Core Team
Marc Hurlbert, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade
Marc Hurlbert, PH.D. joined Avon in 2004 and currently serves as the executive director of the global breast cancer programs of the Avon Foundation for Women and the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. The Crusade, which has programs in 60 countries, raises and awards more than $50 million to breast cancer philanthropy annually. Dr. Hurlbert is responsible for developing the Crusade’s overall strategy and vision, setting funding guidelines, implementing programs and monitoring the progress of grant recipients. Since the Crusade launched in 1992, Avon breast cancer programs have raised and awarded $780 million to support research and advancing access to care, regardless of a person’s ability to pay; educated 100 million women on breast health care; and linked millions of women to mammography screening, and if needed, to treatment
Dr. Hurlbert was elected by his peers in the industry to serve as the Chairman of the Board of the Health Research Alliance (2010-2011) and the International Cancer Research Partnership (2013-2015). The HRA is an alliance of 60 nonprofit organizations that collectively award $1.5 billion in annual health research grants to 5,500 research investigators. The ICRP are cancer-specific funders and includes nonprofit, governmental and other funders of cancer research
He also serves as Chairman of the Cancer Committee for Columbia University-New York Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Hurlbert received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Kansas and his Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. He completed his training with a postdoctoral fellowship at New York University Medical Center, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine. Dr. Hurlbert then started his career in the nonprofit sector at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) International
Executive Director, Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade
Marc Hurlbert, PH.D. joined Avon in 2004 and currently serves as the executive director of the global breast cancer programs of the Avon Foundation for Women and the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. The Crusade, which has programs in 60 countries, raises and awards more than $50 million to breast cancer philanthropy annually. Dr. Hurlbert is responsible for developing the Crusade’s overall strategy and vision, setting funding guidelines, implementing programs and monitoring the progress of grant recipients. Since the Crusade launched in 1992, Avon breast cancer programs have raised and awarded $780 million to support research and advancing access to care, regardless of a person’s ability to pay; educated 100 million women on breast health care; and linked millions of women to mammography screening, and if needed, to treatment
Dr. Hurlbert was elected by his peers in the industry to serve as the Chairman of the Board of the Health Research Alliance (2010-2011) and the International Cancer Research Partnership (2013-2015). The HRA is an alliance of 60 nonprofit organizations that collectively award $1.5 billion in annual health research grants to 5,500 research investigators. The ICRP are cancer-specific funders and includes nonprofit, governmental and other funders of cancer research
He also serves as Chairman of the Cancer Committee for Columbia University-New York Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Hurlbert received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Kansas and his Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. He completed his training with a postdoctoral fellowship at New York University Medical Center, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine. Dr. Hurlbert then started his career in the nonprofit sector at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) International
Carolyn Angeleri Ricci
Manager, Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade
Carolyn Ricci manages the programs of the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade. In this role Carolyn oversees the grant application, decision and administration processes, and serves as staff liaison to all breast cancer program applicants and grantees funded through the Avon Foundation for Women. Carolyn implements the Foundation’s program strategy for its breast cancer grants portfolio, totaling more than $30 million in annual grants. She develops and implements communication strategy for Crusade activities, informational and education tools for applicants and beneficiaries, and impact documents for media outreach and communication
The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade was launched in 1992 as a small pioneering program in the U.K. Avon in the U.S. adopted the Crusade the following year. Since that time, Avon philanthropy has raised and donated more than $910 million to breast cancer programs around the world, supporting cutting-edge research to find a cure for or prevent breast cancer as well as programs that enable all patients to access quality care
Manager, Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade
Carolyn Ricci manages the programs of the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade. In this role Carolyn oversees the grant application, decision and administration processes, and serves as staff liaison to all breast cancer program applicants and grantees funded through the Avon Foundation for Women. Carolyn implements the Foundation’s program strategy for its breast cancer grants portfolio, totaling more than $30 million in annual grants. She develops and implements communication strategy for Crusade activities, informational and education tools for applicants and beneficiaries, and impact documents for media outreach and communication
The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade was launched in 1992 as a small pioneering program in the U.K. Avon in the U.S. adopted the Crusade the following year. Since that time, Avon philanthropy has raised and donated more than $910 million to breast cancer programs around the world, supporting cutting-edge research to find a cure for or prevent breast cancer as well as programs that enable all patients to access quality care
Thomas M. Stackhouse, Ph.D.
Associate Director for the Technology Transfer Center (TTC) at the National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Dr. Stackhouse is the Associate Director for the Technology Transfer Center (TTC) at the National Cancer Institute, NIH. In this position, Dr. Stackhouse oversees the patent portfolio and marketing activities for the National Cancer Institute, including its Frederick Maryland campus and the newly formed Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNL)
In addition, Dr. Stackhouse leads the TTC staff by coordinating intellectual property parameters and guidelines for several key NCI initiatives including NCI’s Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer and the NCI Chemical Biology Consortium. Dr. Stackhouse works closely with state and local economic development groups to foster new partnerships which facilitate the use of NCI technologies and expertise to advance the pubic health and stimulate the nation’s economies. Dr. Stackhouse is Vice Chair of the Education and Training Committee of the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) and an elected member the Executive Board of the FLC
Prior to joining the NCI-Technology Transfer staff in 1996, Dr. Stackhouse received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of California, Davis. Dr. Stackhouse spent several years as a Developmental Scientist for a major pharmaceutical company and later was part of the research team who discovered the VHL tumor suppressor gene. Dr. Stackhouse has received several awards including the National Institutes of Health Award of Merit for his outstanding management of the NCI-Frederick Technology Transfer Office and the FLC Mid-Atlantic Technology Transfer Representative of the Year
Associate Director for the Technology Transfer Center (TTC) at the National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Dr. Stackhouse is the Associate Director for the Technology Transfer Center (TTC) at the National Cancer Institute, NIH. In this position, Dr. Stackhouse oversees the patent portfolio and marketing activities for the National Cancer Institute, including its Frederick Maryland campus and the newly formed Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNL)
In addition, Dr. Stackhouse leads the TTC staff by coordinating intellectual property parameters and guidelines for several key NCI initiatives including NCI’s Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer and the NCI Chemical Biology Consortium. Dr. Stackhouse works closely with state and local economic development groups to foster new partnerships which facilitate the use of NCI technologies and expertise to advance the pubic health and stimulate the nation’s economies. Dr. Stackhouse is Vice Chair of the Education and Training Committee of the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) and an elected member the Executive Board of the FLC
Prior to joining the NCI-Technology Transfer staff in 1996, Dr. Stackhouse received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of California, Davis. Dr. Stackhouse spent several years as a Developmental Scientist for a major pharmaceutical company and later was part of the research team who discovered the VHL tumor suppressor gene. Dr. Stackhouse has received several awards including the National Institutes of Health Award of Merit for his outstanding management of the NCI-Frederick Technology Transfer Office and the FLC Mid-Atlantic Technology Transfer Representative of the Year
Rose Santangelo Freel, Ph.D.
Technology Transfer Specialist, the Technology Transfer Center (TTC) at the National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Rose Santangelo Freel is a Technology Transfer Specialist in the NCI Technology Transfer Center under the Cancer Research Training Award. In her position, she negotiates agreements such as Collaboration Agreements, Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) and Confidential Disclosure Agreements (CDAs) for intramural scientists. She also handles some of the marketing activities around the technologies developed within the NCI Intramural program including developing marketing materials, performing marketing campaigns and developing overall market strategies. Prior to her position at NCI, she was an intern at the Office of Technology Transfer at Emory University as she concurrently completed her Ph.D. in Chemistry. During this time, she also served as Co-Chair of the Emerging Leaders Network (ELN) within Georgia Bio where she oversaw and maintained the active Programs team, coordinated and presented on behalf of ELN at Georgia Universities, and assisted in organizing other ELN events as needed. For her efforts, she received an award from Georgia Bio for Distinguished Service to the Community in 2012
Technology Transfer Specialist, the Technology Transfer Center (TTC) at the National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Rose Santangelo Freel is a Technology Transfer Specialist in the NCI Technology Transfer Center under the Cancer Research Training Award. In her position, she negotiates agreements such as Collaboration Agreements, Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) and Confidential Disclosure Agreements (CDAs) for intramural scientists. She also handles some of the marketing activities around the technologies developed within the NCI Intramural program including developing marketing materials, performing marketing campaigns and developing overall market strategies. Prior to her position at NCI, she was an intern at the Office of Technology Transfer at Emory University as she concurrently completed her Ph.D. in Chemistry. During this time, she also served as Co-Chair of the Emerging Leaders Network (ELN) within Georgia Bio where she oversaw and maintained the active Programs team, coordinated and presented on behalf of ELN at Georgia Universities, and assisted in organizing other ELN events as needed. For her efforts, she received an award from Georgia Bio for Distinguished Service to the Community in 2012
Rosemarie Truman
Founder and CEO, The Center for Advancing Innovation, INC.
Rosemarie has over 20 years of experience in driving growth breakthroughs for clients, having created over $21 billion in new profits for clients that launched over 300 new products/services/solutions. Rosemarie has more than 20 years of experience in Strategy Consulting, Investment Banking, and Entrepreneurship. Rosemarie has provided strategy consulting services for over 110 clients in over 15 countries and 24 states. Having started her career at Goldman Sachs as an analyst, to this day, Rosemarie's core competencies are in complex due diligence, creating sustainable growth breakthrough strategies for clients and transformation
Currently, Ms. Truman leads a public-private partnership whose mission is to accelerate and increase the volume of technology transfer, translational research and commercialization. Her firm, The Center for Advancing Innovation, has been working with the Avon Foundation on Portfolio Strategy and also has Partnership Intermediary agreements with the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and seven other research institutes within the NIH. Recently her team completed a portfolio analysis effort of over 4000 NCI inventions. With AF and NCI, her firm is serving as managing director of a first-of-a-kind national business plan and startup Challenge for select breast cancer focused inventions
Prior to launching her own firm, Rosemarie served as the global leader of IBM and PRTM's Innovation and R&D strategy practice; the VP and leader of global strategy at Marsh & McLennan and also led eBusiness Strategy while at Ernst & Young. While at IBM, Rosemarie also led internal transformation efforts, including restructuring the Emerging Business Opportunity operations and strategies as well as institutionalizing models to drive sustainable new growth. Finally, Rosemarie has spearheaded the development of several trade secret models and frameworks to select and nurture sustainable growth opportunities; one model is for the Life Sciences industry called "Industry Leading R&D Performance"
Founder and CEO, The Center for Advancing Innovation, INC.
Rosemarie has over 20 years of experience in driving growth breakthroughs for clients, having created over $21 billion in new profits for clients that launched over 300 new products/services/solutions. Rosemarie has more than 20 years of experience in Strategy Consulting, Investment Banking, and Entrepreneurship. Rosemarie has provided strategy consulting services for over 110 clients in over 15 countries and 24 states. Having started her career at Goldman Sachs as an analyst, to this day, Rosemarie's core competencies are in complex due diligence, creating sustainable growth breakthrough strategies for clients and transformation
Currently, Ms. Truman leads a public-private partnership whose mission is to accelerate and increase the volume of technology transfer, translational research and commercialization. Her firm, The Center for Advancing Innovation, has been working with the Avon Foundation on Portfolio Strategy and also has Partnership Intermediary agreements with the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and seven other research institutes within the NIH. Recently her team completed a portfolio analysis effort of over 4000 NCI inventions. With AF and NCI, her firm is serving as managing director of a first-of-a-kind national business plan and startup Challenge for select breast cancer focused inventions
Prior to launching her own firm, Rosemarie served as the global leader of IBM and PRTM's Innovation and R&D strategy practice; the VP and leader of global strategy at Marsh & McLennan and also led eBusiness Strategy while at Ernst & Young. While at IBM, Rosemarie also led internal transformation efforts, including restructuring the Emerging Business Opportunity operations and strategies as well as institutionalizing models to drive sustainable new growth. Finally, Rosemarie has spearheaded the development of several trade secret models and frameworks to select and nurture sustainable growth opportunities; one model is for the Life Sciences industry called "Industry Leading R&D Performance"
Jonathan Lui
Managing Consultant, The Center for Advancing Innovation, INC.
Jonathan has worked on a variety of portfolio strategy, operational optimization and business strategy engagements. When a problem is labeled "impossible," he's charged with solving it, which he has done with grace and poise. He has worked with the following client efforts: Novartis, Glaxo Smith Kline and several others. For example, he led an engagement to assess one large pharma's suite of clinical trials; identified ways to make them more successful and also generated financial models to illustrate the value of pursuing recommendations. Jonathan has also been the lead due diligence consultant on a portfolio strategy engagement for an infectious disease drug, device and diagnostic company, where we identified a large exist as well as a bootstrap strategy to mitigate risk for potential investors
Managing Consultant, The Center for Advancing Innovation, INC.
Jonathan has worked on a variety of portfolio strategy, operational optimization and business strategy engagements. When a problem is labeled "impossible," he's charged with solving it, which he has done with grace and poise. He has worked with the following client efforts: Novartis, Glaxo Smith Kline and several others. For example, he led an engagement to assess one large pharma's suite of clinical trials; identified ways to make them more successful and also generated financial models to illustrate the value of pursuing recommendations. Jonathan has also been the lead due diligence consultant on a portfolio strategy engagement for an infectious disease drug, device and diagnostic company, where we identified a large exist as well as a bootstrap strategy to mitigate risk for potential investors
Youhong Wang, Ph.D.
Strategy Consultant, The Center for Advancing Innovation, INC.
Youhong Wang is a strategy consultant for The Center for Advancing Innovation. Currently, she is working on an engagement for the NIH and NCI, where she has led the assessment of 800+ inventions, and also led strategic assessments of economic burden, incidence rates, prevalence rates, market size/growth, etc. using a variety of databases and complex algorithms. She also performed “deep dives" for NCI technologies tailored to align with the strategic priority of several pharmaceutical companies, prepared deliverables, and presented to the interested parties. Prior to working with the Center, Youhong worked at the NIH and has extensive experience in bench research and protocol design
Youhong got her M.D. degree in P.R. China. She then obtained a Ph.D. in Tumor Biology from Georgetown University Lombardi Cancer Center, Washington DC, for her investigation of the PI3K signaling pathway in breast cancer. As a postdoctoral IRTA fellow at the NIH, she focused on the GPCR/ELMO pathway mechanism in chemotaxis and metastasis of cervical cancers. Youhong’s interests include traveling, cooking, reading, rock-climbing, and swimming
Strategy Consultant, The Center for Advancing Innovation, INC.
Youhong Wang is a strategy consultant for The Center for Advancing Innovation. Currently, she is working on an engagement for the NIH and NCI, where she has led the assessment of 800+ inventions, and also led strategic assessments of economic burden, incidence rates, prevalence rates, market size/growth, etc. using a variety of databases and complex algorithms. She also performed “deep dives" for NCI technologies tailored to align with the strategic priority of several pharmaceutical companies, prepared deliverables, and presented to the interested parties. Prior to working with the Center, Youhong worked at the NIH and has extensive experience in bench research and protocol design
Youhong got her M.D. degree in P.R. China. She then obtained a Ph.D. in Tumor Biology from Georgetown University Lombardi Cancer Center, Washington DC, for her investigation of the PI3K signaling pathway in breast cancer. As a postdoctoral IRTA fellow at the NIH, she focused on the GPCR/ELMO pathway mechanism in chemotaxis and metastasis of cervical cancers. Youhong’s interests include traveling, cooking, reading, rock-climbing, and swimming
Ravi Bhairavabhotla, Ph.D.
Strategy Consultant, The Center for Advancing Innovation, INC.
Ravi is a strategy consultant for The Center for Advancing Innovation. At the Center, Ravi has taken the lead on performing due diligence on 800+ inventions across 70 different indications. His due diligence efforts are still ongoing and are critical in understanding medical/scientific attractiveness, operational feasibility, market viability and many other factors that could aid/prevent an invention from being commercialized.
Ravi obtained his doctorate in tumor immunology, where he worked closely with clinicians, to develop and conduct research for better understanding the immune scenario of cervical cancer patients. He initiated challenging projects and won numerous accolades including the G.P. Talwar young scientist award. Ravi was elected to Spearhead a “first of a kind” students newsletter for Indian Immunology society. As a graduate student his team successfully led India’s 1st Graduate Students Meet (GSM) – scientific conference organized by the students for the students (still ongoing). Intrigued by the absence of novel markers of Tregs his current postdoctoral research at NIAID/NIH is focused on identification of novel biomarkers for this subset of human T cells
Strategy Consultant, The Center for Advancing Innovation, INC.
Ravi is a strategy consultant for The Center for Advancing Innovation. At the Center, Ravi has taken the lead on performing due diligence on 800+ inventions across 70 different indications. His due diligence efforts are still ongoing and are critical in understanding medical/scientific attractiveness, operational feasibility, market viability and many other factors that could aid/prevent an invention from being commercialized.
Ravi obtained his doctorate in tumor immunology, where he worked closely with clinicians, to develop and conduct research for better understanding the immune scenario of cervical cancer patients. He initiated challenging projects and won numerous accolades including the G.P. Talwar young scientist award. Ravi was elected to Spearhead a “first of a kind” students newsletter for Indian Immunology society. As a graduate student his team successfully led India’s 1st Graduate Students Meet (GSM) – scientific conference organized by the students for the students (still ongoing). Intrigued by the absence of novel markers of Tregs his current postdoctoral research at NIAID/NIH is focused on identification of novel biomarkers for this subset of human T cells
Julien Senac, Ph.D.
Strategy Consultant, The Center for Advancing Innovation, INC.
Julien has worked on a variety of engagements such as portfolio assessment, business development, and billion dollars growth strategy. At the center, Julien has led a team to conduct due diligence inventions portfolio, which include oncology, gene therapy, and AIDs technologies. The team identified the most commercially viable inventions that also address areas of economic burden.
Julien received his Ph.D. in Molecular and Human Genetics from Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX) for his work on the development of adenovirus as oncolytic agents. Upon receiving his Ph.D., Julien joined NIH as a postdoctoral fellow to develop gene and cell therapies for the metabolic diseases
Strategy Consultant, The Center for Advancing Innovation, INC.
Julien has worked on a variety of engagements such as portfolio assessment, business development, and billion dollars growth strategy. At the center, Julien has led a team to conduct due diligence inventions portfolio, which include oncology, gene therapy, and AIDs technologies. The team identified the most commercially viable inventions that also address areas of economic burden.
Julien received his Ph.D. in Molecular and Human Genetics from Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX) for his work on the development of adenovirus as oncolytic agents. Upon receiving his Ph.D., Julien joined NIH as a postdoctoral fellow to develop gene and cell therapies for the metabolic diseases
Judges
Robert A. Beardsley, PhD
Executive Chair, Galera Therapeutics, Inc.
Dr. Beardsley is Executive Chair and founder of Galera Therapeutics, Inc. as well as Chair of Euclises, Inc. and Epigenetx, LLC, all three therapeutic discovery and development companies active in the oncology space. Prior to Galera, he served as CEO at Metabolic Solutions Development Corporation and Kereos, as acting CEO at Metaphore Pharmaceuticals, and in a variety of roles at Confluence Life Sciences, SImile Investors, bioStrategies Group and Vector Securities International. As part of his work with these companies he has both raised over $100M in venture and private equity funding, and played key roles in taking several candidates into the clinic. Dr. Beardsley has served on the boards of a number of other public and private life science firms, including Collagenex Pharmaceuticals, BioSeek and KemPharm.. He has an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering from the University of Iowa.
Executive Chair, Galera Therapeutics, Inc.
Dr. Beardsley is Executive Chair and founder of Galera Therapeutics, Inc. as well as Chair of Euclises, Inc. and Epigenetx, LLC, all three therapeutic discovery and development companies active in the oncology space. Prior to Galera, he served as CEO at Metabolic Solutions Development Corporation and Kereos, as acting CEO at Metaphore Pharmaceuticals, and in a variety of roles at Confluence Life Sciences, SImile Investors, bioStrategies Group and Vector Securities International. As part of his work with these companies he has both raised over $100M in venture and private equity funding, and played key roles in taking several candidates into the clinic. Dr. Beardsley has served on the boards of a number of other public and private life science firms, including Collagenex Pharmaceuticals, BioSeek and KemPharm.. He has an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering from the University of Iowa.
Katherine Bowdish
Vice President, R&D and Head of Sunrise, Sanofi
Katherine Bowdish, Ph.D. recently joined Sanofi as Vice President R&D and Head of Sunrise, a new organization within Sanofi created to drive innovative research and complement Sanofi’s Global R&D strategy. Katherine was previously President & CSO of Permeon Biologics, a Flagship VentureLabs Company developing a novel Intraphilinä Technology Platform that enables intracellular biological therapies based on rationally engineered as well as naturally occurring human supercharged proteins. Prior to taking the helm at Permeon, Katherine co-founded and served as President & CEO of Anaphore (now RuiYi), a platform-based drug development company with a focus on trivalent biological therapies. Prior to this, Katherine was President of Alexion Antibody Technologies, Inc. and Senior Vice President of Alexion Pharmaceuticals upon leading the acquisition of Prolifaron by Alexion. Dr. Bowdish was the founder, CEO & CSO of Prolifaron, a privately held antibody discovery company. Dr. Bowdish previously worked with Richard A. Lerner, M.D. at The Scripps Research Institute on catalytic antibodies and related antibody technologies, and at Monsanto in agricultural biotechnology. She received her Ph.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and B.S. from the College of William and Mary.
Vice President, R&D and Head of Sunrise, Sanofi
Katherine Bowdish, Ph.D. recently joined Sanofi as Vice President R&D and Head of Sunrise, a new organization within Sanofi created to drive innovative research and complement Sanofi’s Global R&D strategy. Katherine was previously President & CSO of Permeon Biologics, a Flagship VentureLabs Company developing a novel Intraphilinä Technology Platform that enables intracellular biological therapies based on rationally engineered as well as naturally occurring human supercharged proteins. Prior to taking the helm at Permeon, Katherine co-founded and served as President & CEO of Anaphore (now RuiYi), a platform-based drug development company with a focus on trivalent biological therapies. Prior to this, Katherine was President of Alexion Antibody Technologies, Inc. and Senior Vice President of Alexion Pharmaceuticals upon leading the acquisition of Prolifaron by Alexion. Dr. Bowdish was the founder, CEO & CSO of Prolifaron, a privately held antibody discovery company. Dr. Bowdish previously worked with Richard A. Lerner, M.D. at The Scripps Research Institute on catalytic antibodies and related antibody technologies, and at Monsanto in agricultural biotechnology. She received her Ph.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and B.S. from the College of William and Mary.
Kapil Dhingra, MBBS
Managing Member, KAPital Consulting
Kapil Dhingra, MBBS, is Managing Member of KAPital Consulting, a healthcare consulting firm he founded in 2008, which provides oncology-related strategic consulting services to biopharmaceutical companies and investors. From 1999̵-2008, he served in positions of increasing responsibility at Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., including Vice President, Head, Oncology Disease Biology Leadership team; and Head, Oncology Clinical Development. He joined Roche from Eli Lilly, where he worked as Senior Clinical Research Physician.
Before joining industry and during his tenures at both Eli Lilly and Hoffmann-La Roche, Dr. Dhingra maintained an active academic career first as an Assistant Professor at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, then as a Clinical Associate Professor at Indiana University School of Medicine and, most recently, as a Clinical Affiliate at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Dhingra has served on the Boards of several public and private biotechnology companies that have had successful exits and is currently a member of the Boards of several life science companies. He also serves on the NeXT panel of the NCI as well as the Commercialization Review Committee of CPRIT.
Managing Member, KAPital Consulting
Kapil Dhingra, MBBS, is Managing Member of KAPital Consulting, a healthcare consulting firm he founded in 2008, which provides oncology-related strategic consulting services to biopharmaceutical companies and investors. From 1999̵-2008, he served in positions of increasing responsibility at Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., including Vice President, Head, Oncology Disease Biology Leadership team; and Head, Oncology Clinical Development. He joined Roche from Eli Lilly, where he worked as Senior Clinical Research Physician.
Before joining industry and during his tenures at both Eli Lilly and Hoffmann-La Roche, Dr. Dhingra maintained an active academic career first as an Assistant Professor at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, then as a Clinical Associate Professor at Indiana University School of Medicine and, most recently, as a Clinical Affiliate at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Dhingra has served on the Boards of several public and private biotechnology companies that have had successful exits and is currently a member of the Boards of several life science companies. He also serves on the NeXT panel of the NCI as well as the Commercialization Review Committee of CPRIT.
Nick Donofrio
IBM Fellow Emeritus
IBM Executive Vice President, Innovation and Technology (Retired)
Nick Donofrio consults and speaks nationally and internationally on a broad range of topics including innovation, technology and education for a broad range of clients and audiences. Mr. Donofrio joined IBM in 1964 as a co-op student and worked on the memory technology for the legendary IBM System/360 mainframe computing system. From 1967, when he was hired as a full time employee, he has held numerous technical management positions and executive positions throughout several of IBM’s product divisions. From 1997 until his retirement in 2008, he served as IBM’s Executive Vice President for Innovation and Technology. He also served as (a) Vice Chairman of the IBM International Foundation and Chairman of the Board of Governors for the IBM Academy of Technology. In 2008, he was elected an IBM Fellow, the company’s highest technical honor
He holds seven technology patents, has received global recognition for his technical and business leadership and has been awarded several honorary doctorate degrees from universities both in the United States and Europe. In addition to advising business, government and education leaders (on topics of technology and innovation,) he serves on the boards of several for profit and not-for-profit organizations
IBM Fellow Emeritus
IBM Executive Vice President, Innovation and Technology (Retired)
Nick Donofrio consults and speaks nationally and internationally on a broad range of topics including innovation, technology and education for a broad range of clients and audiences. Mr. Donofrio joined IBM in 1964 as a co-op student and worked on the memory technology for the legendary IBM System/360 mainframe computing system. From 1967, when he was hired as a full time employee, he has held numerous technical management positions and executive positions throughout several of IBM’s product divisions. From 1997 until his retirement in 2008, he served as IBM’s Executive Vice President for Innovation and Technology. He also served as (a) Vice Chairman of the IBM International Foundation and Chairman of the Board of Governors for the IBM Academy of Technology. In 2008, he was elected an IBM Fellow, the company’s highest technical honor
He holds seven technology patents, has received global recognition for his technical and business leadership and has been awarded several honorary doctorate degrees from universities both in the United States and Europe. In addition to advising business, government and education leaders (on topics of technology and innovation,) he serves on the boards of several for profit and not-for-profit organizations
Terry Fetterhoff
Senior Director, Technology Management
Head, US Chief Technology Office
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Diagnostics Division
Terry is Sr Director of Technology Management and Head of the US Chief Technology Office for Roche Diagnostics in which he oversees the identification and evaluation of emerging technologies relevant to the future of clinical diagnostics, and is responsible for global Open Innovation initiatives within Roche Diagnostics. Prior to joining Roche, Terry received a Masters degree in Pathology from University of Western Australia (1981). He then worked at the Denver Children's Hospital from 1982 to 1987 where he oversaw the construction of a 3 laser, 5 parameter flow cytometer. In 1987, Mr. Fetterhoff took the position of R&D Manager for Boehringer Mannheim in Indianapolis in which he was responsible for development and manufacturing of Immunology and Biochemical product lines. He became Director of R&D for Boehringer Mannheim Biochemicals in 1995. During this time, the primary research focus was the development of methods to isolate pancreatic islets for subsequent transplantation into diabetics. When Roche acquired Boehringer Mannheim in 1996, Terry was responsible for moving the R&D function to Berkeley where the focus of the research was in vitro protein expression.
Senior Director, Technology Management
Head, US Chief Technology Office
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Diagnostics Division
Terry is Sr Director of Technology Management and Head of the US Chief Technology Office for Roche Diagnostics in which he oversees the identification and evaluation of emerging technologies relevant to the future of clinical diagnostics, and is responsible for global Open Innovation initiatives within Roche Diagnostics. Prior to joining Roche, Terry received a Masters degree in Pathology from University of Western Australia (1981). He then worked at the Denver Children's Hospital from 1982 to 1987 where he oversaw the construction of a 3 laser, 5 parameter flow cytometer. In 1987, Mr. Fetterhoff took the position of R&D Manager for Boehringer Mannheim in Indianapolis in which he was responsible for development and manufacturing of Immunology and Biochemical product lines. He became Director of R&D for Boehringer Mannheim Biochemicals in 1995. During this time, the primary research focus was the development of methods to isolate pancreatic islets for subsequent transplantation into diabetics. When Roche acquired Boehringer Mannheim in 1996, Terry was responsible for moving the R&D function to Berkeley where the focus of the research was in vitro protein expression.
Mary Haak-Frendscho, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors at Igenica, Inc.
Mary Haak-Frendscho, PhD is Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors at Igenica, Inc., a leading biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of breakthrough antibody-based cancer therapeutics.
Prior to joining Igenica, Dr. Haak-Frendscho established and is currently Chairman of the Board of Compugen, Inc., a subsidiary of Compugen, Ltd., devoted to translating in silico predicted targets into antibody therapeutics. Previously, Dr. Haak-Frendscho was founding President, Chief Scientific Officer and Board member of Takeda San Francisco, establishing and overseeing Takeda’s Center of Excellence for antibody biologics. Prior to Takeda Dr. Haak-Frendscho held positions of increasing responsibility at XOMA, Abgenix (now Amgen), and Genentech, where she secured collaborative relationships with external corporate partners and led antibody programs. At Genentech, she played a key role in the development of omalizumab (Xolair®).
She has authored over 70 scientific articles and has over 30 issued plus pending patents, primarily related to Abs across multiple therapeutic areas. An immunologist by training, Dr. Haak-Frendscho obtained her BS from the University of Michigan, MLA from Washington University in St. Louis, MS from SUNY-Stony Brook, CSEP from Columbia University Graduate School of Business and PhD from the University of Wisconsin, where she has an adjunct appointment.
Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors at Igenica, Inc.
Mary Haak-Frendscho, PhD is Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors at Igenica, Inc., a leading biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of breakthrough antibody-based cancer therapeutics.
Prior to joining Igenica, Dr. Haak-Frendscho established and is currently Chairman of the Board of Compugen, Inc., a subsidiary of Compugen, Ltd., devoted to translating in silico predicted targets into antibody therapeutics. Previously, Dr. Haak-Frendscho was founding President, Chief Scientific Officer and Board member of Takeda San Francisco, establishing and overseeing Takeda’s Center of Excellence for antibody biologics. Prior to Takeda Dr. Haak-Frendscho held positions of increasing responsibility at XOMA, Abgenix (now Amgen), and Genentech, where she secured collaborative relationships with external corporate partners and led antibody programs. At Genentech, she played a key role in the development of omalizumab (Xolair®).
She has authored over 70 scientific articles and has over 30 issued plus pending patents, primarily related to Abs across multiple therapeutic areas. An immunologist by training, Dr. Haak-Frendscho obtained her BS from the University of Michigan, MLA from Washington University in St. Louis, MS from SUNY-Stony Brook, CSEP from Columbia University Graduate School of Business and PhD from the University of Wisconsin, where she has an adjunct appointment.
Anthony P. Green, Ph.D.
Vice President, Technology Commercialization Group: Life Sciences for Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA (BFTP/SEP) and Ben Franklin Director of The Nanotechnology Institute™ (NTI) and Energy Commercialization Institute. He is also a Visiting Research Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering, Drexel University.
At BFTP/SEP, Dr. Green is focused on Ben Franklin's larger and region-wide technology partnerships and major initiatives, including the NTI and the Energy Commercialization Institute (ECI). He is also focused on new and evolving life sciences initiatives, university/industry partnerships in advanced textiles and water and the development and implementation new commercialization models. He is Chair of the Innovation Partnership Program, and a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of the Sciences Misher College of Arts and Sciences and the PA Life Science Leadership Advisory Council. Dr. Green has over 30 years experience in the biotechnology industry focusing on diagnostics and gene transfer technologies. In addition to his work with BectonDickinson and Migliara/Kaplan Associates, Dr. Green track record includes research, development and commercialization of cutting-edge technologies primarily through small, emerging companies, including Centocor and Puresyn. Dr. Green earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Immunology, with Honors, from Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island and his Ph.D. from Temple University School of Medicine, in Microbiology and Immunology.
Vice President, Technology Commercialization Group: Life Sciences for Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA (BFTP/SEP) and Ben Franklin Director of The Nanotechnology Institute™ (NTI) and Energy Commercialization Institute. He is also a Visiting Research Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering, Drexel University.
At BFTP/SEP, Dr. Green is focused on Ben Franklin's larger and region-wide technology partnerships and major initiatives, including the NTI and the Energy Commercialization Institute (ECI). He is also focused on new and evolving life sciences initiatives, university/industry partnerships in advanced textiles and water and the development and implementation new commercialization models. He is Chair of the Innovation Partnership Program, and a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of the Sciences Misher College of Arts and Sciences and the PA Life Science Leadership Advisory Council. Dr. Green has over 30 years experience in the biotechnology industry focusing on diagnostics and gene transfer technologies. In addition to his work with BectonDickinson and Migliara/Kaplan Associates, Dr. Green track record includes research, development and commercialization of cutting-edge technologies primarily through small, emerging companies, including Centocor and Puresyn. Dr. Green earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Immunology, with Honors, from Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island and his Ph.D. from Temple University School of Medicine, in Microbiology and Immunology.
Eric Hale, J.D, M.S, MBA
Associate Director
Office of Clinical and Preclinical Development Partnerships, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute
Eric Hale is an Associate Director in the Office of the Director, Center for Cancer Research where he is responsible for providing review and approval of the Center’s technology transfer portfolio as well as serving as an advisor to the Director and technical liaison on issues relating to legal, ethics, scientific administration and technology development.
He holds a Doctorate Degree in Law and Masters in Biochemistry from University of Maryland. He received a Master’s degree in business administration from the Johns Hopkins University and an undergraduate degree in chemistry. With degrees in law, chemistry, biochemistry, and business, Eric Hale has enjoyed and been able to meet the challenges posed by his past positions in government, biotech, academia, pharmaceutical, and regulatory affairs.
Associate Director
Office of Clinical and Preclinical Development Partnerships, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute
Eric Hale is an Associate Director in the Office of the Director, Center for Cancer Research where he is responsible for providing review and approval of the Center’s technology transfer portfolio as well as serving as an advisor to the Director and technical liaison on issues relating to legal, ethics, scientific administration and technology development.
He holds a Doctorate Degree in Law and Masters in Biochemistry from University of Maryland. He received a Master’s degree in business administration from the Johns Hopkins University and an undergraduate degree in chemistry. With degrees in law, chemistry, biochemistry, and business, Eric Hale has enjoyed and been able to meet the challenges posed by his past positions in government, biotech, academia, pharmaceutical, and regulatory affairs.
John D. Hewes, Ph.D.
Technology Transfer Specialist
Technology Marketing Group, Technology Transfer Center, National Cancer Institute
Dr. Hewes has post-graduate degrees in chemistry and technology management. Following post-doctoral fellowships in France and Germany, Dr. Hewes was employed at AlliedSignal, Inc. as a Research Chemist and Business Unit Liaison. Then, in a stint as a Program Manager with the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Advanced Technology Program, Dr. Hewes implemented intramural and extramural funding programs for high-throughput screening for advanced materials. Dr. Hewes then served as the Director for Government and University Relations at Honeywell International Specialty Materials, where he identified and nurtured cross-Corporate opportunities as the technical liaison to several government agencies. Dr. Hewes joined the National Cancer Institute Technology Transfer Center in 2007, where his principal role is assisting in identifying translational research opportunities for the Intramural Research Program scientists.
Technology Transfer Specialist
Technology Marketing Group, Technology Transfer Center, National Cancer Institute
Dr. Hewes has post-graduate degrees in chemistry and technology management. Following post-doctoral fellowships in France and Germany, Dr. Hewes was employed at AlliedSignal, Inc. as a Research Chemist and Business Unit Liaison. Then, in a stint as a Program Manager with the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Advanced Technology Program, Dr. Hewes implemented intramural and extramural funding programs for high-throughput screening for advanced materials. Dr. Hewes then served as the Director for Government and University Relations at Honeywell International Specialty Materials, where he identified and nurtured cross-Corporate opportunities as the technical liaison to several government agencies. Dr. Hewes joined the National Cancer Institute Technology Transfer Center in 2007, where his principal role is assisting in identifying translational research opportunities for the Intramural Research Program scientists.
Michael King Jolly, Pharm.D.
Senior Vice President, Quintiles Innovation
Michael King Jolly, Pharm.D., is Senior Vice President of Quintiles Innovation, where he leads initiatives to develop statistical and operational methodologies, translational Research and Development, and electronic medical record-enabled applications to speed drug development, reduce cost, and improve outcomes success
Dr. Jolly’s pharmaceutical career began at Burroughs Wellcome Co. in 1983. While at Burroughs Wellcome, he served as Project Leader for more than five new molecular entities in cardiovascular medicine, Section Head for Cardiovascular Medicine, and Brand Leader for LANOXIN brand digoxin for heart failure
Dr. Jolly first joined Quintiles in 1995 and led a strategic business unit that provided oversight of more than 40 cardiovascular product development programs ranging from pre-IND to Phase IV. In 2000, he took a position at King Pharmaceuticals as Executive Vice President of Research and Development, where he formed a multidisciplinary research and development organization using a “virtual development model” in which outsourced partners performed all operations work, directed by a small core of functional experts. In early 2007, Dr. Jolly returned to Quintiles and subsequently formed the Innovation Business Unit
Dr. Jolly also teaches at Duke University Medical School and the School of Pharmacy at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has authored eight NDAs and three sNDAs during his career
Dr. Jolly received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He subsequently completed a fellowship in clinical drug research and drug development from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Burroughs Wellcome Co. Dr. Jolly is also a graduate of the Burroughs Wellcome Management Institute
Senior Vice President, Quintiles Innovation
Michael King Jolly, Pharm.D., is Senior Vice President of Quintiles Innovation, where he leads initiatives to develop statistical and operational methodologies, translational Research and Development, and electronic medical record-enabled applications to speed drug development, reduce cost, and improve outcomes success
Dr. Jolly’s pharmaceutical career began at Burroughs Wellcome Co. in 1983. While at Burroughs Wellcome, he served as Project Leader for more than five new molecular entities in cardiovascular medicine, Section Head for Cardiovascular Medicine, and Brand Leader for LANOXIN brand digoxin for heart failure
Dr. Jolly first joined Quintiles in 1995 and led a strategic business unit that provided oversight of more than 40 cardiovascular product development programs ranging from pre-IND to Phase IV. In 2000, he took a position at King Pharmaceuticals as Executive Vice President of Research and Development, where he formed a multidisciplinary research and development organization using a “virtual development model” in which outsourced partners performed all operations work, directed by a small core of functional experts. In early 2007, Dr. Jolly returned to Quintiles and subsequently formed the Innovation Business Unit
Dr. Jolly also teaches at Duke University Medical School and the School of Pharmacy at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has authored eight NDAs and three sNDAs during his career
Dr. Jolly received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He subsequently completed a fellowship in clinical drug research and drug development from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Burroughs Wellcome Co. Dr. Jolly is also a graduate of the Burroughs Wellcome Management Institute
James R. McCullough
Chief Executive Officer, Exosome Diagnostics, Inc.
Mr. McCullough is one of our founders and has been Chief Executive Officer since inception in May of 2008. From March of 2001 to October of 2006, Mr. McCullough was the Chief Executive Officer of AusAm Biotechnologies, Inc. a biotechnology company developing diagnostics to identify kidney and cardiovascular diseases. At AusAm, Mr. McCullough oversaw commercial development, FDA clearance, and marketing and distribution for Accumin, a diagnostic for detection of patients at risk for early-stage kidney and cardiovascular disease. He received his BA from Boston University in 1990, and his MBA from the Columbia Graduate School of Business in 1995.
Chief Executive Officer, Exosome Diagnostics, Inc.
Mr. McCullough is one of our founders and has been Chief Executive Officer since inception in May of 2008. From March of 2001 to October of 2006, Mr. McCullough was the Chief Executive Officer of AusAm Biotechnologies, Inc. a biotechnology company developing diagnostics to identify kidney and cardiovascular diseases. At AusAm, Mr. McCullough oversaw commercial development, FDA clearance, and marketing and distribution for Accumin, a diagnostic for detection of patients at risk for early-stage kidney and cardiovascular disease. He received his BA from Boston University in 1990, and his MBA from the Columbia Graduate School of Business in 1995.
Carol Nacy
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Sequella, Inc.
Dr. Carol A. Nacy is currently founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sequella, Inc., a fifteen year- old privately-held pharmaceutical company that commercializes new and more effective treatments for life-threatening infectious diseases. Sequella has a novel antibiotic in a pivotal trial in Russia for MDR-TB with its corporate partner Infectex, a Phase 2 efficacy study in Africa in drug-sensitive TB, and a Phase 2 efficacy study in Texas for Helicobacter pylori infections. Sequella also has an extensive pipeline of earlier-stage drugs moving to the clinic in various infectious disease indications. Sequella has ongoing research collaborations with large pharmaceutical companies and academic centers for development of new drugs for neglected diseases. Sequella raised $81M to date from institutional and individual investors and peer- reviewed grants
Prior to Sequella, Dr. Nacy was Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at EntreMed, Inc., from 1993 through its successful public offering in June 1996. She left EntreMed in November 1996 to establish Sequella, Inc. and was part-time Chief Scientific Officer (1997-1998) for Anergen, Inc., a California company focused on autoimmune diseases. There, she reorganized the scientific staff and positioned the company for acquisition by Corixa Corp. in December 1998
Dr. Nacy became full time CEO and Chair of the Board of Sequella in January 1999. She is a member of the Board of Directors of for-profit companies (Social and Scientific Systems) and non-profit agencies (Sequella Foundation, Tech Council of Maryland, Foundation for Soldier and World Health, among others) and on a number of committees in global health organizations. Prior to her business experience, Dr. Nacy was career scientist and science manager for 17 years at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Washington, DC, where she studied tropical infectious diseases. She has published over 160 scientific papers to date
Dr. Nacy was elected to the American Academy of Microbiology in 1985. She maintains strong ties to the scientific research community, was President of the American Society for Microbiology (1996) and the Society for Leukocyte Biology (1993), and was on the Board of the National Academy of Science, National Research Council (1996-2001). She is an adjunct faculty member of both the Department of Biology at the Catholic University of America, and the Department of Tropical Diseases at the George Washington University, Washington, DC. She earned her A.B., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC: in 2002 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in Science from this institution
Dr. Nacy was singled out as a Top 50 Innovator in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine in 2002, named Entrepreneur of the Year by Women in BIO in 2004, the state of Maryland named her in its Top 100 Business Women in 2005, and the Washington Business Journal named her as a top 25 female executive in the Washington DC metropolitan area in 2005. In 2006, she received a National Leadership Award in Healthcare from the National Urban Technology Center in New York City, and in 2007 she was honored with a Special Outstanding Achievement Award for Clinical Trials by Women in BIO. In December 2009 she was awarded the Humanitarian Award, Hope is a Vaccine, by the Global Alliance for Immunization against Aids (GAIA) for her work to create new drugs for TB
Dr. Nacy is married to Monte S. Meltzer, M.D., has 5 children and 5 grandchildren, and lives in Washington, DC
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Sequella, Inc.
Dr. Carol A. Nacy is currently founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sequella, Inc., a fifteen year- old privately-held pharmaceutical company that commercializes new and more effective treatments for life-threatening infectious diseases. Sequella has a novel antibiotic in a pivotal trial in Russia for MDR-TB with its corporate partner Infectex, a Phase 2 efficacy study in Africa in drug-sensitive TB, and a Phase 2 efficacy study in Texas for Helicobacter pylori infections. Sequella also has an extensive pipeline of earlier-stage drugs moving to the clinic in various infectious disease indications. Sequella has ongoing research collaborations with large pharmaceutical companies and academic centers for development of new drugs for neglected diseases. Sequella raised $81M to date from institutional and individual investors and peer- reviewed grants
Prior to Sequella, Dr. Nacy was Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at EntreMed, Inc., from 1993 through its successful public offering in June 1996. She left EntreMed in November 1996 to establish Sequella, Inc. and was part-time Chief Scientific Officer (1997-1998) for Anergen, Inc., a California company focused on autoimmune diseases. There, she reorganized the scientific staff and positioned the company for acquisition by Corixa Corp. in December 1998
Dr. Nacy became full time CEO and Chair of the Board of Sequella in January 1999. She is a member of the Board of Directors of for-profit companies (Social and Scientific Systems) and non-profit agencies (Sequella Foundation, Tech Council of Maryland, Foundation for Soldier and World Health, among others) and on a number of committees in global health organizations. Prior to her business experience, Dr. Nacy was career scientist and science manager for 17 years at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Washington, DC, where she studied tropical infectious diseases. She has published over 160 scientific papers to date
Dr. Nacy was elected to the American Academy of Microbiology in 1985. She maintains strong ties to the scientific research community, was President of the American Society for Microbiology (1996) and the Society for Leukocyte Biology (1993), and was on the Board of the National Academy of Science, National Research Council (1996-2001). She is an adjunct faculty member of both the Department of Biology at the Catholic University of America, and the Department of Tropical Diseases at the George Washington University, Washington, DC. She earned her A.B., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC: in 2002 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in Science from this institution
Dr. Nacy was singled out as a Top 50 Innovator in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine in 2002, named Entrepreneur of the Year by Women in BIO in 2004, the state of Maryland named her in its Top 100 Business Women in 2005, and the Washington Business Journal named her as a top 25 female executive in the Washington DC metropolitan area in 2005. In 2006, she received a National Leadership Award in Healthcare from the National Urban Technology Center in New York City, and in 2007 she was honored with a Special Outstanding Achievement Award for Clinical Trials by Women in BIO. In December 2009 she was awarded the Humanitarian Award, Hope is a Vaccine, by the Global Alliance for Immunization against Aids (GAIA) for her work to create new drugs for TB
Dr. Nacy is married to Monte S. Meltzer, M.D., has 5 children and 5 grandchildren, and lives in Washington, DC
Christine K. Norton
Co-Founder, Minnesota Breast Cancer Coalition
Christine Norton is a retired teacher, a 23 year breast cancer survivor, co-founder of the Minnesota Breast Cancer Coalition, and a National Breast Cancer Coalition Board member. Christine has done peer-reviews for the DoD Breast Cancer Research Program, NCI, the Avon Foundation, and the University of Minnesota. A former member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Avon Foundation, Christine is currently a public member of the MN Board of Nursing, and serves on the MN Community Measurement Board, and the Piper Breast Center Advisory Board. She is also a reviewer for HealthNewsReview.org
Co-Founder, Minnesota Breast Cancer Coalition
Christine Norton is a retired teacher, a 23 year breast cancer survivor, co-founder of the Minnesota Breast Cancer Coalition, and a National Breast Cancer Coalition Board member. Christine has done peer-reviews for the DoD Breast Cancer Research Program, NCI, the Avon Foundation, and the University of Minnesota. A former member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Avon Foundation, Christine is currently a public member of the MN Board of Nursing, and serves on the MN Community Measurement Board, and the Piper Breast Center Advisory Board. She is also a reviewer for HealthNewsReview.org
Gil Price, M.D.
Chief Executive Officer, MaGil IRB, Inc.
Chief Executive Officer, Drug Safety Solutions
Dr. Gil Price is a clinical physician trained in Internal Medicine with a long-standing interest in the study of adverse drug reactions, drug utilization, drug development and regulation. He is an accomplished senior level manager with over 26 years of diverse therapeutic drug development experience. His responsibilities have included pharmacovigilance, competitive intelligence, and clinical development
Gil has launched three companies: a biotech firm which exited within 15 months at a 23x multiple; Drug Safety Solutions, a pharmacoviligance consulting firm and Ma Gil, a firm provided preferred IRB services to the Life Sciences industry
Prior to his current position as Founder and CEO of Drug Safety Solutions, Dr. Price was the Director of Clinical Development for Oncology at MedImmune Inc. He previously worked in the CRO sector at ClinTrials. Dr. Price began his pharmaceutical career at Glaxo, Inc. in Research Triangle Park, NC, where he worked for nearly nine years on both the commercial and research sides of the company
Dr. Price is a member of the American Medical Association, the Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians, the American Society of Microbiology, the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, and the Drug Information Association
Chief Executive Officer, MaGil IRB, Inc.
Chief Executive Officer, Drug Safety Solutions
Dr. Gil Price is a clinical physician trained in Internal Medicine with a long-standing interest in the study of adverse drug reactions, drug utilization, drug development and regulation. He is an accomplished senior level manager with over 26 years of diverse therapeutic drug development experience. His responsibilities have included pharmacovigilance, competitive intelligence, and clinical development
Gil has launched three companies: a biotech firm which exited within 15 months at a 23x multiple; Drug Safety Solutions, a pharmacoviligance consulting firm and Ma Gil, a firm provided preferred IRB services to the Life Sciences industry
Prior to his current position as Founder and CEO of Drug Safety Solutions, Dr. Price was the Director of Clinical Development for Oncology at MedImmune Inc. He previously worked in the CRO sector at ClinTrials. Dr. Price began his pharmaceutical career at Glaxo, Inc. in Research Triangle Park, NC, where he worked for nearly nine years on both the commercial and research sides of the company
Dr. Price is a member of the American Medical Association, the Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians, the American Society of Microbiology, the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, and the Drug Information Association
Belinda Snyder
Program Manager, Development Office, Technology Transfer Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Belinda Snyder is currently the Program Manager of the Development Office within the Technology Transfer Division of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Since starting at LANL in 1993, she has worked with a broad range of LANL staff and within a wide variety of programs to facilitate technology commercialization. She has spearheaded the creation and implementation of a number of LANL, Los Alamos National Security, LLC, and state-sponsored programs designed to stimulate regional economic development, including LANL’s MBA Internship Program, Visiting Entrepreneur Program, and Entrepreneurial Post-Doc Program; the Los Alamos Venture Acceleration Initiative; LabStart, a joint venture with Arch Ventures and Verge Fund; and Northern New Mexico Connect. Since 1997, Ms. Snyder has successfully mentored 90 future business leaders and has worked with over 100 new start-up companies in northern New Mexico through these programs. Ms. Snyder earned both a BBA Marketing and Executive MBA from the University of New Mexico. She gained over ten years of sales, marketing, and business development experience in private industry prior to joining LANL and is current chair of the Federal Laboratory Consortium’s State and Local Government Committee and former president of Coronado Ventures Forum. She is also a board member of the New Mexico Technology Council, an advisor to the Northern New Mexico Community College Business Curriculum Committee, and a member of the 2010 Leadership New Mexico class. Ms. Snyder has been recognized as a top technology leader, having been named as one of New Mexico Business Weekly’s “top 25 techies” and “40 under 40” up-and-coming business leaders in 2003 and a “Who’s Who in Technology” honoree in 2009, chosen as a “Future Leader of New Mexico” by the Santa Fe New Mexican, and received Distinguished Performance Awards from LANL’s Director in 1996 and 1998.
Program Manager, Development Office, Technology Transfer Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Belinda Snyder is currently the Program Manager of the Development Office within the Technology Transfer Division of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Since starting at LANL in 1993, she has worked with a broad range of LANL staff and within a wide variety of programs to facilitate technology commercialization. She has spearheaded the creation and implementation of a number of LANL, Los Alamos National Security, LLC, and state-sponsored programs designed to stimulate regional economic development, including LANL’s MBA Internship Program, Visiting Entrepreneur Program, and Entrepreneurial Post-Doc Program; the Los Alamos Venture Acceleration Initiative; LabStart, a joint venture with Arch Ventures and Verge Fund; and Northern New Mexico Connect. Since 1997, Ms. Snyder has successfully mentored 90 future business leaders and has worked with over 100 new start-up companies in northern New Mexico through these programs. Ms. Snyder earned both a BBA Marketing and Executive MBA from the University of New Mexico. She gained over ten years of sales, marketing, and business development experience in private industry prior to joining LANL and is current chair of the Federal Laboratory Consortium’s State and Local Government Committee and former president of Coronado Ventures Forum. She is also a board member of the New Mexico Technology Council, an advisor to the Northern New Mexico Community College Business Curriculum Committee, and a member of the 2010 Leadership New Mexico class. Ms. Snyder has been recognized as a top technology leader, having been named as one of New Mexico Business Weekly’s “top 25 techies” and “40 under 40” up-and-coming business leaders in 2003 and a “Who’s Who in Technology” honoree in 2009, chosen as a “Future Leader of New Mexico” by the Santa Fe New Mexican, and received Distinguished Performance Awards from LANL’s Director in 1996 and 1998.
George F. Tidmarsh, M.D., Ph.D.
President, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary, La Jolla Pharmaceutical Co.
Dr. Tidmarsh’s 22 years of experience in biotechnology include the successful clinical development of three FDA-approved drugs. Up until his appointment to La Jolla in January 2012, Dr. Tidmarsh served as the Chief Executive Officer of Solana Therapeutics, Inc.
Previously, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: HZNP), a company he founded in 2005. While at Horizon, he led all aspects of development of Duexis, which was approved by the FDA for the treatment of conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. He also founded Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: THLD) and held senior positions at Coulter Pharmaceutical, Inc. [acquired by GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK)] and SEQUUS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. [acquired by Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ)]. While at Coulter and SEQUUS, Dr. Tidmarsh led the clinical development of BEXXAR and Doxil, respectively, two FDA-approved anti-cancer agents
Dr. Tidmarsh received his M.D. and Ph.D. from Stanford University, where he also completed fellowship training in Pediatric Oncology and Neonatology and remains a Consulting Professor of Pediatrics and Neonatology
President, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary, La Jolla Pharmaceutical Co.
Dr. Tidmarsh’s 22 years of experience in biotechnology include the successful clinical development of three FDA-approved drugs. Up until his appointment to La Jolla in January 2012, Dr. Tidmarsh served as the Chief Executive Officer of Solana Therapeutics, Inc.
Previously, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: HZNP), a company he founded in 2005. While at Horizon, he led all aspects of development of Duexis, which was approved by the FDA for the treatment of conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. He also founded Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: THLD) and held senior positions at Coulter Pharmaceutical, Inc. [acquired by GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK)] and SEQUUS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. [acquired by Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ)]. While at Coulter and SEQUUS, Dr. Tidmarsh led the clinical development of BEXXAR and Doxil, respectively, two FDA-approved anti-cancer agents
Dr. Tidmarsh received his M.D. and Ph.D. from Stanford University, where he also completed fellowship training in Pediatric Oncology and Neonatology and remains a Consulting Professor of Pediatrics and Neonatology
Robert Berg
Senior Vice President and Principal, IRI
Robert is currently a senior vice president and principal at IRI, a global market information company. Robert is responsible for commercializing three new consumer and shopper marketing solutions for consumer packaged goods (CPG) and retail companies. Robert has more than 30 years of experience in the CPG and retail/foodservice industries. Prior to IRI, he worked in the Strategy Group of IBM, PwC Consulting and Coopers & Lybrand Consulting focusing on post merger integration where he learned firsthand how to integrate and improve processes, data, technology and other resources that CPG and Retail companies deploy to inform Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Finance. Prior to consulting, Robert launched three companies and consulted on the start-up of 20+ more. Robert has served as a Consultant for the Wharton Small Business Development Center and has written a review of 3 Business Incubators in West Philadelphia. Robert has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an AB from the University of Michigan.
Senior Vice President and Principal, IRI
Robert is currently a senior vice president and principal at IRI, a global market information company. Robert is responsible for commercializing three new consumer and shopper marketing solutions for consumer packaged goods (CPG) and retail companies. Robert has more than 30 years of experience in the CPG and retail/foodservice industries. Prior to IRI, he worked in the Strategy Group of IBM, PwC Consulting and Coopers & Lybrand Consulting focusing on post merger integration where he learned firsthand how to integrate and improve processes, data, technology and other resources that CPG and Retail companies deploy to inform Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Finance. Prior to consulting, Robert launched three companies and consulted on the start-up of 20+ more. Robert has served as a Consultant for the Wharton Small Business Development Center and has written a review of 3 Business Incubators in West Philadelphia. Robert has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an AB from the University of Michigan.
Challenge Supporters
Society of Physician Entrepreneurs
www.sopenet.org
The Society of Physician Entrepreneurs (SoPE) is a global biomedical and healthcare innovation network----Founded by three physicians in early 2011, SoPE is a non-profit member organization with a separate supporting tax exempt Foundation. Membership is open to both medical professionals and other stakeholders in healthcare. As of the beginning of 2012, SoPE had over 2,000 members and if the current growth rate continues, membership should top 5,000 by the end of 2012
www.sopenet.org
The Society of Physician Entrepreneurs (SoPE) is a global biomedical and healthcare innovation network----Founded by three physicians in early 2011, SoPE is a non-profit member organization with a separate supporting tax exempt Foundation. Membership is open to both medical professionals and other stakeholders in healthcare. As of the beginning of 2012, SoPE had over 2,000 members and if the current growth rate continues, membership should top 5,000 by the end of 2012
CoFoundersLab
www.cofounderslab.com
Conceived on 1/1/11, CoFoundersLab is a Maryland-based startup focused on bringing together entrepreneurs with the aim of launching a startup together. We do this matchmaking for entrepreneurs through in-person Meetups and through our online matching service
Tap into our online co-founder matching site and discover entrepreneurs who are looking to join a startup or are seeking a business partner to join them. Think eHarmony™ for entrepreneurs. Search for co-founders in your city or post your profile so you can be discovered by entrepreneurs who could turn out to be your perfect match
www.cofounderslab.com
Conceived on 1/1/11, CoFoundersLab is a Maryland-based startup focused on bringing together entrepreneurs with the aim of launching a startup together. We do this matchmaking for entrepreneurs through in-person Meetups and through our online matching service
Tap into our online co-founder matching site and discover entrepreneurs who are looking to join a startup or are seeking a business partner to join them. Think eHarmony™ for entrepreneurs. Search for co-founders in your city or post your profile so you can be discovered by entrepreneurs who could turn out to be your perfect match