Ronald Stead

SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR

Ronald (Ron) is the co-founder, president and scientific director of Holburn and an internationally recognized expert in gastrointestinal physiology, especially the interactions of mast cells and nerves. He is responsible for leading Holburn into the future of healthcare diagnostics and therapeutics.

Ron has over 35 years of leadership experience in the fields of pathology, immunology, neurobiology and product development (medical device and pharmaceuticals) and companion diagnostics. This includes independent operations, as well as multiple collaborative projects with “big pharma” and top diagnostic companies. In addition, Ron has guided clinical products through the development phases into clinical trials: negotiating contracts, raising significant funding, building research groups in academia and industry and leading teams of experienced scientists in development work with major pharmaceutical companies. 

Ron’s experience in pharmaceutical and medical device development puts him in a unique position to support start-up and early-stage medical and related companies.

Ron served as the chairman of Sakura’s Scientific Advisory Board (a pathology instrument company); was a member of Agilent’s (Dako) Key Opinion Leader Board for their novel pathology products; and introduced PDL1 testing across Canada, enabling the launch of the cancer drug: Keytruda.

Ron is an honorary professor of medicine (Tübingen) and has written 100 papers, multiple abstracts and scientific summaries (white papers). He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists and completed his Ph.D. in Pathology at the University of Leeds.