Meet the Team
Susan Smith
Senior Business Manager
Susan manages the Healthcare Gateway team and has responsibility for a range of projects emerging from cardiovascular research (pharmaceutical and device interventions as well as software simulation) at the University of Sheffield. Before taking up her position, Susan spent five years as a Research Translator in the Department of Biomedical Science, Sheffield, and has 7 years experience working in biotech firms in Germany and the US. Susan has a PhD from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg and a BA (Hons) in Biochemistry from Oxford University. Susan is responsible for the following department:- Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease
Karen Wilkinson
Business Manager
Karen is responsible for managing projects in the healthcare technology and medical device fields. Before joining the university, Karen spent 15 years in the pharmaceutical industry, operationally coordinating clinical trials and managing business development for an international contract research organisation. In the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Karen is responsible for the following departments:- Centre for Assistive Technologies and Connected Health
- Dentistry - Bioengineering and health technologies
- Human Communication Sciences
- Nursing and Midwifery
- Primary Care
- Medical Education
Jen Carlring-Wright
Business Manager
Jen completed her PhD in Tumour Immunology after which she worked as a research scientist on several pre-clinical projects in the immunology and oncology fields at the University of Sheffield. Jen has three years experience working as a project manager for the biopharmaceutical company spin out company Adjuvantix Limited, where she managed multidisciplinary collaborative research and development projects. In the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Jen is the key contact for the following departments:- Oncology and Metabolism
- School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) - Public Health
- Dentistry - Person centred and population oral health
Thomas Bartlett
Business Manager
Thomas recently relocated from Vancouver, Canada where he was working for a preclinical drug development organisation called the Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD). CDRD collaborates with academics and SMEs seeking to translate their discoveries into new therapies. Thomas was part of the CDRD team that identifies and evaluates new technologies across a broad range of therapeutic areas including neurology, psychiatry, anti-infectives and oncology. Thomas has a BSc in biochemistry and a PhD in neuroscience from the University of Bristol. While completing his academic training, Thomas also worked for a year in the Pain Biology group at Pfizer Global R&D. In the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health, Thomas is responsible for the following departments:- Neuroscience
- Infection, immunity and cardiovascular disease
- Dentistry - Integrated Bioscience
Lindsey Crowson
Administrator
Lindsey provides administrative and secretarial support to the Sheffield Healthcare Gateway.
Professor Richard Ross
Director
Academic Lead for Innovation in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health
Richard is responsible for directing the Sheffield Healthcare Gateway and promoting knowledge exchange in healthcare across the University of Sheffield. Richard is a Professor of Endocrinology and a Clinical Academic spending 50% of his time in the NHS and 50% at the University. He has extensive experience working with industry in translational research, investigator led clinical trials and as principle investigator in large multicentre phase 3 and 4 clinical studies. Richard is a founding director in 2 University of Sheffield spinout companies: Asterion Ltd and Diurnal Ltd. Asterion has developed long acting biologicals and Diurnal new endocrine hormone replacement therapies which have progressed through from preclinical to phase 2 clinical trials. These experiences have given Richard an understanding of business, the challenges of drug development, and the value of academia collaborating with industry.