
About Us
Who We Are
We are a multidisciplinary team of immunologists and virologists united by a mission: to unlock the full therapeutic potential of high capacity virus-like particles (VLPs).
Founded in Oxford, Icosphere Biosciences combines deep expertise in molecular virology, protein engineering, and bioprocess development to create transformative therapies for patients suffering from difficult-to-treat diseases. Our primary focus is on the development of technologies that improve both the manufacture and medical utility of high capacity vectors, capable of delivering over 30Kb of DNA to cells.


Dr.Ryan Cawood
CEO
Ryan has a DPhil in gene delivery from Oxford University, >20 peer reviewed publications and is the inventor on >20 patents. He previously founded Oxford Genetics (OXGENE) and ran the business as CEO until exit in 2021 for $135M in a cash transaction. He has raised >£20M in investment and >£2.5M in non-dilutive grants.

Dr.Kate Friesen
Research Director
Kate is an expert genetic engineer focused on advancing gene and cancer therapies. She holds a DPhil in Oncology from Oxford University and an Honours BSc in Immunology from the University of Toronto with a GPA of 94%. She has won ~£500K in competitive scholarships, awards, and research grants, including the prestigious Clarendon and QEII Diamond Jubilee Scholarships.

Prof.Leonard Seymour
Non-Executive Director
Len is Professor of Gene Therapies at Oxford University and is a leading expert in nucleic acid delivery systems. He founded the British Society for Gene and Cell Therapy and led it for 9 years. He is a co-founder of AkamisBio, OXGENE (sold for $135M, 2021), Theolytics and Native Antigen Company (sold for $23.5M, 2019). He has authored >200 peer reviewed papers.

Dr.Robert Hornby
Investor Director
Rob joined Mercia Ventures in 2022 as an Investment Director and joined Icosphere Biosciences in 2024 as Investor Director. Rob holds a Doctorate from the University of Liverpool’s MRC Centre for Drug Safety Science. As an investor, he focusses on funding high-growth technology businesses, with a particular interest in those in the Life Sciences.