Lakhmir Chawla
REVELATION BIOSCIENCESAbout Lakhmir Chawla
Lakhmir Chawla, MD, is an independent director of Revelation Biosciences (REVB) serving since 2023 and aged 54 as of May 29, 2025 . He is currently Chief Executive Officer of ExThera Medical and previously served as Chief Medical Officer at Silver Creek Pharma and La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company, where he oversaw the Phase 3 ATHOS-3 trial; he was also a Professor of Medicine at George Washington University with dual appointments in Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine and Renal Diseases & Hypertension . The board has determined he is independent under Nasdaq rules (all directors except the CEO are independent) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company | Chief Medical Officer | Not disclosed | Oversaw Phase 3 ATHOS-3 trial |
| George Washington University | Professor of Medicine | Not disclosed | Dual appointments in Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine and Renal Diseases & Hypertension |
| Silver Creek Pharma | Chief Medical Officer | Not disclosed | Oversaw Acute Ischemic Stroke program and ARPEGGIO neuroprotection study initiation |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExThera Medical | Chief Executive Officer | Current | Private company role; no committee disclosures |
| Prior academic appointments | Professor of Medicine | Prior | GWU dual appointments |
Board Governance
- Board classification and tenure: REVB has a classified board; Chawla is the Class C director, nominated to serve until the 2028 Annual Meeting if elected .
- Independence: Independent under Nasdaq and SEC rules (board independence excludes CEO) .
- Committee memberships and chair roles:
- Compensation Committee: Chair (Chawla), members include Carver and Roper; all independent; no interlocks or insider participation .
- Audit Committee: Member (Chair is Roper; members include Chawla and Carver); audit committee financial expert is Roper .
- Nominating & Governance Committee: Member (with Carver and Roper); all independent .
- Attendance: In 2024, each director attended 100% of meetings during their service; Board met 6 times, Audit 4, Compensation 1, Nominating & Governance 1 .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | FY 2024 Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (non-employee director) | $60,000 | Paid in cash; no option awards in 2024 for non-employee directors |
No committee chair fees or meeting fees were disclosed; directors may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses .
Performance Compensation
| Award Type | Grant Date | Shares/Units | Terms and Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted Stock Award (RSA) | Feb 11, 2025 | 181 shares | Granted to Chawla; no fair value disclosed in proxy |
| Restricted Stock Awards (Plan grant) | As of Oct 29, 2025 | 15,625 shares | Reported as RSAs issued under Plan in beneficial ownership footnote |
| Options | N/A | N/A | No option awards disclosed for Chawla in 2024 director compensation table |
- Equity plan governance features: no re-pricing of “underwater” options/SARs without shareholder approval; no tax gross-ups; clawback provisions; limits on director compensation .
- Clawbacks: plan provides rescission/recoupment for misconduct and SOX/Dodd-Frank clawback compliance; recovery mechanisms if accounting restatement occurs .
- Termination/change-in-control: default termination rules for awards and Committee discretion; CIC may accelerate or substitute awards at Committee’s discretion .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- No public company directorships disclosed beyond REVB; current external executive role at ExThera Medical (private) .
- No reported compensation committee interlocks or insider participation; no family relationships; no legal proceedings requiring disclosure .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Domain expertise: internationally recognized in acute kidney injury (AKI) and shock; author of 160+ peer-reviewed publications; recipient of the International Vicenza Award for Critical Care Nephrology .
- Governance expertise: Chairs Compensation Committee; active member of Audit and Nominating & Governance, suggesting strong engagement across pay, audit, and governance oversight .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | As of May 29, 2025 | As of Oct 29, 2025 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakhmir Chawla, MD | 181 shares (all from Feb 11, 2025 RSA) | 15,686 shares; includes 61 shares held directly and 15,625 RSAs issued under Plan; <1% ownership | Ownership % less than 1% |
No pledging/hedging or director stock ownership guidelines were disclosed in the proxies reviewed; REVB’s Audit Committee reviews related-party transactions and Code of Ethics governs conflicts .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths:
- Independent director serving as Compensation Committee Chair, with cross-committee roles (Audit; Nominating & Governance), and full 2024 meeting attendance, indicating engagement and oversight breadth .
- Equity plan has robust governance features (no repricing without approval; clawbacks; no tax gross-ups; director compensation limits), aligning incentives and investor protections .
- No disclosed related-party transactions, family relationships, or legal proceedings; independence affirmed .
- Watch items:
- Company reliance on special meetings to approve warrant issuances and exchange-cap exceptions indicates financing needs and potential future dilution, requiring vigilant board oversight of shareholder interests .
- Reverse stock split authorities in 2024–2025 reflect listing compliance dynamics; board’s communication and rationale are clear, but continued monitoring of capital actions is prudent .
Director Compensation Detail (2024)
| Director | Cash Fees ($) | Option-Based Awards ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakhmir Chawla, MD | 60,000 | - | 60,000 |
Committee Assignments
| Committee | Role | Members |
|---|---|---|
| Compensation | Chair | Chawla (Chair), Carver, Roper; all independent |
| Audit | Member | Roper (Chair, audit financial expert), Chawla, Carver |
| Nominating & Governance | Member | Carver, Roper, Chawla; all independent |
Independence, Attendance, Years of Service
- Independence: Independent director (board independence excludes CEO) .
- Attendance: 100% attendance in 2024; Board (6), Audit (4), Compensation (1), Nominating & Governance (1) .
- Service: Director since 2023; nominated for Class C term through 2028 if elected .
Potential Conflicts or Related-Party Exposure
- Related-party policy and Audit Committee oversight in place; no specific related-party transactions disclosed involving Dr. Chawla .
- No family relationships or legal proceedings disclosed .
Overall signal: Chawla’s chair role and cross-committee service, documented independence, and 100% attendance support board effectiveness; equity plan governance and absence of related-party issues bolster investor confidence, while ongoing capital structure actions warrant continued scrutiny to protect shareholder alignment .