Dr. Fozia Saleem, CEO of Magnitude Biosciences, has been named on the Northern Power Women Awards’ ‘Future List’—a list of powerful and influential women who are acknowledged as change-makers and leaders in their field.
 
Dr. Saleem said: “Over the years, I’ve navigated boardrooms where I was the lone woman, often the youngest, and the only individual of Asian descent. As I’ve matured, I’ve learned to assert myself as an equal in those spaces and it is an honor to be recognized today by the Northern Power Women Awards.”
 
“I don’t believe in treading water; my focus at Magnitude Biosciences remains committed to pushing the boundaries of biotechnology and incremental growth,” she added. “My leadership style is centered on the collective strength of my team. I lead from the front and am surrounded by a team of experts who specialize in their respective fields. Together, we create a powerful force, making our mark in the biotech business world.”

About Magnitude Biosciences

A spin-out from Durham University, Magnitude Biosciences is a specialist Contract Research Organization (CRO) founded in 2018, which has pioneered the use of nematode worms, known as C. elegans, combined with their proprietary WormGazer technology, and transgenics services to offer key insights to accelerate early product development for clients in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and biotech industries.
 
Leveraging the similarities in the form and function of neurons, skin, muscles, and cognitive function between C. elegans and humans, Magnitude Biosciences reduce the need for mammalian testing, de-risk clinical trials, and prioritize successful candidates by generating bioactivity data in a whole model organism for healthy aging, longevity, neurodegeneration, and reproductive health. Its approach offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional in vivo mammalian testing.
 
In June 2023, the company secured a Future Economy Investor Partnerships grant of almost £250,000 from Innovate UK, which was matched by an investment from the North East (ERDF) Innovation Fund Limited Partnership, supported by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Northstar Ventures Limited.
 
Dr. Saleem said the funding is helping to accelerate research and growth.  “As scientists and institutes increasingly look to improve the population’s healthspan – that is, helping a young population age in a way that adds life to their years rather than years to their life – our aim is to become the go-to contract research company for screening thousands of compound libraries and novel lifestyle products.”