The senior management team at Biopta combines strong scientific expertise with vast experience in CRO and life science sectors.
Dr David C Bunton - CEO
David is co-founder and CEO of Biopta.
David is an expert in vascular pharmacology who after graduating from the University of Glasgow undertook a Research Assistant position sponsored by the charity, Chest, Heart and Stroke, Scotland.
The success of this period of research resulted in David taking up a PhD at Glasgow Caledonian University and a Lectureship in Physiology and Pharmacology. David was also a consultant to the Diabetes Education and Training Unit at Glasgow Caledonian.
David has numerous publications in respiratory and vascular pharmacology including a recently accepted review paper written together with Prof Hillier on human tissue functional assays for drug discovery (publication May 2007, Drug Discovery Today). He is a member of the British Pharmacological Society.
Claire Jenkins - Sales Director
Claire joined Biopta in Aug 2005 with responsibility for Biopta's sales and marketing activities. Claire has over 11 years experience in life science business development and sales.
Prior to joining Biopta Claire spent almost 5 years as a Business Development Manager within the Preclinical division at Quintiles Transnational. Before moving into the CRO industry Claire began her sales career in life science instrument sales, initially with Anachem, a UK based distributor and formerly with Perkin Elmer.
Elaine Ferguson - Finance Director
Elaine joined Biopta in Nov 2007 as Finance Director after a period working with the Scottish Co-Investment Fund. Elaine qualified as a CA in 1994 whilst training with Ernst & Young. Throughout her 10 years with Ernst & Young Elaine gained extensive experience working with small and medium sized enterprises.
Dr Karen Macdonald – Head of Operations
Karen joined Biopta in June 2006 as Head of Operations and has day to day responsibility for the planning and running of the laboratory operations division. Karen graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Molecular Biology from the University of Glasgow in 1993 followed by a PhD in the Cell Biology department (IBLS); (Topographical reactions of cells in tissue repair).
The project involved collaborations with the Electronic Engineering department at the University and was a CASE studentship sponsored by Ethicon, Edinburgh. The aim was to study the molecular mechanisms of cell shape changes and to develop a biodegradable implant for tendon repair.
From 1998 to 2006 Karen was employed by a leading CRO in the West of Scotland. During her time with the company, Karen broadened her scientific skills and gained wide knowledge of the CRO business, whilst working in the Cell Biology, Virology and Development departments, in both a lab-based and managerial role.
Karen is a member of the British Pharmacological Society.
Dr Sarah Lynagh – Head of Research and Development
Sarah joined Biopta in December 2008 and is responsible for the development and validation of new human tissue assays to increase Biopta’s service portfolio. Sarah graduated from the University of Glasgow with a BSc (Hons) in Pharmacology (1998) and an industry-sponsored PhD in Neuropharmacology (Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, 2001) focusing on the pre-clinical development of anticonvulsants.
Following her PhD Sarah was a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Cancer Research UK from 2001 – 2003 specializing in the development of novel treatments for colon and ovarian cancers. In 2003 she left academia and began her industry career as a Study Director within the Pharmacology Department of a leading CRO based in Edinburgh.
This position resulted in Sarah joining a team of 4 staff members who were selected to establish an Asian-based spin-out preclinical CRO in 2005 specializing in translational models of preclinical safety and efficacy. After 3 years in Asia, Sarah returned to the UK to take up a position within a top UK-based pharmaceutical company heading up the Preclinical Drug Development team prior to joining Biopta.