Conference
Sponsored by
Life Sciences Conference
Now in its second year, Scotland’s Life Sciences Conference returns with an expanded programme designed to spark collaboration, share insight, and tackle the most pressing topics shaping the sector’s future.
This year’s themes, Commercialisation: From Discovery to Delivery and Integrating AI into Life Sciences, will bring together leaders, innovators, and investors to explore how science moves from breakthrough to impact, and how technology is redefining what’s possible in health and life sciences.
The conference will begin midday with a networking lunch, offering an opportunity for attendees to connect. Following this, we will dive into a series of insightful presentations and panel discussions, where industry leaders and experts will explore these critical topics in depth.
Starts at
12:00
Thursday 12 March 2026
Cambridge Suite @ Doubletree Hilton
Glasgow Central
Sponsored by
TBA

TBA
Title sponsor
content
Why should I attend?
Scotland’s Life Sciences Conference brings together the people, ideas, and insight shaping the future of the sector. Designed for leaders across industry, academia, investment, and government, the conference offers a practical, forward-looking view of how innovation becomes impact.
By attending, you will have the opportunity to:
- Explore the full commercialisation journey, from discovery through to delivery, gaining insight into how Scottish science is being translated into investable, scalable ventures and global market success.
- Learn how AI is being applied in practice, with real-world examples of how organisations are integrating AI to improve efficiency, solve complex challenges, and drive business value.
- Hear directly from sector leaders and decision-makers who are navigating investment, regulation, risk, and growth in today’s life sciences landscape.
- Connect with peers and partners across industry, academia, investors, and policymakers, fostering collaboration and new opportunities.
- Gain practical insight into what’s next for life sciences, from emerging technologies to commercial pathways that will shape the sector’s future in Scotland and beyond.
What will I gain from attending?
Attending the conference will leave you better equipped to turn ideas into impact, with practical insight from those actively shaping Scotland’s life sciences ecosystem. You will:
- Gain real-world perspectives on commercialising life sciences innovation, from early discovery through to scale-up and global market entry.
- Learn how organisations are successfully integrating AI into life sciences businesses, moving beyond theory to practical application and measurable impact.
- Hear directly from industry leaders, investors, and innovators on accessing capital, managing risk, and navigating regulatory and compliance challenges.
- Build meaningful connections with peers across industry, academia, investment, and government, opening doors to collaboration and future opportunity.
- Return to your organisation with clearer insight, fresh ideas, and practical takeaways that can influence strategy, innovation, and long-term growth.
Who should attend?
Innovators
Industry Leaders
Academia
University Spin-offs
Investors
Entrepreneurs
Policy Makers
Start Ups
Programme
1200
Networking Lunch
1200
Networking Lunch
1200
Networking Lunch
Sponsored by BES

Mark Cook
Mark has spent 30 years in roles within the health sector including biologicals/pharmaceuticals, medical technology and consultancy.
In February 2022 Mark became Co Chair of the Life Sciences Industrial Leadership Group in Scotland, he also continues to support decision making for non-medicine technologies through membership of the Scottish Health Technology Group plus, in conjunction with the Chief Scientist Office, raises the profile for the Life Sciences Sector in Scotland. Mark chairs a company working towards accelerating the cure for Alzheimer’s as well as looking after one of Scotland’s public pension schemes as its Independent Chair.
Life Science is a sector that is actively growing, will provide careers for our population at higher than average salaries, will increase the tax base of Scotland and do societal good by bringing forward innovative and transformational changes that will improve the health of our population.
Current focus for the Life Sciences ILG is the refresh of the sector strategy ( which runs until 2025 ) and Mark is leading on this having exceed our goal of £8 Billion generated by the Scottish Life Sciences sector by 2025 by over £2 billion 4 years early.
1300
Introduction
Mark Cook: Co-Chair ILG, Life Sciences Scotland

Dr. Poonam Malik, FRSE, FRSB
Dr. Poonam Malik is an entrepreneur, business strategist, innovation investor, and distinguished Life Sciences Chair with deep expertise in Biotech, MedTech, data and digital transformation. Dr. Malik has extensive board leadership experience, having served as Chair or, independent Director/Non-Executive on venture-backed companies and multiple public sector boards. In 2021, Dr Malik Co-founded a specialist MedTech Diagnostic Company, Microplate Dx Ltd, a multi-award-winning business, tackling global challenge of antimicrobial resistance and continues to serve as its Executive Chair. A GlobalScot, Dr Malik has led businesses to grow and raise multiple rounds of equity investment and non-dilutive funding.
Dr. Malik leads Economy & Enterprise, as Vice President- Business, at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland’s National Academy. She holds influential roles on national boards including -Skills Development Scotland, Scotland’s skills agency; and till 31st Dec 2025, as Board Director, and Chair of Remuneration Committee at Scottish Enterprise and Scottish development International (Scotland’s National Economic Development Agency), investing in innovation- being accountable for strategy and performance, from a cumulative budget of >£5.7 billion during her 8-year term on multiple boards.
As former Head of Investments at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow (till June 2024), Dr. Malik led Venture investments into Spinouts, Spinins & Startup companies from Two Funds, returning multi-million Pounds profits via significant exits to the university and management responsibility for a portfolio of >35 innovative investee companies. She led organisational participation in the external £85 million Institutional Scaleup Venture Fund. Dr Malik was invited by Research England to be an Expert Member on RE-UKRI’s CCF-RED £85 million fund for technology commercialisation and ecosystem building. In the past 15-years she has completed >55 deal transactions as a Founder/Chair, Institutional Investor (Head of Investments) and Angel Investor supporting Diverse Founders, including risk capital investments (with VC, Angel, Family Offices/PE), in the UK, Europe, North America & Asia.
Dr Malik is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) and Royal Society of Biology (FRSB). She has been awarded multiple honours, including ‘Scottish Women’s Awards 2025 for Achievements in Science & Technology’, and ‘Asian Tech Pioneer Award 2024, London’ by Diversity UK, as well as ‘Scotland’s Businesswoman of the Year Award in 2023’. She holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences/Virology, an MBA in Strategy and Leadership, an MSc in Biotechnology, and BSc in Chemistry and Zoology.
1315
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Poonam Malik, FRSE, FRSB
Panel Session:
Commercialisation: From Discovery to Delivery
This session, chaired by Jonathan Williamson, Global Commercial Director at SCION Instruments, will explore Scotland’s life sciences sector is home to world-leading research and innovation but translating that into commercial success remains a defining challenge. This session will explore how we can better support the full innovation journey, from lab bench to global markets. We’ll examine the practical realities of building investable ventures, accessing capital, managing risk, and navigating regulation, while celebrating the companies and leaders turning Scottish science into real-world impact. How can we scale more ideas, faster, and make Scotland a global hub for life sciences commercialisation?

Albert Nicholl
Chair & Strategic Advisor, MedTech and Life Sciences
Albert Nicholl is a board chair and advisor across multiple high-growth MedTech and life-science ventures, including Carcinotech, Bioliberty, Nami Surgical and Suji. He specialises in scaling early-stage technologies into commercially credible, investor-ready businesses, drawing on deep US MedTech leadership experience from Stryker and Orthofix.
He is actively involved in shaping Scotland’s innovation ecosystem through work with Scottish Enterprise, Glasgow University, and the broader investment community including EOS Advisory, Archangels and Par Equity. Albert is known for driving disciplined governance, founder-investor alignment and targeted US commercialisation strategies across his portfolio.

Dr. David Bunton
CEO, REPROCELL Europe Ltd
David is CEO of REPROCELL Europe Ltd. David graduated from the University of Glasgow then undertook a PhD in pharmacology at Glasgow Caledonian University, which led to his appointment as a Lecturer in Physiology. In 2002, he co-founded Biopta and successfully grew its contract research business by providing lab services to the pharmaceutical industry, founding a US subsidiary, Biopta Inc. in 2011. Biopta Ltd and Inc. were acquired by REPROCELL Inc. (Yokohama, Japan) in Dec 2015. Following the acquisition, REPROCELL Europe was formed from the merger of two Group companies, Biopta Ltd and Reinnervate Ltd (Durham, UK), with Glasgow becoming REPROCELL’s European headquarters. The business moved to new premises on the West of Scotland Science Park, which were officially opened by the First Minister of Scotland in September 2017. David also co-chairs the Internationalisation Sub-Group of the Life Sciences Scotland Industry Leadership Group, is on the Board of Glasgow Economic Leadership, where he chairs the Life Sciences Workstream, and is a member of the Scottish Advanced Therapies Network. David’s recent focus has been on the use of AI in precision medicine, including a collaboration with the Hartree National Centre for Digital Innovation.

Duncan Peters
CEO and Founder
Duncan Peters is the CEO and Founder of IF Water, a Scottish company with a 50-year mission to improve life through water. Its patented MedicalOne™, a low-maintenance technology, provides abundant sterile water on site for hospitals directly from tap water, without consumable parts. IF Water is leading a shift away from high-carbon supply chains towards medical-water self-sufficiency, starting in the NHS, and has an exciting product pipeline aimed at improving resilience, cutting costs, and supporting Net Zero goals. Backed by Scottish Enterprise, Innovate UK, the MoD and others, the technology is already deployed across NHS departments in England and Scotland. Duncan brings 12 years’ commercialisation experience and is committed to scalable innovation with lasting global impact.

Robert Higginson
Partner
Robert is a founding partner of Par Equity and member of the PXN Investment Committee. With a career spanning hardware, software, and communications product development, he has held senior strategy roles in Europe and the U.S. before becoming an investor. His experience includes positions at Artemis-Aurea Software, Reuters, Telekurs AG, and ABN AMRO’s investment bank. Since 2002, he has focused on technology transfer and early-stage businesses, particularly in Health Technology.
1400
Panel Session:
Commercialisation: From Discovery to Delivery
1500
Networking Break
Sponsored by Symbiosis Pharmaceutical Services
1535

Dr. Harry Thirkettle
Dr. Dr Harry Thirkettle is Director of Health & Innovation at Aire Logic, an employee-owned technology consultancy that helps healthcare and life sciences organisations turn ambitious strategy into working digital solutions. A former NHS surgeon turned entrepreneur, Harry brings a clinician’s perspective to delivery and specialises in digital transformation, making AI adoption real: aligning data, governance and delivery so AI-enabled services improve outcomes without adding burden to frontline teams. He has led delivery across complex, highly regulated environments, including national-scale NHS digital programmes, and supports innovators as Business and Commercial Lead for the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme.
Harry is passionate about practical, evidence-led innovation, and helping life sciences teams move from promising models to measurable clinical and operational impact.
Guest Speaker
Dr. Harry Thirkettle, Director of Health & Innovation
Panel Session:
Integrating AI into Life Sciences Businesses
AI promises to revolutionise life sciences but how are companies making it work in practice? This session, chaired by Julie Moulsdale, MD of Perceptive Communicators and Founder of Senior Women in Science (SWIS), will highlight real-world applications where AI is solving problems, improving efficiency, and creating business impact. We’ll hear from leaders who have successfully embedded AI into their organisations, exploring the opportunities, challenges, and compliance hurdles along the way. From SMEs to global players, this is a look at how AI is being integrated into life sciences today and what it means for the future of the sector.

David Dennis
Partner
David helps Scottish life sciences companies with their commercial contracts, especially where there is an innovative aspect to them. He specialises in helping organisations translate cutting-edge ideas from the lab into real-world impact – guiding technologies through development, clinical trials, manufacturing, and ultimately into therapies, diagnostics, and devices that improve lives. He works with universities, SMEs, and global companies on a wide range of transformative projects. Increasingly, this includes artificial intelligence – both embedded in life sciences solutions and shaping the advice David provides on regulatory, contractual, and IP challenges. His experience spans the full innovation lifecycle, making him a trusted advisor for businesses. David is a Partner at the international law firm, CMS, and is based in Glasgow.

Dr. Yola Jones
Chief Technology Officier and Co-founder
Dr. Yola Jones is the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Seluna, a Scottish med-tech startup dedicated to transforming paediatric sleep diagnostics. With a background in artificial intelligence and software engineering, she earned her PhD studying the ethical and fair application of machine learning in healthcare. Before launching Seluna, she worked as a data engineer at the NHS, gaining firsthand experience in applying AI to real-world medical challenges. At Seluna, Yola leads the development of AI-powered solutions that support doctors in remotely monitoring and diagnosing paediatric sleep disorders. Passionate about the intersection of AI and healthcare, Yola believes in creating solutions that are not only efficient but also fair and trustworthy. By automating sleep study analysis, Seluna improves accessibility to accurate, standardised diagnostics while reducing clinical workload, easing pressure on waiting lists, and enhancing patient care.

Dr. Sandy Carmichael
Research Associate
Dr. Sandy Carmichael is a Research Associate at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). He completed his PhD in Computing Science at the University of Stirling in 2024, where he applied computer vision and machine learning to Atlantic salmon medical imaging. His current work focuses on using AI and data science to address challenges across agriculture, aquaculture and animal health, with particular interests in biosecurity, antimicrobial resistance, and salmon gill health.

Sotiros A. Tsaftaris
Chair and Full Professor
Sotirios A. Tsaftaris is currently Chair (Full Professor) in Machine Learning and Computer Vision at the University of Edinburgh (https://vios.science). He holds the Canon Medical/Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Healthcare AI (since 2019). Since 2024, he is the Director for the EPSRC-funded Causality in Healthcare AI Hub (CHAI, https://www.chai.ac.uk ). He is an ELLIS Fellow of the European Lab for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS) of Edinburgh’s ELLIS Unit. Between 2016 and 2023 he was a Turing Fellow with the Alan Turing Institute. Sotos is also a Department of Science and Innovation and Technology Fellow as an AI for Science Expert Adviser.

Andrew Tobin
CEO Keltic Pharma
Andrew is currently a Professor at the University of Glasgow where runs an active academic lab focused on brain diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia as well as inflammatory gut disease and severe asthma. As Director of the Advanced Research Centre (ARC) Andrew leads a flagship initiative underpinned by a £130M new build that houses over 550 researchers designed to redefine the meaning of interdisciplinary research. Andrew is also co-founder and CEO of Keltic Pharma Therapeutics Ltd, a biotechnology company focused on a novel drug-discovery platform delivering a range of new medicines from novel treatments of Parkinson’s disease to a radical cure for malaria. In his spare time, Andrew can think of nothing better than sailing the Western Isles of Scotland – probably the most beautiful place on earth.
1545
Panel Session:
Integrating AI into Life Sciences Businesses