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Dr. Dwain Irvin, Ph.D., MPH

CEO, Executive Board Member

Dr. Irvin received his B.A. from The Johns Hopkins University, Ph.D. from UCLA School of Medicine, Masters in Public Health from UCLA School of Public Health, and was trained at The Wallenberg Neuroscience Center at Lund University in Lund, Sweden. He was an Assistant Professor, Faculty Member at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery, and Adjunct Professor at Occidental College.

Dr. Irvin’s Ph.D. is in Pharmacology and Developmental Neuroscience with an emphasis on neural stem cell fate and differentiation. His research focused on neural development and Notch Signaling in mammalian neural stem cells. 

Dr. Irvin worked as an NIH/NINDS Post-Doctoral Fellow in Dr. Anders Bjorklund laboratory in Lund, Sweden. There, his focus was on research projects that investigated the potential role of cell replacement therapy for patients with Parkinson’s disease. They developed several protocols for the efficient generation of dopaminergic neurons from forebrain and ventral midbrain stem and progenitor cells.

Dr. Irvin led research investigations in the role of adaptive immunity in Parkinson’s disease. He also developed two patents in the area of immunotherapy for brain tumor patients, specifically Glioblastoma. His research team focused on molecular mechanisms that impart therapeutic resistance in cancer cells, including cancer stem cells. They utilized this data to develop novel immunotherapies for brain tumor patients.

Dr. Irvin received his B.A. from The Johns Hopkins University, Ph.D. from UCLA School of Medicine, Masters in Public Health from UCLA School of Public Health, and was trained at The Wallenberg Neuroscience Center at Lund University in Lund, Sweden. He was an Assistant Professor, Faculty Member at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery, and Adjunct Professor at Occidental College.

Dr. Irvin’s Ph.D. is in Pharmacology and Developmental Neuroscience with an emphasis on neural stem cell fate and differentiation. His research focused on neural development and Notch Signaling in mammalian neural stem cells. 

Dr. Irvin worked as an NIH/NINDS Post-Doctoral Fellow in Dr. Anders Bjorklund laboratory in Lund, Sweden. There, his focus was on research projects that investigated the potential role of cell replacement therapy for patients with Parkinson’s disease. They developed several protocols for the efficient generation of dopaminergic neurons from forebrain and ventral midbrain stem and progenitor cells.

 

Dr. Irvin led research investigations in the role of adaptive immunity in Parkinson’s disease. He also developed two patents in the area of immunotherapy for brain tumor patients, specifically Glioblastoma. His research team focused on molecular mechanisms that impart therapeutic resistance in cancer cells, including cancer stem cells. They utilized this data to develop novel immunotherapies for brain tumor patients.

 

Neil Laird

Chief Financial Officer

Neil J. Laird is an experienced financial executive who works with emerging companies to provide accounting and finance-related services. Since 2017 he has worked with several technology and other companies as a consultant. Before that he was the Chief Financial Officer of Mobileum Inc., a private company providing roaming and other solutions to the telecommunications industry. Prior to this, he was Chief Financial Officer at SumTotal Systems, a provider of enterprise learning management systems and before that, Chief Financial Officer at ADAC Laboratories, a provider of nuclear medicine and PET systems. Both were publicly traded companies. He also held senior management positions at Coherent Medical Lasers and Measurex Corporation. Mr. Laird has an MA from the University of Cambridge and qualified as a UK chartered accountant.

Neil J. Laird is an experienced financial executive who works with emerging companies to provide accounting and finance-related services. Since 2017 he has worked with several technology and other companies as a consultant. Before that he was the Chief Financial Officer of Mobileum Inc., a private company providing roaming and other solutions to the telecommunications industry. Prior to this, he was Chief Financial Officer at SumTotal Systems, a provider of enterprise learning management systems and before that, Chief Financial Officer at 

ADAC Laboratories, a provider of nuclear medicine and PET systems. Both were publicly traded companies. He also held senior management positions at Coherent Medical Lasers and Measurex Corporation. Mr. Laird has an MA from the University of Cambridge and qualified as a UK chartered accountant.

Dr. Christopher Wheeler, Ph.D.

President, StemVax Therapeutics Inc.

Dr. Wheeler has over 30 years of immunology and neurology research experience. His leadership experience is highlighted by his position and previous roles at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Department of Neurosurgery. Dr. Wheeler was a Professor in the Department for over 20 years, and also served as The Operations Director of Vaccine Manufacturing Laboratory (1997-2018), as part of the Precision Medicine Initiative for Brain Tumors (Department of Neurosurgery, Chair of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC, 2006-2012), and Glioma Immunotherapy Core Director (2003-2018). The research has been highlighted by publications in numerous high impact, paradigm shifting manuscripts and several patents. Dr. Wheeler has executed scientific aspects of commercialization, validation, funding, and marketing for the development of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) biomarker technology.

Dr. Wheeler has over 30 years of immunology and neurology research experience. His leadership experience is highlighted by his position and previous roles at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Department of Neurosurgery. Dr. Wheeler was a Professor in the Department for over 20 years, and also served as The Operations Director of Vaccine Manufacturing Laboratory (1997-2018), as part of the Precision Medicine Initiative for Brain Tumors (Department of Neurosurgery, Chair of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC, 2006-2012), and Glioma Immunotherapy Core Director (2003-2018). 

The research has been highlighted by publications in numerous high impact, paradigm shifting manuscripts and several patents. Dr. Wheeler has executed scientific aspects of commercialization, validation, funding, and marketing for the development of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) biomarker technology.

John Cassarini

Executive Board Member

John has spent the last three decades working with and investing in small-cap companies. John began his career on Wall Street as an Associate in the Equity Research Department of Smith Barney. He then joined Smith Barney’s parent company, the Travelers Corporation, as an analyst responsible for private and public investments in emerging businesses. John worked as a portfolio manager at several institutions, including Ingalls & Snyder, Lehman Brothers, and Barclays Capital, managing funds focused on small emerging growth companies. John graduated from Fordham University with a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia University.

John has spent the last three decades working with and investing in small-cap companies. John began his career on Wall Street as an Associate in the Equity Research Department of Smith Barney. He then joined Smith Barney’s parent company, the Travelers Corporation, as an analyst responsible for private and public investments in emerging businesses. John worked as a portfolio manager at several institutions, including Ingalls & Snyder, Lehman Brothers, and Barclays Capital, managing funds focused on small emerging growth companies. 

John graduated from Fordham University with a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia University.

Jason Anderson

Jason Anderson

Executive Board Member

Jason Anderson is experienced in the fields of biological discovery, genomic modeling, drug development, and national security.

From 2016-2020, he was a co-founder and member of the board of EdenRoc Sciences, LLC, a privately-held biotechnology company formed to cultivate world-class life sciences start-up companies to include Liberty BioSecurity, LLC, where he served as co-founder and Chief Executive Officer from 2014-2020. This integrated life sciences platform leveraged a dynamic intellectual property portfolio spanning pharmaceuticals, novel biology, genomics, and molecular diagnostics. 

From 1998 to 2014, Mr. Anderson served as a diplomat for the United States Department of State. He has co-authored several granted patents in the life sciences and speaks on international affairs and biotechnology innovation. He is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science and the University of California, San Diego and speaks Spanish and Chinese (Mandarin).

Jason Anderson is experienced in the fields of biological discovery, genomic modeling, drug development, and national security.

From 2016-2020, he was a co-founder and member of the board of EdenRoc Sciences, LLC, a privately-held biotechnology company formed to cultivate world-class life sciences start-up companies to include Liberty BioSecurity, LLC, where he served as co-founder and Chief Executive Officer from 2014-2020. This integrated life sciences platform leveraged a dynamic intellectual property portfolio spanning pharmaceuticals, novel biology, genomics, and molecular diagnostics.

From 1998 to 2014, Mr. Anderson served as a diplomat for the United States Department of State. He has co-authored several granted patents in the life sciences and speaks on international affairs and biotechnology innovation. He is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science and the University of California, San Diego and speaks Spanish and Chinese (Mandarin).

Renard Currie, MBA

Scientific Advisor

Renard has over 20 years’ experience as a Product Executive in Healthcare IT. He is currently the Senior Global Director for Infor Inc., 2013- current. Since 2001, he has served as COO and VP of Product management for leading healthcare IT companies, including KnowMed, Healthvision, and Quovadx. Renard leadership turns new ideas into profitable products through building successful cross-functional product development and management teams, fostering a culture of design-driven product development, microservices architecture and beautiful user experience. Renard has led the effort to develop a multi-tenant interoperability solution with infused artificial intelligence powered by InforOS. He has also led sales, marketing, product management, product development, and service organizations of a cloud-based Healthcare Data Platform start-up company. More recently, Renard’s expertise has focused on software development for successful transition of on-premise products to Cloud. Renard’s Product development experience includes Health Interoperability, Digital Health, Health Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence. 

Renard has over 20 years’ experience as a Product Executive in Healthcare IT. He is currently the Senior Global Director for Infor Inc., 2013- current. Since 2001, he has served as COO and VP of Product management for leading healthcare IT companies, including KnowMed, Healthvision, and Quovadx. Renard leadership turns new ideas into profitable products through building successful cross-functional product development and management teams, fostering a culture of design-driven product development, microservices architecture and beautiful user experience. Renard has led the effort to 

develop a multi-tenant interoperability solution with infused artificial intelligence powered by InforOS. He has also led sales, marketing, product management, product development, and service organizations of a cloud-based Healthcare Data Platform start-up company. More recently, Renard’s expertise has focused on software development for successful transition of on-premise products to Cloud. Renard’s Product development experience includes Health Interoperability, Digital Health, Health Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence.

Laina King, Ph.D.

Scientific Advisor

Dr. King is a management consultant, administrator, researcher, external grant reviewer, and tenured professor with more than 15 years of administrative experience in for-profit, not-for-profit, federal agency, and academic environments. She obtained her doctoral and postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan, Harvard and the Coverdale Institute. Her past 5 years have been with the United States Department of Health and Human Services Food & Drug Administration (FDA/CDER & FDA/OEA) and National Institutes of Health Office of the NIH Director. Prior to these engagements, she was a senior administrator and Principal Investigator at Keystone Symposia on Molecular & Cellular Biology, Associate Academic Dean and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences in a college of pharmacy, and a tenured Professor of Management at an AACSB school of business. Significant academic appointments include being a voting Member of the AMA/AAMC Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), Commissioner at the North Central Association of Colleges & Schools, and Steering Committee Member of the CDC Health Disparities Institute Development Group. Her research, national presentations, and publications are in the areas of organizational behavior, advanced academic mentoring & positioning, graduate education training program implementation, and operational management. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and has edited a three-volume book series on managed care. Her consulting experience includes work with the Military District of Washington, Japan Consultant for the Department of Defense, American Council on Education, and multiple health care professional credentialing agencies.

Dr. King is a management consultant, administrator, researcher, external grant reviewer, and tenured professor with more than 15 years of administrative experience in for-profit, not-for-profit, federal agency, and academic environments. She obtained her doctoral and postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan, Harvard and the Coverdale Institute. Her past 5 years have been with the United States Department of Health and Human Services Food & Drug Administration (FDA/CDER & FDA/OEA) and National Institutes of Health Office of the NIH Director. Prior to these engagements, she was a senior administrator and Principal Investigator at Keystone Symposia on Molecular & Cellular Biology, Associate Academic Dean and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences in a college of pharmacy, and a tenured Professor of Management at an AACSB school of business. 

Significant academic appointments include being a voting Member of the AMA/AAMC Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), Commissioner at the North Central Association of Colleges & Schools, and Steering Committee Member of the CDC Health Disparities Institute Development Group. Her research, national presentations, and publications are in the areas of organizational behavior, advanced academic mentoring & positioning, graduate education training program implementation, and operational management. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and has edited a three-volume book series on managed care. Her consulting experience includes work with the Military District of Washington, Japan Consultant for the Department of Defense, American Council on Education, and multiple health care professional credentialing agencies.

Dr. Andrew Norris, Ph.D.

Scientific Advisor

Dr. Andrew Norris has a varied background in both business and the technology sector. He is Co-founder of The Midvale Group LLC in 2002, consulting in both the technology and biotechnology sector. Dr. Norris has also Co-founded BCN Biosciences in Pasadena, CA (2005), which is a privately held biotechnology company whose principal focus is in the area of oncology drug development. Dr. Norris has been directly responsible for, or co-raised over $20M in funding for the technology and Biotechnology sector. He currently serves as an officer/director at BCN Biosciences and also  holds a research faculty position at the University of California Los Angeles Department of Neuropsychiatry. Dr. Norris received his PhD from UCLA School of Medicine, Department of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology and Chemistry. His research focused on synthesizing molecular inhibitors against cancer cells. He also trained in the Surgical Oncology Department at UCLA focusing his research on novel drug discovery for breast cancer patients.

Dr. Andrew Norris has a varied background in both business and the technology sector. He is Co-founder of The Midvale Group LLC in 2002, consulting in both the technology and biotechnology sector. Dr. Norris has also Co-founded BCN Biosciences in Pasadena, CA (2005), which is a privately held biotechnology company whose principal focus is in the area of oncology drug development. Dr. Norris has been directly responsible for, or co-raised over $20M in funding for the technology and Biotechnology sector. He currently serves as an officer/director at BCN Biosciences and also 

 holds a research faculty position at the University of California Los Angeles Department of Neuropsychiatry. Dr. Norris received his PhD from UCLA School of Medicine, Department of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology and Chemistry. His research focused on synthesizing molecular inhibitors against cancer cells. He also trained in the Surgical Oncology Department at UCLA focusing his research on novel drug discovery for breast cancer patients.

Dr. Lachlan Thompson, Ph.D.

Scientific Advisor

Dr. Lachlan Thompson Associate Professor Lachlan Thompson is a Principal Research Fellow at the Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health. He heads a research program dedicated to regenerative approaches to repair of the central nervous system, with a special focus on the use of pluripotent stem cells for functional reconstruction of circuitry affected in Parkinson’s disease, stroke and motor neuron disease. He has contributed more than 50 research papers on this topic in leading journals including the Journal of Neuroscience, Neurobiology of Disease, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Brain and Cell Reports. Dr. Thompson has is a partner investigator in the Australian government’s major Stem Cells initiative where he sits on the committee for clinical translation and commercialization and plays an active role in contributing to policy-making on the regulation of experimental stem cell therapies. He also sits on the board of the Network for European CNS Transplantation and Repair and is president of the Asia-Pacific Association for Neural Transplantation and Repair. Dr. Thompson brings a wealth of experience in cutting-edge technology driving pre-clinical research in regenerative approaches to brain repair and also in understanding of the regulatory frameworks governing clinical translation and commercialization of stem cell therapies.

Dr. Lachlan Thompson Associate Professor Lachlan Thompson is a Principal Research Fellow at the Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health. He heads a research program dedicated to regenerative approaches to repair of the central nervous system, with a special focus on the use of pluripotent stem cells for functional reconstruction of circuitry affected in Parkinson’s disease, stroke and motor neuron disease. He has contributed more than 50 research papers on this topic in leading journals including the Journal of Neuroscience, Neurobiology of Disease, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Brain and Cell Reports. Dr. Thompson has is a partner investigator in the Australian government’s major Stem Cells initiative where 

he sits on the committee for clinical translation and commercialization and plays an active role in contributing to policy-making on the regulation of experimental stem cell therapies. He also sits on the board of the Network for European CNS Transplantation and Repair and is president of the Asia-Pacific Association for Neural Transplantation and Repair. Dr. Thompson brings a wealth of experience in cutting-edge technology driving pre-clinical research in regenerative approaches to brain repair and also in understanding of the regulatory frameworks governing clinical translation and commercialization of stem cell therapies.

Seroogy

Dr. Kim Seroogy, Ph.D.

Scientific Advisor

Dr. Kim Seroogy is currently Professor of Neurology and Director of The Selma Schottenstein Harris Laboratory for Research in Parkinson’s in the University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute. Dr. Seroogy has over 30 years of research experience deciphering the neurochemical and neurotrophic events underlying Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia and depression, focusing on the neuroprotective and neurorestorative roles of select growth factors. Dr. Seroogy’s training included a PhD in Neurobiology from the University of California-Irvine and a NATO Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. His research, published in more than 115 scientific papers, review articles and book chapters, has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, and several national foundations. Dr. Seroogy served formerly as President of the Ohio-Miami Valley Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience, Vice Chair of Basic Research, and Director of the University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Graduate Program. His present work on chronic stress and Parkinson’s disease is funded by the Department of Defense and he currently serves on the scientific advisory board of the Tourette Association of America.

Dr. Kim Seroogy is currently Professor of Neurology and Director of The Selma Schottenstein Harris Laboratory for Research in Parkinson’s in the University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute. Dr. Seroogy has over 30 years of research experience deciphering the neurochemical and neurotrophic events underlying Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia and depression, focusing on the neuroprotective and neurorestorative roles of select growth factors. Dr. Seroogy’s training included a PhD in Neurobiology from the University of California-Irvine and a NATO Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. His research, published in more than 115 scientific papers, review articles and book

chapters, has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, and several national foundations. Dr. Seroogy served formerly as President of the Ohio-Miami Valley Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience, Vice Chair of Basic Research, and Director of the University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Graduate Program. His present work on chronic stress and Parkinson’s disease is funded by the Department of Defense and he currently serves on the scientific advisory board of the Tourette Association of America.

Dr. Roscoe Moore

Scientific Advisor

Dr. Moore served with the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and was for the last twelve years of his career responsible for global development within the Office of the Secretary, HHS, for Africa and other low- and middle-income regions. Dr. Moore represented HHS in cooperative international efforts in Africa to address continued health and human resources issues. Dr. Moore was a career officer within the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) entering with the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and rising to the rank of Assistant United States Surgeon General (Rear Admiral, USPHS) within the Immediate Office of the Secretary, HHS. He was selected as Chief Veterinary Medical Officer, USPHS, by Surgeon General C. Everett Koop.  Dr. Moore received his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Tuskegee Institute; his Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan; and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins University. He was awarded the Doctor of Science degree (Honoris Causa) in recognition of his distinguished public health career by Tuskegee University.

Dr. Moore served with the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and was for the last twelve years of his career responsible for global development within the Office of the Secretary, HHS, for Africa and other low- and middle-income regions. Dr. Moore represented HHS in cooperative international efforts in Africa to address continued health and human resources issues.  Dr. Moore was a career officer within the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) entering with the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and rising to the rank of Assistant United States Surgeon General (Rear Admiral, USPHS) within the Immediate Office of the Secretary, HHS. He was selected as Chief Veterinary Medical Officer, USPHS, by Surgeon General C. Everett Koop.

 Dr. Moore received his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Tuskegee Institute; his Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan; and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins University. He was awarded the Doctor of Science degree (Honoris Causa) in recognition of his distinguished public health career by Tuskegee University.