Our Team
Drug discovery researchers from the Department of Cancer Sciences (Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre) at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Mike Hay is a medicinal chemist and oncology researcher developing therapeutics targeting the tumour‑microenvironment, including hypoxia‑activated prodrugs and small‑molecule radiosensitisers. He was a co-founder of Centella Biotechnologies Ltd, which explored SN30000 as a hypoxia-selective cytotoxin in collaboration with Varian Medical Systems and Cancer Research UK. He has consulted for Ruga Inc and Oxigene Inc. He is an author of 98 scientific publications, 3 book chapters and an inventor on nine granted patents.
Associate Professor Michael P. Hay, PhD
Bill Wilson undertook his PhD at the University of Auckland on the mechanism of action of amsacrine, the first synthetic topoisomerase II inhibitor to achieve clinical registration. This initiated a lifelong interest in cancer drug discovery. He trained in radiation biology during a postdoc at the Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, before returning to the University of Auckland to lead a research group focused on developing drugs that exploit features of the tumour microenvironment. With Prof. William Denny he founded Proacta Inc, which took two first-in-class hypoxia-activated prodrugs (PR-104 and PR-610/tarloxotinib bromide) to clinical trial. His lab has also developed unique experimental and computational models for investigating the spatially resolved pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs in the tumour microenvironment.
Emeritus Professor William R. Wilson, PhD FRSNZ
Lydia Liew is a drug discovery scientist with expertise spanning computational drug design, medicinal chemistry, translational research, and technology commercialisation. She works across multidisciplinary teams to translate research discoveries into real-world impact, bridging the gap between scientific innovation and the development of new therapies to improve patient outcomes.