hVIVO is led by a dynamic group of experts in their respective fields who are driving excellence throughout the organisation.
Cathal Friel is a seasoned serial entrepreneur with a long and successful history and to date has listed five companies on the London Stock Exchange. Cathal serves as Chair and co-founder of hVIVO plc (formerly named Open Orphan plc), where he brings extensive experience in successfully growing public companies, particularly in navigating through M&A transactions. Cathal is also co-founder and Chairman of Poolbeg Pharma plc, a publicly listed biopharmaceutical company which was demerged from hVIVO plc in 2021. Cathal also co-founded and sits on the Board of European Green Transition plc, which listed on London Stock Exchange in April 2024. Cathal co-founded Amryt Pharma plc which listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2016 and dual listed on Nasdaq in 2020 and was later sold to Chiesi Farmaceutici for $1.48bn in 2023. Prior to that, he was co-founder and Chairman of Fastnet Oil & Gas plc, which listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2011. In 2001, Cathal was part of the team that successfully established Merrion Stockbrokers in Dublin. Following Merrion’s trade sale in 2006, he founded Raglan Capital which is renowned for building in-house companies that are listed on the public stock markets. Cathal was a finalist in the international category of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2020.
Mo is CEO of hVIVO with over 25 years of experience in clinical research and the CRO industry. Mo has worked as a consultant assisting CROs to develop growth strategies and helping prepare companies for future expansion, both organic and through M&A activity. In addition, Mo worked with Private Equity firms providing insight in identifying potential targets and conducting due diligence in preparation for M&A activity. Prior to this Mo had a variety of senior roles at Pharm-Olam where he played a pivotal role in growing a small niche clinical monitoring business to a global full-service CRO with offices across all continents. In his time at Pharm-Olam Mo had leading roles in Clinical Operations, Project Management, Business Development and Executive Management functions. As a key member of the Executive Team Mo participated in the successful sale of the company in 2017, delivering substantial returns to its shareholders. Prior to this he worked at Innovex and Quintiles (IQVIA).
Stephen is a chartered accountant with over 25 years of experience in a range of leadership positions in industries covering publishing, technology, exhibitions, and clinical research. The roles have covered both small to large international listed businesses, providing strong technical and commercial experience. Prior to joining hVIVO, he worked in Thomson Reuters for eleven years in various senior roles. He did his articles with Deloitte following the completion of an Honours Degree in Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Cape Town.
Andrew first studied as a virologist at the University of Warwick before then furthering his education with postgraduate studies in influenza replication at Oxford University. Since then he has applied his scientific knowledge in a commercial setting. After working as part of a multidisciplinary R&D team developing nuclear medicine research tools at GE Healthcare, he then returned to the field of virology to work for hVIVO, an industry-leading service provider of human viral challenge studies (controlled human infection studies). Andrew is now considered an expert in human viral challenge studies having played key roles in the development of influenza, RSV and HRV models at hVIVO. He has overseen the design and conduct of numerous antiviral and vaccine product efficacy studies and now works as Chief Scientific Officer, leading scientific strategy for the company as well as providing consultancy both internally and externally to hVIVO’s clients and collaborators on challenge study design and data interpretation. In addition, he was PI on a recent successfully completed DARPA-sponsored research project to utilise the challenge model to identity human biomarkers and algorithms prognostic of influenza contagiousness.
Adam brings over 18 years’ experience working in a number of roles in the Pharmaceutical and CRO industry, including project management and laboratory leadership. His love for biological sciences started from a young age and was cemented after graduating from Anglia Ruskin University in Biomedical Sciences whilst working in the labs at Huntingdon Life Sciences. There his skills for operational leadership were honed whilst working on global business change and strategy projects, before he moved on to more senior roles elsewhere. Adam joined hVIVO in 2014, where he has implemented a number of productivity and growth improvements, with a focus on operational delivery, business growth and personnel development.
Mariya has worked for hVIVO since 2014 in various roles including Viral Challenge Physician, Senior Physician/ Principal Investigator, Associate Medical Director and has been appointed in March 2021 as Medical Director. Since qualification in 1996 at the Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria Mariya specialized in General (Internal) Medicine. Mariya have wide experience in oncology, hematology, rheumatology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and Chronic & Preventative Care; both in Bulgaria and the UK. She is on the GMC Specialist Register for General (Internal) Medicine, and has a current ALS certificate. Mariya is an experienced pharmaceutical physician; this expertise extends to RSV challenges, Influenza, HRV and SARS-CoV-2. As PI, Mariya has been responsible for many clinical trials including RSV, SARS-CoV-2 characterisation and vaccine trials. She has developed and overseen clinical development for clients including safety and medical monitoring. She also regularly trains, supervises and supports staff and investigators.
Teja brings 12 years’ experience of working in a number of QA GCP roles in the Clinical research & CRO industry. She has extensive experience in conducting GCP & GCLP audits, supplier audits and hosting external inspections. She has led multiple projects involving improvement of existing processes and systems, implementation of GCP compliant standards within business and regulatory gap analysis. She has worked at hVIVO since 2016 and was appointed as Head of QA in 2021. Previously she worked as a GCP Compliance manager at Institute of Cancer Research/Royal Marsden Hospital. Teja is a pharmacist and holds M. Tech degree in Bioprocess Technology and Doctorate degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from University of Mumbai, India.
