Core team
Mark Hammond
Founding Director
Mark started his career with a PhD in Neuropharmacology and Artificial Intelligence working on better models for the development of epilepsy and neurodegeneration therapeutics, he then worked in cleantech venture before going on to build out Imperial College’s deep-tech start-up accelerator and academic spin-out ecosystem, facilitating several exits to the major tech companies before leaving to start DSV in 2016.
Mark Hammond
Founding Director
Mark started his career with a PhD in Neuropharmacology and Artificial Intelligence working on better models for the development of epilepsy and neurodegeneration therapeutics, he then worked in cleantech venture before going on to build out Imperial College’s deep-tech start-up accelerator and academic spin-out ecosystem, facilitating several exits to the major tech companies before leaving to start DSV in 2016.
Dominic Falcão
Founding Director
Dom previously led Imperial College London’s science startup programme: worked with over 200 student companies, and supported a fraction of these to raise over £25m in funding within 3 years. Grew community 375% to 3000 scientists in 1 year. Left Imperial in 2016 to co-found DSV.
Dominic Falcão
Founding Director
Dom previously led Imperial College London’s science startup programme: worked with over 200 student companies, and supported a fraction of these to raise over £25m in funding within 3 years. Grew community 375% to 3000 scientists in 1 year. Left Imperial in 2016 to co-found DSV.
Santa Astratova
Associate Director for Talent
Santa led commercial development at an envirotech startup while completing her Masters Degree in Commerce, specialising in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. She then joined world-leading deep-tech incubator Cicada Innovations, where she was in charge of admissions and a junior business mentor. She then co-developed and managed what has now become the most successful medtech commercialisation training program in Australia before joining DSV to lead creation of brand new founding teams and first hires.
Santa Astratova
Associate Director for Talent
Santa led commercial development at an envirotech startup while completing her Masters Degree in Commerce, specialising in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. She then joined world-leading deep-tech incubator Cicada Innovations, where she was in charge of admissions and a junior business mentor. She then co-developed and managed what has now become the most successful medtech commercialisation training program in Australia before joining DSV to lead creation of brand new founding teams and first hires.
Edward Perello
Associate Director for Agriculture
Eddy holds a BSc in Bioveterinary Science from London’s Royal Veterinary College and an MPhil in Bioscience Enterprise from the University of Cambridge. He formerly co-founded Desktop Genetics, a provider of CRISPR genome editing tools and in 2017 he was listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30. In addition to developing science companies to transform the way humans produce and consume food at DSV, Eddy also serves on the IUCN Synthetic Biology Taskforce.
Edward Perello
Associate Director for Agriculture
Eddy holds a BSc in Bioveterinary Science from London’s Royal Veterinary College and an MPhil in Bioscience Enterprise from the University of Cambridge. He formerly co-founded Desktop Genetics, a provider of CRISPR genome editing tools and in 2017 he was listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30. In addition to developing science companies to transform the way humans produce and consume food at DSV, Eddy also serves on the IUCN Synthetic Biology Taskforce.
Kerstin Papenfuss
Associate Director for Therapeutics
Kerstin started her PhD at German Cancer Research Centre and then moved to a lab at Imperial College to work on novel treatment options within the field of tumour immunology. She since has spent almost ten years in leadership roles at impact-driven organisations advancing medicine and therapeutics, while also securing an executive MBA and a women in business award. Before joining DSV to develop science companies designing more effective personalised therapies, Kerstin was transforming ideas for cutting edge cell and gene therapies into investable propositions at UK’s Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult.
Kerstin Papenfuss
Associate Director for Therapeutics
Kerstin started her PhD at German Cancer Research Centre and then moved to a lab at Imperial College to work on novel treatment options within the field of tumour immunology. She since has spent almost ten years in leadership roles at impact-driven organisations advancing medicine and therapeutics, while also securing an executive MBA and a women in business award. Before joining DSV to develop science companies designing more effective personalised therapies, Kerstin was transforming ideas for cutting edge cell and gene therapies into investable propositions at UK’s Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult.
Samuel Mensah
Scale Project Lead
Sam started his career in Artificial Intelligence and Systems Design after his BSc in Informatics, co-founding BACE Group; an AI startup in Ghana. He led the company as both its CEO and Lead Engineer for 3 years before joining DSV to lead the design of algorithms and development of systems for knowledge and talent discovery.
Samuel Mensah
Scale Project Lead
Sam started his career in Artificial Intelligence and Systems Design after his BSc in Informatics, co-founding BACE Group; an AI startup in Ghana. He led the company as both its CEO and Lead Engineer for 3 years before joining DSV to lead the design of algorithms and development of systems for knowledge and talent discovery.
Laura Fletcher
Head of Business Development and Strategic Alliances in Therapeutics
Prior to joining DSV, Laura was Associate Director of Cancer Research UK’s Commercial Partnerships team, heading the Strategic Alliances function which drives the charity’s strategic drug discovery and platform relationships with a range of commercial partners. Her other experience at CRUK and Cancer Research Technology over 14 years included transacting a wide range of significant license, collaboration and spin out deals. She holds a 1st class degree in Biochemistry and a PhD in cell signalling from the University of Bristol and has additionally worked in academic and commercial research roles in the US and the UK.
Laura Fletcher
Head of Business Development and Strategic Alliances in Therapeutics
Prior to joining DSV, Laura was Associate Director of Cancer Research UK’s Commercial Partnerships team, heading the Strategic Alliances function which drives the charity’s strategic drug discovery and platform relationships with a range of commercial partners. Her other experience at CRUK and Cancer Research Technology over 14 years included transacting a wide range of significant license, collaboration and spin out deals. She holds a 1st class degree in Biochemistry and a PhD in cell signalling from the University of Bristol and has additionally worked in academic and commercial research roles in the US and the UK.
Thane Campbell
Venture Science Doctorate Project Lead
Thane holds an MSc in Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a PhD in immunology where he combined enzyme kinetics, fluorescent biomarkers and a neural network API to predict immune responses, in collaboration with GSK. Within Innovation Forum his work to help PhD students commercialise their research received a knowledge transfer award, and in his first year working at Edinburgh Innovations he championed their partnership with DSV to launch Scotland’s first venture builder. At DSV Thane designs a doctoral training programme where graduates forecast their industry’s next iteration, conduct the necessary scientific research and commercialise it. Science companies created during the Venture Science Doctorate will meet societal needs in AI and complex legacy sectors like healthcare, energy and agriculture.
Thane Campbell
Venture Science Doctorate Project Lead
Thane holds an MSc in Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a PhD in immunology where he combined enzyme kinetics, fluorescent biomarkers and a neural network API to predict immune responses, in collaboration with GSK. Within Innovation Forum his work to help PhD students commercialise their research received a knowledge transfer award, and in his first year working at Edinburgh Innovations he championed their partnership with DSV to launch Scotland’s first venture builder. At DSV Thane designs a doctoral training programme where graduates forecast their industry’s next iteration, conduct the necessary scientific research and commercialise it. Science companies created during the Venture Science Doctorate will meet societal needs in AI and complex legacy sectors like healthcare, energy and agriculture.