During this time, Sam was involved in a range of programmes comprising route scouting, custom synthesis and the development & optimisation of scalable routes to pre-clinical drug candidates. Nearly two years after assuming a team leadership role within AMRI, Sam joined CatSci Ltd in October 2019. In his current position as a Technical Project Manager, Sam is committed to ensuring the timely delivery of perfect-for-purpose chemistry solutions to CatSci’s customers across the globe.