Professor Kev Dhaliwal
HTAF Director
Email: Kev.Dhaliwal@ed.ac.uk
Kev Dhaliwal is Professor of Molecular Imaging and Healthcare Technology at the University of Edinburgh and a Consultant Physician in Respiratory Medicine. He has a passion for developing new technologies for healthcare impact and is the Chief Investigator on six first-in-human trials of optical molecular imaging reagents and devices related to the diagnosis of bacterial infection, inflammation and cancer. Collaborating widely with industry, he is an advocate of the need to work across scientific disciplines and translate physical science research into healthcare.
Professor Tim Walsh
HTAF Co-Director
Email: Timothy.Walsh@ed.ac.uk
Tim Walsh is professor of critical care, lead for the Edinburgh Critical Care Research Group, and the R&D Director at NHS Lothian. He has key strategic roles with the National Institute of Healthcare Research (Chair of UK Critical Care Specialty Group), Chief Scientists Office (Critical Care Specialty Group lead and member of the Research Strategy Oversight Group), and through national professional societies (Chairman, Scottish Critical Care Trials Group; Member of UK Intensive Care Society Research Committee). He is a strong believer in collaborative national and international research and the importance of research networks. His vision is to lead a world class multidisciplinary group undertaking bench to bedside research, always keeping patient-centred outcomes as the central focus of the group’s activities.
Dr Paul Fineran
Healthcare Technology Portfolio Project and Development Manager
Email: PFineran@ed.ac.uk
Dr Paul Fineran carried out his PhD in Pharmacology at the University of Oxford. Following his PhD, Paul helped to establish and run an Oxford-based biotech focused on developing therapies, predicated on small-molecule modulation of lysosomal function, for a range of rare and common diseases. Here he gained expertise in research and project management, intellectual property, and regulatory pathways. Paul’s experience in the rare disease field, during which he worked closely with patient groups and with clinicians, reinforced his desire to help translate academic research into real-world impact.
He currently acts as the Healthcare Technology Portfolio Project and Development Manager for the Healthcare Technology Accelerator Facility, helping to drive a number of promising medical technologies towards translation, commercialisation and adoption. He enjoys running and reading, but has so far had limited success in combining the two.
Dr Keith Finlayson
Director of Industrial Partnerships
Email: Keith.Finlayson@ed.ac.uk
Keith is currently the Director of Industrial Partnerships and has considerable experience in industrial and translational collaboration and commercialisation. In his previous role, he was the Head of the Business Development team in Edinburgh Innovations, leading a pan-university team for over 10 years, with a personal focus on drug discovery and transformative bio-medical technologies. Prior to this, Keith worked in industry for almost 20 years, including working with the Japanese Pharmaceutical company, Astellas, where he lead a team focussed on Alzheimer’s disease and neuro-degeneration/inflammation, covering bench to bedside activities from establishing in vitro high-throughput screens to conducting complex in vivo cognitive behavioural pharmacology. Prior to that he worked with GSK, focussing primarily on the role of inflammatory cells in lung disease including asthma.
Emma Scholefield
GMP Operations Manager/Laboratory Manager
Email: Emma.Scholefield@ed.ac.uk
Emma Scholefield is the HTAF Operations Manager and has operational oversight of the research and manufacturing facilities as part of the Translational Healthcare Technology group based in the QMRI. She has extensive research experience, having worked in various research labs within the University over the last 12 years and now combines this with her passion for helping to develop new technologies. She enjoys being able to translate novel research into real world solutions and solving technical challenges.
Emma has oversight of:
- Biology labs (including cell culture, microbiology and ex vivo lung perfusion).
- Chemistry and Optical Physics R&D space.
- Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Manufacture facility.
- Sterile liquid filling suite.
- Device manufacture facility.
Dr Annya Bruce
Clinical Study Manager
Email: Annya.Bruce@ed.ac.uk
Dr Annya Bruce carried out her PhD in Molecular Neuroscience at the University of Edinburgh. Post completion, she worked in the Scottish Mental Health Research Network where she was involved in all aspects of both commercial and non-commercial clinical trials concentrating on improving understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms that can contribute to serious mental health disorders.
Following this, Annya took up a position in the Research Governance Office at the University of Edinburgh where she gained expertise in developing clinical trial protocols, facilitating ethical and regulatory applications and liaising with pharmaceutical companies involved in Investigator Initiated Studies. It was Annya’s keen interest in molecular imaging, combined with her experience of running local clinical trials, that inspired her to apply for the post of Clinical Study Manager.
David Lyall
HTAF Quality Control Manager
Email: David.Lyall@ed.ac.uk
David is currently assigned as the Quality Control Manager and Qualified Person for the Investigational Supplies Group on the University of Edinburgh’s Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) MHRA licence. He is also assisting with the commissioning of the new HTAF sterile manufacturing unit and the development of the associated Pharmaceutical Quality Management system as it works towards obtaining its own site licence from the MHRA.
David is a registered pharmacist who has spent many years in GMP environments, working in production, quality control, quality assurance and Qualified Person roles supporting early phase drug development programs and clinical trials. He has worked with pharmaceutical manufacturers, contract research organisations and academic institutions.
Martin Pearson
HTAF Quality Assurance Manager
Email: Martin.Pearson@ed.ac.uk
Martin Pearson is the HTAF Quality Assurance (QA) Manager and facility commissioning project lead for the new sterile fill unit. He specialises in developing and managing GMP quality systems for use in the manufacture of sterile medicinal products.
Before joining the HTAF group in September 2018, Martin worked mainly in the commercial sector, with roles including:
- Analytical microbiologist in a contract pharmaceutical research laboratory.
- QA officer in a commercial-phase sterile vaccine manufacturing company.
- QA lead for the clinical and histopathology laboratory departments of a large clinical research organization.
Mark Chapman
HTAF Production Manager
Email: M.A.Chapman@ed.ac.uk
Mark Chapman is the Production Scientist of the Investigational Supplies Group. He is also involved with assisting in the setting up and commissioning of the new HTAF sterile fill unit, in which he will assume the responsibility of Production Manager. Mark has been a registered pharmacist for over thirty years that has involved a rather diverse career covering laboratory research, hospital, community and veterinary pharmacy and also includes some 11 years’ experience of GMP manufacturing to support preclinical and early phase drug development up to phase III clinical trials.
Colin Young
HTAF Quality Consultant
Email: Colin.Young@ed.ac.uk
Colin Young is a quality consultant to HTAF, advising on GMP quality systems. He is currently employed as the Quality Manager for the PET-radiochemistry department within the University of Edinburgh and is responsible for the quality and safety of PET-radiotracers manufactured within the unit, a position he has held since 2010.
Before joining the University of Edinburgh, Colin worked as a research manager within pharmaceutical industry, specialising in early clinical trials. His experience to date includes:
- Design and management of the Quality Management System within Edinburgh Imaging.
- Design and commissioning of a number of pharmaceutical cleanrooms.
- Manufacture of sterile products for oral or parenteral administration to patients and volunteers.
