EpilepsyGTx
This UCL Ventures spinout focuses on cutting-edge treatments for focal refractory epilepsy.
EpilepsyGTx is a late preclinical-stage biotech, developing cutting-edge gene therapies that will transform the management of focal refractory epilepsy (FRE).
The spinout's goal is to make patients with FRE seizure-free.
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases, affecting over 50 million people worldwide (WHO). Focal epilepsy is a group of disorders in which patients experience seizures that arise from a specific part of the brain, while refractory epilepsy occurs when seizures persist despite trials of at least two tolerated and appropriately chosen antiseizure treatments.
Approximately one in five patients with epilepsy has focal refractory epilepsy.
The mortality in people with refractory epilepsy is four times higher than in the general population. In the UK alone, approximately 1,000 epilepsy-related deaths are recorded each year. The hallmark symptom of FRE is recurrent and unpredictable seizures, which can cause injury and become life-threatening.
People with epilepsy often struggle with anxiety, depression, and the social stigma associated with their disease, and their professional life is severely restricted.
The EpilepsyGTx journey so far:
- 2024: EpilepsyGTx raised $10 million seed funding
- 2025: A $33 million Series A followed in 2025
Our people
Hussein Kanji
Board of Directors
Founder and partner at Hoxton Ventures, Hussein brings tech investing, Microsoft and Silicon Valley startup experience to the Board. He holds an MBA from London Business School.
Ioannis Takkides
Analyst
Ioannis joined us as an Analyst in January 2026. He previously worked in data management for a disease forecasting company in London. He holds an MSc in Cancer and Molecular Biology from Queen Mary
University of London, where his dissertation examined the relationship between prostate cancer and diabetes.
Outside of work, Ioannis enjoys singing, hiking in nature and practising yoga.
Jessica Bolton-Murray
Head of Project Management
Jess joined the Project Management team in 2018. She previously worked as a project manager in neonatal care for the NHS, working on quality improvement for all units in London, and with parents of
premature children. Prior to this Jess was a scientific researcher in carbon monoxide poisoning at Cranfield Defence and Security, working on a population impact study.
She has a BSc (Hons) in biological anthropology from the University of Kent, an MSc in forensic anthropology from Cranfield University, and is a PRINCE2 and AgilePM qualified project manager.
Jessica Yuille
Board of Directors
Jessica is currently Executive Director of Strategic Finance at UCL, working in a job share with Stephen Glover. Together, they lead key financial functions including Financial Planning & Analysis,
Finance Business Partnering, Management Accounting, and Investment and Treasury Management. Prior to this, they headed UCL’s Financial Planning & Analysis Directorate.
Before joining UCL in 2022, she and Stephen were Senior Civil Servants at the Department for Work and Pensions, where they held joint leadership roles in Strategic Finance, Governance and Finance Business Partnering. Jessica has held senior roles across several Government Departments, with experience spanning Private Office, and Policy.
Jill Freestone
Director of People Services Manager
Jill is a senior HR leader with 20+ years of global experience. She combines strategic clarity with a hands-on approach, to deliver people strategies to strengthen cultures and support transformation.
Joy-Anne Best
Accountant
Joy-Anne has overall responsibility for project accounting. Prior to joining UCL Ventures in 2020, she worked in the banking industry for approximately eight years. She is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Kathryn Walsh
Board of Directors
Dr. Walsh leads UCL Innovation & Enterprise, with experience in innovation policy, enterprise funding and industrial research. She holds a PhD in Physics from King’s College London.
Katy Bruce
Chief Financial Officer
Katy has 18 years’ experience in accountancy public practice, and is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (qualifying in audit and tax). She has a successful track record in
financial leadership, holding the role of Head of Finance at Oxford University Innovation (OUI) from 2017 to 2022, having previously been Partner at an Oxford accountancy practice.
Prior to entering the world of technology transfer, Katy specialised in corporate finance lead advisory services advising early-stage and owner-managed businesses on mergers and acquisitions, and debt and equity fundraising.
Kellie Fernandez
IP Officer
Kellie supports the management of the intellectual property portfolio at UCL Ventures, working directly with the Intellectual Property Manager as well as the Business Managers. She is primarily
responsible for administration related to the intellectual property portfolio, such as maintaining accurate and detailed records as well ensuring required formality documentation is completed.
Prior to joining UCL Ventures in 2022, Kellie completed a Bachelor of Laws degree at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia. Since moving to the UK she has previously been working as an insurance claims coordinator for a large group of transit and removal companies.
Team
Professor Dimitri Kullman
Chief Scientific Officer; Scientific Founder
He is part of the Queen Square Institute of Neurology.
Professor Stephanie Schorge
Scientific Founder
Stephanie is the Sophia Jex-Blake Professor of Neuroscience at UCL and the Head of the Research Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology (NPP). She has been at UCL since 1999.
Prof Matthew Walker (UCL Institute of Neurology)
Prof Gabriele Liagnani (UCL Institute of Neurology)
Dr. Caitriona O'Rourke (Away from office)
Senior Business Manager
Dr O’Rourke joined us in 2018, having worked as a research associate within UCL on several diverse life science / pharmaceutical research projects covering the areas of tissue engineering, drug
delivery, regenerative medicine, biomaterials and stem cell biology.
Caitriona holds a PhD in tissue engineering from the Open University and a MSc in neuropharmacology from the National University of Galway, Ireland.