Dr Downham studied a Bachelor of Sciences degree (with honours) in industrial biology at London South Bank Polytechnic (UK) which included a placement with Boehringer Mannheim (DE). He then completed a PhD in biochemical engineering (Birmingham University, UK), a post-doctoral research fellowship – bio-molecular sciences (Liverpool John Moores University, UK) and a post-graduate certificate in further/higher education (Bolton Institute, UK). He joined the biopharmaceutical industry in 1997 and has worked for Protherics (UK), Bavarian Nordic & Morphosys (DE), Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics (IT) & AstraZeneca (UK). Throughout Dr Downham worked on preclinical and early clinical development of vaccine, antibody, or enzyme therapies for infectious, hypertension, inflammatory and oncology indications. He was a European Registered Toxicologist (2010-18); Chair, Vaccines Europe Influenza working group (2017-20); Treasurer, International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations Influenza Vaccine Supply task force (2017-20); Vice Chair, IFPMA Convention on Biological Diversity working group (2018-20). Dr Downham has co-authored 29 publications/abstracts and 3 international patents and in January 2021, joined the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (UK) as the Sustainable Manufacturing Lead.