Damian is Founder CEO of Kynos. He led the spin-out and licensing from the University of Edinburgh, driven by his passion and determination to deliver innovative solutions to challenging and unmet medical needs. Damian is jointly trained in the UK and USA in translational science and business leadership, and as a surgeon in liver and pancreas disease. Damian holds the 1777 Chair of Surgery at the University of Edinburgh and an MRC Senior Clinical Fellowship, links he retains as he believes that successful new medicines are built on the strongest science, clear line of sight to patients, and building world-class teams. Damian co-founded Kynos after discovering KMO inhibition as new target at the interface of inflammation, immunity and metabolism, building on a 15-year translational KMO inhibitor programme, including a prestigious GSK-University of Edinburgh DPAc Collaboration.

Scott has over 20 years of drug discovery and development experience, holding positions in both biotech and academia. He is Professor of Medicines Discovery at the Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh where, for more than a decade, he has specialised in translational research focused on discovering and developing small molecules as medicines for the treatment of conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, multiple organ failure and fibrotic disease. Scott has previously discovered and advanced therapeutics through preclinical discovery and first time in human clinical development, successfully licensing assets for pivotal proof of concept studies in patients. He was formerly Head of Enzymology at PanTherix Ltd, leading preclinical programmes focused on anti-infective discovery. He has expertise spanning protein biochemistry, pharmacology and medicinal chemistry. Since 2008 he has worked closely with Professor Damian Mole to develop KMO as a therapeutic target and was co-investigator on their productive GSK Discovery Partnership with Academia collaboration. Scott received his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Edinburgh, where he also completed his post-doctoral training in protein biochemistry.

Alison is a seasoned healthcare finance executive with extensive strategic, transactional and operational experience. She is currently Chief Operating Officer at NodThera Inc whilst supporting Kynos Therapeutics as CFO. She formerly held a number of senior finance roles at GlaxoSmithKline, including as Chief of Staff to the Chief Finance Officer, where she was responsible for transforming GSK’s financial reporting processes and organisation as well as leading local completions of the global Novartis transaction. Alison also served as CFO of GSK’s drug discovery group, where she established the Tres Cantos Open Lab and Catalyst Science Park at GSK’s UK flagship R&D site. Prior to working for GSK, Alison led the UK M&A life sciences team at Deloitte in London. Alison holds a Ph.D. in chemistry and physical chemistry from the University of Wales, Cardiff and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales.

Liz has more than 22 years of experience in the life science and healthcare industry, either as a venture investor or an operating executive. She has led many venture capital investments in early stage biotech, and has held senior operational roles, from Chair of Board to senior management positions. She focuses on shaping and building early-stage life science opportunities into successful companies and investments.

Prior to joining Epidarex, Liz was Head of Business Development and part of the management team at Chroma Therapeutics Ltd., an Oxford-based venture-backed drug discovery and development company focused on inflammatory disorders and oncology. Liz led the establishment of several major company-building alliances including a multi‐target deal with GlaxoSmithKline around Chroma’s novel platform. Liz is a former executive with the life science venture capital team at the Investments Division of The Wellcome Trust. She is also a former member of the life Science team at Atlas Ventures, London.

Liz currently serves on the Board of Directors of AdoRx Ltd. (Chair), Dunad Ltd. (Chair), Nodthera Ltd., Mironid Ltd,., Exeed Ltd. (Chair), EM Imaging Ltd and Macomics Ltd. She holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Biochemistry (1st class) from the University College Cork, and a Ph.D. from the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.

Tassos is an investment manager at IP Group and specialises in early stage investing in life sciences. Before joining IP Group, Tassos was an investment analyst at SR One, GSK’s venture capital arm and a business development executive at CRUK Commercial Partnerships (formerly CRT), where he led the intellectual property sourcing, licensing, and spin-out creation of CRUK-funded technologies. Tassos earned a PhD in Molecular Oncology at the University of Oxford and a postdoc at the University of Chicago.