Veronique Birault

Since she joined the Crick in 2015, Veronique has established translational science capabilities, an operational structure to enable a diverse portfolio of translatable projects and a culture of entrepreneurship.

She has enabled 11 spin-outs to translate Crick science into patients benefits across cell therapy, vaccines, medical technology and small molecule therapeutics, with overall investment to date over £1 bn and supporting more than 500 jobs.

Veronique’s business acumen has been honed through developing and delivering business plans, licensing deals and creating spin outs. She mentors young entrepreneurs and is a member of various biotech boards.

Veronique has 20 years' drug discovery and development experience in industry. She led multidisciplinary research teams and provided strategic leadership on translational work and clinical research programmes. She led the allergic inflammation discovery performance unit at GSK and implemented experimental medicine plans in order to change the way medicines are developed.