Meet our Centre Team
Carla Owen
Chief Executive
Carla is the Chief Executive of the Centre for Human Specific Research. With 20+ years’ experience of working in the charity sector, Carla has specialised in charity-corporate partnerships and works collaboratively with stakeholders across industries to create high impact change for people and animals.
Isobel Martin
Public Affairs Director
Isobel is the Public Affairs Director at Animal Free Research UK. Having graduated with a languages degree from the University of Oxford, she has spent her career in the third sector, focusing on both leadership and advocacy roles. She has extensive experience of working constructively with policymakers to secure progress.
Dr Ross Dobie
Director of Research Engagement
Ross earned his PhD at the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, and continued as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Centre for Inflammation Research at the Queen’s Medical Research Institute. He later became Senior, then Principal Scientist at Concept Life Sciences, a Contract Research Organisation, before joining the Centre for Human-Specific Research. With over 10 years of academic and industry experience, Ross has witnessed first-hand the significant advancements made in human-specific research and its benefits to medical science. As Director of Research Engagement, he leads service delivery and content for the Centre.
Dr Jonathan Sheard
Science Community Manager
Jonathan gained his PhD in regenerative medicine using human derived stem cells at Aston University before spending 2 years as a postdoc. He then joined UPM Biomedicals as a Consultant Application Scientist. While there he regularly encountered the issue of animal use and animal-derived products in research, along with the challenges involved in transitioning away from them. As our Science Community Manager, Jonathan is helping to grow and support our human-specific research community – from regional community events to our new online virtual forum, and everything in between.
Amie Lovell
Marketing Manager
Amie has over 9 years’ experience in developing and implementing successful marketing strategies to drive brand awareness, lead generation, and growth, primarily for a B2B audience. As our Marketing Manager, she creates and delivers the marketing plan and content plan, designs all artwork and resources for the Centre, is our voice on LinkedIn, and is a big support on event delivery. Amie is proud to put her experience to good use in supporting the acceleration of progress in human-relevant research so that better outcomes exist for both animals and patients.
Imogen Ahlquist
Community Marketing Manager
Imogen looks after marketing and engagement for our community at the Centre for Human Specific Research. Before this, she spent the last five years in various support roles at Animal Free Research UK.
Emily Cunningham
Media and PR Manager
Emily has more than 15 years’ experience in communications, with extensive experience in the charity sector and using media and storytelling to raise awareness, influence change and engage audiences. She is passionate about creating a better future for animals and is proud to support the Centre for Human Specific Research in championing innovative, human-specific approaches to medical research.
Dr Nayani Pramanik
Commercial Partnerships Manager
Nayani earned her PhD in Immunology at University College London, before building a career in the life sciences Industry. She has spent over 6 years in market research execution, consulting for big Pharma and product managing over 150+ suppliers R&D reagents for a Life Science Distribution Company in Oxford. Drawing on her scientific grounding in immunology and her track record of turning technical insight into commercial impact, Nayani will work with suppliers and the research community to accelerate the adoption of recombinant antibodies as the new standard in life science research.
Richard Devany
Events Officer
Richard has over 15 years’ experience of working in the events industry, having been involved in everything from music festivals to conferences and exhibitions. In his most recent years, he has been focusing on delivering events in the charity sector.
Aaron Davidson
Public Affairs Manager
Aaron is the Public Affairs Manager at Animal Free Research UK and has several years of positive experience working within Parliament to drive change. Over the course of his career Aaron has worked with a wide variety of stakeholders, organised bespoke events, and motivated his colleagues to help achieve their goals.
Dr Gemma Davies
Science Policy Advisor
Gemma earned her PhD in cancer immunology at the European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute at Cardiff University, using human-specific methods throughout her research. As Science Policy Advisor at Animal Free Research UK, she engages with government, scientists, the public and other stakeholders to increase the adoption of innovative approaches and accelerate the transition away from animal testing.
Ashley Lednor
Public Affairs and Advocacy Officer
Ashley is the Public Affairs and Advocacy Officer at Animal Free Research UK. She monitors parliamentary activity, supports engagement with MPs and stakeholders, and helps deliver the organisation’s work through events, briefings and digital content.