Stella Ackrell

Stella Ackrell has over 20 years of work experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. Stella currently holds the position of Vice President Pharmaceutical Development at Destiny Pharma plc, where they started in January 2023. Prior to this, they held various roles at the company, including Senior Director Pharmaceutical Development and Director Pharmaceutical Development-Biologics.

Before joining Destiny Pharma plc, Ackrell worked at Vaccitech from 2019 to 2021 as the Director of Manufacturing and Senior Project Manager. From 2017 to 2018, they were a Senior Project Manager at BerGenBio AS. Stella also worked at Lonza from 2013 to 2017, where they served as a Senior Project Manager and Project Manager.

Earlier in their career, Ackrell held positions at Syntaxin Ltd as a Senior Scientist/Project/Group Leader from 2011 to 2013, and at Vantia Ltd as a Senior Scientist from 2009 to 2011. Stella also worked at Surface Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Serentis Ltd, as a Senior Scientist from 2004 to 2009. Additionally, they were a Senior Associate Scientist at OSI Pharmaceuticals, LLC from 2002 to 2004, and a Research Scientist at Vertex Pharmaceuticals from 2001 to 2001.

Ackrell's career started at the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, where they worked as a Research Scientist from 1995 to 1999. During their time there, they focused on cloning, expressing, and purifying cytochrome P450s, as well as setting up and leading a Molecular Biology core facility.

Throughout their career, Ackrell has demonstrated their expertise in pharmaceutical development, manufacturing, project management, and scientific research.

Stella Ackrell obtained their BSc (Hons) in Applied Biochemistry from Brunel University, where they studied from 1987 to 1991.