RSB welcomes new CEO
Date: 1 Sept 2025
At the Royal Society of Biology, we’re delighted to welcome our new CEO, Dr Doug Brown FRSB, who takes up his post today, 1 September 2025.
Doug was previously CEO of the British Society for Immunology (one of the RSB’s Member Organisations), a position he held since 2018. He is also a Trustee of Association of Medical Research Charities, has a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Cambridge, and has many years of experience across healthcare and biological fields.
Doug succeeds Dr Mark Downs PhD DSc (Hon) CSci CBiol FRSB who was the RSB’s CEO for 16 years and retired at the end of the summer.
Dr Doug Brown FRSB said: “I am thrilled to be joining the RSB as Chief Executive at such a pivotal time for the life sciences. Biology is at the heart of addressing many of the world’s most pressing challenges, and the RSB plays a crucial role in empowering the community to drive meaningful impact now and in the future. Building on the strong foundations established under Mark’s leadership, I look forward to working with the dedicated staff team, our members, partners, and the wider scientific community to lead the RSB into its next chapter – ensuring that biology continues to improve lives and shape a better future for all.”
I am thrilled to be joining the RSB as Chief Executive at such a pivotal time for the life sciences. I look forward to leading the RSB into its next chapter — ensuring that biology continues to improve lives and shape a better future for all.
We are very excited to welcome Doug to the RSB to help us meet the challenges of the future. We look forward to working with him.
President of the Royal Society of Biology, Professor Sir Ian Boyd FRSB FRSE FRS, said: “We are very excited to welcome Doug to the RSB to help us meet the challenges of the future. Membership has expanded rapidly in recent years and I know that Doug is keen to continue building the value of RSB membership. He is a great person to be carrying the baton for the independent voice of bioscience and we look forward working with him.”
RSB staff, Boards, and Committees are all looking forward to working with Doug from now on as he continues work to deliver the Society’s strategic objectives and supporting the bioscience community.
The RSB is currently at an exciting stage of its development. With a new strategy rolled out at the start of this year, having made the move to being an organisation based mainly around remote working, and the annual Biology Week coming up in October, the RSB is poised for change and ready to flourish under its new leadership.