Meet the team

Joint Venture Partner with Specsavers, having qualified as an optometrist and then went into retail/healthcare, incl. retail consultancy with Opto and Specsavers.

Constantly dedicated to growing business and developing teams, David is ideally poised to guide EBS towards commerciality with his sector specific business network.

David is currently Chair of Optometry Scotland, the representative body for Optometrists and has worked with the Scottish Government throughout the Covid pandemic to ensure appropriate access to Optometry services was maintained.

Experience biotechnology executive with 30+ years in the sector. Founder shareholder in several start-up companies and currently board director of four SME across life science and other industries. Retained as InnovateUK Monitoring officer monitoring multiple Biomedical catalyst grants ranging from therapeutics, clinical devices, and diagnostics. Previously Head of cell culture at Biocure ltd, scientific lead during IPO to become Medisys PLC. Corporate development manager at Cyclacel Ltd, founded a Cambridge based genomics division and running the merger process which took Cyclacel onto the NASDAQ through a reverse merger.

PhD in Development of Human Monoclonal Antibodies Edinbugh Uni 1987

BSc (hons) bacteriology Edinburgh Uni 1984

Northwestern Uni: Kellog Business School of Mangement Executive Development programme 2003

Experienced Director with 20+ years experience delivering Business Change Programmes and Major CAPEX Projects within a variety of business sectors.

Experience augmented by a MSc in Project Management.

25 years’ experience in clinical research, with over 15 years’ regulatory experience within both the medical device and pharmaceutical industry.

Working within a range of sponsor companies and CROs, Crispin is used to liaising with contractors, scientists, investigators and key opinion leaders, and has regulatory experience at all stages of device development, from first-in man studies to approval to post-market development.

Since joining EBS in early 2020, he has developed and written the clinical trial documentation required to initiate and conduct the first-in man study for the LEDINBIO device for the treatment and diagnosis of cataract.

Professor S. Desmond Smith OBE, FRS, FRSE, FinstP

Chief Scientific Officer and Founder

Des has made significant contributions to the physics of optical coatings, magneto-optics of semiconductors, satellite meteorology, infrared spectroscopy and fluorescence technology and their applications. His work has led to highlights such as the tuneable spin-flip Raman laser, which gives the highest resolution molecular gas spectra, and the invention of the carbon dioxide Selective Chopper for the Nimbus 4 satellite temperature sounder — launched in 1970, with derivatives on NASA planetary probes. These included special band pass interference filters.

In 1970, he left the University of Reading for the Chair of Physics at Heriot-Watt University, where he created a research-driven physics department from a green field. He transferred his Reading research group to Edinburgh and introduced optoelectronics to the Scottish universities, becoming Chairman of the Scottish Optoelectronics Association (SOA).

The Riccarton campus at Heriot Watt University included Britain’s first University “Research Park” where he founded the first spin-off SME, Edinburgh Instruments Ltd (EI) in 1971. EI has since become one of the world’s largest manufacturers of leading edge spectroscopic instrumentation and gas detection solutions.

Des founded Edinburgh Biosciences Ltd in 2013, which exploits advances in optical science and technology in the area of bioscience applications.

Career History

Emeritus Professor of Physics, Head of Department, 1970-96, Dean of Science 1981-1984, Heriot-Watt University

BSc, DSc Bristol, PhD Reading, Hon DSc Heriot-Watt

Founder, Edinburgh Instruments

Over 230 publications, 2 books, Infra-red Physics OUP (with J.T.Houghton) and Optoelectronics Prentice Hall.

Advisory Council Science and Technology, Cabinet Office 1985-88.

Joint PI “Remote Sounding of Atmospheric Temperatures from Satellites” – the Selective Chopper Radiometer for Nimbus 4 1970.

First Chairman Scottish Optoelectronics Association 1996-98.

Numerous committees, several prizes including Royal Medal, RSE, 2011