Lumito Appoints Pascal Bamford as Chair of Scientific Advisory Board, Adds Spatial Biology and Biomarker Experts to Advance SCIZYS Platform
Key Insights
Lumito has appointed Pascal Bamford as new Chair of its Scientific Advisory Board, succeeding Paul Waring as the company transitions into a commercial phase.
Professor Arutha Kulasinghe and AstraZeneca's Gemma Jones have joined the SAB, bringing world-leading expertise in spatial biology and biomarker-driven oncology drug development.
Two SAB meetings have already yielded concrete priorities including pharma collaborations, retrospective studies, and building evidence that SCIZYS complements existing spatial biology solutions.
Lumito AB (search) has announced a significant reshaping of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), appointing Pascal Bamford as the new Chair and adding two internationally recognized experts in spatial biology and translational pathology. The moves signal the company's transition from a research-focused organization toward commercial deployment of its SCIZYS digital tissue imaging platform.
Pascal Bamford succeeds Paul Waring, who will continue to serve as a trusted advisor and remain closely engaged with Lumito. Bamford brings deep expertise from the pharmaceutical and diagnostics sectors, with a strong track record in translating innovative technologies into commercial opportunities. His experience spans oncology and antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development, areas of strategic importance as Lumito advances its platform.
"It has been a privilege to serve as Chair of Lumito's Scientific Advisory Board and to follow the company's journey. Lumito has built a strong scientific foundation and a highly promising technology platform," said Paul Waring. "I am very pleased to continue supporting the team in an advisory capacity, and I look forward to seeing Pascal take on this role as the company moves further into its commercial phase."
Bamford expressed enthusiasm about the appointment: "I am excited to take on this role at such an important stage for Lumito. The SCIZYS platform has significant potential, particularly in supporting the development of next-generation therapies such as ADCs, and I look forward to working closely with the team to realize these opportunities."
New SAB Members Strengthen Spatial Biology and Biomarker Expertise
Alongside the leadership transition, Lumito has appointed Professor Arutha Kulasinghe and Gemma Jones to its Scientific Advisory Board. Kulasinghe serves as Chair of Spatial Medicine at The University of Queensland and is the Founding Scientific Director of the Queensland Spatial Biology Centre. He is internationally recognized for his work in cancer (search) biology, spatial biology, and precision medicine, with a particular focus on biomarkers and the tumor microenvironment. Kulasinghe has authored more than 120 scientific publications and was named "Researcher of the Year" by Cure Cancer in 2023, and in 2024 was recognized as one of Australia's leading innovators.
Gemma Jones is Scientific Director of Translational Pathology UK at AstraZeneca, with more than 13 years of experience in translational medicine within oncology. Her expertise encompasses biomarker strategies, digital image analysis, and the development of tissue-based biomarker assays for clinical drug development programs. Jones' background is particularly relevant as ADCs and biomarker-driven drug development continue to play an increasingly important role in cancer (search) treatment.
Operational Focus Yields Concrete Priorities
Since Jones and Kulasinghe joined the SAB, two meetings have been held that included relevant SAB members and additional expertise from the global pharmaceutical industry. One meeting focused on drug development and future opportunities in biomarker-driven oncology drug development, while the other addressed developments in spatial biology and how Lumito's technology can complement and create added value alongside established and emerging market solutions.
The discussions centered on Lumito's unique strengths, market positioning, and strategies to build evidence, drive interest from larger industry players, and strengthen the commercial value proposition. Both meetings were characterized by a strong operational focus and resulted in concrete insights regarding company priorities, including initiating collaborations with pharma partners, exploring retrospective studies, and building further evidence that SCIZYS complements existing spatial biology solutions on the market.
"We are pleased to welcome these highly respected international experts to our Scientific Advisory Board. Their combined expertise across drug development, advanced tissue analysis, pathology, and diagnostics strengthens Lumito's access to critical insights within these areas, helping to guide our operational and strategic priorities," said Sanna Wallenborg, CEO of Lumito. "Importantly, they share a strong conviction in the potential of our technology and its ability to provide deeper insight into disease biology and support the development of more effective cancer (search) therapies."
The SCIZYS Platform
Lumito specializes in medical technology and translational research in digital tissue imaging. The company's patented SCIZYS platform uses up-converting nanoparticles (UCNPs) to locate and measure protein biomarkers in tissue samples with high sensitivity. The technology combines image data with precise biomarker detection, enabling images with higher contrast where irrelevant background information is filtered out. This approach can enhance tissue sample analysis by increasing objectivity, contributing to more quantifiable diagnoses and optimized treatments. Lumito primarily focuses on drug development and digital pathology and is a spin-off from a research group at Lund University's Department of Atomic Physics and Laser Center.
The full SAB now includes Paul Waring, MD, PhD (Chair), Pascal Bamford, PhD, Arutha Kulasinghe, PhD, Gemma Jones, PhD, Robert Gunnarsson, Sc, Executive MBA, PhD, Mark Lackner, MD, PhD, Executive MBA, and Jason Hipp, MD, PhD.