Board of Directors
Professor Helen McCarthy
Professor Margaret Topping
Professor Helen McCarthy
CEO & Co-Founder
Chair of Nanomedicine,
Queen’s University Belfast
Helen is an entrepreneurial academic and innovator who is named on >40 granted patents for the delivery of nucleic acids. In 2017, she founded her first biotech company developing mRNA vaccines, and she remained as CEO until 2023. Helen is also N. Ireland’s first Chief Scien
CEO & Co-Founder
Chair of Nanomedicine,
Queen’s University Belfast
Helen is an entrepreneurial academic and innovator who is named on >40 granted patents for the delivery of nucleic acids. In 2017, she founded her first biotech company developing mRNA vaccines, and she remained as CEO until 2023. Helen is also N. Ireland’s first Chief Scientific and Technology Advisor, and across her portfolio of roles, she is committed to accelerating research and innovation to grow a new Life Sciences RNA industry in Northern Ireland.
Professor Nicholas Dunne
Professor Margaret Topping
Professor Helen McCarthy
CSO & Co-Founder
Chair of Biomedical Engineering,
Dublin City University
Nicholas has over two decades of experience at the academia/industry interface, with invaluable expertise in translating academic research into marketed devices attuned to industry needs. His patents have resulted in two orthopaedic cement-mixing systems for bone repai
CSO & Co-Founder
Chair of Biomedical Engineering,
Dublin City University
Nicholas has over two decades of experience at the academia/industry interface, with invaluable expertise in translating academic research into marketed devices attuned to industry needs. His patents have resulted in two orthopaedic cement-mixing systems for bone repair which have been used in >16,000 procedures globally since 2012 and have generated millions in sales. Nicholas brings to XapHe enormous knowledge in product design.
Professor Margaret Topping
Professor Margaret Topping
Professor Margaret Topping
Chair of Board
Chair of Language & Communication, Queen’s University Belfast
Margaret has extensive experience in leading Boards and ensuring robust financial management. From 2019-2024, she was Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Turnaround Project which established two social enterprises grounded in the principles of inclusive innovatio
Chair of Board
Chair of Language & Communication, Queen’s University Belfast
Margaret has extensive experience in leading Boards and ensuring robust financial management. From 2019-2024, she was Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Turnaround Project which established two social enterprises grounded in the principles of inclusive innovation. Margaret is also skilled in the promotion of interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration, partnering with governments, businesses and 3rd sector organisations, both locally and globally.
