– UK, Oxford – Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc (LON: ONT), the company delivering a new generation of nanopore-based molecular sensing technology, today announced the appointments of Dr. Sarah Fortune (MD) and Dr. Heather Preston (MD) to its Board as Non-Executive Directors with effect from 19 December 2023.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Sarah and Heather on the board as Non-Executive Directors of Oxford Nanopore. These are two leaders in their respective fields: Sarah’s understanding of the sector, the technology and Oxford Nanopore’s aspirational markets position her as an ideal resource to support the company’s move into the clinical space. Heather’s incredible breadth of experience, in addition to her understanding of the investor mindset, will provide a valuable voice on the board as the company looks to scale whilst delivering shareholder value,” said Board Chair, Duncan Tatton-Brown.
The company also announced that Sarah Gordon Wild and Wendy Becker will retire from the Board with effect from today and after the AGM in 2024, respectively.
About Dr. Sarah Fortune
As a Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Dr. Sarah Fortune brings deep expertise in genomic diagnostics and multi-omics approaches to infectious disease, including at the intersection of human genetics. Her world-leading research has focused on understanding how Tuberculosis mutates to become drug resistant using a combination of single-cell, genetic, and genomic approaches, including nanopore sequencing. In 2019, she led one of three labs awarded funding by the US National Institutes of Health to establish a new center for immunology research to accelerate progress in TB vaccine development – work that remains ongoing. Oxford Nanopore will draw on Sarah’s rich experience as the company seeks to develop more sequencing-based applications in the clinical space, including its first sequencing-based test for drug-resistant TB.
Dr. Fortune said: “Oxford Nanopore’s technology is best-in-class – beautiful, high-performing and unique in its distributed model. I’m excited to contribute by helping the company achieve its vision of distributed sequencing, both in resource-limited locations and across hospitals and other healthcare settings. This is a complex opportunity that will require engagement from multiple stakeholder groups, and I also look forward to supporting the company by applying my passion for bringing people together across disciplines to enable Oxford Nanopore’s ambitious clinical vision.”
Dr. Sarah Fortune holds a Doctor of Medicine from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Yale University.
About Dr. Heather Preston
Dr. Heather Preston joins the board at a time when Oxford Nanopore’s platform and its latest Q20+ chemistry have delivered profound developments in system performance, including accuracy and data yield, positioning it for ambitious growth. She brings more than 30 years of experience in healthcare, as a scientist, physician, McKinsey management consultant, and long-time investor in biotech and the life sciences, most recently as a Managing Partner of Pivotal BioVentures based in San Francisco. She has been a director of more than 18 private and public technology-based healthcare companies, where she was involved in designing and implementing effective scaling strategies. Oxford Nanopore will draw on her expertise as it looks to deliver long-term growth and shareholder value. Heather currently sits on the Boards of Oxford Biomedica plc, Oxford Science Enterprises plc, and Azura Ophthalmics.
Dr. Preston said: “This is an exciting time in Oxford Nanopore’s growth journey. The company has done a phenomenal job in establishing the technology in the genomics research market and is now at the point of being able to scale in a significant way. I look forward to contributing to this next phase by offering a strategic sounding board to support the company’s decision-making, prioritisation and identification of the most effective ways to grow and deliver value.”
Dr. Heather Preston holds a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School at the University of London.
SOURCE: https://nanoporetech.com/
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