Our Team

Dr Peter Whitton is a well-respected expert in the fields of microbiology and biochemistry with over 20 years’ experience and is recognized as a leader in the field of plant cell culturing and research. Dr Whitton has a BSc in Biology and Chemistry, and a PhD in Biochemistry. He is a Member of the Institute of Biology and Chartered Biologists, a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and a Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences.

Dr Whitton has a wide-ranging expertise, having provided advisory services to leading pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and Boots on regulatory strategy, as well as directing research and providing toxicology advice to Pfizer. Dr Whitton previously served as Director and Chief Scientific Officer for Naturally Scientific Technologies Ltd., where he developed and patented methods to produce glyceraldehyde from CO2 and the production of Lipids using plant cell culture technologies. Prior to joining Naturally Scientific, Dr Whitton ran and managed his own research organization, Phyto-Research Ltd., for five years and secured several patents in the field of plant tissue culture and natural sciences, as well as providing research and advisory services to leading pharmaceutical companies and universities. During this period Dr Whitton worked with The Serious and Organized Crime Directorate of the Metropolitan Police with Assistant Commissioner Tarique Gaffur on the development of new drug and explosive detection techniques. Dr Whitton held the position of Senior Scientist for several years for an organization specializing in the preparation of herbal-based remedies and cosmetics, and was responsible for research, quality and conformance with British Pharmacopeia Standards and compliance with Cosmetic Safety regulations.

Dr Whitton has successfully patented many bio-technology patents with a particular focus on the use of plant cell technology for industrial applications. He was co-founder and currently serves as a Director of Lykke Research Ltd., a bio-technology company that has developed and patented a process to produce the API from the Hoodia Gordonii plant from cell cultures for use in the dietary supplements market as an appetite suppressant. He is the co-founder and a Director of PhytoCyte Pty, a bio-technology company that has developed a process to produce cannabinoids and their APIs from cell cultures for the medicinal and recreational cannabis markets.