I am a University of Manchester academic with a strong interest in the commercial exploitation of my research and in collaborations with industry.  

My post-doctoral research led to my founding Ai2 Ltd in 2005, and I was CEO of that company until 2009, leading the company's rapid growth over that period, and raising over £2.5m to develop the company's technology.  Over that time Ai2 worked closely with the global medical device industry and carried out over ten funded R&D projects with US and EU companies.  My work was judged North West Biotechnology Project of the Year for 2004, and Ai2 voted North West Biotechnology Start-Up of the Year 2005.  Ai2 continues to grow having recently secured its first major commercial deal with Sauflon Pharmaceuticals, and in December 2011 receiving £1.75m investment. 

In my academic work I pursue research relating to the interactions between host proteins, microbes and medical device surfaces.  I collaborate with leading research groups, clinicians and companies in the UK and in the US, and consult for several multinational device manufacturers.  

My research group - the Medical Device Biology Group - is currently supported by grants from the BBSRC, MRC, and industry.  In November 2012 one of my projects was judged the best biomedical project in the North of England for 2012 by Bionow.   To date I have raised over £1m to commercialise that work, which is being taken forward by a second spin-out company I co-founded: Microbiosensor Ltd.  

In March 2014, I was named BBSRC Commercial Innovator of the Year 2014.