Senior Business Manager, LifeArc, UK
Anji is a technology transfer professional with more than 18 years’ experience of working with early-stage translational research. Anji has extensive experience of IP and contract management, IP transactions and business development of healthcare technologies and development of knowledge transfer policies. Her current role at LifeArc involves working with academic and charitable establishments to identify, cultivate and commercialise early-stage healthcare technologies. Anji provides specialist advice in the areas of research commercialisation, intellectual property and commercial negotiations to charity partners, and the LifeArc Philanthropic Fund, which is designated to fund early-stage translational developments that address rare diseases.
As a proponent for professional advancement in technology transfer, Anji developed and leads the LifeArc-AUTM Technology Transfer Training Fellowship programme. This collaborative initiative with AUTM, is designed to train and assist scientists to become technology transfer professionals. An advocate of equality diversity and Inclusion (EDI), Anji cofounded the Global Equality, Diversity and Equality in Technology Transfer (GEDITT), an initiative with a mission to raise awareness and drive EDI in the technology transfer sector.
Previous roles include Intellectual Property, Contract, Technology Transfer and Business Development positions in academia and charity sector and pharma. At the Wellcome Trust as part of the Innovations Team, Anji worked with industry and academia to translate innovative healthcare technologies. At St George’s University London, as a senior member of the technology transfer office and IP lead for EU funded projects, including EUROPRISE, Access To Pharmaceuticals (ATP) and board and advisory positions for university spin outs. At Thomson Pharma, Anji was a member of the Biological and Chemical Patents team responsible for the delivery and development of Thomson Pharma’s proprietary services.
Anji holds a M.Sc. in Human Molecular Genetics and Ph.D in Cancer Genetics from Imperial College, as well as a M.Sc. and Certificate in Intellectual Property Law from Queen Mary, University of London. She is a certified project manager (PRINCE2), registered technology transfer professional (RTTP) and a certified licensing professional (CLP).
Anji is VP of Communities on the ASTP Board, a member of the BioIndustry Association (BIA) Cell & Gene Therapy Advisory Committee, and the AUTM Equity, Diversity & Inclusivity Committee.