Our team

Dr Tony Raven is Chair of Queen Mary Innovation’s Board of Directors. Dr Raven was previously CEO of Cambridge Enterprise, University of Cambridge. Under his leadership, seed investment grew 730%, spinout creation rose 250%, and the university created four unicorn companies. 

Prof Mark Bradley helped build Queen Mary’s Institute in Precision Healthcare. He is Queen Mary’s Deputy Vice Principal of Impact and Innovation.

Mark has published over 450 papers, has an H-factor of >70, has filed >25 patents and has spun-out  8 companies going back to 1997. Companies still trading (or bought) include, Hunter Fleming (acquired by Neuron), Ilika Technologies (IPO in 2010), DestiNA Genomics, BioCaptiva, Edinburgh Molecular Imaging during his academic career.

His passion for translation can be highlighted by his design of a CDT (60 PhD’s) that interwove 12 months of formal Business Training through the 4-year PhD programme.

Prof Josh Reiss is Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Queen Mary University of London. He co-founded the highly successful spinout LandR, and recently co-founded Waveshaper AI, RoEx, and Nemisindo, also based on his team’s research. He maintains popular social media channels for scientific education and dissemination of research activities.

Prof Reiss is Professor of Audio Engineering at Queen Mary’s Centre for Digital Music. He has published more than 200 scientific papers (including over 50 in premier journals, winning 6 best paper awards) and co-authored three books and a dozen patents. His research has featured in dozens of original articles and interviews on TV, radio, and in the press.

Prof Reiss is also a Fellow and former President of the Audio Engineering Society (AES), and a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellow. He frequently consults with companies in the audio space, as well as others in need of audio-related expertise. He has served as an expert witness in major cases related to audio technology and patent litigation.

“Queen Mary Innovation excels in creating and ensuring the success of the university’s commercial ventures, and I strongly support their endeavours.”

Tony Hickson is the Chief Business Officer for Cancer Research Horizons. He leads the team responsible for the commercialisation of IP from CRUK funded projects, new start-up creation, licences and corporate alliances.

Prior to this Tony was a board director of the London-listed venture investor Touchstone Innovations PLC, and the Managing Director of Imperial Innovations Ltd, responsible for IP and spin-out creation for technologies arising from Imperial College London. 

“Queen Mary’s research is grounded in one of the most diverse populations in the UK and Queen Mary Innovation ensures that the resulting discoveries in cancer, population health and data science are developed into products and companies that benefit patients everywhere.”

Thomas Skeen is Queen Mary’s Director of Finance.

“Innovation is vital for the University as a space where we can put our academic research strengths into practical applications to help solve real world problems with positive economic and social outcomes: a core part of our mission.”

Dr Sharon Ellis is Queen Mary’s Chief Operations Officer.

Prof Amrita Ahluwalia​ is Dean for Research in Queen Mary’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry​.

Nicola McConville is a partner at Mischon de Reya with particular experience in advising companies and investors on funding rounds from seed through to exit.​

Prof Dan Todman is Vice Principal for Queen Mary’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

QMI is actively exploring opportunities for SHAPE innovation (Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy). SHAPE innovation is an emerging field which focuses on how research in humanities and social sciences can tackle some of the biggest challenges facing society today. It requires a different approach to traditional STEM commercialisation, and is often built around service-based innovations, operating as purpose driven social ventures.

Dr Peter Thorpe is the Deputy Dean for Research Impact and Industrial Engagement for the Science and Engineering faculty at Queen Mary University of London.

I lead innovation comms for Queen Mary University of London. My job is to create and implement the comms strategy to build our reputation for innovation. 

Email: w.hanford-spira@qmul.ac.uk

With over a decade of experience building entrepreneurial ecosystems in universities (including Oxford and London), Leah Thompson (she/her) is the Associate Director for Entrepreneurship at Queen Mary University of London. 

She leads on the institutional entrepreneurship strategy and works across stakeholders and audiences to develop initiatives to expand inclusive entrepreneurship support, as part of the Queen Mary Entrepreneurial Support and Training (QUEST) programme.

She works across all faculties and with external partners to strengthen the pipeline from early‑stage ideas to venture creation.

Leah is a member of Rise Europe, a network of leading startup ecosystem builders from thirteen European countries dedicated to advancing and scaling entrepreneurial ventures across the region. Her background spans consulting, small‑business management, IT development, and horticulture, giving her a broad and practical understanding of business and knowledge exchange.

Email: leah.thompson@qmul.ac.uk

Email: s.lowry@qmul.ac.uk

Email: b.andrews@qmul.ac.uk

As IP Manager, Aida oversees QMI’s patent and trademark portfolio. She works closely with commercialisation managers, inventors, and legal counsel to protect intellectual property and support the successful progression of new technologies from discovery to commercialisation.

Email: a.c.radu@qmul.ac.uk

Email: r.desai@qmul.ac.uk

Email: david.miller@qmul.ac.uk

I completed my PhD in cancer biology, specialising in acute myeloid leukaemia, at Heidelberg University and the German Cancer Research Centre. Following my PhD, I led the Gene Therapies program at a biotech company. My primary interests and expertise lie in immunology, cancer research, and gene therapies, but I am always looking forward to learning about other areas research!

Please get in touch if you are a QMUL researcher interested in commercialisation, have questions about intellectual property, or need assistance securing translational funding. I am happy to help!

Email: m.frolova@qmul.ac.uk

Projects I’m leading on

With a background in academia, the commercial sector, and government, and along with experience in technology transfer, I have developed a strong appreciation in translating the research and technologies to real-world application that create significant impacts to the University and benefit the society.

What attracts me most to technology transfer is the unique integration of science, technologies, business, and strategy that enable me to collaborate closely with researchers to learn their inventions, protect intellectual property, assess commercial viability, and facilitate partnerships and commercialisation to bring innovations to the market.

I hold a PhD in Chemistry and have a particular interest in the application of utilizing novel small molecules for biosensing, medical devices, and diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. I am also keen to learn about any new technologies emerging from life sciences, pharmaceuticals, dentistry and medical research.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you are a Queen Mary researcher seeking assistance with intellectual property protection, translational funding application, collaboration or commercialisation. I would be delighted to meet and offer my support to you.

Email: queenie.chan@qmul.ac.uk

Projects I’m leading on

David brings extensive experience in life sciences and early-stage innovation, specialising in translating research into impactful commercial opportunities.

With a PhD in Biochemistry and a Postgraduate Diploma in IP Law, he combines scientific expertise with strategic insight to guide technologies from concept to market.

David has led commercialisation strategies for biomaterials-based technologies, supported the creation of multiple spinouts, and secured significant funding for translational research. His work spans building partnerships across academia, industry, and investors, managing complex negotiations, and shaping IP portfolios to maximise value.

Passionate about fostering collaboration and accelerating innovation, David works closely with researchers and stakeholders to align scientific potential with real-world application to help deliver solutions that make a difference in healthcare and beyond.

Email: d.choveaux@qmul.ac.uk

Projects I’m leading on

Projects I’m leading on

My primary responsibilities are to identify, protect, and manage the IP generated by university researchers, as well as commercialising university IP assets by licensing or by fostering the creation of spinout companies.

Following my PhD in nanotechnology at LCN, UCL, I worked on research projects in MedTech for commercialisation at Imperial College London and then leveraged my skills in research for commercialisation at an early-stage biotech startup in Cambridge. I developed a strong background in both academia and industry, with a particular focus on translating research innovations into commercially viable products and technologies.

I am here to provide comprehensive support for your research endeavours at Queen Mary and to explore avenues for commercialisation. Whether you have inquiries about market validation, securing translational funding, or any other aspect of the commercialisation process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I look forward to collaborating with you to transform your research aspirations into reality.

Email: huanwang@qmul.ac.uk

Throughout my career in research management and knowledge exchange I’ve covered many of the methods universities use to make a difference. I was previously Director of Innovation and Engagement at the University of Oxford and have also worked at the Universities of Bath and Bournemouth.

I’m a former member of Research England Council, Ambassador (and former Chair) for PraxisAuril, and on the independent advisory board of the Barclays Eagle Labs Digital Growth Grant. I previously served on the committee of ARMA and as chair of the KEC evaluation panel for UUK. I’m a Registered Technology Transfer Professional and a Member of the Institute of Directors. I used to be a chemist and have studied at Kings College London and the Universities of Bath, Bournemouth and Oxford.

Get in touch if you want to discuss investing in Queen Mary companies or working together to grow the innovation ecosystem at Queen Mary.

Email: p.clare@qmul.ac.uk

Email: a.daykin@qmul.ac.uk

Projects I’m leading on

I was inspired by Renovo, a Manchester spinout developing anti-scarring drugs from alligator cleft palate research, who came to visit my science class. Ten years on, my own research culminated in a PhD in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine from the University of Leeds, which I chose for their strong translational focus. Along the way, I joined GSK during my Biochemistry degree, was seconded to a MedTech innovation hub during my PhD, and spent time at investors and innovation competitions in between.

Get in touch to discuss technology and engineering innovations across Queen Mary, especially in healthcare. If you’re a Queen Mary researcher, I can help you commercialise your research.

Email: b.golland@qmul.ac.uk

Projects I’m leading on