Forward thinking to
reverse cell ageing

About Us

Scientific Approach

A major cause of age-related diseases is the accumulation of senescent cells in ageing tissues and organs. In vivo, the removal of senescent cells has been shown to promote tissue ‘rejuvenation’ and improve organ function. At SENISCA, we have discovered a novel, officially-recognised, and druggable means to reprogram senescent cells through modulation of dysregulated RNA splicing.

The Team

Executive

Dr Sarah Cole

Chief Executive Officer

Sarah leads strategic development, communication and investor liaison activities at SENISCA. With over 20 years' experience in the biopharmaceutical sector, Sarah was a senior research leader prior to developing a successful career in life sciences investment. Sarah is a recognised leader in strategic development, pipeline creation and critical evaluation of business development opportunities, with a focus on the development of early phase biotech. Sarah holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge.

Professor Lorna Harries

Chief Scientific Officer
Co-founder

Lorna leads the R&D team at SENISCA, targeting age-related changes in alternative splicing as a novel, and druggable, hallmark of ageing. Alongside her CSO role at SENISCA, Lorna holds a personal Chair in Molecular Genetics at the University of Exeter Medical School, where she runs the RNA-mediated Mechanisms of Disease group. Lorna has authored over 135 peer-reviewed publications in the RNA, Ageing and Senescence space. She is a regular invited and keynote speaker at International conferences and currently acts as Secretary for the British Society for Research on Ageing.

Dr Ben Lee

Head of Discovery Research
Co-founder

Ben is SENISCA's technical lead and laboratory manager. Before joining SENISCA, Ben was technical specialist for the RNA-mediated Mechanisms of Disease group at the University of Exeter Medical School, where his work in the ageing and alternative splicing field contributed towards the characterisation of RNA regulation as a novel hallmark of ageing. Ben is author on more than a dozen peer-reviewed publications in the ageing and senescence field and recently completed the Innovate UK-funded ICURe programme.

Dr Tim Schmidt

Chief Development Officer

Tim is SENISCA's Chief Development Officer. With 17+ years of drug development experience, Tim has previously held positions in both pharma (GSK, UCB) and biotech (TxCell, Sitryx), where he successfully led the conception and implementation of translational and early clinical development strategies, leading to the progression of several new therapeutic entities into Ph1 and 2 clinical trials.

Dr Adam Clauss

Head of Dermatology and Early Preclinical Development

Adam leads the dermatology-focused programmes covering both oligonucleotides and small molecules. He also oversees the development work supporting the small molecule skin health programme. Adam has more than 10 years experience of drug discovery and development specialising in dermatology. He joins SENISCA from Bioglan AB where he was Head of Development and previously Head of Regenerative Medicine at LEO Pharma A/S.

Dr Alice Ghidini

Head of Oligonucleotide Development

Alice is SENISCA’s VP of Oligotherapeutics Development. She has over 13 years of experience in RNA therapeutics, having trained in the labs of leading pioneers of the field (Karolinska, ETH, and Caltech). Alice continued her focus on RNA-based drug development in both pharmaceutical (AstraZeneca) and biotech settings (Sixfold Bioscience), where she was awarded a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship for her work in oligonucleotide delivery design.

Jessica Bennett

Financial Controller

After completing her BSc with Honours in Sports Science, Jess gained her Chartered Accountancy qualification with PKF Francis Clark. Since then, she has worked in the public sector within the NHS as a Financial Accountant and more recently in Higher Education as a Business Partner.

Jennie Jepperson

Executive Assistant

At SENISCA, Jennie is responsible for the day-to-day office management functions as well as assisting the Executives and wider team with a range of projects and research. Prior to joining the team, she worked predominantly in the charitable sector, where she provided secretarial and PA support at Director and Senior Management level. Alongside work, she has continued studying; gaining qualifications in Business Administration, Management and Project Support.

Research Team

Dr Ling Li

Principal Scientist Oligonucleotide Evaluation

Ling obtained her MSc degree in Biochemistry and PhD at the University of Bristol with Dr Sebastian Oltean, where she developed a specific interest in the modulation of alternative splicing regulators during EMT in cancer progression. Whilst finishing her PhD, Ling became increasingly interested in the detection of EGFR mutations in the plasma and urine of NSCLC patients, and as a result, continued working as a postdoctoral research associate with Dr Sebastian Oltean at the University of Exeter. At SENISCA, Ling is part of the wet-lab R&D team tasked with validating our novel senotherapeutics in several different model systems.

Dr Pouria Akhbari

Principal Scientist Cellular & Imaging Platform Development

Pouria started his career as a vet, initially in clinical practice and later as a chief technician in veterinary and medical diagnostic laboratories. He then completed a MSc in medical microbiology followed by a PhD in molecular biology at the University of Bradford where he investigated the role of a virus-encoded microRNA in modulation of host immune response. After his PhD, Pouria joined the laboratory of Prof. Noel Morgan and Sarah Richardson at the University of Exeter to study the complex interplay between enterovirus infection and host genetic and immunological factors in the pathogenesis of autoimmune type 1 diabetes. At SENISCA, Pouria is part of the wet-lab R&D team tasked with validating our novel serotherapeutic in several different model systems.

Dr Hubert Denise

Principal Bioinformatician

At SENISCA Hubert's role involves the analysis of large biological datasets generated through sequencing projects to discover transcriptomic differences between senescent and non-senescent cells. Hubert obtained a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Bordeaux and a MsC in Bioinformatics from Cranfield University. Hubert has worked for the Genetics department of the University of Cambridge, the European Bioinformatics Institute as well as Pfizer.

Dr Maria Luna Perciato

Senior Research Scientist

Luna, after graduating from the University of Bari (Italy) with a MSc in Medical Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, joined the lab of Prof. Andrea Alimonti at the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR) in Bellinzona (Switzerland), whose research focussed on dissecting the role of senescence in tumour progression and identifying novel pro-senescence and senolytic compounds for the treatment of cancer. After further two years spent in Switzerland, Luna gained a PhD in cancer biology in the lab of Prof Daniel Lambert at the University of Sheffield where she investigated the role of the metalloproteinase ADAM17 in cancer associated fibroblast (CAF). After her PhD, Luna joined the lab of Prof Helen Colley at the University of Sheffield as a postdoctoral researcher, investigating the role of ADAM17 in atopic dermatitis (AD) disease by using 3D human skin equivalent (HSE) models. At SENISCA, Luna is part of the wet-lab R&D team tasked with validating our novel senotherapeutics in several different model systems.

Dr Monica Ayine

Research Scientist

Monica graduated from the University of Ghana with a BSc in Agricultural Engineering before moving to the UK to work as a Laboratory Assistant at the University of Exeter plant pathology and microbiology laboratories. Monica also worked in a synthetic biology laboratory as a research technician in Prof. John Love's group for three years. She is nearing completion of her PhD, which investigates the use of alternative splicing as a therapeutic and diagnostic tool in diabetic nephropathy using small molecules. At SENISCA, Monica is a member of a wet-lab R&D team tasked with validating our novel senotherapeutics in several different model systems.

Dr Merlin Davies-Abraham

Research Scientist

Merlin is a home-grown University of Exeter student, where he completed both his BSc and PhD Medical Sciences. His research interests consist of immunology, infectious diseases and ageing. Largely, he focused on COVID-19 throughout his postgraduate studies, and how ageing is linked to disease severity. Early work included developing a test for detecting infectious and transmissible SARS-COV-2. This yielded infectious disease duration data, which reached an international audience alongside impacting UK government policy decisions. At SENISCA, Merlin is a member of the research team working on novel skincare senotherapeutics.

Jodie Evans

PhD Researcher

Jodie graduated from Loughborough University with an MChem in Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Her masters project focused on optimising a new spectrometry technique to analyse the chemical composition of cells aiding in monitoring of cell growth. In 2022, Jodie joined the University of Exeter as a Graduate Research Assistant investigating a new therapeutic approach for diabetic kidney disease. At the end of her 12-month post, she will be joining Senisca as a PhD student focussing on neurodegenerative disease research.

Board Advisory

Tim Edwards

Chairman of the Board

Tim Edwards has over 30 years of leadership experience in the life-sciences sector, during which he has played a major role in the development of several private and public biotechnology companies. Tim is currently Chair of Schroders Capital Global Innovation Trust plc (LSE:INOV), providing access to the leading growth businesses of the future, wherever they are in the world. He also serves as Chair of AstronauTx Ltd, EndLyz Therapeutics Inc. and Storm Therapeutics Ltd. He joins the Board of SENISCA having led two companies to exit by trade sale, as Chair of Atopix Therapeutics Limited acquired by Chiesi Farmaceutici S.P.A. in 2016 and President and Chief Executive Officer of Cellzome Inc. acquired by GlaxoSmithKline plc in 2012. Tim has also been a past Chair of the UK BioIndustry Association and has served as a Governing Board member of InnovateUK, the UK's Innovation agency, Non-Executive Director of the Cell & Gene Therapy Catapult, and a member of the Department of Health Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (Life Sciences).

Allan Weiner

Non-Executive Director

Allan has more than 20 years of experience in the Healthcare industry as an investor and advisor, as well as senior management roles in private equity funded ventures in the UK and Continental Europe. Allan started his career as a management consultant with Roland Berger & Partner in Stockholm and Hamburg. He has a MSc in Finance and Accounting, and International Economics from the Stockholm School of Economics. Allan has joined SENISCA as the appointed Investor Director for Emerging Longevity Ventures.

Scott Beattie

Non-Executive Director

Scott is the retired Chairman, CEO and co-founder of Elizabeth Arden, who has joined SENISCA's Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director to oversee commercial strategy relating to our skin-ageing co-development programme alongside wider pharmaceutical sector commercial and investment advisory.

Richard Haycock

Non-Executive Director

Richard is the co-founder and CEO of QantX. He has been involved in technology businesses for 40 years, leading at the forefront of major paradigm shifts in the industry. He is an innovation driven entrepreneur and has wide experience of building and scaling businesses through new technology, venturing, and creating disruptive business models. His most recent role before QantX, was as a Senior Director of Oracle Corporation where he was part of the Global Enterprise Cloud team. Richard has joined SENISCA as the appointed Investor Director for QantX.

Professor Steve Wilton

Scientific Advisor - Senotherapeutic development of Oligonucleotides

Professor Steve Wilton is the Director of both the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics in the Health Futures Institute at Murdoch University, and the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science (QE II Medical Centre, Western Australia). In his role at the Molecular Therapy Lab, Steve is committed to developing new therapeutics for many different conditions using antisense oligonucleotide compounds to redirect gene expression, as required for each medical condition. At SENISCA, Steve advises on antisense oligonucleotide design and optimization.

Vacancies

Publications

1. Laura R Bramwell, Jack Spencer, Ryan Frankum, Emad Manni & Lorna W Harries. "Image analysis using the Fluorescence Imaging of Nuclear Staining (FINS) algorithm." J Imaging Inform Med. 2024 Dec;37(6):3077-3089. Epub 2024 Jun 17. doi: 10.1007/s10278-024-01097-8
2. The Royal Society. “Increasing healthy life expectancy: the policy implications of geroscience”. Royalsociety.org. Epub 2024 May 1 [Lorna W Harries contribution as reviewer] Link
3. Laura R Bramwell, Ryan Frankum & Lorna W Harries. "Repurposing drugs for senotherapeutic effect: potential senomorphic effects of female synthetic hormones". Cells. 2024 Mar 15;13(6):517. doi: 10.3390/cells13060517
4. Whitty, Chris. “Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2023: Health in an Ageing Society”. GOV.UK. Epub 2023 November 10. Lorna W Harries contribution in Chapter 7.2]. Link
5. Bramwell LR, Harries LW. "Senescence, regulators of alternative splicing and effects of trametinib treatment in progeroid syndromes". Geroscience. 2024 Apr;46(2):1861-1879. Epub 2023 Sep 26. doi: 10.1007/s11357-023-00933-z
6. Manni E, Jeffery N, Chambers D, Slade L, Etheridge T, Harries LW. "An evaluation of the role of miR-361-5p in senescence and systemic ageing." Exp Gerontol. 2023 Apr;174:112127. Epub 2023 Feb 18. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112127
7. Harries LW. FEBS J. "Dysregulated RNA processing and metabolism: a new hallmark of ageing and provocation for cellular senescence". FEBS J. 2023 Mar;290(5):1221-1234. Epub 2022 Apr 29.doi: 10.1111/febs.16462
8. Frankum R, Jameson TSO, Knight BA, Stephens FB, Wall BT, Donlon TA, Torigoe T, Willcox BJ, Willcox DC, Allsopp RC, Harries LW. "Extreme longevity variants at the FOXO3 locus may moderate FOXO3 isoform levels". Geroscience. 2022 Apr;44(2):1129-1140. Epub 2021 Aug 26. doi: 10.1007/s11357-021-00431-0
9. Lee BP, Harries LW. "Senotherapeutic Drugs: A New Avenue for Skincare?". Plast Reconstr Surg. 2021 Dec 1;148(6S):21S-26S. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000008782
10. Bramwell LR, Harries LW. "Targeting Alternative Splicing for Reversal of Cellular Senescence in the Context of Aesthetic Aging". Plast Reconstr Surg. 2021 Jan 1;147(1S-2):25S-32S. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000007618
11. Frankum R, Jameson TSO, Knight BA, Stephens FB, Wall BT, Donlon TA, Torigoe T, Willcox BJ, Willcox DC, Allsopp RC, Harries LW. "Extreme longevity variants at the FOXO3 locus may moderate FOXO3 isoform levels." Geroscience. (2021). doi: 10.1007/s11357-021-00431-0. Online ahead of print.PMID: 34436732
12. Bramwell LR, Harries LW. Targeting Alternative Splicing for Reversal of Cellular Senescence in the Context of Aesthetic Aging. Plast Reconstr Surg. 147(1S-2):25S-32S. (2021) doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000007618.PMID: 33347071
13. Lee BP, Smith M, Buffenstein R & Harries LW. “Negligible senescence in naked mole rats may be a consequence of well-maintained splicing regulation.” GeroScience. 42(2), 633-651 (2020). doi:10.1007/s11357-019-00150-7
14. Lye JJ*, Latorre E*, Lee BP, Bandinelli S, Holley JE, Gutowski NJ, Ferrucci L & Harries LW. “Astrocyte senescence may drive alterations in GFAPA, CDKN2A p14ARF and TAU3 transcript expression and contribute to cognitive decline.” GeroScience. 41(5), 561-573 (2019). doi: 10.1007/s11357-019-00100-3
15. Latorre E, Ostler EL, Faragher RGA & Harries LW. “FOXO1 and ETV6 genes may represent novel regulators of splicing factor expression in cellular senescence.” FASEB J. 33(1), 1086-1097 (2019). doi: 10.1096/fj.201801154R
16. Lee BP, Mulvey L, Barr G, Garratt J, Goodman E, Selman C & Harries LW. “Dietary restriction in ILSXISS mice is associated with widespread changes in splicing regulatory factor expression levels.” Exp Gerontol. 128, 110736 (2019). doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2019.110736
17. Lee BP, Pilling LC, Bandinelli S, Ferrucci L, Melzer D & Harries LW. “The transcript expression levels of HNRNPM, HNRNPA0 and AKAP17A splicing factors may be predictively associated with ageing phenotypes in human peripheral blood.” Biogerontology. 20(5), 649-663 (2019). doi: 10.1007/s10522-019-09819-0
18. Latorre E, Birar VC, Sheerin AN, Jeynes JCC, Hooper A, Dawe HR, Melzer D, Cox LS, Faragher RGA, Ostler EL & Harries LW. “Small molecule modulation of splicing factor expression is associated with rescue from cellular senescence.” BMC Cell Biol. 18(1), 31 (2017). doi: 10.1186/s12860-017-0147-7
19. Latorre E, Torregrossa R, Wood ME, Whiteman M & Harries LW. “Mitochondria-targeted hydrogen sulfide attenuates endothelial senescence by selective induction of splicing factors HNRNPD and SRSF2.” Aging (Albany NY). 10(7), 1666-1681 (2018). doi: 10.18632/aging.101500
20. Latorre E, Pilling LC, Lee BP, Bandinelli S, Melzer D, Ferrucci L & Harries LW. “The VEGFA156b isoform is dysregulated in senescent endothelial cells and may be associated with prevalent and incident coronary heart disease.” Clin Sci (Lond). 132(3), 313-325 (2018). doi: 10.1042/CS20171556
21. Lee BP, Pilling LC, Emond F, Flurkey K, Harrison DE, Yuan R, Peters LL, Kuchel GA, Ferrucci L, Melzer D & Harries LW. “Changes in the expression of splicing factor transcripts and variations in alternative splicing are associated with lifespan in mice and humans.” Aging Cell. 15(5), 903-13 (2016). doi: 10.1111/acel.12499
22. Holly AC, Melzer D, Pilling LC, Fellows AC, Tanaka T, Ferrucci L & Harries LW. “Changes in splicing factor expression are associated with advancing age in man.” Mech Ageing Dev. 134(9), 356-66 (2013). doi: 10.1016/j.mad.2013.05.006
23. Harries LW, Hernandez D, Henley W, Wood A, Holly AC, Bradley-Smith RM, Yaghootkar H, Dutta A, Murray A, Frayling TM, Guralnik JM, Bandinelli S, Singleton A, Ferrucci L & Melzer D. “Human aging is characterized by focused changes in gene expression and deregulation of alternative splicing.” Aging Cell. 10(5), 868-78 (2011). doi: 10.1111/j.1474-9726.2011.00726.x

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