Meet the team
The BRITE team brings together expertise from several higher education institutions across the Liverpool City Region.
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Dr Becky Jones-Phillips
As principal investigator leading the BRITE programme, my role is to ensure successful delivery of the programme. Ensuring we achieve the programme’s impact of creating an end-to-end biologics development pathway in the Liverpool City Region. As well as the associated biomanufacturing innovation ecosystem to support long-term sustainability, and associated economic growth for the region.
- Principal investigator
- becky.jones-phillips@lstmed.ac.uk
Dr Ezekiel Boro
As Head of Innovation Capacity Strengthening, my role is to strategically oversee the E&I team’s efforts to bolster translational research capacity by developing, implementing or supporting ICS projects and initiatives such as BRITE in collaboration with our partners and other global health stakeholders.
- Head of Innovation Capacity Strengthening (ICS)
- Ezekiel.boro@lstmed.ac.uk
Dr Lisa Luu
Experienced programme manager and infectious diseases researcher, with an interest in maximising value creation from biological research outputs. I am also pursuing part-time study and will complete my MBA in summer 2026.
- BRITE Programme Lead
- lisa.luu@lstmed.ac.uk
Professor Jonathan Ball
My work focuses on developing biologics based antivirals and vaccines. Through BRITE, we help researchers move discoveries towards clinical use. I’m committed to championing the Liverpool City Region and the Northwest as we build the biomanufacturing capacity needed to deliver real health and economic benefits.
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Professor of Molecular Virology
- jonathan.ball@lstmed.ac.uk
Charles McLoughlin
Coordinating the BRITE network to drive growth of the Liverpool City Region biologics ecosystem, while amplifying and strengthening LSTM’s regional, national and global partnerships in biologics development.
- Innovation Partnership Manager
- charles.mcloughlin@lstmed.ac.uk
Dr Matthew Kelbrick
With a PhD in Molecular Biology, I specialise in the development and translation of life-science research, guiding innovations from initial discovery through to commercialisation and successful adoption by end-users.
- Biologics Translational Innovation Manager
- matthew.kelbrick@lstmed.ac.uk
Callum Gamble
Responsible for coordinating and managing key components of the BRITE programme, overseeing project operations, and serving as the primary point of contact for programme partners.
- BRITE Programme Officer
- callum.gamble@lstmed.ac.uk
Adeola Moradeyo
As the Finance Lead for the BRITE program, I oversee the monitoring and management of the BRITE grant, while adopting a business partnering approach to support program partners and the broader program team.
- Finance Business Partner
- adeola.moradeyo@lstmed.ac.uk
University of Liverpool
Professor Neill Liptrott
I am the lead for Work Package 2 within BRITE and the lead for the University of Liverpool’s involvement. I oversee the scientific and technical delivery of Work Package 2, focusing on the feasibility of biomanufacturing with respect to safety, metrology, and harmonisation. Having worked in the complex medicines space for the past 15 years, I coordinate academic and industry inputs to ensure outputs are technically rigorous, comparable across sites, and aligned with regulatory expectations.
- Chair in Pharmacology & Immunocompatibility
- neill.liptrott@liverpool.ac.uk
Dr Makeba Lawson-Williams
I am the Biomanufacturing Strategy Manager for Work Package 2, based at the University of Liverpool. I have 10 years’ experience spanning pharmaceutical manufacturing and life science consulting. Within the project, I inform biomanufacturing strategy, bringing industrial insight and regulatory alignment to biologics development and scale-up feasibility.
- Biomanufacturing Strategy Manager
- M.Lawson-Williams@liverpool.ac.uk
Edge Hill University
Dr Axel Kaehne
I am the Principal Investigator for the BRITE programme evaluation. I am a Professor of Health Service Research at Edge Hill University and Director of the Evaluation and Policy Analysis Unit. I have led large evaluations commissioned by NHS England and other regional providers. My expertise includes programme evaluation, mixed‑methods research, service integration, and policy analysis.
- Professor of Health Services Research
- axel.kaehne@edgehill.ac.uk
Dr Oliver Hamer
I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Evaluation and Policy Analysis Unit at Edge Hill University, as well as the Project Manager for the evaluation of the BRITE programme. I manage and deliver complex evaluations, leading work from initial study conception and design through to data analysis and reporting. I have extensive experience evaluating programmes and services across the public, third, and not‑for‑profit sectors.
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow & Project Manager
- Oliver.Hamer@edgehill.ac.uk
Liverpool John Moores University
Professor Andy Shaw
TBC
- Professor of Microwave Technology and Director of the Built Environment and Sustainable Technology (BEST) Research Institute
- a.shaw@ljmu.ac.uk
Dr Kehinde Ross
I am a Reader in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Liverpool John Moores University, working on the development of RNA-based interventions for complex diseases. My roles within BRITE focus on the manufacture and delivery of nucleic acid biologics within Work Package 2, as well as horizon scanning for clinical trial opportunities.
- Reader (Associate Professor) in Molecular and Cellular Biology
- O.K.ross@ljmu.ac.uk
Professor Imran Saleem
I am a Professor of Nanomedicine at Liverpool John Moores University, specialising in the development of nanocarrier systems for delivery of biologicals. Within the BRITE project, I am involved in Work Package 2, ensuring that the nanocarrier formulations are both scalable, biologically effective and optimised for real-world applications.
- Professor in Nanomedicine and Leader for the Formulation and Drug Delivery Research Group
- I.Saleem@ljmu.ac.uk