Board of Advisors

Prior to joining Vectiv Bio, Mr. Applebaum was the Chief Legal & Compliance Officer and Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Trevena, where he played a key role in gaining FDA approval for their lead product, Olinvyk®. Previously, he served as President of Context Therapeutics and was General Counsel at Vitae Pharmaceuticals, where he was instrumental in their sale to Allergan. Formerly, he was Chief Legal Officer for Medgenics, a rare genetic disease company. Mr. Applebaum spent 10 years at Shire, where his roles included heading up their global legal group, managing their neuroscience portfolio outside of the United States as SVP of the Neuroscience Business Unit and leading the implementation and execution of the regulatory strategy for all of Shire’s specialty pharmaceutical products worldwide as SVP of Global Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance and Compliance. Previously, he was Senior Counsel for medicines and medical imaging at Bristol Myers Squibb.

Prior to his career in the biopharmaceutical industry, Mr. Applebaum was a lawyer at Dechert LLP. He received his J.D. from Stanford Law School and a B.S. in Economics, Finance and Accounting from the University of Pennsylvania.

Angela Bagley is Vice President of Technical Operations & Regulatory Affairs at Trevena, Inc., an innovative biopharmaceutical company dedicated to delivering groundbreaking medicines to address the critical needs of patients with central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Angela is an accomplished technical executive in the life sciences industry, with a career spanning product development, process engineering, commercial launch, global supply chain, and product lifecycle management. She formerly worked at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck & Co., Inc. Angela has been an Advisory Board member for LogiPharma, Planning Committee chairperson for an alumni service organization, and program coordinator for multiple on-site events for the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association.

Louis W. Beardell Jr. focuses his practice on intellectual property (IP) matters in connection with patent strategies, IP due diligence, litigation, and transactions. He assists clients in developing and implementing programs that protect products and inventions including trade secrets, particularly in the life sciences, technology, and financial services fields. For US and international clients, Louis negotiates and prepares the IP aspects of licensing and purchase agreements, as well as agreements relating to product and service supply, collaboration, research, consulting, patent litigation settlement, and material transfer.

Randy Brenner has been Paratek’s Chief Development and Regulatory Officer since June 2019. Since 2015, Mr. Brenner has been part of the Executive team leading the regulatory, quality and manufacturing activities for NUZYRA’s development and approval.

Prior to Paratek, Mr. Brenner was the Global Head of Regulatory Affairs at Shire Pharmaceuticals where he was responsible for all aspects of regulatory for a broad range of programs in multiple therapeutic areas and pharmaceutical technologies. Before that, Mr. Brenner was Head of Regulatory Affairs for the Emerging Markets and Established Products Business Units at Pfizer. In this role, he played an active part on the regional leadership teams and was responsible for the regulatory activities and staff leading the development, registration, launch, and life cycle of all of Pfizer's innovative products outside the United States and European Union as well as the Established Products business in all regions.

Prior to Pfizer, Mr. Brenner spent 14 years at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, where he held multiple senior regulatory positions.

Mr. Brenner has a B.S. in Chemistry from Muhlenberg College and an M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Temple University.

Topher Brooke is the Chief Operating Officer of SwanBio Therapeutics.  Topher has over 20 years of general management experience in healthcare across all phases of development and commercialization. He has worked across several modalities (proteins, small molecules, vaccines, and gene therapy) and across multiple therapeutic areas. Topher joined SwanBio from Aytu BioPharma who acquired the company he founded, Rumpus Therapeutics. Topher has held roles of increasing responsibility at Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, and AmerisourceBergen. Topher has a BA from Colgate University and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Charles Buck has held leadership positions in biotech, academia, cross disciplinary research, and higher education administration. He has served as a mentor, manager and community advocate. In his current position as Chief Innovation Officer for BioAnalysis, he is focused on business development and establishing new analytical technologies in support of gene and therapy biopharma companies. He has a lead role in promoting a positive impact in the Kensington neighborhood where BioAnalysis is located.

Tom is President & CEO of AOIC, LLC –a medical and scientific communications organization that helps biopharma and non-profit companies communicate clinical trial data and disease treatment advances. Tom has a BS in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from Drexel University. Prior to becoming President & CEO of AOIC, Tom served in several marketing and management roles for the company. In addition, he spent 15 years in business and engineering management for several pharmaceutical drug delivery and chemical manufacturing companies including FMC, Colorcon, and Allied Signal. A native of Pennsylvania and a resident of Chester County, Tom has served in community service for West Whiteland Township, Chester County, and the state of Pennsylvania for almost 18 years. He serves on the Board of the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) and the Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n). Tom also served on the Board of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for 8 years. Tom is married, and they have one son who loves sports, science, and math.

Rachael M. Bushey is a partner in the Life Sciences group at Goodwin. She joined the firm in 2023. Rachael represents public and private life sciences companies in connection with a variety of capital markets transactions; Securities Exchange Act work; mergers and acquisitions; complex divestitures and carve-out transactions. In addition to day-to-day corporate counseling and strategic advice, she also regularly provides counseling to boards of directors and senior management on a wide range of corporate governance and compliance matters. Rachael has significant experience negotiating transactions with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the US, Europe, and Asia.

Barb’s 25-year background in finance and accounting management ranges from life science start-ups to commercial-stage companies. Prior to joining Danforth she served as CFO of Enterin, where she established the financial infrastructure to support the company’s progress in its clinical trials and preparing for the company’s capital raise. She previously held finance leadership roles at Egalet Corporation (Zyla Life Sciences), Sobi, Topaz Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Sanofi-Pasteur), Genaera Corporation and Vicuron Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Pfizer). Barb served as Director of Client Service at Resources Global Professionals (RGP). She began her career as an auditor at Deloitte.

In addition to her work at Danforth, Barb serves on the Board of Directors of Life Sciences Pennsylvania and the Board of Advisors of Life Science Cares Philadelphia.

Barb is a CPA and holds a BS in Accounting and MBA in Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing from St. Joseph’s University.

Partnership to Prosperity helps create the foundation for a modern workforce where business, educational, and social interests intersect, so that all stakeholders prosper. Our guiding principles focus on the inter-relationship connecting work-ready skills, economic growth, and social justice, with the goal of developing a synergistic eco-system that fosters prosperity among educators, job seekers and employers.

With over 18 years of experience at Morgan Stanley, Brett brings extensive experience in working with
corporate executives and owners of private companies. As a Private Wealth Advisor at Morgan Stanley,
Brett focuses on executive compensation, pre & post liquidity planning and long-term financial planning.
Brett earned a B.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from The George Washington University while
participating in the University Honors Program.
Brett currently lives in Center City Philadelphia with his wife Jackie, their children Dillon and Parker, and
their French Bulldog Penny. In his free time, Brett enjoys yoga, hiking, and traveling. Brett serves on The
Barnes Foundation Young Professionals Leadership Board and Life Science Cares Philadelphia Advisory
Board.
Recognition
• Forbes America's Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors: 2017-2021
• Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: 2018-2023

2017-2021 Forbes America’s Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors & Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State (formerly referred
to as Forbes America's Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Forbes Top 1,000 Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Forbes Top 500 Next
Generation Wealth Advisors)
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2017-2021). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on 12-month period concluding in Mar
of the year the award was issued.
2018 -2023 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors

Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2018-2023).Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in
June of year prior to the issuance of the award.
https://www.morganstanley.com/disclosures/awards-disclosure.html

Ryan is one of four principals of Tactix Real Estate Advisors, a premier commercial tenant representation firm in Philadelphia. Ryan has over 20 years of commercial real estate experience, three in development and the last 17 years exclusively representing tenants and other end-users of commercial real estate with leasing, acquisition, and disposition strategies. His clients include organizations large and small in a variety of industries including legal, non-profit, tech, healthcare, engineering, financial services, logistics, and life sciences. Ryan’s deep knowledge of real estate from both a development and leasing perspective and his extensive relationships throughout the region and across the country offers his clients unique insight and experience. Since joining Tactix in 2007 he has become a leader within the firm, growing its client base, recruiting new brokers, and raising Tactix’s profile in the region. Ryan was pivotal in spearheading Tactix’s move from Radnor to Center City Philadelphia and in establishing Tactix’s Wilmington, DE and new Malvern, PA offices.

As a Principal in the Employee Benefits Consulting Group at EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, my focus is on crafting innovative benefits strategies. The effective communication strategies and regulatory compliance measures we implement are pivotal in serving our diverse clients. I earned my bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s University. An active member in my local community, I am a board member of Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley and a board member of Neurodiversity Employment Network and a long-time member of Life Sciences Pennsylvania.

Jeffrey M. Dayno, M.D., is Chief Medical Officer for Harmony Biosciences. A nationally recognized expert in neuroscience, Dr. Dayno is currently responsible for managing research, development and medical and regulatory affairs for Harmony Biosciences.

He is a neurologist with 10 years experience in clinical/academic medicine followed by over 20 years experience in leadership roles at Merck & Co., Cephalon, and ViroPharma, building and leading clinical, regulatory and medical affairs teams toward multiple NDA approvals and medical support of successful product launches.

Dr. Dayno has served as Principal Investigator on numerous clinical trials and published and lectured extensively on various topics in the field of Neurology, with a focus on stroke, sleep disorders, pain and migraine. He has also served as a peer reviewer for several scientific neurology journals.

Dr. Dayno earned his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine, did his residency training in Neurology at Temple University Hospital, and completed a fellowship in Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disorders in the Department of Neurology at Henry Ford Hospital.

Christina Deaver is an Executive Director and Banker in the Philadelphia office of J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Together with her team, she delivers wealth management services to families, private business owners, executives, and foundations. Christina leads our local efforts working with founders and executives in the life sciences and healthcare spaces. A 16-year veteran of the firm, Christina advises clients on every aspect of wealth management across the entirety of their balance sheet. She helps develop tailored strategies to reach their individualized goals and is particularly focused on investment management, estate planning, banking, and lending.

Known for her energy and drive, which are apparent both at the office and in the community, Christina served as the Co-Chair of the Global Associate Advisor Committee, which develops junior talent. Outside of the office, she sits on the Board of Directors for Shake It Off, a non-profit focused on Parkinson's disease, and the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute. Christina also serves on committees for the Pennsylvania Ballet, Association for Corporate Growth, and Women in Bio.

Christina obtained her M.B.A. from Villanova University and is a lifetime member of the business honor society, Beta Gamma Sigma. She holds a B.S. from Lehigh University where she earned a double major in Finance & Marketing and graduated with High Honors. At Lehigh, Christina captained the competitive dance team and was active in the Pi Beta Phi sorority.

Born and raised in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Christina enjoys exploring all that the Philadelphia area has to offer. Christina currently resides in Bryn Mawr with her husband, Will, and daughter, Liliana. In her limited free time, she enjoys international travel, golfing, and trips down the shore with family and friends.

Mike DeFeo is a Vice President in the Life Sciences Commercial Banking group serving Pennsylvania. He has worked for JPMorgan Chase since 2015. Mike develops relationships and provides financial solutions for life sciences companies throughout the state.

Prior to his current role, Mike was a Banker covering industry agnostic business in the Philadelphia market and was also a part of Chase’s Middle Market Banking analyst program in Seattle. Mike relocated to Philadelphia from Seattle in 2019. Mike is a Philadelphia native and started his career as part of JPMorgan Chase’s Corporate Analyst Development Program, a two year business leadership training effort.

Mike graduated from Tufts University with a B.A. in Economics and was a member of Tuft’s varsity football team. Outside of the office he enjoys golfing, reading, and traveling.

With over 20 years of experience in the Architecture and Design industry, Lori possesses a wealth of experience across diverse roles. Her journey began as a commercial designer for several award-winning architecture firms, where she honed her craft in understanding and fulfilling client needs through insightful programming and design solutions. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Lori transitioned into Business Development, where she currently co-leads a dynamic team leveraging her strengths in research, strategic analysis, and creative problem-solving. Lori collaborates closely with her team to propel Formcraft's presence in the life science sector. Beyond her professional pursuits, Lori is deeply passionate about community engagement and philanthropy. She holds prominent leadership positions, including Vice President on the Board of Advisors for the Hispanic Family Center of Southern New Jersey, Associate at Women in Bio-Philadelphia Metro, and Co-Chair of Programming for Wellness for Women in Real Estate. When she isn't immersed in her professional or philanthropic endeavors, Lori finds solace in dreaming up her next international adventure alongside her partner and their toddler.

Antonio di Carlo, MD,CM, FRCSC, FACS Throughout my career in medicine, I've held esteemed positions such as Chief of Abdominal Organ Transplantation at Temple University Hospital and Chief of Transplantation at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. My role as Professor of Surgery at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University allows me to share my knowledge and passion with future medical professionals. My research, particularly in xenotransplantation, ischemia reperfusion, and machine perfusion of organs, is aimed at pushing the boundaries of our field further. Serving on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Responsible Research Hospital (Italy) has been an enriching experience, connecting me with global efforts to ensure ethical and impactful medical research. My involvement in various national and international committees has not only allowed me to contribute to the development of transplantation medicine but also to advocate for policies that prioritize patient care and safety. Having practiced in four different countries, I've gained a valuable perspective on healthcare systems worldwide, enhancing my appreciation for diverse medical practices and reinforcing the importance of patient advocacy and ethical standards in healthcare. My journey, from being a first-generation college student to achieving leadership roles in medicine, has been driven by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and a deep-seated belief in the power of education and hard work. In alignment with my belief that physicians should be at the forefront of healthcare transformation, focusing on patient-centric care, I am currently completing an MBA with a Healthcare Concentration. This step is a testament to my commitment to leading by example, ensuring that my contributions to medicine not only advance the field technically but also elevate the standard of patient care globally, making healthcare more accessible, equitable, and effective for all.

Ms. Dubuk has a deep commercial background which includes over 20 years building teams, brands and organizations in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, including roles of increasing responsibility overseeing US and Global pharmaceutical franchises. Genie has an exceptional combination of skills and experience that include marketing, sales, data analytics, operations, business development and diagnostics. Ms. Dubuk is a dynamic leader with a desire to impact patients and populations by promoting access, equity and inclusivity. Genie received a B.S. in Biology from California State University East Bay and an M.B.A from San Jose State University (California).

Phillip Duffy is a Principal based in Korn Ferry's Philadelphia Office. For the last decade, Mr. Duffy has been a member of the Firm’s Global Life Sciences Practice, specializing in partnering with entrepreneurial biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and life science companies and Venture Capital/Private Equity funds. Mr. Duffy’s primary focus is on C-Suite Biotechnology Executive Recruitment, with expertise in Chief Executive Officer, Research & Development, Investment, Non-Profit, and other key leadership related engagements. Mr. Duffy joined Korn Ferry in 2013, leading research strategy efforts across multiple life science verticals. Prior to joining Korn Ferry, Mr. Duffy worked as a Summer Associate for Merrill Lynch. Mr. Duffy received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University. He currently serves on the Rawls College of Business Recent Alumni Board and Vestry of Rittenhouse Square's The Church of the Holy Trinity. Mr. Duffy is a former member of the Susan G. Komen Board of Directors.

With almost 16 years of executive search and life sciences industry experience, Dr. Ferrer's primary focus is to assist venture-backed and emerging high growth biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies in recruiting Chief Executive Officers, Heads of Research and Development, Chief Medical Officers, Chief Financial Officers, and Chief Business Officers.

In addition to her advanced scientific training, Dr. Ferrer has broad industry expertise with seven years of biotechnology and pharmaceutical company experience at both Amgen and Pfizer.

Prior to joining Korn Ferry, Dr. Ferrer served as director, worldwide business development for Pfizer, based in New York City, where she co-led product licensing and business development for the oncology therapeutic area. Previously, she was director, business development for Amgen, where she covered multiple therapeutic areas.

She received a doctorate of philosophy from the department of pharmacology, with a focus on neuroscience from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, and a master's of public health from Columbia's School of Public Health. She also received a bachelor's degree in French literature from Georgetown University.

Ashley is a Senior Vice President at Bench International with over a decade of experience serving the life science industry. Over the course of her career, she has successfully executed hundreds of retained search assignments, spanning the Board and C-suite levels, as well as Vice President and other leadership roles. Beyond her focus in the biotechnology industry, Ashley has experience in related sectors including medical devices, diagnostics, drug delivery technologies and personalized medicine.

Functionally, Ashley possesses expertise recruiting across the entire R&D spectrum, to encompass discovery, preclinical, translational medicine, clinical development, and commercialization. Her track record extends to recruiting across business and corporate development, finance, human resources and other operational disciplines through the value chain. Ashley has particularly excelled in filling challenging positions within fields such as Drug Safety/Pharmacovigilance, Regulatory Affairs, and Biometrics.

Ashley has partnered with a diverse array of clients, ranging from agile, venture capital-backed startups to multinational, publicly traded commercial organizations. She has consistently demonstrated her ability to place gender-diverse leaders and people from historically underrepresented communities. Ashley is proficient at cultivating and nurturing professional relationships through consistent communication, honesty and transparency. Her dedication to identifying top-tier talent, both in terms of technical aptitude and cultural fit, defines her as a true "headhunter" who tirelessly pursues excellence.

Entrepreneurial life science executive with a pedigree of developing innovative therapies, building companies, and leading R&D in both Biotech and large Pharma organizations. Former CEO of Century Therapeutics, a Biotechnology company that is harnessing the power of stem cells to develop curative allogeneic cell therapies for cancer.

John Fry was appointed Drexel University’s 14th president in 2010 and has served in higher education for his entire professional life.

A focal point of Drexel’s strategic plan is to become an even greater economic engine for Greater Philadelphia. Fry announced the creation of Drexel Ventures and Schuylkill Yards, a $3.5 billion mixed-use development on University. Under Fry, Drexel has seen a significant increase in fundraising and philanthropic partners. Landmark gifts in recent years include $50 million from Thomas R. Kline to support the Kline School of Law and $45 million from Dana and David Dornsife to support the Dornsife School of Public Health. A $400 million campaign reached its goal ahead of schedule in 2013, and in late 2017 Fry announced a new, four-year campaign to raise $750 million - already past the $600 million mark.

Fry came to Drexel from Franklin & Marshall College, where he served as president from 2002 and was instrumental in the college’s academic growth, campus and neighborhood development and improved finances. From 1995 to 2002, Fry served as executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania. Before joining Penn, Fry was a management consultant at KPMG Peat Marwick and then with Coopers & Lybrand’s National Higher Education Consulting Practice.

In addition to leading Drexel, Fry served two years as chair of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, concluding his tenure in October, 2018. He previously served as chair of the NCAA Division III Presidents Council and chair of U.S. Squash. He was appointed by President George W. Bush to the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission. In January, 2020, he was appointed to the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Fry graduated from Lafayette College and earned a master’s degree in business administration from the New York University Stern School of Business. Fry and his wife, Cara, an art historian, have three children.

Experienced Medical Director and Catheterization Laboratory Director with a demonstrated history of leadership in the hospital & health care industry. Skilled in Medical Devices, Critical Care Medicine, Healthcare, Medicine, and Patient Safety. Strong research professional graduated from Fox School of Business at Temple University.

With broad expertise across Real Estate, Finance, Business Attraction, and Corporate & Public Affairs, John is an entrepreneurial C-level executive with extensive leadership success building public-private partnerships, driving messaging, and propelling investment, development and business growth.

Daniel Griffing is Managing Partner of Griffing Speizer & Partners LLC. Most recently he served as Vice President and Head of Global Marketing for Orchard Therapeutics PLC from 2018 to 2020 a leading gene therapy company dedicated to transforming the lives of patients with serious and life-threatening rare diseases. Previously, Mr. Griffing spent 20 years at Merck & Co., Inc. in various commercial leadership roles across sales, finance, market access, new product planning and marketing in Global HQ, Region (Europe, Middle East, Africa) based in Zurich, Switzerland, and Local (U.S. Market) assignments. Mr. Griffing holds a BSc. in Business Administration from The College of New Jersey an M.B.A. from Saint Joseph's University and completed postgraduate education at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Eric Hacherl is a Managing Partner at SMART Bio Works, a consultancy established in 2020 to bring commercialization expertise and workforce development solutions to the Life Sciences industry. He is also COO of Kyttaro Therapeutics, a cell therapy start-up that is producing groundbreaking work using genetically modified mesenchymal stem cell lines for therapeutic treatments. Formerly, he was Vice President and Head of Manufacturing at Spark Therapeutics, headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In this role, he was responsible for internal and external manufacturing, materials management and manufacturing science & technology (MS&T). Prior to joining Spark, Eric was Site General Manager and VP of Operations for Catalent Gene Therapy in Baltimore, MD. Earlier in his career he served in increasingly responsible operations and technical roles during his 15 years with Merck & Co. With 25 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Eric’s subject matter expertise includes operations, supply chain and MS&T in large-molecule and vaccines, as well as cell and gene therapy. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Rutgers University, funded by an NIH Biotechnology Training Fellowship and the U.S. Department of Energy. Eric lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia with his wife Jean and their two children. They enjoy anything that involves being active and outdoors. Favorite pastimes include hiking, camping, skiing, fishing, and snorkeling.

Leading commercial strategy and organization at a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on rare conditions with a well-defined biology that can be targeted with transformational therapeutics.

Ms. Harte-Hall currently serves as Chief Compliance Officer of Cabaletta Bio and was Head of Clinical Quality and Compliance at Adaptimmune where she built a compliance program and helped establish a culture of integrity to drive ethical behavior in the management and conduct of clinical trials. Ms. Harte-Hall developed and implemented Quality and Compliance programs focusing on risk management and compliance functions to improve activities such as regulatory monitoring, auditing, and managing alignment with policies, procedures and controls. Ms. Harte-Hall has held various positions in Quality and Compliance in companies such as Centocor, Wyeth and Pfizer. She currently serves as a committee member for the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) Accelerator Group, The Research Quality Association (RQA) and a member of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE). Ms. Harte-Hall holds a Master of Science in Psychology from Capella University and BA in Business Administration from St. Leo University.

Donna Higgins is Founder & CEO of The Higgins Group, Inc., one of the oldest and most successful search firms in the life sciences. Founded in 1998, the firm has grown exclusively through referrals as a result of Donna’s simple but powerful business philosophy: to develop lasting relationships with a select group of clients by doing great work. This drive for excellence infuses every aspect of the firm’s work due to a culture that values superior results, exceptional teamwork, and doing the right thing. Although her team has diverse backgrounds and experiences, all of The Higgins Group consultants, researchers, and associates share Donna’s energy, optimism, integrity, and grit.
Over her 30 years’ in the life sciences, Donna has gained a global reputation for her insight, expertise and integrity. Prior to starting her own firm, Donna was Vice President & Life Sciences Practice Lead for HFA International, where she built the life science practice by consistently exceeding her clients’ expectations. Before search, Donna worked on commercial teams at both ends of the life sciences spectrum, dividing a decade between Abbott Laboratories, a Fortune 50 pharmaceutical company, and Immunex, an emerging biotech company at the time.
Donna holds an MBA from Drexel University and a BA from Penn State University. Committed to lifelong learning, she joined the Coaching Certification Program at Columbia University to continue sharpening the strategic coaching she provides to clients and candidates. She is an Advisory Board member for Life Sciences Cares and the Association of Women Entrepreneurs, and a Board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region and ACHIEVEability. She also serves as adjunct faculty at the Center for Positive Leadership, where she is a frequent speaker on women in business. Donna divides her time between the company’s Philadelphia and Boston offices.

Ted is a Managing Director and Founder of Centerline Consulting with over 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceuticals space. He leads the firm’s life sciences service offering and has broad experience across all major therapeutic areas. He has extensive experience in launching new pharmaceutical products including brand strategy development, launch management and in helping small pharmas/biotechs scale-up their commercial infrastructures for their first launch. His work ranges from CEO/CFO support of small pharmas/biotechnology companies with fundraising, financial planning and corporate strategy to supporting big pharmas with brand and therapeutic area strategy. Prior to founding Centerline, Ted held positions at Deloitte Consulting, where he was a leader in the Life Sciences Strategy & Operations sector, at Pfizer in the Portfolio & Decision Analysis team, and at Teva Pharmaceuticals where he was the Head of North America Branded Launch Management.

Chris is a Trust Solutions partner at PwC with extensive experience leading audit engagements in the Health Industries sector. Chris has served clients ranging from private biotech start-ups to large, multinational public companies. Chris has experience with IPOs and other going public transactions and has worked with clients in the sector on numerous complex technical transactions. Chris is a graduate of Villanova University and currently resides in Wayne, PA with his wife and two children.

KJ is responsible for cultivating and maintaining tenant and landlord relationships within Philadelphia’s bustling life sciences industry. It’s KJ’s goal to help his clients find the functional facilities they need based on their specific requirement. KJ has lived in the greater Philadelphia area for over 15 years, and most recently worked for one of the regions top retail brokerage firms where he had experience handling both tenant and landlord representation. KJ received a BA in Supply Chain Management from The University of Rhode Island in 2017.In his free time, KJ enjoys outdoor activities. Hiking, camping and exploring new places, as well as being active in several sports leagues within the city of Philadelphia.

Co-founder and CEO of Context Therapeutics, an emerging women's oncology company.

Tia Lyles-Williams, D.Sc. – affectionately known as Dr. Tia, is the 1st African American Queer Woman to own and lead a biopharmaceutical manufacturing company – 68 years after the 1st African American Man, Dr. Percy Lavon Julian with his company, Julian Laboratories, Inc. in Chicago, IL. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Howard University, Master of Science in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University, and a Master of Science in Regulatory Science from University Southern California. Dr. Tia has dedicated her career to the biotech/biopharma industries – including bioprocessing development, building large-scale bioprocessing facilities, developing/training/leading teams and commercializing proprietary biological assets via global regulatory affairs. She has been working in the biotechnology / biopharmaceutical industry for 22+ years – including formerly interning at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as well as a former contractor at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR in Silver Spring, MD). Her former employers include Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (now GSK) – Rockville, MD; Amgen, Inc. – Thousand Oaks, CA; Baxter BioScience (now Takeda) – Thousand Oaks, CA; Avid Bioservices – Tustin, CA; Lonza Pharma & Biotech – Portsmouth, NH; and Jazz Pharmaceuticals, PLC – Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Tia is a Three-Time Life Science Start-Up Founder – Founder & CEO of LucasPye BIO (2018), a Contract Development Manufacturing Organization (CDMO); Founder & CEO of HelaPlex (2021), the 1st Commercial Life Science Accelerator for Life Science Start-Ups and Virtual Biotechnology Companies; and Founder & CEO of Jackson Taylor Therapeutics (2023) – a Genomic AI Therapeutic Drug R&D Firm. o date, Dr. Lyles-Williams has raised +$2.5M USD to support her Health Equity Conglomerate via her three (3) Life Science Start-Ups. As a Champion of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion within the Workplace, STEM Education and Healthcare – Dr. Lyles-Williams has made it her mission to lead by example via the following initiatives: • 2019 BioDiversity Graduate at the Partnership, Inc. • LucasPye BIO’s C-Suite is made up of 50% Women & 85% People of Color • HelaPlex, LucasPye BIO & Jackson Taylor Therapeutics has partnered to remove Health Disparities by mapping the Human Genome for the BIPOC Community – including researching & developing drugs to improve healthcare outcomes / treatment options for People of Color • Black Latin-X Indigenous Institutes of Health (BLIIH), along with its strategic partners – including HelaPlex; Jefferson Institute for Bioprocessing (JIB); University City Science Center; and The Business Center for Entrepreneurship & Social Enterprise will be piloting BioWorks – a Commercial Biotech Workforce Training Program for Philadelphians in Fall 2024 o The program is an alternative career path for members of Marginalized Communities to enter the biotech / biopharma workforce as a Bioprocess Operator or Quality Control Technician – including training & certification opportunities for individuals to continue their education and attain higher-levels employment, i.e., from Specialist & Entry-Level Management up to Executive Management, C-Suite & Entrepreneurship o Committed employers (to date) that will hire BioWorks Graduates and BioWorks Fellows include: LucasPye BIO, HelaPlex, Delaware State University, Jackson Taylor Therapeutics, CR Clinical, and Weaver Medical Center. Dr. Lyles-Williams is a board member at LaunchBio and Independent Business Alliance: Greater Philadelphia’s LGTBQ+ Chamber of Commerce. She’s also a Business Mentor for Princeton University’s Entrepreneurship Council & Charles Drew University of Medicine & Science. As a Biopharma Executive and Pillar of the Life Science Industry – Tia was named “Unicorn” by Philadelphia Magazine (2020); recognized as a 2021 Forbes NEXT 1000 Honoree, listed as 1 of Inc. Magazine’s 2021 Female Founders 100; a recipient of the PHL Inno 2022 Fire Award on behalf of LucasPye BIO from The Philadelphia Business Journal; and featured in Philadelphia Tribune’s People on the Move” for 2022. On May 12, 2022, Dr. Lyles-Williams was conferred as an Honorary Doctorate in The Sciences from the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. Most recently, Dr. Lyles-Williams participated as a panelist at The White House Summit for Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy in the U.S.; and her work at LucasPye BIO was highlighted at the 2023 USPTO World IP Day in D.C.

Link to Dr. Tia speaking at The White House: https://youtu.be/LcP9zPNuUh4?si=Yq5ejdd0ClzejgMS

Transactional executive with a foundation of cross-functional commercial experience in the Life Sciences industry. Key competencies include:

M&A Advisory & Capital Raising
Corporate & Business Development
Management Consulting
Strategic Marketing
Sales & Sales Management

Executive with >20 years of pharma and biotech experience in strategic and operational roles at global, regional and country level in US, Europe and Emerging Markets.
Multiple startup experiences, setting up commercial strategy and organization, building strong teams and inspiring them to successfully launch brands in multiple therapeutic areas in both Hospital and Retail.

Mr. Maslowski is Chief Commercial Officer at Forge Biologics. He served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Castle Creek Biosciences, Inc. from January 2020 to March 2021 and served in the same role at Fibrocell Science, Inc. (a NASDAQ rare disease cell and gene therapy company) from 2016 until Fibrocell was acquired in 2019. Prior to the acquisition, Mr. Maslowski served as Senior Vice President of Scientific Affairs and Vice President of Operations of Fibrocell between 2012 to 2016. Mr. Maslowski has extensive experience in the field of cell and gene therapy, including advancing D-Fi, a genetically modified autologous fibroblast therapy, to pivotal clinical trials, and LAVIV ®, a non-modified autologous fibroblast therapy, through U.S. FDA approval and commercialization. Mr. Maslowski also serves on the board of Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, the scientific advisory board of Castle Creek Biosciences, and the advisory board of Life Science Cares Philadelphia. Mr. Maslowski previously served as the Chairman of the board of directors of Falcon Therapeutics, a privately held Durham, N.C. company focused on the development of cell therapy products for oncology, from 2019 to 2021, and on the board of directors of Castle Creek Biosciences and Fibrocell from 2016 to 2021. Mr. Maslowski has 20+ years of experience in pharmaceutical and biologics development at major pharmaceutical companies including Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co., Inc., and Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. Mr. Maslowski received his B.S. in biology from Ursinus College and his M.S. in microbiology from Villanova University.

Mr. Murray joined BVF Partners L.P. in 2013. Prior to joining the General Partner, Mr. Murray was an Associate at Leerink Swann in the strategy consulting division where he advised pharmaceutical and biotech clients on M&A strategy, due diligence, clinical development strategy, and commercial opportunity assessments. He holds an A.B. in Human Evolutionary Biology and a Secondary Field in Economics from Harvard College.

Michelle Ottey, PhD, HCLD is a Philadelphia native, and completed a post doctoral fellowship at University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine in Genetics from Thomas Jefferson University.  She transitioned from research science to science management and joined Fairfax Cryobank in June 2006, eventually becoming the Lab Director. Michelle dedicated fifteen years to building a strong, effective, and efficient team with Fairfax Cryobank while serving on the Medical Advisory Board and as the Spokesperson for Cryobank.

MATTHEW A. PEARSON is a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. Dr. Pearson litigates patent cases across a range of technologies, including pharmaceuticals, chemistry, and biotechnology, with a particular focus on biologics and antibody technology. Dr. Pearson is an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Mike is a Managing Partner of Section 32, a venture capital fund investing at the frontiers of technology and healthcare. Prior to joining Section 32 in 2017, he served as CEO of Foundation Medicine, a company which transformed the way pharmaceutical companies and physicians evaluate the genomic changes underlying a patient’s cancer, until he transitioned to Chairman through the close of Roche’s (RHHBY) acquisition of FMI in August 2018. Previously, he was President and COO of Clarient, a national leader in molecular pathology, which was acquired by GE Healthcare in 2010.

He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Nusano, Singular Genomics (OMIC), Adaptive Biotechnologies (ADPT), Octave BioSciences, TwinStrand Genomics, the Personalized Medicine Coalition, and the American Cancer Society. He previously served on the board of Thrive Earlier Detection, which was acquired by Exact Sciences (EXACT) in 2021, and Tango Therapeutics (TNGX). Mike brings a breadth of understanding in personalized medicine, with a particular interest and focus on defeating cancer. He is also a member of the President’s Leadership Council at Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health.

During the COVID  pandemic, Mike served as a Senior Advisor to the Rockefeller Foundation’s efforts on COVID-19 testing.

Mike received a BA from Boston College, an MBA from Drexel University and an MD from Jefferson Medical College.

Gretchen Pinto is an audit partner at KPMG with more than 18 years of experience in accounting and financial reporting.

Steve is an audit partner in the Growth Markets practice of EY with more than 30 years of experience. Steve is fully devoted to serving clients in the life sciences industry with experience in accounting and auditing services, financial reporting, SEC registration statements and reporting, initial and secondary public offerings, private offerings and advisory services related to mergers and acquisitions and transaction support.

CATHERINE SOHN, PHARM.D, is an Independent Director on the Boards of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Altimmune, Maze Therapeutics and BioEclipse Therapeutics where she brings 30 years of strategy, commercial product launches, and business development/partnering experience to the boardroom. SOHN is also a strategic adviser to private companies, Adjunct Professor at UCSF and a member of the Science History Institute Board of Directors.

Prior to retiring from GSK, SOHN was SrVP, Worldwide Business Development and a member of the global executive committee at GlaxoSmithKline’s Consumer Healthcare division where she led multiple U.S. and global M&A and licensing transactions. Previously, she was VP Worldwide Strategic Product Development for the cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic therapeutic areas at SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, overseeing the global launch of Coreg for congestive heart failure which became a $1 billion indication. Earlier in her career, as an entrepreneur within a large company, she started the U.S. Vaccine Business and led the launch of SB’s first vaccine in the U.S. and helped shape the global vaccine portfolio pipeline as a member of the International Vaccine Steering Committee. She subsequently was responsible for the prelaunch strategy and led the U.S. commercialization of the company's largest neuroscience product and was a member of the global CNS Product Strategy Team.

SOHN has served on the Health Advisory Board at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, The PHL World Affairs Council, the UCSF School of Pharmacy Board of Overseers and was Vice Chair and Board Member of the Corporate Executive Board of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

She was the UCSF “Distinguished Alum of the Year” in 2000, received the prestigious Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association "Woman of the Year" award in 2003, received the Licensing Executive Society’s Frank Barnes Mentoring Award in 2009 and the HBA Euro-Excellence Award in 2012. SOHN is a longtime advocate of DEI and was recognized as one of the PharmaVoice 100 most inspiring people in the Life Science Industry in 2016.

SOHN received a Pharm.D. from UCSF, a Corporate Directors Certificate from Harvard Business School, a Certificate of Professional Development from Wharton, a Certificate from Berkeley Law for ESG: Navigating the Board's Role, attended Stanford Director's College in 2013 and 2023 and is a Certified Licensing Professional Emeritus.

Judith is a senior Medical Affairs and Clinical Development executive with over 20 years of experience in clinical development and scientific strategy. This includes building and leading high-performing scientific teams and managing rapid organizational growth. She has a track record of successes in early and late-stage drug development, regular engagement with US and global key opinion leaders, experience in drug development, scientific support of multiple commercial launches, and scientific differentiation strategies. As the President and founder of SMAC, she has specialized in bringing nimble, data-driven scientific and medical affairs expertise to bridge development and launch. Judith received her B.A. in both Microbiology and Chemistry at Miami University (Oxford, OH) and her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Bronx, NY). She spent over 20 years supporting antibiotic development programs at small biotechnology companies including Cubist Pharmaceuticals and Paratek Pharmaceuticals.

Lee has over 25 years of investor relations, corporate finance, and corporate communications experience within the biotechnology sector. Before co-founding Meru Advisors, he was VP, IR & External Communications at Achilles Therapeutics [ACHL]. Prior to that, he was a Managing Director in Solebury Trout’s Life Sciences practice and a founder of Trout Capital. Lee received an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Quantitative Economics from Tufts University. He is also a CFA® charter holder and plays drums in a NYC cover band.

Michelle is the Philadelphia Life Sciences practice leader at Gallagher, one of the world's largest consulting and brokerage firms. Michelle works closely with human resources and finance executives in the life sciences industry to reduce risk, attract and retain talent and contain costs through employee benefit programs. She ensures that her clients are staying ahead of the market through propriety data and market trends. Michelle's passion includes working with life sciences companies from start-up all the way through IPO. Michelle is a wife, mother of 2 and a small business owner and looks forward to making an impact with LSC.

Mr. Swisher has extensive experience in the advancement and commercialization of novel therapeutics across multiple therapeutic areas including neuroscience, metabolic, and targeted cancer agents. Throughout his career, Mr. Swisher has exhibited and encouraged global operational excellence to foster innovation.

I joined Exude in 2009 and my role is Director of Strategic Relationships. After years of helping female leaders on an individual basis, especially those in non profit, I established our Exude Women Series. The series allows women the opportunity to connect personally and professionally. I sit on the Board of Pathways To Housing and Family Support Line.

Joe is a Senior Director of Development for Breakthrough Properties, responsible for overseeing development activities on the East Coast and in Colorado. Breakthrough is a global life science real estate development company that leverages cross-sector collaboration to deliver environments that foster innovation and scientific breakthroughs.

Evan Tzanis is the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Research and Development at Neuraptive Therapeutics, Inc.. Prior to joining Neuraptive, Mr. Tzanis served as Chief Development Officer at Paratek Pharmaceuticals, where he led all development activities, including the successful approval of omadacycline (Nuzyra®) and sarecycline (Seysera®). Prior to Paratek, Mr. Tzanis was Head of Development Operations and Biometrics at Endo Pharmaceuticals, where he had leadership responsibilities in clinical and project management. During his tenure with Endo, Mr. Tzanis was responsible for several late-stage development programs including BEMA® Buprenorphine (Belbuca®). Before joining Endo, Mr. Tzanis held roles of increasing responsibilities at Quintiles (Now IQVIA), Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, and Pfizer. Over his more than 28 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Mr. Tzanis has had involvement in the regulatory approval of eleven products across many therapeutic areas and products designed to treat central nervous system disorders, including panic disorder, major depressive disorder, pain, sleep, as well as opioid-induced constipation and rheumatoid arthritis.

Based in Philadelphia, PA, Tyler is the regional lead of the Integrated Portfolio Services (IPS) group and the Philadelphia representative on JLL’s Life Sciences Advisory Council, a group of the leading JLL life sciences brokers in the core life science markets across the nation. Tyler is responsible for (lease and sale) transaction and portfolio management and overall service delivery for clients with significant local, national and international real estate holdings. Current life sciences clients include the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Spark Therapeutics, Iovance Biotherapeutics, Panorama Medicine, BGI, Lonza, and FMC Corporation.

Elizabeth White, PhD, is a highly experienced biopharmaceutical senior executive with a unique ability to bridge business strategy and scientific innovation who has made a smooth transition from large pharma to entrepreneurial biotech. Beth has built a very broad skill set gained through leadership roles over a 30+ year career spanning strategic planning, fundraising, business development, R&D, operations, corporate communications, commercial planning, and global brand management. With a specialized understanding of genetic medicines and gene therapy, she is experienced in many therapeutic areas with strong expertise in rare diseases (particularly neurodegenerative, neuromuscular, hematologic, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic). Dr. White is dedicated to helping emerging biotechnology companies successfully and efficiently translate their innovative technologies into accessible medicines that will help patients in need. She is currently CEO of White Biotech Solutions, a biotech consultancy focused on new company formation, corporate strategy, and business development. She recently served as Chief Business Officer and SVP of Operations for Renovacor, a public preclinical cardiovascular gene therapy company, where she helped to lead the growth and development of the organization and portfolio and led the business development efforts resulting in Renovacor's acquisition by Rocket Pharma. Prior to Renovacor, Beth was Chief Business and Strategy Officer for NeuExcell, a private preclinical gene therapy company focused on neurologic disorders, which was preceded by 20 years at Wyeth/Pfizer where she most recently led new product planning strategy as Assistant Vice President, Commercial Development, for Pfizer’s Rare Disease and Gene Therapy Business. Dr. White holds MS and PhD degrees with a concentration in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Rochester and a BS in Biology from Allegheny College.