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
Katy Bruce
Chief Financial Officer
Katy joined us from Oxford university Innovation and has 18 years’ experience in accountancy public practice. She is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (audit and tax).
Dennis Bonsu
Post Deal and Data Compliance Administrator
Dennis monitors the ongoing financial obligation of complete agreements, and to ensure that all key information is recorded and actioned appropriately post deal. He previously worked for a regulator.
Kellie Fernandez
IP Officer
Kellie is primarily responsible for administration related to our IP portfolio, such as maintaining accurate and detailed records as well ensuring required formality documentation is completed.
Naseem Staunton
Legal Counsel
A commercial contracts lawyer, Naseem has particular experience in technology transfer agreements and IP matters. She has worked in another university commercial legal team and in private practice.
Yashita Jha
Legal Counsel
Yashita is a corporate and commercial lawyer qualified to practise in England & Wales (Solicitor) and India (Advocate). She handles corporate and commercial matters and gives legal advice on spinouts.
Nomsa Mushambi
Finance Administrator
Nomsa joined the Finance Team in 2021 having previously worked for Searcys & Tansley as a Cash Controller. She worked on the purchase ledger, sales ledger, banking, petty cash and payroll.
Alexandra Martin
Associate Project Manager
Alexandra previously worked as a scientist on a Proof of Concept drug development project (small molecules), at the University of Greenwich. She has a PRINCE2 Practitioner level certification.
Joy-Anne Best
Accountant
Joy-Anne, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, has overall responsibility for project accounting. Prior to joining us, she worked in the banking industry for approx. eight years.
Alicia Woodward
Legal Affairs Officer
Alicia is responsible for drafting, reviewing and negotiating confidentiality agreements, assignment agreements, revenue sharing agreements and inter-institutional agreements.
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 has worked as a research associate on tissue engineering, drug delivery, regenerative medicine and stem cell biology. Her PhD looked at tissue engineering and her MSc in neuropharmacology