Early in her clinical career, Ishani Malhotra diagnosed a young boy with cancer, knowing the treatment he needed wouldn’t reach the market in time. This moment ignited her mission to accelerate drug development, ensuring patients wouldn’t have to wait years for life-saving therapies.
Driven by her passion and research in regenerative medicine, Carcinotech was born in 2018 with a clear purpose: to create hyper-relevant cancer models that transform the speed and precision of therapeutic testing.
We are proud to call Edinburgh home — a city synonymous with innovation.
With strong ties to The University of Edinburgh and a strategic base at their renowned Roslin Innovation Centre, were able to tap into a highly specialized talent pool, access cutting-edge lab facilities, and be a member of a vibrant hub for knowledge exchange. This unique environment fuels our ability to bring our pioneering cancer models to the forefront of drug development.
Ishani is a distinguished industry expert with over ten years of experience in oncology, stem cell science, and bioengineering. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Edinburgh and a Certificate of Achievement from Harvard Medical School. Her extensive commercial background includes roles at Censo Biotechnologies, HCG Oncology Hospitals, the Institute of Cytology and Preventative Oncology, and Stempeutics, before founding Carcinotech in 2018.
Under Ishani's leadership, Carcinotech has successfully developed and commercialized its Carcino3D™ technology. The company has forged collaborations with a diverse range of pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and CROs, helping them accelerate drug development processes.
Ishani is rapidly gaining recognition as a leader in the field. She has presented at scientific events, advocating for more ethical and relevant drug discovery and development models to global audiences. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including “Woman Entrepreneur of the Year” by Cancer Research Horizons at the 2024 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Awards.
MSc Regenerative Medicine, Harvard Medical School Cancer Genetics Certification of Achievement, BSc Biotechnology
Albert is a highly accomplished business leader with a deep knowledge of delivering and advising on global operations across the healthcare sector.
Strategically focused, his strengths lie in delivering significant quantifiable and often transformational improvements, restructuring operations, and developing and engaging high-calibre personnel to ensure continuous growth, competitive superiority and profit maximisation.
Albert brings extensive experience to Carcinotech, having served as Director of Global Orthopaedics at Stryker and Managing Director at Orthofix.
Albert is a mentor and advisor to early-stage MedTech and life sciences companies and collaborates with support organizations such as Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Edge, and EIE.
Ian is a seasoned leader with over 35 years of experience in project, line, and matrix management within the pharmaceutical industry.
With a broad expertise spanning all stages of modern drug discovery, Ian has successfully managed and inspired large discovery-focused teams in both cardiovascular and oncology research at AstraZeneca.
In a unique academic setting, Ian led a team that secured licensing deals with prominent organizations, including 6th Element Capital, AstraZeneca, GSK, IDEAYA, and HitGen.
Ian also brings extensive experience from the CRO environment, having served as Chief Scientific Officer for early discovery at Charles River Laboratories, based at Chesterford Research Park. Simultaneously, he held the role of Executive Director of Biology, leading a global team of over 350 biologists across five sites in three countries.
Lorna is the Chief Scientific Officer of Emulate, a leading Organ-Chip US-based biotechnology company. In this role, she provides strategic guidance and oversight of the scientific vision, partners with government agencies to achieve regulatory acceptance and collaborates with key customers to advance adoption of organ-on-a-chip technology.
Prior to Emulate, she spent 20 years at AstraZeneca where she successfully established and led the Microphysiological Systems Centre of Excellence within the R&D Biopharmaceuticals Unit. During her AstraZeneca tenure, Lorna worked within multidisciplinary teams rotating through different roles and of increasing responsibility in discovery bioscience and safety assessment, spanning target identification through to candidate drug nomination. Lorna’s education is anchored in pharmacology receiving her PhD from Queen Mary University of London and her undergraduate degree from Aberdeen University.
Lorna brings a wealth of experience as Chief Financial Officer, with deep expertise in financial leadership and corporate strategy. She has a proven track record of delivering strong results from both strategic and operational perspectives, particularly in early-stage, high-growth life science companies.
Before joining Carcinotech, Lorna led the financial and HR functions at Resolution Therapeutics during a period of substantial growth. Her background includes participating in an IPO, fundraising, and managing over £40 million in investments across therapeutics companies and contract research organizations in the life sciences sector.
FCCA (Fellow Chartered and Certified Accountant)
As Head of Operations, Liam leads the scientific department and is responsible for various functions, including recruitment and staff development, facilities management, expansion planning, and client project management.
Prior to joining Carcinotech, Liam gained valuable experience at early-stage CMOs and CROs, serving as a project manager at Censo Biotechnologies and as a GMP production scientist at RoslinCT. In addition to operational oversight, Liam plays a crucial role in strategic planning and process improvement, driving the company’s growth and enhancing its service delivery.
BSc Biological Sciences (Cell & Molecular Biology)
With fourteen years of diverse commercial experience spanning healthcare, technology, and life sciences, Rachel brings a wealth of expertise in business development strategy and demand generation. She holds a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Sheffield, specializing in Biomaterial Science and Tissue Engineering. As part of her studies, her final year project focused on developing a 3D in vitro model for irritancy testing as an alternative to animal testing.
Rachel has a proven track record in scaling startups, having been an integral member of Current Health, which was acquired in 2021 in the second-largest digital health exit in European history.
M.Eng Biomaterial Science and Tissue Engineering
With a proven track record as a high-impact business development manager and extensive scientific expertise in 3D tissue engineering, Minu is focused on expanding Carcinotech's pharmaceutical, CRO, and biotech customer base.
A graduate of the Medical University of Vienna, Minu earned her PhD in 3D Organ Models, with her research featured on the cover of the Journal of Tissue Engineering. Following her academic achievements, she gained significant commercial experience in the life sciences sector through roles application specialist and sales roles.
PhD 3D Organ Models, MSc Biomedical Sciences
Stephen obtained a first-class degree from the University of Strathclyde Business School in Business, Management, Marketing, and Enterprise. This four-year program saw him develop in-depth skills and acumen in marketing communications, analytics, and strategic planning.
Since joining Carcinotech in 2022, Stephen has played a pivotal role in supporting the company's growth. Specifically, he collaborates closely with the leadership team on critical tasks to inform business strategy, including market analysis, and has developed comprehensive communication campaigns for investors and clients. He also leads event planning & management, public relations, and social media strategy.
Additionally, Stephen plays an integral role in marketing operations and has successfully implemented the essential infrastructure needed to scale marketing efforts.
BA Business, Management, Marketing and Enterprise
Phoebe joins the company with exceptional skills in communication, organization, and customer service.
Her responsibilities include working with suppliers, supporting financial operations, managing our CEO's diary, coordinating meetings, making travel arrangements, and handling various ad hoc activities. Additionally, she conducts research, prepares documents, and helps maintain client relationships, all of which contribute to the smooth running of the company.
Kamila brings over 11 years of scientific research experience to Carcinotech, with a diverse expertise that spans multiple disciplines, including precision medicine, cancer research, immunology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics.
Kamila completed her PhD in Precision Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, where her research focused on establishing proteogenomic platforms to identify neoantigens in various tumor models for creation of cancer vaccines.
At Carcinotech, Kamila leads the full lifecycle of client projects, overseeing everything from study design and project management to project execution and report delivery. Additionally, she is responsible for spearheading internal R&D initiatives and presenting primary data at leading scientific conferences, showcasing Carcinotech's commitment to advancing the field of cancer research.
PhD MRC Precision Medicine DTP, MSc Medical Biotechnology, BSc Medical Biotechnology
Vanya is a neuroscience and imaging specialist with over 8 years of research gained in academia.
She completed her PhD at the University of St Andrews where her work focused on metabolic dysfunction in disease and neuroinflammation. She then specialized in microscopy and multiplex platform development for in vitro drug testing, utilizing molecular, genetic, and optical methodologies.
Her strong track record of innovation, collaboration, and utilizing different model systems to study disease mechanisms prepared her for the position of Senior Scientist at Carcinotech, where she contributes to client projects and facilitates the advancement of Carcinotech’s technology.
PhD Neurobiology, BSc (Hons) Neuroscience
Ben studied microbiology at Queen's University Belfast, through which he gained experience during an integrated year at the industry giant Medtronic. After graduating, Ben worked within a strict GMP environment at Valneva, where he gained invaluable experience in vaccine manufacturing performing across a range of large scale industry processes, notably cell culture. His adaptability and competence in working under aseptic conditions, along with his ability to manage tight deadlines and long hours, have made him a skilled technician. At Carcinotech, Ben applies his expertise in cell culture and assay preparation to support client projects. His proficiency in handling high volumes of lab work to the highest standards enables the company to operate efficiently at larger scales, ensuring the timely completion of client work.
BSc Microbiology
Michaela is a highly skilled biochemist with over 10 years of experience in scientific research. She began her career at the University of Regensburg in Germany, where she focused on cancer progression and metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer.
During her PhD in Genetics and Molecular Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, she gained expertise in advanced imaging techniques, including transmission electron microscopy, confocal microscopy, 3D imaging, and live imaging. Michaela applied these methods to investigate morphogenic changes and disease mechanisms in 3D liver organoids and tissue samples.
At Carcinotech, Michaela leads the quality control process for 3D bioprinted tumors derived from patient tissue, utilizing advanced staining techniques and cutting-edge 3D imaging to ensure accuracy and reliability. She also drives R&D initiatives to enhance the company’s imaging capabilities, including the implementation of AI-based analysis. Throughout her career, Michaela has received several prestigious awards, including recognition from the Medical Research Council and Cancer Research UK, underscoring her contributions to the field of cancer research.
PhD Genetics and Molecular Medicine, MSc Biochemistry, BSc Biochemistry
James has a strong background in pharmacology and tissue engineering, offering deep expertise in in vitro modeling and bioengineering techniques to enhance pre-clinical models.
After completing his Master’s degree at Cardiff University, James worked as a research scientist at The Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, where he gained valuable experience with a variety of molecular techniques.
At Carcinotech, James will leverage his knowledge and hands-on technical expertise to enhance the company’s imaging capabilities and support ongoing client projects.
MSc Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, BSc Biomedical Science and Pharmacology
Following the completion of her PhD in Pharmacology from The University of Edinburgh in 2021, Olivia joined Resolution Therapeutics during a period of significant growth for the biotech startup. At Resolution, Olivia undertook a diverse range of responsibilities to support the development of the company’s cell therapy product. Her contributions included pre-clinical study design, data preparation, project management, laboratory design and setup, vendor and budget management, and staff training.
Through her experience in academia and industry, Olivia has developed expertise in areas such as animal modeling and advanced analytical techniques, including flow cytometry, ELISAs, RT-qPCR, primary cell culture, and image analysis.
At Carcinotech, Olivia is a key member of our Scientific Imaging Team, performing advanced immunofluorescent imaging and conducting in-depth data analysis of our tumor models. She also plays a vital role in driving the ongoing development and innovation of Carcinotech's product pipeline.
PhD Pharmacolog, BSc Pharmacology
Ben is responsible for developing and culturing Carcinotech’s innovative tumor models and supporting assay services. He holds an MScR in Biomedical Science from the University of Edinburgh, where he developed significant expertise in cancer stem cells, cancer plasticity, and 2D and 3D tissue culture of glioblastoma and colorectal cancer. He also earned his undergraduate degree in Genetics from the University of Glasgow, focusing on cancer metastasis in colorectal cancer.
With hands-on experience in advanced scientific techniques such as single-cell RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, and CRISPR, Ben plays a key role in advancing Carcinotech’s scientific capabilities.
MScR Biomedical Science, BSc Genetics
Dr. Ashok Srivastava is the Chief Medical Officer of Trans Atlantic Therapeutics Oncology and previously served as the Chief Medical Officer of CareBeyond, a radiation therapy cancer center based in New Jersey, USA. He has over 15 years of experience in drug development, medical affairs, and the commercialization of cancer drugs, including radiopharmaceuticals and supportive care.
His expertise encompasses all phases of clinical trials (I-IV) as well as the marketing and commercialization of hematology, oncology, and radiopharmaceutical drugs in the USA, EU, and Japan. Recognized as a leader in cancer drug development worldwide, he has managed large and complex Phase 3 clinical trials across multiple countries.
Dr. Srivastava received his clinical and medical training at renowned medical centers and pharmaceutical institutions globally, including the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and Medical Center, Dachi, Sumitomo, Pharmacia, Pfizer, Eisai Oncology, and Spectrum Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Chee Gee See has over 30 years of frontline R&D experience, covering all aspects from post-doctoral researcher in the Human Genome Mapping Project to pioneering innovative genomic technologies for pharmaceutical R&D. He has served as a clinical scientist and translational medicine leader in big pharma, championing clinical drug development in oncology precision medicine.
Dr. Nikki March is a skilled molecular and cell biologist with over 21 years of experience in oncology and extensive expertise in molecular signaling, signal transduction pathways, and drug discovery. Her work focuses on target validation, identifying potential oncology targets, and applying molecular and cellular biology approaches in oncology drug discovery. She currently serves as the Senior Director of Scientific Affairs at Cumulus Oncology.
Professor Andrew Biankin is the Regius Chair of Surgery at the University of Glasgow, a Cancer Research UK Clinician Scientist, a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator, and a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Academy of Medical Sciences. He is the Director of the Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, which focuses on precision oncology, and he established and directs the Glasgow Precision Oncology Laboratory. He holds leadership roles in national and international consortia for cancer genomics and therapeutic development, including serving as Chair of Precision-Panc and Executive Director of the International Cancer Genome Consortium. He has authored over 200 articles in major journals, including seminal works on cancer, genomics, and precision medicine.
