Cancer Research Horizons has appointed Jonathan Tobin and Genghis Lloyd-Harris as advisory investors-in-residence in its ventures team.

The two executives will also join the investment committee for Cancer Research Horizons’ £30 million seed fund, set up to support the formation of new companies that offer cancer-beating ideas and discoveries.

Tobin is a partner at life science venture capital firm Brandon Capital, and Lloyd-Harris is a senior advisor at life sciences investment firm Abingworth.

Cancer Research Horizons, Cancer Research UK’s innovation arm, has access to more than £400 million of cancer research funds every year which is spent on breakthroughs into new treatments, diagnostics and technologies. This year the ventures team has agreed to provide early-stage funding to eight new ventures.

Tobin and Lloyd-Harris will bring venture capital experience to the ventures team, helping grow the number and quality of the companies the seed fund supports, scouting for opportunities to scrutinise the selection process for funding, and building networks of other experts to support new company development.

Tony Hickson, chief business officer at Cancer Research Horizons, said: “The ventures team is tackling the translational funding gap head-on to prevent breakthrough ideas stalling in their early phases. Our new investors-in-residence will have a huge impact by helping us find more opportunities, ensure their quality and advise on building scale and capabilities. They have deep understanding of what will make a new company likely to succeed, ultimately enabling treatments to reach patients.”