Graham Watson – Chairperson
Graham Watson LLB CA FRSA is an experienced non-executive director with a strong commercial track record. He has a rich mix of recent non-executive and advisory responsibilities in Scotland, covering The Law Society of Scotland (where he is a member of Council), the Court of Heriot-Watt University (where he also chairs the Finance Committee), Scottish Futures Trust and North Lanarkshire Leisure Limited (where he also chaired the Audit Committee). He is a former partner in a Big 4 accounting firm, with extensive experience of working with SME clients delivering business development and strategic planning programmes and leading change initiatives. During his career, he has initiated and executed over 100 corporate transactions, valued at over £2bn. He has lived and worked in Silicon Valley, as well as in Scotland, during his 35-year business career.
Dr David Brennan, Chief Executive Officer
David has previously worked as a clinical scientist for over 20 years specialising in Clinical Physics. During that time he gained experience in clinical research and service development. His focus had been in the field of MRI, image analysis and their clinical applications. David is a co-founder of Aurum Biosciences having provided significant input into the development of the imaging and image analysis technologies. During the course of Aurum’s development he has taken a keen interest in the commercial aspects of the project. He was fortunate enough to have been a student on Cambridge University’s Ignite entrepreneurial course, and MIT’s Entrepreneurship Development Program. In 2023 David took on the role of CEO of Aurum with a focus to drive forward manufacturing, and taking Aurum into clinical trials with its lead product ABL-101.
Dr Celestine Santosh, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer
Celestine Santosh is a Clinical Consultant Neuroradiologist working in Glasgow, which is one of the largest Neurosciences Unit within the UK. Having started in Clinical Radiology 33 years ago, he then specialised in Neuroradiology over the last 27 years. He has worked in many large specialised hospitals in India and the UK and has been in Glasgow since 2000. He conceived the Glasgow Oxygen Dependent (GOLD) techniques working as a clinician, with a special interest in stroke. This allowed him to understand the need to accurately assess the Penumbra with imaging and also the need for additional treatments for stroke. He was successful with the team, in getting grants and funding for the pre-clinical work. Dr Santosh is a co-founder of Aurum Biosciences Ltd, a practicing clinician and inventor, so in an ideal position to take the GOLD techniques into clinical practice.
Dr Govind Chavada, Executive Director
Dr Govind Chavada is a practicing Neurologist/Neuroimmunologist based at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK. He is an experienced biopharma executive/investor who serves on various boards including Axon Healthcare Investment, Infinion Biopharma, and Celliimune Therapeutics. He also serves on an advisory board of Enqyst Technologies Inc. He began his career as a practicing Neurologist with a special interest in inflammatory neurological conditions. Govind earned his medical degree from the Baroda Medical College and has a research degree in neuroimmunology from the University of Glasgow.