Michael Whitehead Email & Phone Number

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

Business development at RNAvate, an RNA therapeutics company.

• Project funded by Moorfields Eye Charity. Aim to develop new iPSC models of retinal ganglion cell degeneration caused by mutations affecting mitochondrial genes with the aim of developing new gene therapies• Working under the supervision of Professor Mike Cheetham, Professor Patrick Yu Wai Man and Dr Jennifer Sun• Presented work at international eye conference, ARVO 2023

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

• Worked in collaboration with Dr. Natalie Hastings (University of Cambridge Wellcome Trust Stem Cell Institute) who is developing a new treatment for a neurological disease• Designed AAV-based vector for modulating activity of gene-of-interest; proved successful at in vitro testing phase

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

• This Doctoral Training Programme was supported by the Medical Research Council to pursue a 3.5-year PhD focussed on the development of gene therapy treatments for eye diseases• Lead author of three successful grant applications to support independently ideated and funded research programmes to understand the interaction between gene therapy vectors and the humoral immune system, and develop clinically-translatable solutions to this problem• Beneficiary of the Sackler Scholarship… Show more • This Doctoral Training Programme was supported by the Medical Research Council to pursue a 3.5-year PhD focussed on the development of gene therapy treatments for eye diseases• Lead author of three successful grant applications to support independently ideated and funded research programmes to understand the interaction between gene therapy vectors and the humoral immune system, and develop clinically-translatable solutions to this problem• Beneficiary of the Sackler Scholarship Programme which provides additional financial support for the duration of the PhD• Winner of the Cambridge Society for the Application of Research Award 2021• Nominated for the Milo Keynes Thesis Prize 2021• Awarded ARVO Abstract of Distinction 2020 & 2021 Show less

Cambridge, United Kingdom

• Led the creation of a start-up biotechnology project that developed an enzymatic therapy for coeliac disease• Established collaboration with the Soilleux Lab at the University of Cambridge’s Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathology; project funded by BBSRC and Coeliac UK• Authored a successful grant application to Addenbrookes Charitable Trust to provide additional funding for the preclinical research programme• Winner of the ‘£1K’ and finalist of the ‘£5K’ Cambridge… Show more • Led the creation of a start-up biotechnology project that developed an enzymatic therapy for coeliac disease• Established collaboration with the Soilleux Lab at the University of Cambridge’s Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathology; project funded by BBSRC and Coeliac UK• Authored a successful grant application to Addenbrookes Charitable Trust to provide additional funding for the preclinical research programme• Winner of the ‘£1K’ and finalist of the ‘£5K’ Cambridge University Entrepreneurs Business Plan Competition 2017• Accepted onto the University of Cambridge Judge Business School’s ‘Accelerate Cambridge’ venture creation accelerator programme Show less

Cambridge, United Kingdom

• Successfully liaised and negotiated with Blue Chips and SMEs to secure £15,000 in sponsorship deals for the society• Responsible for the management and financial reporting of a £40,000 bank account• Took a lead role in organising ‘IP Workshops’ and ‘IP Clinics’ for society members – reached maximum capacity for both events and had positive feedback from participating institutions

Cambridge, United Kingdom

• Tasked with analysing the commercial opportunity for a novel pharmaceutical compound targeting a neurological disorder• Performed in-depth financial analysis (discounted cash flow analysis, real options valuation, pharmacoeconomic modelling, Microsoft Excel Visual Basic Editor MACRO Coding) in order to synthesise final recommendations to the company

Cambridge, United Kingdom

• Team member on a three-month consultancy project for a biotechnology engineering consultancy – used data collection and analysis tools to solve the client’s problem, and scored 78% (Distinction) in the assessed presentation

Harrogate, United Kingdom

Bristol, United Kingdom

• I undertook a four-month research project during my undergraduate studies. Working under the supervision of Dr. Wa'el Kafienah and Dr Daryll Hill, I studied the mechanisms of the adherence of Staphylococcus aureus (Sa) to mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) during osteomyelitis infections

Shanghai, China

• I worked at Redleaf International Women's Hospital (Shanghai, China) for two months in the summer of 2014. Working under the supervision of the Chief Operations Officer, I conducted market research and analysed hospital management literature

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Clinical Neuroscience - Advanced Therapeutics

• Awarded a £120,000 research grant by the Medical Research Council in 2017 to pursue a 3.5-year PhD focussed on the development of gene.

Master Of Philosophy - Mphil, Bioscience Enterprise, Pass (74% Mean Score)

• Developed an in-depth understanding of (i) the drug discovery and clinical development process, (ii) market access and real world.

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Cellular And Molecular Medicine, 1St

• Developed an understanding of key biomedical and biochemical concepts, including pathology, recombinant DNA technology, and cell.