Healthcare >> CEO Interviews >> September 17, 2014
Dr. Jake Micallef, Ph.D., is the Chief Scientific Officer of VolitionRX Limited. He is an experienced scientific executive with expertise in research and development, and in the management of early-stage biotechnical companies, including the manufacture of biotechnology products and the establishment of manufacturing operations. Dr. Micallef gained this experience while working for the World Health Organization, or WHO, over a 10-year period from 1985. While working for the WHO, Dr. Micallef developed new diagnostic products in the areas of reproductive health and cancer. In 1990, he commenced development of a new diagnostic technology platform for WHO, which was launched in 1992 and supported 13 tests. Dr. Micallef also initiated and implemented in-house manufacture — previously outsourced to Abbott Diagnostics Inc. — and worldwide distribution of these products for WHO. In 1990, he started a not-for-profit WHO company, Immunometrics Ltd., which marketed and distributed those diagnostic products worldwide. In 1999, Dr. Micallef studied for an MBA and went on to co-found Gene Expression Technologies in 2001, where he successfully lead the development of the chemistry of the GeneICE technology and implemented the manufacture of GeneICE molecules. He also played a major role in business development and procured a GeneICE contract with Bayer Pharmaceuticals. From 2004 to 2007, he taught science and enterprise to science research workers from four universities at Cass Business School before joining Cronos Therapeutics in 2004. In 2006, Cronos was listed in the U.K. on AIM becoming ValiRx. Dr. Micallef continued to work as Technical Officer for ValiRx, where he in-licensed the HyperGenomics and Nucleosomics technologies, and co-founded ValiBIO SA, which is now Belgian Volition SA, a subsidiary of Singapore Volition. Dr. Micallef was educated at King’s College London, earning a B.S. in biology and chemistry, and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry; St Thomas’ Hospital Medical School, London, earning an M.S. in chemical pathology; and Imperial College Management School, earning an MBA. Profile
Cameron Reynolds serves as President, Chief Executive Officer and as a director of VolitionRX Ltd. Prior to completion of the transactions under the Share Exchange Agreement, he was Chief Executive Officer and Director of Singapore Volition, a position he held since August 5, 2010. He is also a Manager of Belgian Volition since October 27, 2010, serving as Managing Director between January 18, 2012 and July 24, 2015, a Director and Chief Executive Officer of Volition Diagnostics since November 13, 2015, a Director of Volition America since February 3, 2017 and was appointed a Manager of Volition Vet, on August 7, 2019. Since February 2017, Mr. Reynolds has also served as a non-executive director of Ucroo Incorporated, a developer of a secure web and mobile platform that integrates with existing college systems, and, since July 2018, as a non-executive director of OBJ Limited (ASX:OBJ), a developer of magnetic, micro-array drug and ingredient delivery technologies. From 2004 until 2011, Mr. Reynolds founded and served as Managing Director and Director of Mining House, where he was responsible for identifying potential mining projects, coordinating the preliminary evaluations and securing the financing. Mr. Reynolds furthered his education between 2002 and 2003 as he undertook an MBA. From 1998 until 2001, Mr. Reynolds served as the commercialization director for Probio, Inc., a company that commercialized intellectual property in the animal biotechnology fields. Furthermore, Mr. Reynolds held a junior management position in 1996 at Integrated Coffee Technologies, a genetically modified coffee company. Starting in 1994, Mr. Reynolds was working for Southern China Group, where as regional manager he set up operations in Hong Kong and Yunnan. Between 2005 and 2011, Mr. Reynolds held a number of board directorships including Atlantic Mining PLC, Carbon Mining PLC, Magellan Copper and Gold PLC (Carbon Mining and MCG both became part of Solfotara Mining and Copper Development Corp.), KAL Energy Inc. (OTC:KALG), Iofina Natural Gas PLC (AIM:IOF), Canyon Copper Corp. (TSX-V:CNC, OTCBB:CNYC), and Hunter Bay Resources (TSX-V:HBY). Profile
TWST: Can you provide an overview of the company and discuss your technology?
Mr. Reynolds: We are a cancer diagnostics company with a blood-based test currently that is very