OUR TEAM
At Labskin, our team brings together expertise across skin biology, microbiology, histology, project management, research and product development. From developing advanced 3D human skin models to delivering bespoke research programmes, our multidisciplinary team works closely with clients to turn complex scientific questions into meaningful, reliable results.
Dr Nicola Kingswell
Scientific Director / Owner
Nicola is the Scientific Director and co-owner of Labskin, with extensive experience in cell biology, 3D skin models, laboratory management and scientific project delivery. She has held senior positions across Eurofins, Intertek Pharmaceutical Services and Labcorp, working within highly regulated GxP environments.
At Labskin, Nicola provides scientific and strategic leadership across the business, overseeing laboratory operations, quality, health and safety, client projects and R&D. She has extensive experience in the development of advanced 3D skin models and has led a number of collaborative Innovate UK and KTP projects.
Dr Stewart Sale
Business Development Director
Stewart is an experienced sales and business development professional with more than 10 years’ expertise across sales, business development and product management, alongside 22 years working within the life sciences industry.
With a strong technical background and customer-focused approach, Stewart works closely with clients and partners to understand their research needs and identify how Labskin’s advanced skin models and testing capabilities can support their goals. He is passionate about developing innovative solutions that deliver meaningful value for customers.
Bart Cwikla
Head of Microbiology
Bart holds an MSc in Biomedical Sciences from Leeds Beckett University and has more than a decade of laboratory experience spanning veterinary pathology and biotechnology. He joined Labskin in 2018 as a Laboratory Technician and has progressed to Head of Microbiology.
His work focuses on client research, study design, technical troubleshooting, data analysis and the development of new assays and microbial models. Bart has a particular interest in skin microbiology, including Malassezia species and dermatophytes, and has co-authored peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Dr Vinay Thoree
Head of Histology
Vinay is an experienced histologist with more than 13 years of expertise spanning academia, healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry. He holds a PhD in inflammatory bowel disease and has a strong background in immunohistopathology, having held key positions at Oxford Biomedica, Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline.
At Labskin, Vinay specialises in tissue processing, immunohistochemistry and assay development, providing expert guidance across research and client studies.
Holly Lyons
Client Project Manager
Holly is a Client Project Manager at Labskin, working closely with clients and teams across the company throughout the entire project lifecycle.
With a BSc in Biology from the University of York and a PRINCE2 Project Management certification, Holly supports everything from study protocols and project planning through to coordinating timelines and ensuring deadlines are met. Her focus is on making sure projects run smoothly, study endpoints are achieved and clients receive their reports on time.
Dr Emma Corbin
Delivery Project Manager
Emma works closely with Labskin’s clients and internal teams to ensure projects are delivered on time and to the highest possible standard.
After completing a PhD in Molecular Biology, Emma spent three years as a Senior Scientist at a Newcastle University spin-out, where she established and led the Cell Biology department. Her scientific and project management experience enables her to coordinate complex timelines, review data, help resolve challenges and support high-quality reporting and communication throughout each project.
Matteo Capocefalo
Scientific Strategy and Operations Director
Matteo is a Chartered Biologist with 14 years of experience in laboratory operations and technical management. As Scientific Strategy and Operations Director, he focuses on strengthening Labskin’s operational capabilities, optimising performance and ensuring our scientific development remains aligned with the company’s strategic priorities. Passionate about developing people, Matteo believes that when teams feel supported and empowered, high performance follows, both in our culture and our science.
Simms Adu
KTP Associate
Simms is a KTP Associate at Labskin, working on the development and optimisation of an immunocompetent 3D skin model through the incorporation of immune cells into Labskin’s existing platforms.
Working collaboratively with academic and industry partners, Simms contributes across the project lifecycle, from experimental planning and laboratory research through to product development. Current work focuses on developing robust methods for macrophage differentiation, establishing cell co-culture systems and integrating functional immune cells into Labskin’s models.
Raphael Slip
Head of Production
Raphael leads Labskin’s cell culture and production team, overseeing the production of advanced 3D human skin models and ensuring rigorous scientific standards and reliable delivery for clients.
He also supports Labskin’s R&D activities, helping to develop new models that capture increasingly complex aspects of human skin biology. Rachel holds an MSc in Molecular Medicine and an MRes in Biomedical Science and previously managed the Jack Birch Unit at the University of York, specialising in in vitro cellular differentiation and translational bladder cancer research.
Joe Taylor
Labskin Junior Scientist
Joe recently joined Labskin as a Microbiology Laboratory Technician, supporting the preparation and delivery of research studies.
Before joining Labskin, Joe completed an MSc in Biomedical Science at the University of Leeds, specialising in antimicrobial resistance, and spent two years working in water quality. His experience brings valuable microbiology expertise to Labskin’s research and client projects.
Nell Richardson
Labskin Junior Scientist
Nell is a Production Scientist at Labskin, specialising in tissue culture and the production of Labskin models. She also contributes to R&D projects focused on optimising the Labskin-S model and developing new full-thickness 3D skin models.
Nell holds a BSc in Biological Sciences, with a background in molecular biology and academic research. Her research experience at Newcastle University focused on mitochondrial biology, giving her a strong interest in understanding cellular processes at the molecular level.
Charlotte Heath
Labskin Junior Scientist
Charlotte is a Histologist at Labskin, where she assesses the expression of biomarkers and proteins in our 3D human skin models using immunohistochemistry.
She holds an MRes in Biochemistry from the University of Portsmouth and has a research background in synthetic microbiology and genetic engineering. This experience has given her extensive skills in experimental design and troubleshooting.
Mariyah Ahmed
Labskin Senior Scientist
Mariyah joined Labskin in 2020 as a Laboratory Assistant after completing an MSc in Physics and has since progressed to Scientist.
She has transferred her scientific expertise into the field of skin biology, with a particular focus on claims substantiation and protein expression analysis. Her work involves close collaboration across Labskin’s departments to deliver detailed results and high-quality reports for clients.
Laura Crouch
Labskin Senior Scientist
Laura is a Production Scientist with hands-on experience in tissue culture, specialising in the growth and development of the full-thickness Labskin-S model. She works closely with the production team on R&D projects to develop new and innovative skin models.
Laura holds a BSc in Environmental Science alongside a Level 3 qualification as a Laboratory Technician. She is passionate about science and enjoys being part of innovative projects that help advance skin research and testing.
Jenny White
Labskin Senior Scientist
Jenny is a Scientist at Labskin, where she designs, executes and troubleshoots assays using Labskin’s advanced skin models.
After completing a BSc in Microbiology, Jenny gained experience in cosmetic testing and assay development, including working directly with clients. Her scientific background and practical experience have given her a passion for delivering high-quality research and meaningful results for clients.
TALK TO A LABSKIN EXPERT TODAY
Ready to start your next project? A member of the Labskin team can tell you more about our unique full-thickness human skin model and validated testing platform.