From pioneering a new field in an Oxford University spinout, to helping to transform lives as part of a global commercial-stage biotech company, Immunocore’s Chief Technology Officer and Site Head, Dr Annelise Vuidepot, speaks to the Milton Park team ahead of World Cancer Day and International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Hi Annelise! Please tell us a bit about yourself…
I came to the UK in 1998 after completing my PhD. At the time, my English was non-existent, which is challenging for a scientist. My plan was to do a post doctorate for a couple of years, return to France and join the industry because I already knew academia wasn’t for me. Back then, biotech wasn’t a big industry in France.
What do you enjoy about working at Immunocore?
What drew me to Immunocore, which was known as Avidex at the time, was the type of work I would be doing. I knew it was a fully lab-based role, heavily focused on biochemistry, which was exactly what I wanted to pursue.
What inspired you to pursue a career in drug discovery and development?
When you pioneer a new field, you don’t have anyone to learn from, it’s all trial and error. About 90% of experiments won’t yield the desired results but the satisfaction comes from breaking new ground and doing something entirely novel.
I’ve always been driven by the goal of contributing to treatments that save lives or significantly extend them.
So after two years of postdoc, I thought my English was decent enough that I could start looking for a job.
What does your role at Immunocore involve?
At Immunocore, I work in two roles. As Chief Technology Officer, I’m responsible for overseeing our drug discovery pipeline and advancing our technology through research. Additionally, I serve as the Site Head for our main facility here at Milton Park; we also have two sites in the United States.
Do you have a career highlight?
The most impactful moment in my 24 years here was seeing the real-world impact of our work.
One memory I vividly remember was the first time I reviewed a patient’s scans at different points in time and saw the tumour shrinking. That was incredibly emotional and deeply fulfilling; it confirmed that the work we were doing was making a real difference in someone’s life.
Are there any exciting developments at Immunocore that you’re able to share?
At first, our technology was designed to develop potential cancer treatments, which led to us pioneering the world’s first T cell receptor (TCR) therapy. These days, our pipeline also includes investigational therapies for infectious and autoimmune diseases, such as HIV and type 1 diabetes, in addition to multiple cancer indications.
With our new programmes diversifying the disease areas we’re able to investigate, I’m hugely excited for the next few years and the opportunities they may bring forward.
What do you enjoy about being located at Milton Park?
When Immunocore first started out as an Oxford University spinout, Avidex, Milton Park was an obvious choice because of its location. Throughout our journey here on the Park, it’s been hugely beneficial remaining close by to academic centres, while Milton Park itself has offered us the chance to collaborate with other biotechs of all sizes.
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