Kathryn SunnCEO at Celosia TherapeuticsPresenter
Profile
Dr Kathryn Sunn is Chief Executive Officer of Celosia Therapeutics, an Australian clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class genetic medicines for neurodegenerative diseases associated with pathological TDP-43. Since assuming the CEO role, she has led Celosia from a Macquarie University spin-out to a clinical-stage company, completing a A$16.75 million Series A financing and advancing the company's lead asset, CTx1000, into a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in ALS within 14 months. She has also secured A$20 million toward Celosia's planned A$80 million Series B financing. In January 2026, Dr Sunn presented Celosia at Biotech Showcase in San Francisco.
Dr Sunn has more than 20 years of experience across biotechnology, life-science commercialisation, intellectual property, venture creation, licensing, strategic partnerships and capital raising. Prior to Celosia, she held senior commercialisation leadership roles at Macquarie University, the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne. She has completed more than 100 life-science transactions and supported the establishment of more than fifteen biotechnology companies. Dr Sunn is a member of the Uniseed Biotechnology Investment Committee, an NHMRC Commercial Assessor and a former Director of Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia. She holds a PhD in Medicine, a Master of Industrial Property, is a Registered Technology Transfer Professional and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.