I lead the team working on a major collaborative drug discovery project with an international pharma company. I also project manage CRO screening services for pharma and biotech clients including requests involving Metrion’s panel of CiPA cardiac assays.

I managed the biology screening team working on a collaborative drug discovery project with an international pharma company.

I managed biology activities for multiple external funded grants including a Framework7 European commission project entitled ‘MAREX’ (Identification of sodium channel blockers from marine sources), EUROSTARS project ‘E!5125 ICRAC’ (Identification of ICRAC channel blockers) and a Biomedical catalyst grant awarded by Technology Strategy Board entitled ‘TRPA1 hit expansion and validation’. The aim was to develop a portfolio of early stage drug discovery programmes (up to pre-clinical candidate nomination) ultimately leading to larger collaborations with pharma or additional funding opportunities from grant bodies and charitable organisations.ReferencesJukič M, Frlan R, Chan F, Kirby RW, Madge DJ, Tytgat J, Peigneur S, Anderluh M, Kikelj D. Synthesis and biological evaluation of piperazine derivatives as novel isoform selective voltage-gated sodium (Nav)1.3 channel modulators. (2015) Med Chem Res. 24:2366-2380. Doi:10.1007/s00044-014-1300-xPeigneur S, Zula A, Zidar N, Chan-Porter F, Kirby R, Madge D, Ilaš J, Kikelj D, Tytgat J. Action of clathrodin and analogues on voltage-gated sodium channels. Mar Drugs. (2014) 4;12(4):2132-43. doi: 10.3390/md12042132. Tomašić T, Hartzoulakis B, Zidar N, Chan F, Kirby RW, Madge DJ, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Kikelj D. Ligand- and structure-based virtual screening for clathrodin-derived human voltage-gated sodium channel modulators. J Chem Inf Model. (2013) 53(12):3223-32. doi: 10.1021/ci400505e. Hodnik Ž, Tomašić T, Mašič LP, Chan F, Kirby RW, Madge DJ, Kikelj D. Novel state-dependent voltage-gated sodium channel modulators, based on marine alkaloids from Agelas sponges. Eur J Med Chem. (2013) 70:154-64. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2013.07.034.

Lead assay development and optimisation for new ion channel targets. Provided expert opinion on APC systems and validating ion channel assays to 'in-house' projects and international collaborative partners. Automated patch-clamp screener (Q-Patch; PatchLiner) providing high quality data in time-efficient manner. Proven record managing a team that delivered high volumes of high quality data to strict deadlines for multiple screening assays across various projects. Setting objectives for reportees, planning work and co-ordinating screeners and assays in line with requirements outlined in screening cascade or project plan specified by customers.Manage and co-ordinate resource scheduling across multiple projects within research. Head and Chair of Health and Safety; Biological Safety Officer.

Ford, J., Milnes, J.T., Wustenberg,D., Jackson,C., Kirby, R., Rolland, J-F., Jones,C., Madge,D. (2011). XEN-D0103: A novel atrial selective Kv1.5 inhibitor with atrial fibrillation suppressing effects in the dog (Abstract/Poster). Venice Arrhythmias Meeting 2011. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology Volume 22, Issue s1, October 2011, Pages: S1–S17,

Study skills support tutor providing 1:1 study sessions to students with learning contracts in the Biosciences Department on a diverse range of biomedical subjects.

Teaching undergraduate and postgraduate laboratory classes and providing tutorials on subjects including DNA technology, genetics, cell biology and research methods.Supervision of several undergraduate and post-graduate research students undertaking research projects in molecular pharmacology.Additional work included exam invigilation, open day tour guide and coursework marking.

Research was focused on understanding the genetics of autoimmune disease including investigating genetic loci controlling autoimmune disease susceptibility in EAE, type I diabetes and ALS. Individual research project entitled 'Investigating RNA editing of 5-HT2C receptor in immune tissues and autoimmune disease'