Pharmacologist in Phrame - Dr Mark Soave

 Interviewed by Dr Aisah Aubdool 
 

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in industry? 

I wanted to gain an understanding of how new therapies are made and use the knowledge and skills I picked up in my PhD and postdoctoral position to help develop new drugs. Joining a smaller biotech company such as OMass Therapeutics - with around 30 employees at the time - allowed for this experience whilst keeping the core values of collaboration and teamwork at the heart of drug discovery. It’s been great seeing the company grow (more than double in size) in the few years I’ve been with them and be part of that development. I was also keen to work with Prof. Steven Charlton and Dr. Karolina Gherbi in their team at OMass Therapeutics and further expand my knowledge of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) drug discovery.
 

2. How was your postgraduate education training in Molecular Pharmacology?

I started my PhD at the University of Nottingham with limited experience in molecular pharmacology, having studied Cell Biology as an undergraduate at Durham University. I remember having a few lectures on cell signalling cascades and GPCRs and really enjoying them, but I only learned the background pharmacological theory when I was a PhD student. I have to thank Prof. Steve Hill for taking the time to go through his ‘Pharmacology 101’ crash course with me in my first year – it was so good for building a foundation on the pharmacological principles.
 

3. How did you choose your PhD project and what did you enjoy the most during your PhD?

I originally applied for a different PhD project at the University of Nottingham focussing on the neuroscience of hearing. But I quickly realised that the project was not the direction I wanted my career and research to be headed. I took a year out and worked as a research assistant for a biotech company whilst I applied for the PhD. I was successful in securing a position and worked with Prof. Jeanette Woolard and Prof. Steve Hill on the molecular pharmacology of an antibody against the β1-adrenoceptor. I really enjoyed the in vitro techniques I learned, and how these sat at the interface between traditional small molecule drug discovery and biologics. The best experience of my PhD  was the lab environment at Nottingham – it was a great group of principal investigators, postdocs, and PhD students to be part of.
 

4. Did you have a role model who influenced your decision to work in science, specialising in pharmacology? 

Having not trained in pharmacology before my PhD, I wasn’t as aware of the “greats” in our field. However, since joining  the pharmacology community, I would say I’ve been fortunate enough to work with great people who have been role models to me. 
 

5. What would you consider your greatest achievement so far? 

I am very proud to have been nominated as a Fellow of the BPS in 2024. It’s a great honour and one which I would consider my greatest achievement to date.
 

6. Tell us about your current research (if you can)

I am currently working on the lead program at OMass Therapeutics developing a small molecule antagonist to treat an orphan endocrine disorder called Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. The focus of this program has been to increase the receptor (a GPCR) residency time of our molecules to make them resistant to competition by the endogenous hormone, allowing for the compound to treat all patients, including those with very high adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels. On a practical level, I have performed binding and functional assays, as well as designing in vivo experiments to characterise the lead compounds as they progress through preclinical studies. Currently, I’m gaining experience in drug development and learning more about toxicological and safety studies which are required ahead of first-in-human and later clinical studies. This is an invaluable experience, made possible by the environment OMass have created.
 

7. How important are animal models in pharmacological research?

In my opinion, animal models currently represent an important aspect of pharmacology in that they capture how a pharmacological agent can affect its target in the wider context of a whole system biology, pharmacokinetics, absorption/distribution/metabolism/excretion (ADME), and the potential for off-target sites of action is critical for the development of new therapies and ensuring a therapy is safe for humans. The work also allows for a deeper understanding as to the underlying biology behind diseases and how pharmacology can be used to combat these. However, the use of animal models has to always be carefully considered and justified, with proper due diligence performed. Recent advances in New Approach Modalities offer the exciting potential to move away from the use of animal studies for drug discovery, particularly for toxicological studies, which would be a huge step in the right direction to reducing the number of animals used in research

8. You were awarded the Bill Bowman Prize Lectureship in 2020. How was this experience? 

It was a great honour to be awarded the prestigious Bill Bowman Prize Lectureship by the BPS. It focussed around the postdoctoral research I had been performing using nanobodies to interrogate the chemokine GPCR CXCR4 with a range of approaches. As the award was given during the height of COVID lockdown, I was sadly unable to visit any universities or research institutes in-person. However, I did deliver my presentation online at the BPS’s Pharmacology 2020 conference, as well as at the William Harvey Research Institute (QMUL) and the University of Cambridge. I found it really enjoyable talking with others about the work I’d carried out and discussing the future implications of the project.
 

9. What do you enjoy doing outside work?

I love going for long walks around the countryside with my wife Yasmin and our dog, Willow. Those days help me relax and focus on what’s really important.

Alongside quality family time, I love music and those who know me know I love to sing. I sing as part of a barbershop choir and a quartet, and have been fortunate enough to travel internationally to compete with both groups. Our barbershop choir (MaleVox, based in Birmingham) won Midlands Choir of the Year for 2024, an achievement we’re particularly proud of. Additionally, my quartet ‘The 1234’ recently won the national quartet championships earlier in May 2025, something which I’m absolutely delighted about!

     

10. What are your thoughts on mentorship and how would you choose a mentor?

I see mentorship as an important part of career development, not only for developing practical skills such as a particular technique or analysis, but also for expanding your professional network. A good mentor will also be a confidant and sounding board to touch base with ahead of any key decisions. I’m fortunate enough to have had very good and conscientious mentors so far who have offered their advice and guidance. As for choosing a mentor, I think it’s important that you get on with the person and that there’s no clash of personalities. Then I would encourage an open conversation with the prospective mentor and ask if they would be willing to help guide you in your career. 
 

11. What would be your advice for the next generation of early-career researchers?

Keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to say ‘yes’ to new opportunities. The more you say ‘yes,’ the more paths open up to you. Be careful of saying ‘yes’ too much though (take it from me!), as then it might become a challenge to manage your time. But you don’t know what the future will hold, and having an open mind will allow you to seize the opportunities as they arise. Alongside my day job at OMass Therapeutics, I also sit as the Chair of the Early Career Professional group at ELRIG, a not-for-profit organisation for life sciences and drug discovery. I would always recommend that any early career researchers check out the resources we have on the ELRIG website (www.elrig.org) and please reach out if I can help in any way.
 

12. What are your top tips for networking?

Networking can be a daunting prospect; I fully appreciate that it can be hard to approach people at conferences or events without a proper introduction, but most people are friendly and are more than happy to talk about their work. After all, it’s a nice ego boost to the person you’re talking to for them to hear you enjoyed their presentation or their work. Tell someone that you enjoyed their poster/talk/answers in a panel (as long as you genuinely did!) and it will likely lead to a good conversation and you’ll make a good impression. If you feel less  confident, go with a friend or two to help ease the conversation. Networking is a skill that takes energy and effort to develop, but like any other skill, with work and time comes proficiency. 
 

13. Who do you admire the most in the world of pharmacology?

There are a lot of pharmacologists who are doing amazing research discovering new structures, uncovering new modalities to tackle diseases, and advancing our understanding of biology, so this question is really hard to answer. But I am very much in awe of Prof. Jillian Baker at the University of Nottingham. She is an honorary Consultant in Respiratory Medicine as well as a Professor of Drug Discovery and Respiratory Medicine in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham. Prof. Baker’s work ethic is second-to-none, as demonstrated by her publications and her unwavering championing of patients clinically, but she also is gracious with her time and is always happy to talk with you about your research and how the project is developing. Prof. Baker was called up by the NHS in a big way during the COVID pandemic, having to put aside her academic research to prioritise her role as a Consultant in Respiratory Medicine, in a role which kept her incredibly busy for a number of years. Despite this, she still has an infectious curiosity about pharmacology and uncovering the science behind therapies. 
 
Rapid-Fire Round with Dr Mark Soave: 
 

• Favourite Movie?  Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
• Favourite Scientist?  Bill Nye the Science Guy (seriously)
• Sweet or savoury? Definitely savoury
• Tea or Coffee? Coffee 😊
• In vitro or In vivo? In vitro

Comments

If you are a British Pharmacological Society member, please sign in to post comments.