John Cassidy

Nah but seriously, check out John Cassidy, this dude is straight-up the real deal in cancer tech. He’s a scientist turned entrepreneur who’s been crushing it in the biotech game for a minute now.

So, he kicked off his process deep in the labs, get this, with a PhD in Functional Genomics from Cambridge. Dude’s been around some heavy hitters, working at places like Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute and MedImmune, really diving into how tumors evolve and why they resist drugs. Basically, he’s been at the forefront of figuring out how cancer works on a molecular level.

But John didn’t stop there. He’s also got a Masters in Pharmacology from Glasgow, showing he’s serious about understanding how drugs interact with the body. That combo, genomics + pharmacology, made him perfect to jump into the startup scene, where he’s all about turning research into real solutions.

And here’s where it gets wild. He co-founded Cambridge Cancer Genomics, aka CCG.ai, which is backed by Y Combinator, like the biggest name in startup accelerators. This isn’t just some lab project; he’s building AI tools to personalize cancer treatment. Think about that, using AI to customize therapy for each patient. That’s some advanced shit. He was CEO there and helped push this thing to the forefront, making waves in biotech.

But he’s also super well-connected. He’s been a Venture Partner at Pioneer Fund, which is all about investing in the next big health tech, and he’s been a lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University. Basically, he’s sharing his knowledge, mentoring the next wave of founders, and staying plugged into both science and business.

What’s dope is, he’s been recognized for all this hustle. Made Forbes 30 Under 30 in biotech in 2018, no small feat, and became the youngest Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology in 2020. That’s proof he’s not just talk; he’s actually changing the game.

Now, what does all this say about him? To me, Cassidy’s story is about passion meeting hustle. He’s not just into science for science’s sake, he wants to fix cancer, to make treatments smarter and more works well. Starting CCG.ai shows he’s willing to jump into the deep end, take big risks, and push the boundaries of tech and medicine. His background in academia and industry means he’s got the technical chops and the real-world instincts, which is rare.

Bottom line: John Cassidy is one of those people who saw a huge problem, cancer, and decided to build a whole new way to fight it, using AI, genomics, and pure grit. He’s not just talking about change; he’s making it happen. And honestly, he’s just getting started.