R S P Benson

Rod graduated from the University of Sydney with a 1st class honours degree majoring in Physiology and Biochemistry. He worked for a few years as a data manager for Westmead hospital (Sydney) before moving to the UK in 1992.

Rod received his PhD from the University of Manchester in 1996 for studying the mechanisms behind apoptotic cell shrinkage. He remained at Manchester University until 2003 when he took up the position of senior scientist in the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. He left AstraZeneca in 2007 to start his own biotech company, Imagen Biotech, which later became Imagen Therapeutics.

Imagen Therapeutics helps oncologists determine the best chemotherapy to give their patients (www.imagentherapeutics.com). After selling some shares in his company, Rod then purchased a Franchise in Magical Maths which provides fun afterschool clubs with a mathematical theme to primary school children (www.magicalmathsclub.com).

Rod is married to Helen and they have two daughters Grace and Rebekah. Rod’s hobbies include cycling, swimming, playing guitar (not very well!), skiing and listening to music. Rod and Helen are also involved in leading house groups at Holy Trinity Platt Manchester – the church they both attended as students and where they met.