Dr XY obtained a degree in Biochemistry from Stirling University and an MSc in Medicinal Chemistry from Loughborough.

His PhD research at Loughborough focused on drug targeting in cancer chemotherapy, with Professor Brain Marples, and his Postdoctoral research was with Professor Barry Bycroft in the Pharmaceutical Sciences department at Nottingham University. He joined the Cardiovascular disease group at Rhne-Poulenc Rorer in 1988, subsequently moving to the Inflammation group in 2006. During this period XY also established the Assay Development and High Throughput Screening groups within the New Lead Generation Department. Dr XY was one of the founder scientists of Argenta in August 2000. During his career he has worked on projects which have delivered nine development candidates, eight of which have reached at least Phase I in the clinic. He has over twenty two years experience in the Pharmaceutical industry, has over 20 scientific publications and has presented at several international conferences.