Catherine Owczarek

Providing senior scientific leadership and strategic guidance across drug development programs, with focus on translational strategy, independent data and program assessment, preclinical and early clinical development input, regulatory scientific support, scientific communication for boards and investors, and oversight of external partners.

I maintain an Honorary Senior Fellow appointment to support ongoing collaborative research with external academic partners, including the team led by Prof. Angel Lopez in Adelaide. My contribution focuses on structural analyses and mechanism‑of‑action studies of cytokine receptor complexes in mouse models, providing scientific input into experimental design, data interpretation and project discussions. I also offer informal mentorship and help strengthen links between academic groups and translational research activities with industry relevance.

Supporting biotech, academic and translational groups across biologics, small molecules and emerging modalities. Providing big‑pharma‑trained rigour in designing discovery‑to‑clinic pathways, strengthening data packages and guiding cross‑functional integration. Advising on preclinical strategy, translational workflows, GLP tox planning and FIH readiness aligned with national priorities in Ambitious Australia.

As Director and founder of the Recombinant Proteins Group, I built a protein engineering and biologics capability from the ground up to support discovery through preclinical development. I established scalable mammalian and insect expression platforms and digital reagent‑management systems that removed bottlenecks and accelerated early‑stage research. I provided scientific leadership for CSL311, guiding strategy and data packages that enabled Phase 1 readiness and delivered major efficiency gains. My team contributed critical reagents and analytical work supporting the successful registration of Andembry. I expanded glyco‑engineering and protein‑engineering capabilities, including enhancing recombinant plasma proteins such as haptoglobin and hemopexin with improved in vitro and in vivo performance. I supported novel mAb discovery through target evaluation, engineering strategy and early mechanistic studies. Across Immunology, Respiratory, Hematology and Cardiovascular research, I resolved complex development challenges and delivered decision‑ready data. I built strategic academic and industry collaborations to expand capabilities, while driving consistent scientific standards to ensure early assets were built on robust, scalable foundations.

I led the modernisation of CSL biologics research infrastructure by establishing the company’s first biologics registration system, setting up dedicated recombinant protein expression capabilities and transitioning teams into a purpose‑built Bio21 laboratory environment from the CSL site at Parkville. I introduced next‑generation mammalian expression platforms, integrated single‑use bioreactor technologies and forged strategic partnerships across industry and academia—including with WEHI and Thermo Fisher—to expand scientific reach and technology access.

I led antibody discovery and recombinant protein expression teams, strengthening foundational capabilities by advancing epitope‑mapping approaches and establishing scalable microbial expression platforms that supported diverse research needs. I developed robust, rapid‑turnaround mammalian transfection systems that enabled efficient early‑stage screening and faster characterisation of candidate molecules, accelerating decision‑making and improving workflow reliability.

I conducted research on the interferon system, contributing to fundamental insights that underpin today’s leading interferon‑targeted therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. I expanded biologics expression capabilities by exploring alternative platforms such as yeast, strengthening the technical breadth that I later applied in industry biologics programs. I supervised PhD students and Honours students, developing emerging scientific talent and fostering a collaborative research culture. I served as Secretary of the Victorian branch of the Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR), contributing to scientific advocacy and supporting the broader research community.

I worked within the Cancer Research Unit at WEHI, gaining early exposure to oncology while contributing to foundational cytokine biology. My research focused on LIF and the LIF receptor, leading to the identification of key epitopes that advanced understanding of this signalling axis. I had the privilege of working alongside pioneers in the field—including Don Metcalf, Nic Nicola, and Nick Gough—which shaped my grounding in cytokine biology and informed much of my subsequent work in immunology and therapeutic discovery. I was part of the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Cellular Growth Factors, collaborating across academia and industry to progress cytokine research with translational impact. My work was featured on the cover of both the WEHI Annual Report and the CRC Annual Report, highlighting its significance within the broader research program. This period established the scientific foundation of my career—deepening my expertise in cytokine signalling, oncology‑adjacent biology, and collaborative research—strengths that continue to underpin the value I bring to complex R&D environments.