Overview
This panel will examine how breakthroughs in precision medicine, artificial intelligence, genomics, immunology and digital health could prevent or better manage age-related disease, improve quality of life and support healthier ageing. The conversation will address the opportunities and challenges of extending working lives through healthcare innovation, including equitable access to new technologies, workforce implications, ethical considerations and the economic impact on individuals, employers and healthcare systems.
Speakers
- Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu (Chair)
Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu DBE FMedSci HonFRSC is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, a governor on the Wellcome board (one of the largest biomedical sciences research charities in the world), a member of the Academy of Medical Sciences Council and Chief Scientific Officer of Nanomerics Ltd. In 2024, Ijeoma was installed as President of Wolfson College, having been elected to the position in November 2023. She has served as Chair of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences and chaired EPSRC and Science Foundation Ireland grant prioritisation panels. She served as the UCL Provost's Envoy for Race Equality, a role in which she led on race equality work at UCL. Her initiatives (e.g. Dean’s Pledges on Race Equality) were instrumental in achieving UCL's Bronze Race Charter in 2020. She has also presented to the UK House of Commons on the educational racial disparities that lead to a lack of ethnic minority representation in scientific research.
Ijeoma has studied the mechanisms of drug transport across biological barriers and created transformational drug transport nanoparticles. She was the first to show that peptides could be delivered across the blood brain barrier to elicit a pharmacological response, when presented as peptide drug nanofibers and the first to demonstrate, via definitive pharmacology and pharmacokinetics evidence, peptide transport into the brain, using peptide nanoparticles delivered via the nose to brain route. These findings led to the enkephalin pain medicine candidate Envelta™, which was designed to address the opioid crisis. The technology underpinning Envelta™ won first prize in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Emerging Technologies competition in 2017 and the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences Science Innovation Award in 2016.
- Dr Jason Mellad
Dr Jason Mellad is a scientist and entrepreneur, passionate about translating innovative technologies into better patient outcomes. As CEO and Co-Founder of Start Codon, a UK-based accelerator, he aims to discover the most disruptive life science, BioTech and healthcare founders and help them translate their innovations into successful ventures. This is achieved through a combination of seed funding and a bespoke venture-building programme, which taps into the exceptional resources of the Cambridge cluster as well as the global network and knowledge of Jason and the Start Codon team. Previously, he was CEO of Cambridge Epigenetix (now Biomodal) and Business Development Manager for Horizon Discovery’s diagnostics division. He also served as an associate for Cambridge Enterprise, the technology transfer office of the University of Cambridge.
Originally from Louisiana, Jason was awarded a Marshall Scholarship to complete his PhD in Medicine at the University of Cambridge (Clare College) after graduating Summa Cum Laude from Tulane University with a BSc in Molecular Biology and Chemistry. He is also a visiting Fellow at Jesus College, Cambridge, and lives in Cambridge with his husband and sons.
- Linia Zambezi
Linia Zambezi is Founder and CEO of Afromics, a genomics company building the research and data infrastructure needed to make precision medicine more inclusive. Her work focuses on harnessing genomic and clinical data to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, particularly for populations historically underrepresented in biomedical research. By expanding access to high-quality genomic evidence, she aims to ensure that advances in precision medicine improve health outcomes globally, reduce health inequalities, and enable more people to live longer, healthier and more productive lives.
- Dr Mariarosa Mazza
Dr Mariarosa Mazza is an experienced Senior Researcher with a demonstrated history of working in the pharmaceuticals industry. She is skilled in oligonicleotide formulation, advanced drug delivery, and Drug Discovery, project management, team coaching and development. She has a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery from UCL School of Pharmacy.
- Max Bautin (TBC)
Max Bautin is Co-Founder and Managing Partner at IQ Capital. With over 25 years of experience in deep tech, Max brings experience in embedded software/AI, advanced engineering, energy transition and other verticals. He currently works with Thought Machine, Nyobolt, M-Qube, AccelerComm, QuadSAT, IONATE, Trogenix, and Virti. His previous board roles include Grapeshot (Oracle), Audio Analytic (Meta), Spectral Edge (Apple), Phonetic Arts (Google), Phonetic Arts (Google), Neul (Huawei), Stillfront (NASDAQ).
Max began his career in a start-up mobile operator, which he helped to grow to scale and exit. After his MBA in 2000, Max managed a seed fund investing in over 30 deep tech companies in Cambridge, before co-founding IQ Capital in 2005. He has worked with Invest Europe for a decade and continues to be actively contributing to the European deep tech ecosystem through multiple organisations, conferences, and founder mentoring.
Details
This event forms part of the University of Cambridge and Wolfson College’s annual Alumni Weekend, but is open to everyone, including those not attending Alumni Weekend. It is free to attend and there is no need to book.
Access
This event will take place in the Lee Hall which has step-free access and an accessible toilet.
Contact
If you have any questions, please contact our events team - events@wolfson.cam.ac.uk
Wolfson College Research Networks
The Wolfson College Research Networks are the College’s central hub for research activity, fostering excellence in learning, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Organising and curating a diverse programme of academic events, the Research Networks support the College’s research hubs and initiatives, and facilitates knowledge exchange by connecting scholars across disciplines within Wolfson, the wider University, and industry.
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