Katie Binley, Ikarovec
This week on Careers in Discovery we’re with Katie Binley, CSO of Ikarovec, a gene therapy company tackling chronic eye diseases like geographic atrophy and age-related macular degeneration. Katie shares Ikarovec’s incredible journey—from starting out in the middle of a pandemic to securing a £5 million funding extension—and how a small, tight-knit team made it all happen. Katie tells us all about the science behind their work, how her career has evolved (including 25 years at Oxford Biomedica), and why stepping out of your comfort zone and creating your own luck are so important. It’s a brilliant conversation full of insights into leadership, innovation, and building something great on a shoestring budget.