Women In Biotech Mentoring Programme: Alicia's and Carrie's experience
Carrie Ambler, CSO of LightOx, a company that is developing new therapies for mouth cancers, and Alicia Showering, CEO of BugBiome, a company that is developing natural, long-lasting microbial insect repellents, reflect on their mentoring relationship.
In this interview, Carrie and Alicia reflect on their mentor-mentee relationship and the invaluable benefits of their participation in the BIA's Women In Biotech mentoring programme.
Introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your background
Carrie: Hello, I am Carrie Ambler, Professor of Biosciences at Durham University and CSO of LightOx Ltd. I study wound repair and the cancers in surface tissues like the skin and oral mucosa. This research has led to close collaborations with chemists and physicists to develop creative light-based approaches to provide new solutions for the common human condition of poor wound repair and epithelial cancers. I founded LightOx with Professor of Chemistry, Andrew Whiting, in 2016 and in this job, my work directly impacted the synthesis and the biological testing of new fluorescent chemicals for use as life sciences tools. These are now commercially available worldwide through Merck and are being developed to produce light-activated therapeutics for oral cancer treatments.
Alicia: I’m Alicia Showering, CEO of BugBiome. I just completed my PhD at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, investigating why mosquitoes bite some people more than others. This research led me to found my start-up, BugBiome, which has been supported by an Innovate UK Young Innovators Award. BugBiome aims to develop natural, long-lasting microbial insect repellents.
What was your motivation behind joining the Women in Biotech mentoring programme?
Carrie: Starting a business is hard, especially the first time. When I set up my first business I needed to ask loads and loads of simple questions, like “What is a VC?”, “Who do I negotiate with to secure the IP?” and “Should I set up the company as a Limited Partnership or Limited Company” etc. I worked with a number of supportive mentors, but all were men and in hindsight, I would have liked to work with a woman to learn about her experience in business. I volunteered to become a mentor for the BIA programme and offer support to another women founder starting her journey.
Alicia: Attending the first Women in Biotech event in my hometown (Bristol) motivated me to become a part of the BIA Women in Biotech mentoring programme. The vibrant atmosphere and the willingness of people to assist and uplift each other at that event struck a chord with me. The program's specific focus on biotech and the active participation of successful women in the industry further fuelled my interest. Joining this programme, I hoped to find a mentor who had navigated the challenges that I was facing, as I juggled the demands of both academia and getting a start-up off the ground, and ideally someone with expertise in the skin space. I saw in this program the potential to be paired with a mentor who had both academic and business expertise in my field.
What do you consider the main benefits have been to you personally?
Carrie: I have really enjoyed meeting Alicia and learning about BugBiome! Where I could, I have linked Alicia to key contacts in my network and it is satisfying to see the progress she has made in the past year. I hope she knows I am a friendly pair of ears if and when she needs it.
Alicia: Having Carrie as my mentor has been an immensely enriching experience. Her ability to maintain a successful academic career alongside managing her start-up effectively is nothing short of inspiring. Her guidance has given me fresh perspectives, particularly on some key challenges. Being mentored by someone based outside of the “golden triangle” and with expertise in an adjacent field to mine has expanded my network.
What impact did it have on your career?
Alicia: Meeting Carrie came at a moment in my career when I was set on setting up my start-up. Witnessing her success in balancing both her start-up and academic roles has been a revelation, illustrating that you do not have to completely shut off academia when venturing into the entrepreneurial world. I am constantly amazed at how she manages to excel in both simultaneously. Carrie has become someone I trust to turn to for guidance. Overall, this experience has reassured me that this is the right route for me.
Would you recommend the Women in Biotech mentoring programme?
Alicia: Absolutely, I recommend the Women in Biotech mentoring programme, and I am eager to maintain my involvement in the future. The programme especially stands out if you have a clear understanding of the support you are seeking or have specific questions in mind that you are grappling with. In my case, the programme has introduced me to a mentor with invaluable perspectives that have enriched my approach.
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