Cambridge-based Nuclera, a biotechnology company enabling rapid protein expression and purification screening through its benchtop protein platform, has appointed Joseph Bertelsen as chief commercial officer.

Bertelsen has more than 20 years’ commercial leadership experience in the life science tools and drug development industries, and extensive sales experience. He was previously director of commercialization at the Institute for Protein Innovation, a research institute providing synthetic antibodies and protein expertise, where he was the responsible for establishing a sustainable antibody distribution entity. He has held numerous senior positions at protein-focused companies, with prior roles including: senior vice-president of global sales and marketing at Diagenode (acquired by Hologic), a life sciences company providing tools for molecular epigenetics research and infectious disease diagnostics, and director of sales at Abcam, a company specialising in the production and distribution of research antibodies.

Bertelsen said: “Nuclera is disrupting the protein market with their technology allowing researchers to more easily and quickly have access to proteins for their research. Their benchtop technology has the potential to greatly reduce costs and timelines associated with the drug discovery process. I’m excited to be joining the team at such an exciting phase of the journey to drive adoption of Nuclera’s eProtein Discovery.”

Nuclera’s co-founder and chief executive Dr Michael Chen, added: “Appointing our first chief commercial officer marks an exciting step in Nuclera’s journey. With Joe’s strong track record and experience in achieving revenue growth, I look forward to partnering with him on rapidly increasing the number of protein makers that use our eProtein Discovery system to make proteins accessible.”