Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United Kingdom based Partner operating in the Medical space. If you think a Partner is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Reza Halse
Partner, RA Ventures of RA Capital Management
Follow Reza Halse:
About MRL Ventures Fund, RA Capital Management: RA Capital Management is an investment advisor specializing in the life-sciences and drug development sectors.
Jim Faulkner
Venture Partner of Apple Tree Partners
Jim Faulkner is a venture partner at ATP. A highly experienced biopharmaceutical development leader with specialist skills in gene and cell therapy, he has been significantly involved in taking more than 25 different medicines into the clinic, including multiple CAR-T assets. Most recently, Jim headed Product Delivery for Autolus Ltd, a clinical-stage CAR-T company spun out of University College London. During his tenure, he set up and led a team of over 75 scientists and engineers in the US and UK responsible for process development, technical operations, engineering and supply chain, and he served on the leadership team that took Autolus from start-up to successful IPO in three years. Prior to that, Jim held various leadership roles at GlaxoSmithKline, including overseeing the chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) development and supply of a portfolio of pioneering product types that included gene and cell therapies, oligonucleotides, therapeutic enzymes, and molecular chaperones, and playing a significant role in the successful filing of the first-ever autologous ex vivo gene/cell therapy product license (for Strimvelis™). He started his career at British Biotech, the first biotechnology company to be publicly listed in the UK. Jim earned a BSc in biotechnology from the University of Leeds and completed his PhD in molecular biology at the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research.
Follow Jim Faulkner:
About Apple Tree Partners: Apple Tree Partners is a venture capital firm that invests in pharmaceuticals, biotech, medtech, and healthcare services.
Rajesh Chopra
Venture Partner of Apple Tree Partners
Raj Chopra is a venture partner at ATP. At The Institute of Cancer Research in London, as director of the Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, he led one of the largest academic drug discovery groups in the world and focused on targeted protein degradation and complex 3D cell culture models. Raj also worked at Celgene from 2009 to 2016 as corporate vice president of Translational and Early Drug Development, leading an international team of more than 100 scientists. Before joining Celgene, he held leadership positions in AstraZeneca’s Oncology Therapeutics group in the UK and US. Raj started his academic career as the director of Hematological Oncology at Christie Hospital and was group leader at the Paterson Institute of Cancer Research, both located in Manchester, UK. He is a non-executive director of Artios Pharma, established to develop a next-generation DNA damage response target pipeline of cancer therapeutics, and co-founder of Monté Rosa Therapeutics, a biotech focused on targeted protein degradation. Raj trained in medicine at University College London, where he earned his PhD in medicine, cell and molecular biology. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London, the Royal College of Pathologists, and the Royal Society of Biology.
Follow Rajesh Chopra:
About Apple Tree Partners: Apple Tree Partners is a venture capital firm that invests in pharmaceuticals, biotech, medtech, and healthcare services.
Andrew Bayliffe
Venture Partner of Apple Tree Partners
Andrew Bayliffe is a venture partner at ATP. With more than 20 years of leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, he possesses expertise in the discovery and development of both small molecule and antibody therapeutics across a broad range of diseases areas. Most recently, at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), he served as head of the Fibrosis and Lung Injury Discovery unit at GSK’s R&D headquarters in Stevenage, UK, and held senior roles in antibody discovery and development in the US and UK. Andrew is an honorary professor at the Wolfson Institute of Experimental Medicine at Queens College in Belfast. He completed his undergraduate and PhD studies in pharmacology, physiology, and molecular biology at Manchester University and Leeds University in the UK.
Follow Andrew Bayliffe:
About Apple Tree Partners: Apple Tree Partners is a venture capital firm that invests in pharmaceuticals, biotech, medtech, and healthcare services.
David Leathers
Special Partner of Abingworth
has over 25 years of life science venture investment experience. His directorships have included GeneMedicine, GenPharm International and Pharming. Before joining Abingworth in 1987 he worked at N M Rothschild& Sons, where he was involved in setting up and managing Biotechnology Investments Limited, whose early-stage venture portfolio included Amgen, Genzyme and Immunex. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 1966 and stayed in the profession until he joined the investment division of N M Rothschild & Sons in 1972, becoming a Director of Rothschild Asset Management in 1978. David assists with Abingworth’s investor relations.
Follow David Leathers:
About Abingworth, GenPharm International: Abingworth is an international investment group dedicated to collaborating with life sciences entrepreneurs.
Kurt von Emster
Managing Partner of Abingworth
Follow Kurt von Emster:
About Abingworth: Abingworth is an international investment group dedicated to collaborating with life sciences entrepreneurs.
Andrew Sinclair
Partner & Portfolio Manager of Abingworth
Andrew has more than 10 years experience as an analyst in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. He joined Abingworth in 2008 from HSBC Global Markets, where he was Senior Equity Analyst, Director, responsible for investment research in the mid-cap pharmaceutical sector. Previously, Andrew held biotechnology analyst positions at Credit Suisse and SG Cowen. He completed a PhD in Chemistry and Genetic Engineering at the BBSRC Institute of Plant Science, Norwich, and holds a BSc in Microbiology from King’s College London. Andrew qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG. At Abingworth, he evaluates opportunities in public companies and is a fund manager for open market transactions.
Follow Andrew Sinclair:
About Abingworth: Abingworth is an international investment group dedicated to collaborating with life sciences entrepreneurs.
James Abell
Partner and CFO of Abingworth
Jams has more than 14 years of venture capital experience and three years of operational experience in life science companies. His directorships have included Chroma Therapeutics, Clinical Designs and Syntaxin. He joined Abingworth as CFO in 1998, prior to which he was CFO of Prolifix from 1995 to 1998. He trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG. He holds a degree in Biology with Chemistry from the University of Southampton. James handles Abingworth’s finance and administration as well as investment matters, focusing on start-up companies.
Follow James Abell:
About Abingworth: Abingworth is an international investment group dedicated to collaborating with life sciences entrepreneurs.
Genghis Lloyd-Harris
Partner of Abingworth
Follow Genghis Lloyd-Harris:
About Abingworth: Abingworth is an international investment group dedicated to collaborating with life sciences entrepreneurs.
Sarah Shackelton
Partner, Marketing & Talent of Abingworth
Sarah markets Abingworth to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and expands our network with key industry executives and entrepreneurs. She also works with portfolio companies in building their boards and senior leadership teams. Sarah joined Abingworth in 2004 after managing senior level searches for healthcare and private equity clients, as well as venture capital firms and their portfolio companies, at global executive search firms, including Spencer Stuart. She worked with the pharmaceutical industry as a US trade negotiator and consultant, and with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,in a marketing capacity. She has a BA in International Relations from Pomona College, California, and an MA in Public Affairs from Princeton University
Follow Sarah Shackelton:
About Abingworth: Abingworth is an international investment group dedicated to collaborating with life sciences entrepreneurs.
John Heard
Partner & General Counsel of Abingworth
John has completed more than 100 venture capital financings and exits for life science and technology start-up companies across Europe and in the US. He has also been actively involved in initiatives to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of venture capital deal structuring across Europe. John joined Abingworth in 2006 from Intel Capital, the venture capital investment arm of Intel Corporation, where he was European Legal Counsel. Prior to this, John was an Associate at the international financial law practise, Hughes Hubbard & Reed, based in Washington, DC, US, and subsequently in Paris, France. He is a member of the District of Columbia and Maryland State Bars, and has qualified as a UK Solicitor. At Abingworth, John is responsible for deal co-ordination and provides legal assistance to the life sciences and healthcare team in their investment programme.
Follow John Heard:
About Abingworth: Abingworth is an international investment group dedicated to collaborating with life sciences entrepreneurs.
Andrew Witty
Venture Partner of Hatteras Venture Partners
Andrew became Chief Executive Officer of GlaxoSmithKline plc on 21 May 2008. He is a member of the Board and Corporate Executive Team. Andrew joined Glaxo in 1985 and has held a variety of Sales and Marketing roles in the UK and abroad including working in the Company’s International New Products groups, both in the Respiratory and HIV/Infectious disease fields. Outside of the UK Andrew has worked in South Africa, the USA and Singapore where he led the Group’s operations as Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific. While in Singapore Andrew was a Board Member of the Singapore Economic Development Board and the Singapore Land Authority. In 2003 he was awarded the Public Service Medal by the Government of Singapore and in August 2012 was also awarded the Public Service Star. In 2003 Andrew was appointed President of GSK Europe and joined GSK’s Corporate Executive Team. Andrew has served in numerous advisory roles to Governments around the world including South Africa, Singapore, Guangzhou China and the UK, where he was a member of the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group from 2010 – 2015. He was awarded a Knighthood for services to the economy and to the UK pharmaceutical industry in the 2012 New Year Honours List. In 2014, Andrew was appointed to be a Business Ambassador for the UK Government and in 2015, Andrew became a member of the China-Britain Business Council Advisory Council. Andrew is Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, a position he took up on 1 January 2013. Andrew has a Joint Honours BA in Economics from the University of Nottingham.
Follow Andrew Witty:
About Hatteras Venture Partners, University of Nottingham: Hatteras Venture Partners is a North Carolina-based venture capital firm that finances biomedical companies.
Nick Moakes
Managing Partner of Investments and Chief Investment Officer of Wellcome Trust
Nick is directly responsible for Wellcome’s global equity, FX and derivatives exposure, as well as playing a key role in broader investment strategy and management of the Investment Team. He is a member of our Investment Committee. Nick joined Wellcome in 2007 from BlackRock Investment Management where he was Head of the Asia Pacific investment team and co-head of Emerging Markets. He has 27 years’ professional experience in Asia, and 22 years’ experience in global equity markets. He graduated in Modern History and Economics from Balliol College, Oxford, and is a CFA charter holder. Before joining BlackRock in 1997, Nick lived in Hong Kong for nine years. He is a Chinese speaker. He started his career in the Diplomatic Service. Nick is Chair of the Imperial College London Endowment Fund and a Non-Executive Director of the Foreign and Colonial Investment Trust. He’s also a Board Member of the UK Investor Forum, which aims to align the interests of listed companies and long-term shareholders.
Follow Nick Moakes:
About Wellcome Trust: Wellcome Trust is a medical research charity that funds research that aims to protect and improving human and animal health.
Houman Ashrafian
Managing Partner & Founder of SV Health Investors
Houman Ashrafian is the Managing Partner at SV Health Investors.
Follow Houman Ashrafian:
About Catamaran Bio, Cellinta, Enara Bio, Karus Therapeutics, Sitryx Therapeutics, SV Health Investors, Zarodex Therapeutics: SV Health Investors is a Boston-based venture capital firm focused on investments in biotechnology and healthcare industry.
Kate Bingham
Managing Partner of SV Health Investors
Kate Bingham joined SVLS in 1991. Kate 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, Oncoethix and TopiVert.
Follow Kate Bingham:
About SV Health Investors: SV Health Investors is a Boston-based venture capital firm focused on investments in biotechnology and healthcare industry.
Michael Carter
Venture Partner of SV Health Investors
Dr. Michael Carter joined SVLS in 1998 as a Venture Partner. From 1986 to 1998 Michael was on the board of ICI/Zeneca Pharmaceuticals and from 1995 – 1998 was also a board member of Salick Healthcare – a US subsidiary of Zeneca. He was International Marketing Director at ICI/Zeneca Pharmaceuticals; in addition as International Medical Director he was involved in the clinical and commercial development of over 20 new medicines. For 10 years (1986 – 1996) he was a member of the UK Government’s Medicines Commission. He has also worked at Roche Products as Director of the Pharmaceutical Division. Before entering the pharmaceutical industry, Michael practiced as a physician for eleven years. Michael is currently on the boards of GTx Inc, Oxagen / Atopix, Oncoethix, Santarus Inc. and a member of the Strategic Advisory Board of Healthcare Royalty Partners. Previously Dr Carter was on the boards of CancerVax, Genosis, Fulcrum, KuDOS, Micromet and Warner Chilcott.
Follow Michael Carter:
About OncoEthix, SV Health Investors: SV Health Investors is a Boston-based venture capital firm focused on investments in biotechnology and healthcare industry.
Hamish Cameron
Venture Partner of SV Health Investors
Hamish Cameron is the Operating Partner at SV Health Investors.
Follow Hamish Cameron:
About Janssen Belgium, SV Health Investors, SV Health Investors: SV Health Investors is a Boston-based venture capital firm focused on investments in biotechnology and healthcare industry.
Adam Kundzewicz
Global Head of Strategic Market Access Initiatives and Tech Partnerships of Boehringer Ingelheim
Adam is Head of Pricing and Contracting for UK and Ireland at Boehringer Ingelheim, working across the whole Boehringer Ingelheim prescription medicines portfolio. Before moving to the UK in 2015, Adam was a Senior Global Payer Strategy Manager working in oncology pipeline at Boehringer Ingelheim in Ingelheim, Germany. He was managing global pricing and market access strategies for the oncology portfolio and driving the development of innovative market access approaches and payment schemes. Prior to joining Boehringer Ingelheim Adam worked as a life sciences strategy consultant for IMS Consulting, IBM Watson Health and Simon-Kucher & Partners in Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, Romania and The United States. He also worked as a research assistant at Jules Gonin Eye Hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland and as a Junior Project Leader at AnalyCen in Poland and Sweden. Adam holds a M.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from University of Warsaw, Poland, and a Ph.D. in Neurosciences from University of Geneva, University of Lausanne and EPFL, Switzerland. He has published several articles in international peer reviewed journals, and lectured at international conferences on developmental neuroscience and retinal degeneration.
Follow Adam Kundzewicz:
About Boehringer Ingelheim: Boehringer Ingelheim is a global group of companies embracing many cultures and diverse societies.
James Fleet
Executive Director & Consulting Partner of Four Eyes Insight
James is a clinical workforce efficiency specialist. James has significant experience in clinical workforce productivity and transformation within Health and works closely with Hospitals to secure sustainable efficiency improvements, optimum productivity and high levels of performance. James has previously worked within the NHS as an Executive Director and also led PwC’s health workforce consulting team, which involved him working with a large range of FT’s and Trust’s, as well as the Department of Health and NHS regulators – Monitor, NTDA and the CQC. James has led the delivery of major efficiency and productivity programmes, with huge success.
Follow James Fleet:
About Four Eyes Insight: Four Eyes Insight is a medical productivity and clinical service consultancy, founded in 2013.
