Download 14MG-Website-Content-Draft-v2-2014-11-10

14M Genomics Website
About 14M Genomics & Our Mission
About 14M Genomics
14M Genomics is a new cancer diagnostic company, based in Cambridge UK and working in
partnership with the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, to enrich the understanding of the role of
cancer genes in the biology of disease.
We employ state-of-the-art sequencing and analytical tools, coupled with an in-depth understanding
of cancer biology, to reveal associations between tumour genomics and the clinical path of the
individual patients. Our processes will generate linked genomic and clinical datasets that will
provide a reference enabling the diagnostic and prognostic stratification of patients and ultimately
guide treatment options for the oncologist and patient alike.
Our mission
To become the European Leader in the provision of clinical genomics services and decision support
tools, that inform the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cancer. We aim to work together with
the oncology community, pharmaceutical partners and academic institutes to improve the lives of
cancer patients.
Cancer Biology/Our Approach
Globally, there are 14 million new cancer diagnoses a year, highlighting the need for better
treatments in this field. Changes to our cellular DNA during life, result in genetic alterations known
as somatic mutations or variants. These changes can initiate and drive the emergence and
progression of tumours.
Research performed by our founders, at the Sanger Institute Cancer Genome Project and other
leading centres, has identified many of the causal, disease-driving genetic changes and
demonstrated the significant role that genetics plays in cancer biology.
We are working in collaboration with the Sanger Institute and leading clinical research centres to
determine the role of somatic variants in cancer genes in both solid and liquid tumours. This
knowledge will enable us to develop clinical diagnotstic tools to improve the diagnosis, treatment
and outcomes of patients affected by these diseases.
Our Team
Founders
Professor Sir Michael Stratton PhD, FRS
Mike Stratton is Director of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. He qualified in medicine at
Oxford University and Guy’s Hospital, trained as a histopathologist and obtained a PhD in the
molecular biology of cancer at the Institute of Cancer Research, London. His primary research
interests have been in the genetics of cancer. His early research focused on inherited
susceptibility. He mapped and identified the major high risk breast cancer susceptibility gene
BRCA2 and subsequently a series of moderate risk breast cancer and other cancer susceptibility
genes. In 2000 he initiated the Cancer Genome Project at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
which conducts systematic genome-wide searches for somatic mutations in human cancer.
Through these studies he discovered somatic mutations of the BRAF gene in malignant
melanoma and several other mutated cancer genes in lung, renal, breast and other cancers. He has
described the basic patterns of somatic mutation in cancer genomes revealing underlying DNA
mutational and repair processes. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) and was knighted by
the Queen in 2013.
Peter Campbell MD, PhD
Peter Campbell is Head of Cancer Genetics and Genomics at the Wellcome Trust Sanger
Institute, having started a Wellcome Trust Senior Clinical Fellowship in 2010. He completed
specialist training in Haematology in 2002. Following this, he completed a PhD at the University
of Cambridge in the molecular pathogenesis and clinical management of myeloproliferative
disorders. Since 2007, Dr Campbell has been employed at the Cancer Genome Project,
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. In 2010, he was awarded the CR-UK Future Leaders in Cancer
Research Prize. His major interest is cancer genomics, and his recent research has been
concentrated on the implementation of next generation sequencing technologies for the detection
of somatically acquired genetic variants in tumour samples. One major aspiration is to develop
translational applications of high-throughput genomic screening for the care of patients with
cancer.
Ultan McDermott MD, PhD
Ultan McDermott is a clinician scientist with an interest in cancer genomes and how they impact
on drug response in the clinic. He is a Group Leader in the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute as
well as a practicing Oncologist at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. He trained as a
medical oncologist and obtained a PhD in cancer biology at Queen's University, Belfast. He was
accepted for a post-doctoral research position at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts
General Hospital in 2005, where he established a high-throughput cancer cell line drug screen to
identify genomic alterations that could be used in the clinic to stratify patients for treatment. He
joined the Sanger Institute in 2009 as a clinical research fellow and was appointed to the faculty
as a junior Group Leader in 2010 with the award of a Cancer Research UK fellowship. He was
made a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 2011.
Leadership Team
Andrew Sandham, Chairman & Acting CEO
Andrew is a Partner of Syncona Partners LLP. Previously he was a co-founder, Chairman and CEO of
Kymab. He has played a key role in building successful businesses in pharmaceutical discovery and
development in Europe and the USA, serving as a founder and executive of Cantab Pharmaceuticals,
Hexagen, Signature BioScience and Ionix Pharmaceuticals. He has also served as non-executive
Chairman of Syntaxin and Novacta Biosystems, non-executive director of Synosia and was a venture
partner with Abingworth LLP. Andrew is currently also Chairman of Bicycle Therapeutics, a nonexecutive director of PBL and serves on the Cambridge Enterprise Seed Funds Investment
Committee. He holds a degree in Chemistry from University of East Anglia and a Diploma in
Marketing from Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Dr Philip Beer, Director of Medical Genomics
Philip studied medicine at the University of Nottingham, and undertook his specialist training in
haematology at the Imperial College hospitals, London. He was awarded a PhD by Queens' College
Cambridge in 2009, based on work with Tony Green's group investigating genotype-phenotype
correlations in haematological cancers. Following a year as a Clinical Lecturer in Cambridge, Philip
spent 4 years with the group of Connie Eaves at the Terry Fox Laboratory in Vancouver, Canada. His
research during this period was focussed on understanding how leukaemia is initiated and
propagated in human blood cells
Collaborations
14MGs aim is to build clinical genomics services and decision support tools across the major tumour
sites. For this we need to work with the best clinical groups in the UK and Europe. We are seeking
academic and pharmaceutical company collaborators with access to clinical studies in the major
haematological and solid cancers, where consent is in place for conduct of genomic analysis. We
work with our collaborators to generate linked diagnostic and outcomes clinical data with underlying
genetic drivers of disease, to serve as reference tools for at-diagnosis prognostic and treatment
decision guidance.
Investors
14M Genomics is a spin-out of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. The company is financed
through an equity investment of Syncona Partners, an evergreen investment company that is an
independent subsidiary of the Wellcome Trust. Syncona Partners was founded in 2012 with an
initial £200m capitalisation and committed a £12 million Series A financing of 14M Genomics in
October 2014. Syncona Partners has the resources and vision to support the 14M Genomic board
and management in building a substantial long term European cancer genomics diagnostic business.
News
Series A fundraising (wording from press release)
Careers
We provide extraordinary career opportunities for talented individuals, who will have the
opportunity to work with highly experienced leaders in science and business with proven track
records in building successful genomic and diagnostic businesses. Our success depends on the
quality, experience and ambition of the individuals that join our team.
Current opportunities
We are seeking talented cancer scientists, bioinformaticians and a biostatistician to join our start-up
team.
If you do not see a suitable position for your skills and experience today, please check back again
soon. We have the financial resources and projected growth that will mean rapid expansion as we
build our biopharmaceutical research and development capability.
Life at 14M Genomics
At 14M Genomics, you will enjoy a flexible and dynamic working environment that fosters creativity,
leadership and teamwork. We offer benefits that include:





competitive salaries
performance-related bonuses
generous stock options
excellent medical cover
life insurance
14M Genomics is an equal opportunity employer committed to a culturally diverse team.
Our Location
14M Genomics is located on the attractive Wellcome Trust Genome Campus near Cambridge.
The Campus is close to other leading academic institutions:




The University of Cambridge
Addenbrooke’s Hospital
The Babraham Research Campus
The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
If you are interested in a career in the clinical applications of cancer genomics please contact us at
[email protected].
Contacts
Feel free to contact us using the following details:Paula Barnes, Office Manager
[email protected]
14M Genomics Ltd
Wellcome Trust Genome Campus
Hinxton
Cambridge
CB10 1SA