Inaphaea BioLabs, the translational contract research organisation based at MediCity Nottingham, has announced the promotion of Melissa Barr to Head of Scientific Operations.

Melissa joined Inaphaea in 2023 as Lead Scientist. Since then, she has played an instrumental role in delivering preclinical drug discovery projects across oncology and women’s health, as well as leading a team of scientists on-site.

Spun out from ValiRx PLC, Inaphaea offers cell-based assays specialising in oncology. Its aim is to improve the translation of early drug discovery projects towards the clinic.

Commenting on her promotion, Melissa says: “I have had the privilege of growing alongside Inaphaea since its inception. Being part of a start-up has been an exciting and rewarding journey, offering opportunities to develop not only technical expertise but also operational and leadership skills. Highlights of my role so far have included establishing and characterising patient-derived cancer models, driving their use in translatable research, managing our laboratory operations, and leading a talented team of scientists.

“In my new role as Head of Scientific Operations, I am excited to continue supporting our amazing team, strengthening our current capabilities, and driving forward innovative research. I look forward to contributing to the technical, operational, and strategic aspects of our work as we deliver impactful solutions for our clients and stakeholders.”

Mark Eccleston, ValiRx CEO, adds: “We’re delighted to announce Melissa’s well-deserved promotion. She has played a key role in Inaphaea’s growth and development journey so far, bringing specialist scientific expertise as well as helping to drive operational efficiencies. Melissa’s practical laboratory experience, academic understanding of oncology, and commercial experience in the contract research space will be an invaluable asset as we work with a growing number of customers to accelerate the progress of their drug candidates.”

For further information, visit: www.inaphaea.com