Announcing Cengiz Tarhan’s retirement from UCLB

Having spent 30 years at UCL, 25 of those at UCLB, Cengiz Tarhan announces his intention to retire, stepping down from his role as Managing Director of UCLB at the end of the October 2018.

In 1993 Cengiz established UCLB to commercialise research from UCL for the benefit of society. He built a team that combines excellent commercial tech transfer expertise and legal know-how, with a deep regard for and understanding of UCL. Under his leadership the company has grown from strength to strength, and is now highly regarded for aiding the development of uniquely valuable technologies, particularly in the field of medical research.

Cengiz has been personally involved in many of UCL’s successful spinouts and licence transactions. Some early achievements include the flotation of PolyMASC back in 1995 which was the first university spinout ever to list on AIM, the Simulect licence with Novartis in 2001, and the sale of Map of Medicine in 2005 and Stanmore Implants Worldwide Ltd in 2008.

More recently, the £50m UCL Technology Fund was launched from third party institutions. And just this summer, three UCL spinouts were making headlines for receiving a substantial amount of investment following two initial public offerings worth £177 million ($235 million) combined and one Series B funding round of £88 million. This record investment in Autolus Therapeutics, MeiraGTx and Freeline Therapeutics will boost their ability to make significant headway in bringing cell, gene and regenerative (advanced) therapies to market and transforming outcomes for patients.

UCLB has a bright future thanks to Cengiz.

We thank Cengiz for his immense contribution to UCL and UCLB, and wish him very well in retirement.

Dr Anne Lane,UCLB’s Executive Director, has been appointed as Interim Managing Director from 1^st November 2018.