Meet the team

Emma is a microbiologist and the author of several publications on the subject. In 2016 Emma and Jeroen were awarded a Discovery Award from the Longitude Prize and NESTA to develop an affordable diagnostic tool to combat antibiotic resistance. This award provided the funding that has resulted in the development of Llusern’s UTI test panel and Lodestar DX platform.

Emma is known for her passion for addressing inequalities in both healthcare and the gender balance in STEM businesses. This conviction has seen her make regular appearances at speaking engagements, on podcasts and national press, TV and radio, including Woman’s Hour on Radio 4.

In 2022 Emma was the recipient of Innovate UK’s prestigious Women in Innovation Award.

emma@llusern.co.uk

Martyn is a senior business professional who joined Llusern in 2022. He has an extensive background in business development, marketing and sales, after a career that started in travel before moving into the world of marketing agencies, retail and ultimately medical diagnostics.

Martyn leads on Llusern’s commercial activities including distribution strategy, marketing and communications and the day to day running of the business.

martyn@llusern.co.uk

Jeroen is a molecular geneticist who received his PhD from the Radboud University in Nijmegen, The Netherlands in 2004. He was then awarded a European Marie Curie Fellowship to work at the University of Cambridge in the Institute of Biotechnology.

Jeroen has over two decades experience in developing and using molecular technology in fundamental and applied research. He co-manages many of Llusern’s research and product development projects, and leads on quality management and regulatory compliance.

jeroen@llusern.co.uk

Ali is a Professor in Biomedical Engineering with a first-class degree in Electronic Engineering. He obtained a PhD in computer science from Queen’s University of Belfast on research looking at applying machine learning to quantitative pathology and cancer diagnosis.

Previously Ali headed the Electronics Department at the University of South Wales for five years, and was a director of Centre for Electronic Product Engineering (CEPE), a commercial consultancy working with clients across various industries.

In addition to his technical expertise around electronics, signal processing and pattern recognition – an area in which he has published over 70 research papers – Ali is passionate about enterprise and real-world innovation. He has been teaching business and project management, leadership and product innovation at USW for many years.

ali@llusern.co.uk

Gary joined Llusern Scientific after a career working in academic laboratories and molecular and point of care diagnostics for more than 25 years. In that time he has managed portfolios of products and overseen the establishment of laboratory production facilities under ISO 13485.

Gary oversees production operations, ensuring that Llusern’s products are made to the highest standards.

Ayako is a Research Scientist who worked as a Senior Research Assistant at the University of South Wales for eight years prior to joining Llusern.

Before joining USW Ayako worked at Pfizer UK as a Clinical Research Associate and at the Max Planck Institute in Germany where she undertook molecular biology research.

ayako@llusern.co.uk

Joanna joined Llusern from Public Health Wales where she worked as an Associate Practitioner in microbiology labs specialising in infectious diseases and AMR. At Llusern she leads on engagement with distributors and supporting sites undertaking clinical evaluations of Lodestar DX and the UTI panel.

Dewi graduated from the University of South Wales with a degree in Applied Bioscience in 2023. Dewi manages Llusern’s assay production and assists Jeroen and Ayako with R&D.

He is a natural problem solver and a never-ending source of very good ideas.

dewi@llusern.co.uk

Ralf is a highly experienced IVD engineer who has 15 years experience working at point-of-care specialists DiaSpect Medical and EKF Diagnostics. He is also a managing shareholder of Straubtec, an industrial machinery manufacturer in Sailauf, Germany.

Andrew is a property developer and investor. He is a Director of Fastnet Property Investment as well as Llusern Scientific.

Dr Abdul Ghafur is a Consultant in Infectious Diseases at a leading hospital in Chennai, India. He is highly active in developing India’s policy for antibiotic use and is a frequent contributor on the subject in the Indian media and a regular speaker at congresses .

Prior to his current role Dr Ghafur worked as a registrar at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, London and also at the Ministry of Health in the United Arab Emirates. Dr Ghafur was a member of the judging panel of the Longitude Prize on AMR and has a keen interest in working with start-up medtech businesses.