Case Study:
Professor Peter Ghazal
Professor Peter Ghazal's research focuses on host-pathogen interactions, in particular, mapping and modelling pathways in infectious diseases.
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Big DNA appoints four new staff members at Roslin BioCentre
30 June 2009
Dr John March, chief executive officer and founder of BigDNA Ltd, has announced four new appointments at his company based at Roslin BioCentre outside Edinburgh. Big DNA's new vaccine manufacturing suite at Roslin was opened last month by Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney MSP.The new appointments are scientists Gemma Harlow, (23) a fermentation specialist, Jennifer Gardiner (22), a microbiology student at Heriot Watt University and Dr Ewan Clark who joins from Moredun Research Institute. Gemma has a BSc honours degree from Strathclyde University in Biochemistry and Pharmacology. She is originally from Auchnagatt in Aberdeenshire. Professional accountant Jill Brooks (33) has been appointed with responsibility for the company's finance and accounts department.
Big DNA Ltd, founded in 2007, designs and develops new and innovative vaccines targeting diseases of high unmet need and those which require improvements to existing treatments. The company's core technology is based on bacteriophage, synthetic nanoparticles which are engineered to deliver DNA (genetic) vaccines in a highly efficient and effective way. These 'phage vaccines' have a number of advantages over conventional vaccines, including reduced number of doses, significantly reduced times for development and manufacture and a better immune response.
The advantages of phage vaccines lend the technology to a broad range of applications, including opportunities for needle-free dosing, the prevention and treatment of human, veterinary and fish diseases, as well as the challenges brought about by pandemic or biodefence-related situations.
So far, the company has developed a number of therapeutic and prophylactic vaccine candidates to target a number of human and veterinary indications including prophylactic/therapeutic Hepatitis B, Chlamydia and a range of aquaculture and livestock diseases. A new range of additional human vaccine candidates are under development.
For further information contact Carol Anderson or Caroline Graham at The Business T: 0131 718 6022 / 07836 546 256,
E: carola@thebusinesspr.co.uk; carolineg@thebusinesspr.co.uk.
