Life at Sano
From how we work together to the impact we create, here’s a glimpse of life as part of the team.
Our mission, our people
At Sano, everything starts with patients. We connect people with rare and genetic conditions to life-changing research opportunities — and we do it with urgency, empathy, and creativity.
The best way to know us is to hear from the people behind the work 🧡
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Clare, Lead Product Manager
“When I first joined Sano six years ago, I didn’t know much about precision medicine. But it quickly became clear this was a place where I could make a real difference. We’ve gone from strength to strength, building things that genuinely change lives. What keeps me here is twofold: the mission — fixing a broken system for patients and researchers — and the people. We work with an exceptionally talented and engaged group who truly care. It pushes me to be better every day.”
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Mitch, Business Development Representative
“I joined Sano because I aligned with the mission of accelerating precision medicines and the impact it can have on patient lives. I’ve stayed because of the culture — it’s open, relaxed, and supportive. My manager gives me space to grow while making sure I don’t burn out. That balance between being mission-driven and looking after people is rare, and it’s why I’m still here.”
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Magda, Frontend Developer
“I joined Sano because I loved its mission - helping patients find the right treatments by building tools that truly support that process. Sano gives me an incredible opportunity to grow as a developer, surrounded by amazing people who are always happy to share their knowledge and brainstorm together to come up with the best solutions. What I value the most is the genuinely friendly atmosphere and the space we all have to learn, grow, and make an impact.”
How we work
We’re a remote-first team spread across the UK and North America 🌍 — but we stay closely connected through rituals like townhalls, biannual offsites, quarterly team days and project deep dives 🤝
- Flexible working: output > hours
- Global but connected: collaboration across time zones
- Opportunities to travel: from sponsor site visits, conferences to London team days
Our values
At Sano, our values guide how we work, make decisions, and show up for each other — and for patients.
They’re simple, human, and built for impact 👇
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Act Like Owners
Accountability for the outcome — not just the task.
We think about impact, anticipate consequences, and adapt when needed.
🟢 Ruthlessly prioritise what matters
🟢 Follow through on what we commit to
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Build Like Lives Depend on It
We put real people before process, pride, or convenience.
Every decision starts and ends with patients.
🟢 Listen first — start from the patient’s point of view
🟢 Adapt fast — evolve with patient needs, not internal plans
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No Silos, No Stars
We solve hard problems together — not alone, not for ego.
Collective thinking is our superpower.
🟢 Challenge openly, then commit fully
🟢 Collaborate — think we, not I
Thriving in a scale up
At our stage, growth means opportunity. You’ll wear different hats, shape the future, and grow alongside us.
- “Working in a scale-up is chaotic. That chaos can be overwhelming, but it can also be fun. It pushes you to grow in ways you wouldn’t in a bigger company. You get exposed to new challenges, learn fast, and get to be part of building things from the ground up.” – Mitch, Business Development Representative
- “The biggest challenge has been adapting from big pharma to startup life – wearing lots of hats, but it’s exciting.” – Niamh, Project Management Lead
- “I think it takes both curiosity and adaptability to thrive in a scale-up. Things change fast, but you also get the freedom to explore new ideas and turn them into reality quickly.” – Ivan, Data Analyst
- “There’s so much we want to do, but not enough time – we’re very ambitious.” – Hope, Lead Clinical Scientist
- “You can’t solve everything. The lesson is focus – build scalable impact, not just good intentions.” – Ben, VP Commercial
- “Every day is different - fast-paced, creative, and full of learning! I love being part of discussions that shape the product and seeing how my ideas make a real impact. To do well, you need curiosity, flexibility, and a focus on building thoughtful, accessible solutions that truly help people.” – Magda, Frontend Developer
Real patient impact
Our work isn’t abstract — it changes lives.
- Genetic counselling available in 3 days (vs. months in traditional health systems)
- Trial-ready genetic testing in 2 weeks
- Patients and families accessing counselling and testing they never had before
“When we make an impact on a patient, we really make an impact.” – Grace, Patient Recruitment & Engagement Lead
“We have patients who joined trials because of the education and support we provided — some may not have without it.” – Niamh, Project Management Lead
By numbers
🌍 From Cambridge and Edinburgh to Pittsburgh and New York, our 70+ Sanosaurs span 48 cities and 24 nationalities — with more Zoom accents than we can keep track of.
We’re building an inclusive team — here’s a snapshot of who we are right now (*October 2025):
👫 61% women, 36% men, and 2% non-binary (with women also making up ~60% of our managers 💪)
🧠 42% of our team identify as neurodivergent
🏳️🌈 16% of our team identify as LGBTQIA+
🙏 We’re proud to have colleagues across many faiths, ethnicities, and belief systems
We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where different perspectives are celebrated — and where we keep learning and improving together.