Derek is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Gate Neurosciences, a Luson Bioventures portfolio company. He is also the Founding Managing Director of Luson Bioventures, a venture creation firm founded in 2007, and has been launching new biotech companies and developing innovative drugs for more than 20 years. Derek was the Co-Founder and CEO of Assembly Biosciences, Founder and GM of Assembly China, Founding CEO of Naurex (acquired by Allergan in 2015 leading to the spin out of Aptinyx) and numerous other Luson Bioventures portfolio companies. In these roles he has overseen the development of more than 10 novel and innovative drug candidates to address the unmet needs of patients living with diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). Derek has helped to raise upwards of $1 billion from top-tier life science investors, established global and regional partnerships totaling more than $3 billion, and, to date, three of the companies have achieved greater than $1 billion in market value.

Derek received his BS in Business and Marketing at Franklin College and studied Global Business and International Marketing in England at Harlaxton College.