Rare disease experts
Having previously transformed a startup into a multi-million dollar pharmaceutical company, the Ambrose team is now focussing on sustainable access to life-changing drug treatments for rare disease patients.
Our team
Founder & Chairman
Toby Wilson Waterworth
Toby has led and been part of leadership teams in multiple life science companies that have generated close to $1 billion in shareholder value. His 30 years of experience in North America, Europe, UK and the Middle East includes founding Atlantic Healthcare, which delivered 30x value for early investors, plus senior roles at HD Clinical, Expedeon, Alizyme and Chiroscience. Toby is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.
Clinical Development and Regulatory Strategy
Dr. Nick Meyers
Nick is an experienced Program Director with 30 years’ experience in the industry (in Pharma, biotech and CROs), advising clients on R&D strategy, as well as planning and overseeing out-sourced, early- and late-stage development projects globally, covering all key aspects of development (CMC, nonclinical, clinical, and regulatory), including directly overseeing 14 clinical studies (Phases 1-3). Nick has developed helped to develop products spanning different treatment modalities and therapeutic areas, including small molecules for IBS, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and chronic pain, biologics for acromegaly and haemodialysis access, and gene therapies for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, and has managed 3 BLA, NDA & MAA submissions. Importantly, from 2001-2008 whilst at Alizyme Therapeutics plc, Nick managed the development of renzapride for the treatment of IBS-C and IBS-A. Nick has a PhD in molecular bacteriology and from Cranfield University and prior to joining the industry, worked as a research fellow in virology at the AFRC IAH and at the University of Cambridge.
Director of Manufacturing Operations
Dr. Janette Thomas
Janette brings extensive leadership experience across pharmaceutical research and development, manufacturing, and commercial supply. Her career spans senior roles as CEO, founder, board director, advisor, and mentor within both large pharmaceutical organisations and high-growth biotech companies. Most recently, Janette served as Chief Executive Officer of a biotechnology company focused on novel therapeutic approaches, where she successfully raised early-stage investment and grant funding and delivered key scientific milestones. Earlier in her career, she trained as a biochemist, completed post-doctoral research at the University of Cambridge, and worked in medicines research within a global pharmaceutical company before moving into the biotech and SME sector. Janette has worked across multiple therapeutic areas, including orphan indications, and brings deep expertise in manufacturing process development, regulatory interfaces, and commercial supply. She is passionate about applying innovative development models to deliver meaningful treatments for patients with high unmet need.
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Director of Regulatory Affairs
Wendy Richings-Barrow
A senior executive with broad experience within start-up and established pharmaceutical and complementary sectors. Experienced in the procedural aspects of product research and development, licensing and life-cycle management within UK, EU and FDA and various international markets, with responsibility for NCE registration and orphan drug designation. Wendy has worked in multiple therapeutic areas, as head of regulatory affairs and licensing and acquisition manager in the UK subsidiary of a large American Pharmaceutical Company. She has been a founding and board member of 2 pharmaceutical companies. Competent in identifying data needs and deficits. Able to capture the differing needs of the various interested parties to provide appropriate solutions.
Chief of Intellectual Property
Sally Curran
An accomplished IP leader with more than 25 years of experience spanning big pharma, biotech and private practice. She joins the Ambrose team to provide critical IP guidance and strategic support. Most recently, Sally served as Vice President, Global Head of Pharma Patents at GSK, where she led a global team of patent attorneys responsible for building and protecting the company’s patent portfolios across all marketed and pipeline pharmaceutical assets. Before GSK, she was Head of IP at Bicycle Therapeutics and held senior IP leadership roles at AstraZeneca for over a decade, including serving as Head of IP for AstraZeneca’s Respiratory & Immunology franchise.
Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Hazel Jones
Hazel brings over 20 years of senior leadership experience in biotech and pharma, with a strong track record in discovery, development, and organisational transformation. Hazel was formerly CEO of Enhanc3D Genetics and Chief of Staff for AstraZeneca’s Oncology R&D Leadership Team, and prior to that held key roles at Cambridge Antibody Technology, Cancer Research UK, and MedImmune. At Ambrose, Hazel oversees operations and strategic delivery and is leading the development of the clinical programmes into Phase 2 trials.
Manufacturing
Mike Webb
Mike specializes in chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) in drug development, from late discovery to launch and beyond. He has been involved in eight worldwide marketing submissions and led departments of up to 150 scientists in a 30-year career at GSK. Mike has a PhD in analytical chemistry from Imperial College London.
Chief of Staff
Virag Stephens
Virág is a transformation leader with a track record of driving large-scale change across global life sciences and healthcare organisations. Formerly PMO Director at AstraZeneca, she now applies her expertise in governance, fundraising, and investor relations to help Ambrose accelerate breakthrough therapies for rare diseases.
Chief Strategy Officer
Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker
Clarissa brings over 20 years’ experience across biotech, capital markets and regulated industries, with a strong track record in strategy, fundraising and organisational growth. Clarissa was formerly CEO of Octavian Therapeutics, leading the company through a £16.5m IPO on the London Stock Exchange and raising over £20m in total funding, and prior to that held senior legal and commercial roles at Liberty Global, Virgin Media, Hutchison 3G and Google. At Ambrose, Clarissa leads portfolio strategy and capital planning, working across the rare disease programmes to align development priorities with investor strategy and long-term value creation.
Chief Financial Officer
Ali Elsley
Ali has extensive experience in the biotechnology and pharma sector working with both private and public companies. She joins alongside her role as CFO at Laverock Therapeutics Ltd, an early stage cell and gene therapy company, where she helped raise over £20m in seed funding. Prior to this she was at Acacia Pharma Group plc, an early commercial-stage listed pharma company, where she was Group Financial Controller and Company Secretary and focused on equity fundraising, M&A activity and all aspects of financial operations. She spent 10 years as an auditor with PwC LLP in Cambridge, with a focus on early-stage biotech and pharma companies, together with advisory IPO work. She is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Our medical advisory board
In Memoriam:
Professor Brian Feagan
Professor of Medicine at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Ontario, Canada Ambrose Healthcare is deeply saddened by the passing of Professor Brian Feagan, a world-renowned clinician–scientist and a cherished member of our Medical Advisory Board. Professor Feagan was widely recognised as one of the most influential figures in inflammatory bowel disease research, contributing groundbreaking insights that transformed clinical trial design, therapeutic development, and patient care worldwide. Dr Brian Feagan, a Gastroenterologist and Professor of Medicine, has dedicated his research to developing outcome measures for novel therapeutics and conducting large-scale multi-center clinical trials. With over 30 years of experience, he has authored over 550 articles, served as a Principal Investigator on more than 140 clinical trials and been named one of the top five experts globally for Crohn’s disease.  His guidance to Ambrose Healthcare was marked by exceptional clarity, scientific rigor, and genuine kindness. We are honoured to have benefited from his wisdom and deeply grateful for his support of our mission. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues, and the global GI community. His legacy will continue to inspire our work for years to come.
UK
Dr. Jamie Duckers
National Clinical Lead for Rare Disease, NHS Wales Dr Jamie Duckers, a Respiratory Physician, has made significant contributions to healthcare and research in Wales. He serves as the National Clinical Lead for Rare Disease, Wales, and research lead for the  All-Wales Adult Cystic Fibrosis Service, and is actively involved in various advisory groups related to cystic fibrosis and respiratory health. His experience also encompasses exploring early stakeholder engagement to ensure rare diseases patient priorities are being met early in the development of new drugs.
UK
Professor Kevin Mills
Head of the Translational and Clinical Omics Group at University College London based at the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Professor Mills’ research aims to combine state-of-the-art technology with AI/Machine Learning to find new drug targets, identify new biomarkers and develop new and more precise tests. His research group is unique in that they can use their omic capability to help understand disease mechanisms and identify drug targets but can also translate any biomarker into a test to NHS or Industry accredited standards.
UK
Professor Bu Hussain Hayee
Consultant Gastroenterologist at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Professor of Gastroenterology at King’s College London Professor Bu Hayees is an internationally recognised expert in complex gastrointestinal disease and advanced endoscopy, with a particular clinical and research focus on the gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations of Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Prof. Hayee leads the specialist regional service for CF-related gastrointestinal disease in the South-East of England and is actively involved in national CF clinical and advisory activities. Despite major advances in CFTR modulator therapies, gastrointestinal complications remain a significant and unresolved burden for many patients. Prof. Hayee’s work has helped characterise the prevalence and severity of GI symptoms in adults with CF, highlighting a substantial unmet medical need. At Ambrose Healthcare, Prof. Hayee serves as Principal Investigator for the planned Phase 2 clinical study of Renzapride in CF-related GI manifestations. He provides clinical leadership and input into protocol design, ensuring the programme is clinically meaningful, patient-centred, and aligned with regulatory expectations.
UK
Dr. Shabbir Moochhala
Consultant Nephrologist and Physician, Royal Free Hospital Dr Shabbir Moochhala is an experienced consultant nephrologist at the Royal Free Hospital in London. He has specialist expertise in rare diseases and is a principal investigator for several international medical trials. He lectures internationally and leads in rare kidney disease at national level, including as chair of an NHS Rare Disease Collaborative Network in rare kidney stone disease.