Our People

Andrew Tyrrell

Head of Chemistry

Andrew joined Dextra Laboratories in 2010 having previously worked for Onyx Scientific. He has a broad background in synthetic organic chemistry and process development having studied at the University of Oxford for both his undergraduate masters and doctoral degrees. He completed his DPhil in organic chemistry under the supervision of Jeremy Robertson in 2008. Andrew heads the  chemistry department and has responsibility for the GMP facility in Reading.

Helen Gale

Group Leader

Helen joined Dextra Laboratories in 2006. She has a background in synthetic organic chemistry and has wide experience in the field of carbohydrate and glycoconjugate synthesis. She completed a master’s degree at Bristol where she got a taste for the world of carbohydrate chemistry in Tim Gallagher’s laboratory. She went on to complete a doctoral degree at Southampton under the supervision of Bruno Linclau. Helen is responsible for leading the chemistry team and production of our catalogue products in Reading.

Neil Blakiston

Head of Quality and Facilities Management

Neil joined Dextra Laboratories in 2008. He has 40 years of experience in quality related roles. He completed a BSc in Natural Sciences followed by a MSc in Analytical Chemistry and gained diplomas in Earth Sciences and Pollution Control. His previous experience was mainly with Eli Lilly, including manufacturing, packaging, clinical trials, pharmacovigilance, validation (equipment, cleaning and computer systems) and laboratory management. Neil is responsible for site quality, leading the quality team and ensuring the smooth running of the facility at Reading.

Sunidhi Gadi

Administration Assistant

Sunidhi joined Dextra Laboratories in 2020. With a career spanning more than 10 years in administration, she possesses a comprehensive academic foundation in computer science, holding both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Computer Applications (BCA & MCA).Sunidhi has extensive knowledge of the Dextra catalogue products we offer, as well as being the vital first point of contact for customers and team members, ensuring professional and timely communication across the organisation.