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
Billy Lam
Business Manager
Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging
Billy supports medtech, imaging and AI healthcare technologies, bringing innovation management and IP commercialisation experience suited to shaping market and translational plans.
Nathan Callcott
Associate Business Manager
Nathan supports quantum, machine learning, photonics and robotics opportunities, with experience in IP, market research and strategy. He holds a Physics master’s degree.
Dr. Celine Baron
Senior Business Manager
Electronic and Electrical Engineering - EEE
Dr. Baron brings semiconductor R&D, product marketing and business development experience in image and optical sensors. Her PhD focused on PECVD boron-doped diamond.
Dr. Will Mortimore
Senior Business Manager
Centre for Materials Research
Dr. Mortimore commercialises physical sciences IP focusing on climate tech, combining university technology transfer and international business development experience. He holds a PhD in fuel cells.
Dr. Christine Madla Angeles
Business Manager
Centre for Digital Humanities
Dr. Madla Angeles supports social ventures in health, education and sustainability, combining pharmaceutics, founder and consultancy experience. She holds a UCL PhD in Pharmaceutics.
Dr. Alberto Gatta
Business Manager
Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health - GOS ICH
Dr. Gatta supports cancer, child health and rare disease technologies, combining neuroscience, immunology, cancer biology and tech transfer experience. He holds a PhD in molecular cell biology.
Dr. Anand Patel
Associate Business Manager
Behavioural Science and Health Care
Dr. Patel supports the BioPharm portfolio, bringing industry partnership experience. He holds an MSci in Chemistry, an interdisciplinary PhD and competed in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Dr. Paolo Spingardi
Business Manager
Eastman Dental Institute
Dr. Spingardi brings industry partnership and commercialisation experience. He holds an MChem in Chemistry and a DPhil in cancer metabolomics and epigenetics from Oxford.
Viviana Mannella
Business Manager
Cell and Developmental Biology
Viviana joined UCL Ventures in 2022 and supports the BioPharm team across life sciences and healthcare research areas, helping manage relationships with UCL departments and NHS partners.
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.