NeuraClick Strengthens Scientific Leadership With Appointment Of Dr. Gavin Dawe And Dr. Tomi Sawyer As Key Advisors

NeuraClick, Inc., a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing macrocyclic neuropeptide therapeutics through its proprietary NuClick™ platform, announced the appointment of two new experts to support its scientific and strategic progress. The company has appointed Gavin S. Dawe, PhD, as Scientific Advisor for Neuropharmacology & Translational Neuroscience, and Tomi K. Sawyer, PhD, as Strategic Advisor for Peptide Therapeutics & Partnering Strategy.

These additions further strengthen the company’s scientific and translational capabilities as it advances its platform and lead programs targeting central nervous system (CNS) and neuro-metabolic disorders. The appointments also help support a clear path toward eventual clinical development.

Dr. Gavin Dawe is a widely respected neuropharmacologist and translational neuroscientist. He serves as an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Pharmacology at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. His work focuses on neural systems involved in stress, arousal, and reward, and he is recognized as a key opinion leader in neuropeptide neuropharmacology. His expertise spans behavioral pharmacology, electrophysiology, and EEG-based biomarkers, and he has previous industry experience at ReNeuron and Eli Lilly and Company. 

His scientific contributions have been acknowledged through honors such as the GlaxoSmithKline Academic Centre of Excellence Research Award. At NeuraClick, Dr. Dawe will guide the development of strategies that connect neuropeptide-driven circuit modulation with measurable biological and functional outcomes, helping establish strong translational readouts for the company’s programs.

Dr. Tomi Sawyer brings more than forty years of experience in peptide and macrocycle drug discovery. A former President of the American Peptide Society, he has held senior scientific leadership positions including Distinguished Scientist at Merck & Co., Chief Scientific Officer at Aileron Therapeutics, and roles at Ariad Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer. Over his career, he has contributed to the discovery and development of several approved peptide medicines, such as Iclusig® and Scenesse®. 

Dr. Sawyer currently serves as Chief Drug Hunter at Maestro Therapeutics and is also the Founder and President Emeritus of the Peptide Drug Hunting Consortium, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing innovative peptide-based technologies. In his role at NeuraClick, he will provide strategic guidance for peptide therapeutic development, helping shape the company’s path toward clinically viable candidates and supporting its partnering and development strategy.

In discussing the importance of neuropeptide science, Dr. Dawe noted that neuropeptide systems remain one of the most influential yet underexplored mechanisms for influencing brain circuits related to complex behaviors. He shared that NeuraClick’s approach to improving the stability and functional control of these systems is an important step toward developing effective neurotherapeutics.

Dr. Sawyer added that a major challenge in peptide drug development has been achieving the right balance of stability, pharmacokinetics, and tissue exposure. He explained that NeuraClick’s platform introduces a new and more effective method of engineering peptides, enabling more durable neuropeptide medicines suitable for CNS disorders.

Together, Dr. Dawe and Dr. Sawyer will play an important advisory role as NeuraClick continues developing its platform and pipeline. Their combined expertise will support the company’s efforts to advance peptide-based medicines for complex CNS disorders and reflects NeuraClick’s commitment to building a strong scientific foundation.

Dr. Subhi Marwari, Founder and CEO of NeuraClick, expressed his enthusiasm about the appointments, stating that both advisors bring essential experience that strengthens the connection between the company’s biological insights and its therapeutic development strategy. Their involvement will support NeuraClick’s mission to move its programs toward clinical translation and future strategic partnerships.