Dr Mark McHale is Chief Operating Officer and Founder of ASLAN Pharmaceuticals. Previously, Mark was Head of Molecular Sciences at AstraZeneca Respiratory & Inflammation, and in this role supported small molecule and therapeutic antibody projects from target identification to phase 2a. Mark was a core member of the respiratory strategy research team for half a decade and personally led all new target identification in asthma. In 2006, Mark led a $136M investment in the AZ/Dynavax collaboration to produce inhaled TLR9 agonists for the treatment of asthma and led preclinical / phase 1 projects. Previously, Mark worked for seven years at SmithKline Beecham, where he supported lead optimisation projects in serotonin and dopamine receptors as well as working on leptin and the PPAR gamma agonist Avandia with Dr Steve Smith. In 1994, he transferred to the Neuroscience Department working with Dr Jackie Hunter, during which time he set up two new molecular science laboratories and formed a successful team to support molecular analysis of stroke and pain in order to characterise disease and identify new targets from a large strategic collaboration SmithKline had initiated with Human Genome Sciences. Mark trained at the University of London and University of East Anglia UK in Molecular Biology.

molecular science