Who We Are

THE TEAM
(note: all team members are unpaid volunteers)

Daniel S. Sem, Ph.D., MBA, J.D., President and CEO. Dr. Sem is Dean and Professor of Business, and also Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of Technology Transfer at Concordia University Wisconsin. He also serves on the editorial board of PLoS One Life Sciences, the Board of Directors for BIOforward and on the Scientific Advisory Board of PhysioGenix. And, he is CEO and VP for Drug Development at AviMed Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Sem has 20 years of experience in drug discovery and development, and has over 50 papers and 10 issued patents on drug discovery and development techniques. He co-founded two drug discovery and development companies (Triad and AviMed). He served as VP for Biophysics at Triad Therapeutics, where he developed a platform technology for designing focused combinatorial libraries targeting kinases and dehydrogenases. He co-founded Triad Therapeutics based on technology he developed and patented, and he assisted in securing two rounds of venture financing, totaling over $40 million. Triad was voted one of the top 10 biotech startups in 2001 by Drug Discovery Today, and licensed kinase drug leads to Novartis for up to $60 million. Dr. Sem received his B.S. in Chemistry from UW-Milwaukee, his Ph.D. from UW-Madison in Biochemistry and his MBA and JD degrees from Marquette University. Email: daniel.s.sem@gmail.com

Ramani Ramchandran, Ph.D., CSO and Secretary. Dr. Ramchandran is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and Director of the Developmental Vascular Biology Program and Zebrafish Drug Screening Core in The Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. He serves on the editorial board of PLoS ONE Life Sciences, Vascular Cell and Indian Journal of Clinical Medicine. He is the recipient of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) scholar award in 2001, which funded his start-up laboratory at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He recently received the 2013 Distinguished Alumnus Award from Georgia Regents’ University (formerly called Medical College of Georgia). He serves on National and International panels for grant review, most notably the NIH. He is a charter member of the Vascular Cell and Molecular Biology Study section, and is an ad hoc member for the small business (SBIR/STTR) applications. Dr. Ramchandran is a recipient of several NIH grants and currently holds three active R01 grants, and two co-investigator R01s in addition to several foundation grants, which brings in approximately $1M in direct costs each year. He directs a teaching course on Models of Disease and Drug Discovery at MCW, has published over 40 papers in leading biomedical journals, and has 20 plus years of experience in biomedical research. He is considered an expert in vascular biology and diseases affected by deregulated vessels, and manages an active program of 15 plus personnel at MCW comprised of post-doctoral fellows, technicians, medical students, junior faculty and staff. Dr. Ramchandran received his BS and MS degrees from University of Bombay, Ph.D. degree at GRU and did a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard.

Douglas C. Stafford, Ph.D., M.S., CBO and Treasurer. Dr. Stafford is Director of the Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery at the UW-Milwaukee. He has spent 25 years in translational biomedical research (medical device and therapeutics) and the formation of business organizations for new product development. He held senior management positions at Baxter Healthcare Corporation in manufacturing operations, product development, and quality systems. He led the general management and private and public financing of several entrepreneurial ventures, including positions of Chief Operating Officer and later President of Ophidian Pharmaceuticals, founder and President of Life Sciences Development Corp., and Executive Vice President of GenExel-Sein, Inc. He is on the scientific advisory board of Avaxia Biologics, Inc., consultant to the patent firm of Medlen & Carroll, Adjunct Professor at the Medical College of WI, and program reviewer for NIH/NCATS. He has formed numerous product development partnerships and technology licenses (including; Lilly, Wyeth, Allergan, DoD, more than 80 universities). He is inventor on 15 patents and has received entrepreneurial achievement awards from Baxter and the US Department of Commerce. Dr. Stafford received BS (biology) and MS (microbiology) degrees from the University of Detroit, a PhD (immunology) from Tufts University School of Medicine, and a MS (management) from Lesley College. He is a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP) and is a member of the Licensing Executive Society, American Association of Immunologists, Regulatory Affairs Professional Society, and Association of University Technology Managers.

Mark Daugherty, Ph.D., J.D., Director of Business Development. Dr. Daugherty has over 25 years of experience developing startup companies and turning research into products. He has served as the Chief Technology Officer at H2scan, a Valencia, CA startup developing advanced hydrogen sensors for the chemical industry. As CEO/President he led SolRayo, a startup developing nanomaterials based on technology developed at UW-Madison. At Tormach he served as the Director of Product Development where he helped develop computer controlled machine tools that empower local manufacturing. As President/CEO he led the Virent team while it successfully raised funding and developed its initial prototype for liquid phase reforming based on technology licensed from WARF. As VP & General Manager of DCH Technology he led a fuel cell startup based on technology licensed from Los Alamos National Laboratory. At Los Alamos National Laboratory he served as Principal Investigator on numerous research projects including high temperature superconductivity applications. Dr. Daugherty’s previous professional experience also includes: The US Department of Energy, Washington, DC; The US Department of Commerce, Arlington, VA; Superconductivity, Inc., (now American Superconductor) and Astronautics Corporation of America. Dr. Daugherty received his BS (Mechanical Engineering), MS (Solar Energy), and Ph.D. (Applied Superconductivity) degrees from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and his J.D. (Environmental Law) from the University of California – Berkeley.

Raman Kutty, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President of Healthcare Innovation. Dr. Kutty brings to bridges to cures a clinical and innovative background. As part of his PhD work in Ramani Ramchandran's laboratory he collaborated with Daniel Sem and Rajenda Rathore to produce novel small molecule inhibitors of a nuclear phosphatase. He currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer of RoddyMedical. He is continuing his training as a resident in Internal Medicine at White River Healthcare in Batesville, Arkansas. Dr. Kutty received his BS (Biochemistry) from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the Medical College of Wisconsin.

SEED AND GROWTH COMMITTEE

Stephen M. Coutts, Ph.D., M.B.A. Dr. Coutts is the Principal of Alembic Biotech Consultants, LLC, a firm specializing in services to both established and start-up biotechnology companies and to venture capital firms with a focus on the life science industry. Dr. Coutts has over 37 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry employing both small molecule and biologic approaches to drug development, as well as extensive immunoassay experience in two diagnostic companies. Most recently, he was Vice President of R&D at Alere San Diego, part of a $2.4 B global company. Before that, he was CEO of Biocept Laboratories, a company that analyzes genetic content in circulating tumor cells that are captured in a microfluidic device. Prior to that, Coutts spent one year as a Director of Pharmaceutical Development at Cypress Biosciences, which was preceded by his role as a Co-Founder of Triad Therapeutics where he was a member of its Board of Directors, as well as its President and COO, from 1998 to the end of 2004. From 1987 to 1998, Dr. Coutts was Executive Vice President for Research and Development at La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (LJP), a biopharmaceutical company which he co-founded. At La Jolla Pharmaceutical he was responsible for establishing that company’s B cell Tolerance Technology™ platform and was an inventor of Riquent™ (LJP 394), a drug that ultimately failed phase 3 trials well after he left the company. Coutts was Executive Director of Drug Discovery for one year at Purdue Frederick, now Purdue Pharma. Prior to that, Dr. Coutts was at Revlon Health Care Group in Tuckahoe New York, for 11 years. As Department Director of Immunobiology he played a major role in the submission of four INDs for anti-allergic drug candidates. Dr. Coutts received his B.S. in Chemistry, with highest honors, at San Diego State University and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry with Frank Westheimer at Harvard University. He trained in biophysics as a postdoctoral fellow with Nobel Laureate Manfred Eigen in Germany, and was later a postdoctoral fellow and an instructor in Biochemistry at Princeton University. Dr. Coutts holds an M.B.A., with honors, from New York University.

Giovanni Ferrara, M.Sci., M.B.A. Giovanni Ferrara is a Venture Partner at Novartis Venture Funds. Prior, he spent three years as a consultant to leading west coast venture capital firms and portfolio companies. Most recently, he was consulting Chief Business Officer to Sorbent Therapeutics. Previously, he was Managing Director and General Partner at Burrill & Company, and began his venture capital career at GeneChem Management, where he invested and also held executive operating positions in portfolio companies, and assisted its corporate sponsor, BioChem Pharma, with business development. He began his career in healthcare as a pharmacist at a cancer treatment center researching experimental therapies. He received his MBA and MSc at McGill University.

Loren Peterson, CPA. Loren is a Managing Director of the General Partner of Venture Investors Early Stage Fund V L.P. and a Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of the Fund Manager, Venture Investors LLC. He joined Venture Investors in 2012 after serving as a consultant to the company since 2011. Loren is responsible for all operations for Venture Investors’ venture capital partnerships including: investor relations, financial reporting, legal, accounting, valuation analyses, and audit and tax compliance. He works closely with Venture Investors’ portfolio companies on accounting and tax issues, as well as providing assistance to Venture Investors’ investment team on accounting and financial matters related to portfolio investments. He also serves on the Board of Directors of ProCertus BioPharm, Inc. Loren has extensive operational experience with small-to-medium-sized businesses and has successfully financed, grown and exited several drug development companies. He helped raise over $100 million for these companies, negotiated multiple licensing, manufacturing and other business development agreements, and has been responsible for all administrative and operational aspects of these companies. Loren previously served as President, CEO and a director of ZyStor Therapeutics, Inc., a VIESF III portfolio company, until August 2010 when ZyStor was acquired by BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. Previously, Loren was President and CEO of Sheffield Pharmaceuticals, a public, development-stage respiratory drug delivery company, and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Bock Pharmacal Company until its acquisition by Sanofi Pharmaceuticals. Earlier in his career, Loren was a partner at Coopers & Lybrand (now PriceWaterhouse Coopers), where he provided accounting and audit services to companies in a variety of industries. Loren graduated with High Distinction from the University of Nebraska –Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He holds a CPA certificate and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Danny Janiak, Ph.D. Danny is a Director with Mercury Fund, where he focuses on new company creation and early-stage investment opportunities in the life sciences. Prior to joining Mercury, Danny was an Associate in the Physical and Biological Technologies practice at In-Q-Tel, the strategic venture investment arm of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Danny received his B.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland where he was a Future Faculty Fellow and held the Robert E. Fischell Fellowship in Biomedical Engineering. In addition, Danny has been selected to participate in the Kauffman Fellows Program through the Center for Venture Education. Danny plays an active role in a number of Mercury Fund portfolio companies including Confluence Life Sciences, Apsara Therapeutics, DNAtrix, and Sinopsys Surgical.

Allen Hakimi, Managing Director and CEO of Technomark. Mr. Hakimi joined Technomark Consulting Service Ltd. in the UK in 2006, and has successfully led its corporate transition to Technomark Life Sciences, which now invests via a co-development business model, by sharing the cost of pre-clinical development in exchange for downstream remuneration. Under this new co-funding model, Technomark has invested in 14 development programs, with successful exits of three programs through large pharma (Wyeth/Pfizer, BMS, D-Pharm Israel), and a fourth through IPO.

Mr. Hakimi has a diverse background, including all aspects of drug development up to IND and CTA (the Eurpoean equivalent of IND) filing, as well as business development. Prior to joining Technomark, he was heavily involved in entrepreneurial activities, such as successfully fund-raising for drug development programs, executing licensing deals with small and medium life science companies, and spinning out of start-up biotechs from American universities. Mr. Hakimi's other appointments have been with Nobex Corporation in business development, during which time the Company executed deals with Elan, BMS, Pharmacia (now Pfizer), and GSK, and beforehand he was with academic institutions such as the Duke Clinical Research Institute and the University of Michigan Medical Center in clinical trial management. Mr. Hakimi attended the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), where he obtained his degree in Microbiology.

ADVISORY BOARD

David R. Harder, Ph.D. Dr. Harder is Associate Dean of Research and Professor of Physiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). He has published over 240 peer-reviewed papers, serves as editor for numerous journals, and has had continuous funding from NIH. His research interests are centered on characterization of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of muscle cell contraction, and the modification of these mechanisms by endothelial factors, neurotransmitters, and endogenous vaso-active agents. Another research area focuses on the mechanisms controlling cerebral circulation and disease states such as stroke and neuronal damage found in Alzheimer's disease. Two clinical trials underway in the Cardiovascular Center involve the study of gliomas, tumors that originate in the brain or spinal cord. Center investigators are testing specific drugs that may lead to therapies that will reduce or eliminate the tumors. Dr. Harder is also the scientific founder of Cmxtwenty, a Milwaukee-based pharmaceutical company with a drug (CMX-020) in phase 2 clinical trials, for the non-narcotic treatment of pain. Cmxtwenty was awarded an SBIR grant to validate the prospective use of this analgesic therapy from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and subsequently raised over $11 million in private equity (Angel Investment).

James P. Thomas, MD, PhD, joined the faculty at the Medical College of Wisconsin in the Division of Hematology and Oncology in September of 2010. Dr. Thomas received his PhD in Biochemistry and his MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed his residency training in internal medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin and subsequently completed a fellowship in Medical Oncology at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. Dr. Thomas joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin and was the Disease Leader for Gastrointestinal Cancers. Dr. Thomas served as the Medical Director of the Clinical Trials Office of the Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center and was on the NCCN Panel for Colorectal Cancers. He is the former Chairman of the American Association of Cancer Institutes Clinical Research Group. Dr. Thomas has published over 70 peer reviewed articles. His research interests are in oncology drug development and in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. Dr. Thomas has a long standing research effort in the role of reactive oxygen species in cancer development and treatment.

Lane Brostrom, Ph.D ., MBA. Currently Lane is CEO at Cmxtwenty. He is a technology startup professional and entrepreneur. His career began as a systems engineer working with prominent technology experts to build, launch, and operate high-powered communication satellites at Hughes. He later worked in the venture capital industry and developed expertise in organizing the private equity finance of early-stage technology companies. He moved from high-tech to biotech with TechStar. TechStar's mission is to promote entrepreneurship and launch technology startups using the intellectual property platforms originating from Metro Milwaukee research institutions. Between 2001 and 2006, TechStar facilitated the launch of 2 high tech and 13 biomedical companies. Exits include Prodesse ($87M w/milestones) and Nerites ($20M). Cmxtwenty is also a TechStar company. Lane prefers an “asset light” approach to launching companies, which relies heavily on expert, third-party advisors, a few flexible full-time employees, and no bureaucracy. Lane is proficient in corporate structuring, management team building, product proof and development, market development, and early-stage private equity finance. Salient themes include: business models that provide a return to private equity investors, products that improve healthcare, initiatives that make positive contributions to mankind. His Ph.D. is in Physics, from Utah State, and he has an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Business.

Tony Giordano, Ph.D. Dr. Giordano is a co-founder and President and CEO of Sulfagenix. He has held senior management positions at six separate biotechnology companies, including Message, Nucleonics, Alteris and TheraVasc, where he has been involved in business planning, licensing, directing research and development efforts, fundraising and financial management. He is a consultant/advisor to three venture funds, a consultant to the Biomedical Research Foundation, and was appointed by the Governor of Louisiana to the Innovation Council. Dr Giordano has secured over $6M in federal funding for the Companies he has managed and has 13 issued and a number of pending patent applications. Before beginning his career in biotech, Dr. Giordano was a senior scientist at Abbott Laboratories.

Brian Thompson, MS, MBA. President, UWM Research Foundation. Mr. Thompson joined the UWM Foundation in 2006 to broaden the Foundation's role in support of research and innovation and to help launch the UWM Research Foundation. Prior to joining the UWM Foundation, Mr. Thompson was Managing Director for TechStar, a Milwaukee-based organization that assists in launching high-tech companies where he helped launch companies in biomedical imaging, medical devices and therapeutics. He also led TechStar's efforts to identify regional biotech strengths and organized the Biomedical Technology Alliance, an alliance among Milwaukee institutions to foster research collaboration. Mr. Thompson was previously part of the corporate new ventures group at Hughes Electronics where he worked with early stage companies in consumer electronics, broadband services and entertainment. His technology background includes managing software development projects and designing and launching communications satellites as a system engineer at Hughes Space and Communications. Mr. Thompson previously served on the boards of start-up companies, MatriLab and NovaScan. He holds a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from UCLA.

Brian D. Curry, Ph.D., MBA. Dr. Curry serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of PhysioGenix, Inc. Dr. Curry served as Chief Operating Officer of PhysioGenix, Inc. Dr. Curry was responsible for managing day-to-day activities and identifying innovative solutions at PhysioGenix, Inc. Dr. Curry has a proven track record of strategic planning and commercialization. Prior to PhysioGenix, Dr. Curry served as President of Functional Design for 10 years, which provided biomechanical design, testing and consulting to National and global companies. During this time, he brought products from concept sketches through manufacturing and product launch. Dr. Curry has written and orchestrated the submission of over $32 M of federal grants from 7 different agencies, resulting in multiple peer-reviewed articles and international speeches. Dr. Curry holds a Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy and an M.S. in Pharmacology & Toxicology from the Medical College of Wisconsin, M.S. in Biological Sciences/Physiology from Western Michigan University and a B.S. in Physics from Michigan State University.

Brian Scanlan, President and CEO, senior pharmaceutical industry executive. Member of the Board of Trustees for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Board of Governors for SOCMA (Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates, Inc). Previously, President and CEO of Cambridge Major Laboratories. Mr. Scanlan is a Pharmaceutical services industry veteran with extensive experience and track record in growing organizations. Focus on businesses involved in the development and manufacture Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), from early preclinical development to commercial manufacture. Strong relationship builder and ability to connect with people. Unparalleled success in developing sales and marketing engines using a combination of unique, out-of-the-box models, and traditional selling techniques. Specialties include API Development, API Manufacture, Drug Development, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Solid State Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Process Development, preclinical, clinical trials, commercial, commercial API manufacture.

Daniel Brophey, CPA. Mr. Brophey has significant experience in nonprofit corporations. He is a retired Partner from the accounting firm of Reilly, Penner & Benton LLP, the oldest CPA firm charted in Wisconsin. Currently, he devotes half of his time to assisting nonprofit clients, with emphasis on supporting those requiring government compliance audits. He also provides audit and accounting services for privately-held businesses. As an active volunteer, Mr. Brophey has spearheaded an effort to educate local businesses about the Milwaukee Renewal Community Tax Incentives to stimulate hiring and building of select enterprise Zone in the City. He serves on multiple nonprofit boards, including Forever Friends, Inc., Up to Us of Wisconsin, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation Advisory Board. He also serves on the Milwaukee Estate Planning Forum and the Urban Economic Development Association of Wisconsin. He has a Bachelor's degree from Carrol University.

Scott G. Van Ornum, Ph.D. Dr. Van Ornum is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Concordia University Wisconsin, where he teaches and pursues research in organic chemistry. He has extensive experience in process development chemistry under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) protocols. After graduating in 1998 from UW-Milwaukee with a Ph.D. in organic chemistry, he was employed at Abbott Laboratories for four years as a senior scientist in the process development area working on new drug candidates. Chemistry was developed on the lab bench and the processes transferred to large scale pilot and commercial plant facilities on multi-hundred kilogram scale. Numerous improvements to the existing processes were made that resulted in substantial cost savings and cycle time reductions. Prior to joining Concordia, Dr. Van Ornum was employed at Cedarburg-Hauser Pharmaceuticals filling a variety of roles, from senior scientist to research and plant manager responsibilities. He managed the GMP development processes through validation on various active pharmaceutical ingredients currently being manufactured by Cedarburg.

James Cook, Ph.D, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, UWM. Dr. Cook is an internationally recognized expert in medicinal, synthetic organic, and natural products chemistry. His award winning research has led to more than 400 journal publications with a focus on the synthesis of natural products with biological activity or related analogs with enhanced drug-like properties. He is also expert in the design and synthesis of small molecule drug candidates that are active in the central nervous system for treatment of psychiatric conditions, pain, and cognitive disorders. He is a founding faculty member of UW-Milwaukee’s Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery and a principal investigator on numerous federally-funded drug discovery and development programs. Dr. Cook is an inventor on a diverse portfolio of patents and serves as adviser to entrepreneurial health care ventures. After completing his PhD studies at the University of Michigan and post-doctoral research at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Cook joined the faculty in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UWM. He now serves as University Distinguished Professor, an honor he has held since 2002.

Alexander Arnold, Ph.D. Dr. Alexander (Leggy) Arnold is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and a founding member of the Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Groningen (Netherlands) under supervision of Professor Ben Feringa in 2002. His research resulted in the development of one of the most selective catalysts for the enantioselective 1,4-addition and other asymmetric reaction with more than 318 citations. He also introduced the first catalytic enantioselective methodology to synthesize prostaglandins. His postdoctoral research at the University of California San Francisco in the research laboratory of Dr. Kip Guy let to the discovery of the first transcriptional modulators inhibiting the interactions between the thyroid receptor and coregulators. In 2005, Dr. Arnold started at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and was promoted to a scientist in 2007. His responsibilities included the execution of high throughput screens (HTS), validation of hit compounds, development of lead compounds (SAR), and preclinical profiling of drug candidates. Dr. Arnold is an expert in earlier Drug Discovery. He has been working with the NIH Chemical Genomic Center and their probe discovery program for more than seven years. Dr. Arnold’s current research interests are focused on the discovery and development of new drugs targeting nuclear receptors and ion-channels.

M. Behnam Ghasemzadeh, Ph.D. Dr. Ghasemzadeh is an Associate Professor at Marquette University in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, and is also the scientific founder, president and CSO of AviMed Pharmaceuticals, a Marquette University spinout company developing a next generation treatment for schizophrenia. Dr. Ghasemzadeh's research has focused, over the last 20 years, on understanding the neurobiology of addiction and schizophrenia. These pathologies involve long-lasting changes in brain function and behavior with devastating personal and social consequences. He is interested in elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these enduring behavioral modifications. Research techniques employed in these studies range from behavioral and neuropharmacological manipulations to cellular and molecular methodologies. His has been funded by over $1 million in NIH grants, and has led to the discovery of a new neuronal target for treating schizophrenia, which has led to AviMed's lead molecule (Av115) and treatment, with patents now issued in the U.S. and internationally (EU, Japan, Canada, Australia). Dr. Ghasemzadeh received his B.S. in Chemistry in 1986 and Ph.D. in Neurochemistry in 1990. He was a Research Assistant Professor in Department of Physiology and Neuroscience at Medical University of South Carolina before joining the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Marquette in 2002. He also serves as Marquette University's representative on the CTSI (Clinical and Translational Science Initiative) Device, Drug-development and Repurposing Initiative.

CONSULTANTS

Anand Natrajan, Ph.D. is an SVP of Engineering at Amobee. He has been working in the Information Technology sector for over 20 years. He has co-authored over 20 papers in fields such as grid computing (today called cloud computing), modelling and simulation and search technologies.