Ensuring
efficiency and quality
of project objectives
With a multidisciplinary consortium such as ARDAT, the management structure must ensure focused and integrated collaborative work across the consortium. As such, we have a detailed strategy for project management, governance, and communication. Whilst Pfizer Inc. is project lead, the project is coordinated by the University of Sheffield and managed by Pharmacoidea Ltd.
Management
coordinator
Professor Mimoun Azzouz is Chair of Translational Neuroscience at The University of Sheffield's Department of Neuroscience in the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SiTraN). He is an ERC Advanced Investigator and Director of the new Gene Therapy Innovation and Manufacturing Center (GTIMC) based in Sheffield. Prof. Azzouz has achieved international pre-eminence in the field of gene therapy applications and vector development for neurodegenerative diseases. He is currently leading a rich pipeline of gene therapy projects at various stages of pre-clinical and clinical development. His track record of translational research productivity is characterized by publications in top ranking scientific journals and patents.
project lead
Dr. Martin Schulz currently serves as Global Sr. Medical Director at Pfizer Rare Disease. He has 15+ years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. This work has mainly been focused on rare diseases, immunology and rAAV gene therapy. In his current role Dr. Schulz helps prepare healthcare systems for the paradigm shift that gene therapies represent for people living with certain rare genetic disorders. He is a registered pharmacist, holds a PhD in Pharmaceutics from Freie Universität Berlin and has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in the field of gene therapy.
management
As a scientist, Dr. Letoha exploits heparan-sulfate proteoglycans' therapeutic potential and published several publications and patents in the field. As an entrepreneur, Dr. Letoha manages the business and scientific aspects of his company, Pharmacoidea, now serving as a managing entity for ARDAT. Previous participation in R&D projects funded by the Innovative Medicines Initiative proves that Dr. Letoha has hands-on knowledge of managing complex drug discovery projects, as required by ARDAT.
Project Manager
Graham started his career as a Clinical Biochemist, working in NHS Hospitals in London and Coventry, but after 4 years joined a start-up company, Medisense, as a Development Scientist working on a novel blood glucose measurement system. After Medisense was bought by Abbott Laboratories in 1996, Graham advanced his career within Abbott becoming an experienced Project Manager in R&D before going on to manage a technical support group for the manufacturing facility, lead a validation task force, and finally act as an internal consultant for the installation of a new manufacturing facility in Ireland. After a career break in 2009/10 Graham switched track to become a consultant in European Research Support, initially as the National Contact Point for the FP7 Health Theme and then in 2011 as an internal advisor within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sheffield. After supporting many academics at the University with applications to the Horizon 2020 Health Theme, various Marie Curie schemes as well as IMI Projects, Graham joined a Sheffield led Marie Curie ITN programme (TRAIN) in 2016 as Project Manager. Graham joined the ARDAT project in April 2021. Graham has a degree in Biochemistry and a masters in Clinical Biochemistry as well as an EARMA Certificate in European Research Management (2015).