The CDP Team
Dr Sally Burtles
Director of Drug Development for Cancer Research UK
Sally is responsible for Cancer Research UK's early drug development programme for the preclinical development and early clinical testing of novel anti-cancer agents. Currently, Sally and her team in the Drug Development Office manage the early development of more than 35 novel agents which are at various stages of development between production of bulk supplies to early Phase II clinical trials. Sally joined Cancer Research UK in 1992, working in various roles in the Drug Development Office, before becoming Director at the beginning of 2000.
Sally took her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the University of St Andrews, before going to Emory University, in Atlanta, USA for one year as an RT Jones Scholar. She then went on to do a PhD. and post-doc in immunology at the University of Bristol. Before moving to Cancer Research UK, Sally worked for Sandoz Ag (now Novartis) in Basel, Switzerland for two years.
Dr Keith Blundy
Chief Executive Officer for Cancer Research Technology
Keith joined CRT in 1998 following ten years' experience in R&D management and business development in agricultural biotechnology. He holds a BSc. in Genetics and a PhD. from the John Innes Institute, was a Fulbright Scholar during post-doctoral study in the US and has an MBA from London Business School. Keith was formerly a director of KuDOS Pharmaceuticals and Chroma Therapeutics.
Dr Victoria John
Head of Clinical Partnerships, Cancer Research UK
Vicky joined Cancer Research UK in March 2008. In her role as Head of Clinical Partnerships, Vicky is responsible for sourcing new projects for the Drug Development Office and negotiating clinical trial agreements for CDP projects.
Prior to joining Cancer Research UK, Vicky worked at Cancer Research Technology for 9 years including 4 years as a Senior Business Manager and 2 years as Head of Licensing for the CDP initiative. During her time at Cancer Research Technology Vicky concluded a number of major collaboration and licence agreements, and spent 2 years as a non-executive Board Director for Hybrid Systems.
Vicky holds a first class BSc. Hons. in Molecular Biology from the University of Manchester and, following a period of working in assay development at Glaxo-Wellcome, completed a PhD. in Oncology from the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research.
Robert Amies
Solicitor, Cancer Research Technology
Rob joined CRT in January 2007 from a top UK law firm where he specialised in intellectual property. In private practice he gained a broad range of experience in drafting and negotiating agreements for clients within the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. He also completed three client secondments working within the legal departments of the Wellcome Trust, a UK university and a large pharmaceutical company.
Since joining CRT, he has advised on a number of transactions including intellectual property licences, clinical trial agreements and research collaborations.
April Shropshire
Solicitor, Cancer Research UK
April has worked in the Pharma and Biotech industries for 15 years, many of which were at Vice President and Director of Legal Services level. She qualified as a Solicitor in 1985 and has an MBA, with distinction, from the University of Nottingham. She has been extensively involved for the Drug Development Office in all agreements required for pre-clinical and clinical trial activity (both Phase I and II) and IP licensing.
Kate Searle
Research Manager (Drug Development), Cancer Research UK
Kate works in the Drug Development Office (DDO) and is responsible for running the New Agents Committee (NAC) as well as a monthly ethics committee (CIRB) that reviews all DDO clinical protocols. The NAC reviews and decides which projects will be taken on by the DDO for preclinical and clinical development. Kate has worked for Cancer Research UK since 1991 in various roles in Research Funding, before joining the Drug Development Office at the beginning of 1997. Kate holds an LLB. Hons. from South Bank University in London, following which she took her Bar Finals at the Inns of Court School of Law, London.
Dr Ian Walker
Licensing Manager, Cancer Research Technology
Ian joined Cancer Research Technology in 2006 and in his role as Licensing Manager, supports the Head of Licensing in the marketing, opportunity sourcing, project evaluation and operation of Cancer Research UK's Clinical Development Partnership (CDP) initiative.
Ian took his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the University of Leeds, before completing a PhD and a post-doctoral research fellowship in the field of targeted photodynamic therapy. Ian has also worked as a consultant to aid development of new therapeutic small molecules for the treatment of many types of cancer.
Prior to joining Cancer Research Technology, Ian worked in the Biotechnology sector as a Study Director for a major multi-national CRO and was responsible for overseeing the scientific interpretation, and GXP regulatory compliance of safety studies for a wide range of biologics.
