| Alan
Walton, Scientist, Venture Capitalist and
Adventurer has led the American immigrant
dream of rags to riches while making significant
contributions to life science in the United
States. |
| Born
in England and immigrating to the United States
with his Ph.D. in Chemistry at age 24, Alan
was a Research Associate and Lecturer at Indiana
University and professor of Chemistry/Molecular
Biology at Case Western Reserve University
and Harvard Medical School with short stints
at Oxford University and the Weizmann Institute
in Israel. [see Academic] |
| While
he was a professor at Case Western Reserve
University he was a vice president of the
Biophysical Society where he met and later
became a science advisor to Governor then
President Carter. He worked primarily on university/industry
technology transfer (translational medicine).
[see Politics] |
| After
leaving academics in 1981 he founded University
Genetics, a technology enhancement company
and one of the first biotechnology companies.
When he left in 1987, the Company (public
symbol: UGEN), had over 100 employees and
had returned 60X the investment of the "angel"
investors. [see Business] |
| While
acting as President and CEO of UGEN, Alan
co-wrote a series of books analyzing the then
public and private biotechnology companies
in the Biotechnology Yearbook (Elsevier) (1983,
1985, 1987) which led to his advising several
venture capital firms in the biotechnology
field and eventually to his transition as
a Partner to Oxford Partners. Because of the
success of the biotechnology portfolio of
Oxford Partners, it was renamed Oxford Bioscience
Partners in 1993 (OBP). By 2007 OBP had more
than $1 billion under management. [see Finance]
|
| During
his later years with Oxford, Alan renewed
his interest in extreme adventures, particularly
involved with flying aerobatic prop and jet
aircraft (which he had began in his teens
with the British Royal Air Force Reserve),
skydiving, etc. and is one of the Founders
of Virgin Galactic, planning to rocket into
space in 2009. [see Adventure] |
| In
2007 he renewed his lifelong interest in the
public advancement of bioscience by becoming
the Founder and President of the National
Committee on Bioscience Innovation, whose
objective is to see cutting edge biomedical
inventions (particularly pharmaceutical/disease
innovation) developed commercially for public
use. [see Public Service] |
| He
lives in Westport, Connecticut with his wife.
They have four children and four grandchildren. |
| How
to reach: awalton@oxbio.com
or call 203 341 2109 |
