Louisa Dunmall

As the Co-Founder of our Queen Mary University of London spin-out company, VacV Biotherapeutics, I have played a pivotal role in propelling the company towards success by heading the development of novel solutions for cancer therapy and securing essential seed funding vital to support our program. My responsibilities include crafting the scientific strategy of the company and overseeing all research activities. Moreover, I head project management of our lead product, ensuring seamless execution of critical processes including CMC, pre-clinical studies, and regulatory compliance necessary for advancing into clinical trials.

Drawing from 17 years of experience at Queen Mary University of London, where I work as a Senior Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, I bring a wealth of scientific expertise, leadership acumen, and project management proficiency to the table. Within the University setting, I have contributed to scientific advancements, earned funding awards and actively participate in medical teaching programs.

Experience

VacV Biotherapeutics

July 2019-Present

Co-Founder and Head of Research 

At VacV Biotherapeutics, I am responsible for heading the CMC and pre-clinial development program for our lead product and leading a team of scientists in the development of innovative viral-based therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. My role encompasses:

• Development and management of the scientific research program of the company, managing a team of scientists to develop and evaluate novel therapeutic candidates for cancer.
• Project management of the CMC and pre-clinical toxicology pipeline of the company, including development of regulatory documents for MHRA submission.
• Fostering collaborations with academic and industry partners to advance our research and explore new approaches to cancer therapy.

• Securing funding through grant applications and investor partnerships to support our research and development efforts.

I am proud to contribute to the advancement of cancer treatment through innovative research and my current role has given me a deep understanding of the regulatory and manufacturing complexities involved in this process.

Queen Mary University of London, Barts Cancer Institute

September 2008-Present

Senior Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

At Queen Mary University of London, I have been actively involved in cutting-edge research projects focused on development of virotherapeutic solutions for cancer treatment. Here I have developed and evaluated the lead product that is being taken by VacV Biotherapeutics into clinical trial for pancreatic cancer. My key responsibilities include:

• Management of the scientific research program and team at the university, delivering grant funded projects to their conclusion and developing novel immunotherapeutic strategies to treat a wide range of cancer types. 
• Supervising and mentoring post-doctoral and PhD student researchers, providing guidance and support in their research activities.
• Analyzing and interpreting complex data sets using advanced bioinformatics and statistical tools. 
• Preparation and submission of all grant applications to secure funding for research projects. 
• Presenting our research findings at international scientific conferences.
• Extensive publications in peer-reviewed journals to contribute to the scientific community.
• Lecturing to medical undergarduates and MSc students within the Univeristy and as a regular guest lecturer at Imperial College London. 
• Peer Review of internal and external research and review literature.

University of Bath 2001

BSc(hons) Applied Biology: 2:1

University of Surrey/Pirbright Institue 2005

PhD Molecular Virology

Queen Mary University of London 2018

PGCert Academic Practice: Distinction