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
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
Aliciais responsible for drafting, reviewing and negotiating confidentiality agreements, assignment agreements, revenue sharing agreements and inter-institutional agreements.
Jessica Bolton-Murray
Head of Project Management
Jess was previously a Project Manager in neonatal care for the NHS and a scientific researcher at Cranfield Defence and Security. She is a PRINCE2 and AgilePM qualified project manager.
Lucy Tuffin (Away from office)
Digital Marketing & Communications Executive
Lucy has a degree in Business Management, as well as experience in marketing and PR-focused roles. She is responsible for our digital marketing efforts, overseeing the website and social channels.
Rachel Clark
IP Manager
Rachel is responsible for managing our IP portfolio, and provides advice and support on IP matters. She has worked in various IP-related and business development roles at other universities.
Emma Alam
Head of Marketing
Emma oversees our marketing strategy across brand management, digital transformation, events, and engagement. She is a Chartered Marketer (CIM) with a degree in marketing.
Renata Tarnowska
Senior Accountant
Renata has been with us for 20 years. She is a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians and a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Elizabeth Parker
Financial Controller
Before joinng us, Elizabeth worked at KPMG, working on audit, to risk and investment management. She is a qualified accountant and holds the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment Diploma.
Eileen McQuillan
Executive Assistant
Eileen has extensive experience supporting senior leadership, with a reputation for reliability, discretion, and meticulous attention to detail, supporting our CEO.
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.