Laurence Barker

Laurence joined SV in 2016 and brings over 20 years of venture, biotech and pharma experience to SV, having played an active role in setting up the Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF). He has supported the funding and formation of numerous DDF companies developing transformational new medicines for dementia, and currently represents DDF on the boards of AstronauTx, AviadoBio, Cerevance, Endlyz and Therini Bio.

Prior to joining DDF, Laurence was Head of Investment Management in Worldwide Business Development at GSK where he was responsible for managing GSK’s venture investment portfolio, covering both direct equity positions as well as a venture fund-of-funds portfolio. In addition, he led licensing transactions for the pharma R&D business. Prior to GSK, Laurence worked in business development at biotech companies Syntaxin and MorphoSys.

Academic Credentials

Laurence received his Masters degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Tübingen, Germany, and an MBA from Cambridge.