Altratech Team
We are a team of twenty scientists and engineers working together since 2016 (molecular biology, surface chemistry, microfluidics, and chip design) to bring together nano biotechnology, chemistry, and semiconductors to radically change the accessibility of high content genetic data.
Based on the novel Detection by Proxy concept, Altratech has developed the next generation of molecular detection. The technology enables any person, anywhere, to rapidly and accurately measure and quantify viral RNA, DNA, antigen, or antibody samples.
Altratech - Our Team
Dr Tara Dalton
Position: CEO
Education / qualifications: BEng PhD FIAE
About:
Dr Dalton is a faculty member in the School of Engineering at the University of Limerick, and a fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineers. She is one of the founders of Stokes Bio – a spin-out company that was sold to Life Technologies that developed high throughput microfluidic instruments for PCR. Her research interest is in the development of microfluidic devices for biological assays. She has graduated 20 PhD Students, published over 100 refereed papers and has over 50 granted patent and patent applications.
Dr. Tara Dalton
CEO
Altratech - Our Team
Dr David McGuire
Position: Chief Operations Officer
Education / qualifications: BEng PHD
About:
David has 18+ years of experience as an engineer in the life science and biotechnology fields, developing early-stage technology from concept through to commercial products. Specialising in microfluidic nanolitre droplet technology for sequencing, genotyping and Point-of-Care instruments. He spent most of his career developing new and novel technology in a start-up environment. Firstly, with Stokes Bio as the senior R&D engineer developing microfluid solutions for high throughput genotyping. Then joined GenCell Biosystems where he helped develop and deliver this novel technology as a commercial product. He secured several high value customers and, in the process, helped grow the company to over 100 employees. GenCell was acquired in 2014 by Beckton Dickenson (BD) where David continued to work for several years. David holds 8 patents in microfluidics, thermal systems, and biological transportation.
Dr. David McGuire
COO
Altratech - Our Team
Dr Brian O’Farrell
Position: CSO/Director
Education / qualifications: PhD (Genetics), Diploma in Company Direction (Distinction), Certificate in Company Direction (Distinction)
About:
Brian founded Altratech in 2013 where he assembled our world class science and nanotechnology team. He has a PhD in genetics, proving natural selection on immune system genes in wild fish. He then moved into Biotechnology, driving the development of a proprietary technology for genetic testing of human blood in the Tyndall National Institute (Micro2DNA). He was then primarily responsible for the establishment of a global-first robotic pipeline for gene sequencing of clinical bacteria in the ERI. Brian learned to code in Python and SQL to provide the glue between robots in this system. Brian has over 20 years-experience in molecular biology, applied genetics research, and Biotechnology; has a keen interest in company direction and drives fundraising and has a good track record in identifying and establishing key collaborators for Altratech. Brian created Altratech’s PNA assay and led the team which wrote Altratech’s PNA design software. He has 13 granted patents and 11 pending.
Dr. Brian O’Farrell
CSO
Altratech - Our Team
Tim Cummins
Position: CTO
Education / qualifications: He has 5 IEEE publications, and holds 19 US & EU patents, all successfully commercialised.
About:
Tim has over 30 years’ experience in semiconductors and sensors, in design, business development, sales, and senior management. He is a co-founder, director, and CTO in Altratech ltd. Previously he was Sensors Product Line Director in Silicon Laboratories Inc, following its acquisition of his start-up environmental sensor company ChipSensors. As a co-founder of Altratech, his current goal is to employ semiconductor electronic amplification and high-resolution sigma-delta converters to reach and surpass the capability of PCR enzymatic amplification. He holds 19 patents and 5 IEEE publications.
Tim Cummins
CTO
Altratech - Our Team
Dr Moira McCarthy
Position: R&D Manager
Education / qualifications: PhD, MSc, BSc.
About:
Moira manages an interdisciplinary team of scientists, involved in developing new research programs, high-level project structuring, planning and management, H2020 EASIVIRAL project co-ordinator. She is a Lecturer of Ecotoxicology at University College Dublin, and co-ordinated the MSc in Environmental Sustainability. Her PhD examined the impact of marine biotoxins on bivalve shellfish, assessing their effects from the whole organism through to cellular and subcellular effects. Moira’s M.Sc. developed novel immuno-assays for application to a miniaturized automated system for in situ freshwater E. coli detection. She has 17 years’ experience in Ecotoxicology, Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Biology and extensive project management experience.
Dr. Moira McCarthy
R&D Manager
Altratech - Our Team
Niall Olden
Position: Chairman Altratech Limited, Investor (Kernal Capital)
Education / qualifications: CMA, BComm, MSc, FIAE
About:
For over 20 years as Managing Partner and Chairman of Kernel Capital, he has led hundreds of Investments in Irish technology companies and their subsequent trade sales & IPOs across the US, Europe & Asia. He established Kernel Capital in 1999 and under his direction the firm, built a portfolio of over 75 companies, becoming the first and only venture capital firm with dedicated funds for investment in each jurisdiction on the island of Ireland. He holds a wide range of fund portfolio directorships and represents Kernel Capital on the Board of Altratech Limited and is its chairman. Previously he has been a board member of Stokes Bio Limited and Chip Sensors Limited. He currently is a member of the Audit Committee of University College Cork (National University of Ireland) formerly a member of the Advisory Board of the Telecommunications Software and Systems Group at the Waterford Institute of Technology, the Board of the Irish Venture Capital Association, Inter Trade Ireland’s Equity Steering Committee and mentor on the Kauffman Fellows Program at the Society of Kauffman Fellows, Palo Alto, C.A.
Niall Olden
Chairman (Investor)
Kernel Capital
Altratech - Our Team
Cyril Maguire
Position: Director & Investor (Infinity Capital)
Education / qualifications: B.Comm, MBS
About:
Cyril is CEO of Infinity Capital, a private VC firm specialising in technology & software investments globally, including in over 20 Irish high-growth start-ups. Previously he co-founded and led secure payments business Trintech to IPO on the German Neuer Markt and US Nasdaq (Sym: TTPA). A 1999 EY Technology Entrepreneur of the Year, Cyril is a member of the Irish Software CEO forum, & the Irish Government Trade Advisory Forum.
Cyril McGuire
(Director & Investor)
Infinity Capital
