CGT Catapult appoints two new Board members
London UK, 27th October 2020 - The Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Catapult today announces the appointment of Professor Angela Thomas OBE and Christine Soden as non-executive Directors to its Board. The new appointments will join current Board members in supporting the activities of the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult.
Dr John Brown CBE, Chairman of Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult said:
“Angela Thomas and Christine Soden are excellent additions to the CGT Catapult Board, bringing with them a vast wealth of expertise which will prove to be a real asset to the governance and strategy of CGT Catapult. I am confident that their direction and new perspectives, alongside the experience and commitment of our existing Board, will enhance our impact in bringing lifesaving therapies to patients.”
Christine Soden has extensive experience across the life sciences sector, with over 25 years of experience in board positions in executive and non-executive roles at both public and private companies. Christine is currently a non-executive Director of Elementis plc. having recently been Chief Financial Officer at Acacia Pharma Group plc, and having held previous positions at Electrical Geodesics Inc, BTG plc, now part of Boston Scientific, as well as Optos plc and Celltech-Chiroscience plc.
Professor Angela Thomas will provide a valuable addition to the non-executive Board. After qualifying in medicine and training in adult and paediatric haematology, Professor Thomas has held a plethora of positions across the medical sector; she is currently the Acting President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and an honorary professor at the University of Edinburgh’s College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. Professor Thomas worked as a Consultant Paediatric Haematologist as the Royal Hospital for Sick Children Edinburgh and has also served as Director of the Haemophilia Centre at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh until June 2017. She is a former president of the British Society for Haematology.
In addition to her clinical post, Professor Thomas has been involved in the regulation of medicines at a national, European and international level since 2002. She was vice-chair of the UK’s Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) and chaired its Clinical Trials, Biologicals and Vaccines Expert Advisory Group (EAG). In 2018, she was awarded an OBE for her services to the Regulation of Medicines for the protection and promotion of Public Health, and she continues to work for the licensing authority (MHRA) on the efficacy and safety of medicines.
Christine Soden said:
“The CGT Catapult has achieved a great deal over the last decade and has made a tangible difference to advancing UK-based science towards commercial applications. I am delighted to be joining the Board at a time where gene and cell-based medicines are at the forefront of medical advances.”
Professor Angela Thomas, Acting President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh commented:
“I am delighted to join the CGT Catapult Board, which has played a vital role in positioning the UK as a global leader in cell and gene therapy in recent years.
I look forward to working with John and the Board to build upon the CGT Catapult’s achievements in delivering long-term support to the cell therapy industry and to enable it to continue to flourish.
The CGT Catapult’s work in guiding and enabling scientific and therapeutic research, through the development of therapeutic products, can ultimately deliver significant benefits for patients and I very much welcome the opportunity to contribute to the future strategy of this important sector.”
Additional information on Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult Board members can be found here.
About the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult
The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult was established as an independent centre of excellence to advance the growth of the UK cell and gene therapy industry, by bridging the gap between scientific research and full-scale commercialisation. With more than 330 employees focusing on cell and gene therapy technologies, it works with partners in academia and industry to ensure these life-changing therapies can be developed for use in health services throughout the world. It offers leading-edge capability, technology and innovation to enable companies to take products into clinical trials and provide clinical, process development, manufacturing, regulatory, health economics and market access expertise. Its aim is to make the UK the most compelling and logical choice for UK and international partners to develop and commercialise these advanced therapies. The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult works with Innovate UK. For more information please visit ct.catapult.org.uk or visit http://www.gov.uk/innovate-uk.
