Prof Coles is Professor of Immunology at Oxford (publishing over 60 papers), and has been working in cellular and molecular immunology for 20 years. His group utilizes interdisciplinary approaches to understand the development and function of immune environments focusing on the role of stromal cell and immune cell interactions. He has key expertise in imaging (from single molecule to whole tissue imaging), experimental models and systems immunology.

He has developed model driven experimentation as an approach to understand how complex immune – work in health and disease. The Coles group has a strong record working with industry including funding and projects involving GSK, Roche, MedImmune/AstraZeneca and Unilever. He recently spun out SimOmics a company specialized in evidence based modelling and simulation of immune responses.

As chief scientific officer of SimOmics he has helped grow the financial success of the company, undertaking projects to support research and development at pharmaceutical companies. He has previously obtained patent protection for technology to differentiate human mesenchymal stem cells into lymphoid stroma. His role in the company is to support the development of specific cell targeting technologies.

Dr Valentine has worked in the chemical industry for over 50 years starting as a laboratory technician in a multinational fine chemicals company in Manchester. After graduating from London University and then obtaining a PhD in organic fluorine chemistry he became the laboratory manager for a multinational perfumery company.

He took the opportunity to help start a new fine chemicals company in the North East as Research Director, and when that was acquired by a multinational some years later, another opportunity arose to set up a small independent chemical R&D company High Force Research.

Paul’s experience spans more than 25 years in business & strategy development, management of technology and investments companies.

Paul has successfully led investment rounds in several companies, and invested a.o. for Wageningen Business Generator and the Family investment office Multifund.

Frans’ experience spans 30 years in the (bio)pharmaceutical field. Held staff / management positions in Strategic Program Development, QA / QP, Project Management, R & D and Regulatory Affairs.

From 1992 for more than 25 years Frans was one of the partners that built Synthon Holding; a group of companies (1,500 FTEs) involved in the R & D, Regulatory Affairs, manufacturing and commercialisation of generic medicines, biosimilars and New Biological Entities.