“I love being able to support the company and my colleagues in developing a product that has the potential to significantly change people’s lives.”
What’s your name and job title?
Daniel Callaghan – Quality Officer/ Laboratory Manager
How long have you been at LightOx?
Since April 2019.
Can you share a bit about your previous experience in the health and life sciences industry?
I studied Biological Sciences at Durham University. My degree focused mainly on cell signalling, development, and physiology in animals as well as plants. Although LightOx is my first role working in the health and life sciences, I’ve always had a keen interest in Biology from an early age. Going through University, I wasn’t certain where I wanted to take my interest in Biology, but my current role has taken me out of academia and into industry, and I know I have found my niche.
What are your particular areas of interest and expertise?
Across the years I have enjoyed working on building, implementing and improving our quality management system (QMS). I work very closely with our QA/RA Manager and it has been an invaluable experience and education on the fundamentals of Quality. As our lead APIs move through non-clinical testing and closer to clinical testing, the world of regulatory affairs is now opening up, and it’s a world I’m looking forward to understanding and gaining competency in.
I also played a role in setting up our laboratories in the Biosphere which continues to offer lots of facilities management and health and safety management experience.
What role do you play in the development of LightOx’s new therapies for oral cancer and wound care or in supporting the LightOx business?
I work with our QA/RA Manager to implement, maintain and improve our QMS. We ensure we are managing our assets, evaluating our suppliers, documenting our processes and procedures and improving from non-conformances. Our QMS is set up to support our whole team at LightOx.
With regards to the Laboratory Management side of the role comes lots of facility management and health and safety responsibilities. Here I run our cell viability assays in human cell lines on our new APIs made by the chemistry team and write internal and external project plans/ reports. I also have a talent for histology and sectioning, whether its wax or cyro! It is good to be able to support the Biology Team in that way.
What do you like the most, or find the most interesting about your role?
I love how no week is ever the same! As LightOx is a small company, I’m in a unique and privileged position to work across the full scope of our QMS. This means I get the chance to work with all our scientists, the management team and external suppliers.
I love being able to support the company and my colleagues in developing a product that has the potential to significantly change people’s lives.
What does a typical working day at LightOx look like for you?
That’s tricky to answer as no day is ever the same, it sounds cliché but its true! One day I could be reviewing project documentation before upload to our QMS, another day I could be sectioning tissues ready for analysis. I love the variability of the role!
What are your hopes or ambitions for the projects you’re working on?
I remember when I started at LightOx, screening new APIs in cell culture. And now those same APIs that I helped to initially screen are in non-clinical stages of drug development and hopefully on their paths to changing people’s lives. It’s an incredible thing to be part of, from initial research up until this stage. And if one day we can save lives and help protect someone’s quality of life by using our treatment and avoiding invasive surgery, I’d say that’s a pretty good day at the office!
When you are not at work how do you like to unwind?
My biggest love is baking! Cake, bread, pastry, meringue or biscuits, in an artisan or patisserie style, I got you covered! My latest challenge is cracking Neapolitan pizza dough in a pizza oven.
I go to the gym nearly every day so lots of weight training and cardio (I love spinning). I’ve started to get into fitness challenges such as hiking the Yorkshire 3 peaks (in the torrential rain!!) and a half marathon. A triathlon is next on my list.
Lastly simple pleasures like walking my dog, Louis!
Who are the 4 guests dead or alive you would invite to your dinner party?
Great question, I’d probably say Queen Elizabeth II, David Attenborough, Lana Del Rey and Karren Brady.
Finally, in another life what would have been your dream job?
Hmm ….when I was a kid I wanted to be an ice cream man! I do make my own ice cream at home so you could say I am living my dream! But now I’m older I’d say a pastry chef!
