Magnitude Biosciences promotes Sara Leighton to Chief Operating Officer

NETPark-based Magnitude Biosciences has promoted Sara Leighton to Chief Operating Officer, recognising her contribution to the company’s development over the past four years.

Sara moves into the role from her previous position as Head of Operations. She has played an important part in strengthening the systems, processes and quality standards supporting Magnitude’s growth, while contributing to its fundraising and grant activity.

Her work has also covered company culture and staff wellbeing, helping to build the operational foundations needed as Magnitude expands its drug-discovery services and technology.

More than a decade of operational experience

Sara joined Magnitude with more than ten years of experience spanning continuous improvement, quality, production, and health and safety. She has a BSc in Biology and has previously worked across the medical device, consumer goods and animal-feed sectors, with responsibility for several sites.

In her new role, Sara will help lead the company through its next stage of development following its recent £1.3 million funding round.

Magnitude Biosciences is a Durham University spinout based at NETPark. The specialist contract research organisation develops technology to help pharmaceutical, biotechnology and health and nutrition companies evaluate potential treatments and ingredients using C. elegans nematode worms.

Its VivoScan™ platform combines whole-organism testing with advanced imaging, automation, machine learning and AI to generate data earlier in the research process.

Congratulations to Sara on her well-deserved promotion.