Awakn Life Sciences is a biotechnology company focused on the research, development, and delivery of psychedelic medicines for the treatment of mental health conditions. Awakn is creating a paradigm shift in psychiatry by integrating psychedelic medicine into mainstream mental healthcare with a strategic focus on the treatment of Addiction, Anxiety, Depression and PTSD across three business lines of Research, Clinics and Platforms. For more information, please visit awaknlifesciences.com
OUR STRATEGY
We are a biotechnology company focused on the research, development, and delivery of psychedelic medicines for the treatment of mental health conditions in the UK, EU, and North America with a dual strategic focus of create and commercialising psychedelic IP focused on treating addiction and treat mental health through a chain of owned and operated medical psychedelic clinics in the UK and EU.
KEY MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM
Chair of Scientific Advisory Board: Prof. David Nutt DM, FRCP, FRCPsych, FSB, FMEDSCI
The Chairman of the Awakn Scientific Advisory Board has been at the cutting edge of drug research since 1972. He established the Drug Science charity, and in 2008 was appointed Chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which reported to the UK’s Conservative government. His remarkable career is documented in his bestselling book, Nutt Uncut.
Chief Medical Officer: Dr. Ben Sessa MBBS (MD), MRCPsych
Our Chief Medical Officer has been at the cutting edge of psychedelic therapy research for over a decade, along the way authoring three books including 2012’s The Psychedelic Renaissance, which is considered a key work on the subject. Ben was one of the leads on the groundbreaking Bristol-Imperial MDMA-for-Alcoholism Study (BIMA).
Chief Science Officer: Dr. Sean McNulty BSc, D. Phil
Shaun is an experienced biotechnology executive with over 20 years of experience in drug development with Pfizer, GSK, Syntaxin, ImmBio, Biosceptre and Inflection Biosciences.
?
Shaun holds a D. Phil from the University of York and researched CNS biology and signalling at the University of Cambridge, UK.
Chief Science Officer: Dr. Sean McNulty BSc, D. Phil
Shaun is an experienced biotechnology executive with over 20 years of experience in drug development with Pfizer, GSK, Syntaxin, ImmBio, Biosceptre and Inflection Biosciences.
?
Shaun holds a D. Phil from the University of York and researched CNS biology and signalling at the University of Cambridge, UK.
Lead Psychologist: Dr. Laurie Higbed BSc. (Hons), ClinPsyD
Laurie is an experienced clinical psychologist. Laurie has worked as a lead therapist on clinical trials using MDMA and psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy and has a special interest in working with complex trauma, addictions and the use of psychedelic therapy to treat a range of mental health difficulties.
Ketamine Alcohol Use Disorder Practice Lead: Prof. Celia Morgan Ph. D, BSc, Dip SciComm
Celia is a Professor of Psychopharmacology at the University of Exeter, one of Europe’s leading ketamine researchers, and lead on the Ketamine for reduction of Alcoholic Relapse (KARE) clinical trial, which is considered a medical benchmark.
Chair: George Scorsis
George has 15 years’ experience leading companies in highly regulated industries to rapid growth, including alcohol, energy drinks and, most recently, medical cannabis.
?
Formerly President of Red Bull Canada, he was instrumental in restructuring the organisation and growing the business to $150 MM in revenue.
CEO: Anthony Tennyson, BA, MSc, MBA
Anthony is an experienced financial services industry executive with 10 years in international strategy, commercial leadership roles with Aon plc, and 5 years with Merrill Lynch and Bank of Ireland. Anthony holds an MBA in Strategy and Finance and an MSc in Technology both from UCD, Ireland’s top ranked business school.
CFO: Jonathan Held, CPA CA
Jonathan is a chartered professional accountant, with CFO level experience for private / public companies. Jonathan has worked in a number of sectors including technology, biotech and natural resources, both domestic and international, and has been involved in numerous successful public market transactions including Initial Public Offerings, Reverse Takeovers and financings.
COO: James Collins BSc, MPhil in Psychology
James is a senior business leader and mental health champion with 17 years of experience with Accenture Strategy, 7 years as MD, designing and delivering corporate, digital and operating model strategies. James holds a BSc and MPhil in Psychology from University College London (UCL)
