The CanSense Team

Adam Bryant PhD

CEO and Co-Founder

As the CEO of CanSense, Adam is dedicated to transforming lives through the early detection of cancer. With a recent and personal experience of his own cancer diagnosis, Adam is uniquely positioned to comprehend the needs of individuals beyond their roles as patients.

As an entrepreneur, advisor, and active investor for the past two decades in startups, Adam possesses a deep understanding of early stage investing and the rigorous requirements involved in bringing an IVD product to market. With experience as a Principal Investigator and a PhD in Theoretical Physics, he has presented at various Parliamentary APPG meetings.

Before assuming the role of CanSense CEO, Adam spent over 20 years as a senior Managing Director in tier 1 investment banking institutions, where he established and led highly successful global teams. Transitioning from investment banking six years ago, Adam has immersed himself in the health tech industry, gaining the required understanding of the landscape, including the regulatory pathway—an essential aspect of the business.

Adam has developed an extensive network across the healthcare industry, including universities, AHSNs, cancer charities, healthcare providers, health tech investors, as well as large corporate partners within the healthcare industry.
Adam possesses extensive expertise in strategy formulation, negotiation, and deal structuring, frequently navigating intricate stakeholder dynamics. With a background in operational management, governance, and leading teams, he has consistently delivered ambitious achievements. Adam’s composed demeanour and pragmatic approach underscore his track record of decisive and successful outcomes.

Peter Dunstan PhD

Chief Technical Officer and Co-Founder

Peter Dunstan, co-founding director and Chief Technical Officer of CanSense, is an experienced physicist and professor at Swansea University with over 25 years of expertise in experimental physics, particularly in spectroscopy and instrumentation applied to biological systems. Peter played a central role in founding the Centre for Nanohealth (CNH), a £21.6M project in 2009. Serving as the deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor at Swansea University, he focuses on enterprise, entrepreneurship, and welcoming innovation through knowledge exchange and partnerships. With 45+ peer-reviewed publications and ongoing supervision of PhD candidates, Peter is dedicated to impactful research.

His collaboration with Professor Dean Harris started in 2013 within the CNH, leading to the establishment of a successful Bio-Spectroscopy Research Group at Swansea University. This group, co-led by Peter and Dean, has secured £1.5M in research funding, supported over 10 advanced degree researchers, and received multiple awards, showcasing their commitment to innovation and research impact. Peter is also an accomplished innovator with four published patents and additional pending patents in the field of bio-spectroscopy.

Cerys Mitchell PhD

Chief Data Scientist and Co-Founder

Cerys is a versatile researcher with a robust interdisciplinary background encompassing physics, chemistry, and medical research. Her primary focus lies in advancing early cancer diagnostics through the integration of spectroscopic techniques with artificial intelligence. With over five years of expertise in clinical spectroscopy, she successfully gained her PhD in Ramen Spectroscopy for Cancer Diagnostics.

During her doctoral research within Swansea’s Biospectroscopy group, Cerys collaborated with Professors Dean Harris and Peter Dunstan to develop the methodologies underpinning CanSense’s technology. This groundbreaking work received recognition, earning Cerys the Herald Scotland Global Game Changers Women in Innovation award in 2018.

Dean Harris MD

Clinical Director and Co-Founder

In 2010, Dean Harris became a consultant colorectal surgeon in Swansea and an honorary professor at Swansea University Medical School. His colorectal cancer practice and leadership in the Swansea Pelvic Oncology Group demonstrate his expertise in advanced rectal cancer. As the colorectal cancer MDT lead for Swansea, he contributes to national policies and has earned a place in the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme, reflecting his commitment to innovation in healthcare.

Dean is a prolific researcher and surgical trainer, with a portfolio of 100 peer-reviewed papers and 50 invited lectures. He serves as the clinical co-chair of the Wales Cancer Industry Forum Early Detection and Diagnosis workstream and received the MediWales Innovation Awards in 2016 for his work on Raman spectroscopy in clinical practice. Dean, along with Professor Peter Dunstan, co-leads the Biospectroscopy research group in Swansea, securing over £1.5 million in grant funding for the clinical utility of Raman spectroscopy as an early cancer diagnostic tool.

Karen Whiting PhD

Chief Operations Officer

Karen Whiting is an established professional with a PhD in Biochemistry, holding over 27 years’ experience within life science and the diagnostics industry. With a track record of working in highly regulated environments, Karen has adapted to the intricacies of ISO9001, 13485 and FDA requirements. Having led complex projects from inception to launch, her credibility with sophisticated project management experience and a portfolio of success in meeting targets within specified timeframes and budgets, underscores her commitment to success.

With further experience in mentoring and managing others, leveraging a collaborative approach has been instrumental in her ascent as a skilled Chief Operations Officer. Her ability to build capable teams has enabled effective communication with both internal and external stakeholders, contributing significantly to project success and organisational growth.

Dean Webster

Quality & Regulations Manager

With more than two decades of experience in the health and life sciences sector, Dean Webster has worked extensively in the highly regulated domains of medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Over the course of his career, he has assumed various roles in Research and Development (R&D), Validation, Supplier Quality, Quality Management Systems, and Quality and Regulatory Affairs.

Having worked in both small start-ups and large global corporations, Dean brings a rich and diverse set of experiences to the CanSense team. His expertise will play a crucial role as he guides the team through the complex regulatory landscape, aiming for ISO 13485 certification and seeking regulatory approval in global markets.