Tag Archive for: Chief Scientist

Sam Helgerson to join Symphony Medical, Inc. as Vice President, Research and Development

Life Science Partner recruits former Senior Research Director of Bioscience Research & Development at Baxter Healthcare Corporation.

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Sam Helgerson, a senior product development leader, to Symphony Medical, Inc. as the Vice President, Research and Development.

Symphony Medical is a venture-backed development stage company focused on non-destructive therapies directed toward the treatment of cardiac abnormalities. The Company is currently developing a number of novel technologies including a non-surgical, non-ablative biological therapy for the treatment of post-operative atrial fibrillation, a therapy for congestive heart failure that utilizes unique biomaterials to effect cardiac reconstruction and reversal of cardiac remodeling and a cell-based biologic therapy for the treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation.

In Helgerson’s most recent role at Baxter Healthcare, a global manufacturing company that develops medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology products for the healthcare industry, he was responsible for leading the R&D efforts focused on developing biotherapeutic products for tissue regeneration, especially to promote angiogenesis and neovascularization in both wound healing and bone regeneration applications.  Prior to his numerous leadership roles at Baxter, Helgerson held academic research positions at the University of California and Montana State University.

“Sam has extensive leadership experience in biopharmaceutical product development and a drive and enthusiasm to successfully take products from early-stage discovery through to commercialization,” noted Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.

Helgerson will have the responsibility of providing scientific intelligence and leading the decision process regarding the potential clinical utility, product definition and development, and regulatory strategy of products within the product pipeline.

Helgerson received his Bachelor of Science degree from University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington and his Doctorate degree in Biophysics from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.  He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the Cardiovascular Research institute at the University of California in San Francisco.

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Jeffrey Gross, PhD, joins Angiotech Pharmaceuticals as Vice President of Engineering

Life Science Partner recruits former Group Director, Biologics Research and Development of Medtronic Sofamor Danek.

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Jeffrey Gross, PhD, former Group Director of Biologics R & D at Medtronic Sofamor Danek in Memphis, Tennessee, as Vice President of Engineering. 

Angiotech is the world leader in the emerging field of drug-eluting medical devices and biomaterials.   With an accelerated program to integrate pharmaceutical and biologically active materials to improve its products, Gross will lead the discovery team to capitalize upon Angiotech’s considerable intellectual property portfolio to create breakthrough products.

In Jeff’s previous role at Medtronic, he led large multidisciplinary teams of scientists and engineers in the development of heart valves and, more recently, in innovative, next-generation biological products for spine and cranial surgeons.

“Jeff has a broad cardiovascular product background and is well-grounded in biological and mechanical medical device development,” noted Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.  “He knows how to lead cross-functional teams across multiple technologies to bridge the combination product development divide successfully.”

In his role as Vice President of Engineering, Jeff will provide strategic and tactical direction for engineering R & D across multiple complex device platforms within numerous sites and divisions of Angiotech.  His teams will bridge the continuum from product concept through design review phases, and pilot manufacturing and transfer.

Jeff earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and his M.S in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Houston.   He received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering (Biofluid Mechanics) from the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee.

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Tom Weber to join Angiotech Pharmaceuticals as Senior Director of Analytical Chemistry

Life Science Partner recruits former Director, Analytical Research and Development of Celator Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Life Science Partner announces the appointment of Tom Weber, a pharmaceutical R & D executive, to Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., as the Director of Analytical Chemistry.

Angiotech is a world leader in the emerging field of drug-eluting medical devices and biomaterials. With an accelerated program to integrate pharmaceutical and biologically active materials to improve its products, Weber will lead the analytical chemistry team to capitalize upon Angiotech’s considerable intellectual property portfolio to create break-through products.

At Celator Pharmaceuticals, an early-stage biopharmaceutical company developing new combination therapies to treat cancer, Weber led the analytical and bioanalytical development of new products through validation, technical transfer and clinical stage product testing.   As experienced pharmaceutical scientist, he was previously a senior research and development officer in a several early, mid and development stage pharmaceutical companies.

“Weber brings a wealth of experience in the development of new drugs, drug delivery, drug-congugates and drug-device products which will enable him to immediately contribute to Angiotech’s ongoing projects as well as future developmental programs,” noted Cindi Roberts, Vice President at Life Science Partner.

Weber will lead strategic and tactical direction to the Chemistry group within global R&D across multiple complex device platforms including novel pharmaceutical agents and local delivery technology as well as novel combination product development involving local delivery of device platforms.

Weber received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry and Physics from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota and his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota.

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Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Recruits Tim Lowinger as Vice President, Pharmaceutical Science and Chemistry

Life Science Partner recruits Tim Lowinger, PhD, global leader in chemistry research and development to help propel proprietary products

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Tim Lowinger, PhD, formerly vice president, chemistry research at Bayer Healthcare, to lead Angiotech Pharmaceuticals’ newly formed division of pharmaceutical science and chemistry. Angiotech is the world leader in the emerging field of drug-eluting medical devices and biomaterials.  

With an accelerated program to integrate pharmaceutical and biologically active materials to improve its products, Lowinger will lead the discovery team to capitalize upon Angiotech’s considerable intellectual property portfolio to create break-through products.

Lowinger is well-positioned to lead this team, as he has considerable experience at Bayer in chemistry development as well as in leadership of global teams including medicinal and analytical chemistry departments – developing drugs from hit generation through lead optimization.

“Tim is a triple threat,” noted Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.  “He is the prototype of the top-shelf pharmaceutical chemist.  He has built and led global teams – spanning the U.S., Japan and Germany.  Tim has the ability to see beyond the lab bench to find solutions that can improve patients’ lives.”

Joining Bayer as a research scientist in 1993, Lowinger was responsible for all chemistry efforts within the cancer exploratory research team. He was promoted to the head of the chemistry department at Bayer Yakuhin, where he established a new cancer research center and built Bayer’s first Japanese chemistry research facility.  After establishing a global research center, he was relocated to corporate headquarters in Wuppertal, Germany, to become responsible for the virology therapeutic area.  In 2003, he assumed responsibility for the global chemistry organization as Vice President, Chemistry Research based in West Haven, CT.

Lowinger earned his B.Sc. (Chemistry) and PhD (Organic Chemistry) at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.  He was a Merck Post-doctoral Fellow at Ohio State University under the leadership of Professor Leo Paquette as his advisor.

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Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Recruits Andrew Penman to Become Vice President, Preclinical Development

Life Science Partner recruits global leader in preclinical development to help accelerate product creation and add pharmaceutical expertise

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Andrew Penman, PhD, formerly president, preclinical development at Aptuit (a spin-out of Quintiles Transnational) to lead Angiotech Pharmaceuticals newly formed division of preclinical development. 

Angiotech is the world leader in the emerging field of drug-eluting medical devices and biomaterials.    With an accelerated program to integrate pharmaceutical and biologically active materials to improve its products, Penman will lead the preclinical development team to capitalize upon Angiotech’s considerable intellectual property portfolio to create breakthrough products.

A well-respected manager of preclinical development, Penman was responsible  for a global team of 350 people worldwide and service revenues of $55m generated through contract preclinical services in the Kansas City and UK locations.  The Company was formed by the spin-out of the preclinical group of Quintiles, a company in which he led the DMPK and Bioanalysis group.

“Andy is an excellent manager and preclinical scientist,” noted Cindi Roberts, vice  president of Life Science Partner.  “His experience in the contract-services business of preclinical drug development has honed his business and organizational skills.”

Penman joined Quintiles upon the acquisition of Pharmacia by Pfizer.  Within the pharmaceutical industry, he was director, drug metabolism and biodisposition at the Pfizer Skokie site.  He honed his skills in early drug development as President of  Cephac Europe, a 100-scientist bioanalytic division of Aster-Cephac.  His recruitment to Quintiles in 2003 was a return to the company he joined in 1995 in its Scotland-based bioanalysis group.

Penman earned his B.Sc. in Chemistry at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and his Ph.D. at University of Kent in Canterbury.

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Hospira Recruits Kurt Gunter, MD, to Lead Cell Therapy Initiatives

Life Science Partner recruit offers valuable experience in regulatory and commercialization strategy

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Kurt C. Gunter, MD, as medical director, cell therapy of Hospira, a Chicago area based medical products company.  Hospira is a specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company launched from the core global hospital products business of Abbott Laboratories. 

With the recruitment of Gunter, Hospira now has a leader in the field of cell therapy to provide scientific and medical leadership for technology assessment and investment, and manage key relationships with academic and research institutions.  He will have the critical responsibility for representing the cell-therapy companies seeking investment and/or partnership.

“Kurt has a broad background in cell and gene therapy – with a specific expertise in developing regulatory guidelines for the field,” noted Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.  “Few can match his experience in the use of cells for new therapies that hold out the promise to cure intractable diseases.”

As the vice president and medical affairs/governmental relations of ZymeQuest, Gunter led the clinical strategy of a biotechnology company removing A and B antigens from red blood cells to create “universal donor” blood.  Previously, he held a similar role at ViaCell, a cord blood banking and cell therapy company.  His first commercial experience was as vice president, clinical and regulatory for Transkaryotic Therapies (TKT) supervising all regulatory filings for its orphan drug program.

His earlier career was as a researcher and clinical pathologist at Children’s National Medical Center, George Washington University Medical School, and the FDA, where he was acting director, division of cellular and gene therapy.  A recognized leader in the field, he was appointed as the industry representative to the standards-setting organization, the FDA Cellular Tissue and Gene Therapy Advisory Committee.

Gunter earned his BS at Stanford and his MD at University of Kansas School of Medicine, where he also completed his residency.  He continued his anatomical pathology training at University of Maryland and was a biotechnology fellow in molecular immunology at the National Cancer Institute.

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Dr. Jerry Fernandez to Join Aureon Biosciences as Senior Director of Pathology

To lead a team developing novel diagnostic services and products for prostate cancer patients

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Dr. Gerardo “Jerry” Javier Fernandez, an anatomic pathologist, to Aureon Biosciences. 

Aureon is a Yonkers, New York-based company enabling personalized patient care utilizing systems pathology to develop predictive clinical tests for cancer care, as well as to enable biopharmaceutical research and development.

Fernandez was recruited from Genzyme Genetics where he was an anatomic pathologist providing referring physicians with highly specialized referral services.  Dr. Fernandez is interested in computer-assisted diagnostics and led the company’s imaging applications and interactive analysis group.  Most recently, he was a core team member and the medical consultant for the information system consolidation between laboratory and surgical pathology.

“Jerry is unique in that he is an anatomical pathologist whose keen interest in using computers for improving patient care is his passion,” noted Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.  “Aureon will allow him to lead a team developing the latest tool set for cancer diagnostics and turn data into knowledge by the strategic use of computer imaging and integrating patient information.”

Dr. Fernandez will lead a team of four anatomical pathologists interrogating and analyzing tissue to provide the first comprehensive and fully integrated view of the progression of cancer by studying multiple molecular pathways of disease as well as micro-anatomic imaging.  By utilizing state-of-the-art informatics, Aureon Biosciences will be able to provide referring physicians some of the first predictive tests for cancer by integrating molecular pathology and clinical informatics.

Dr. Fernandez received his MD from the Medical College of Pennsylvania and his undergraduate degree in Natural Science and Mathematics at Bennington College.  He completed his residency in Anatomic/Clinical Pathology and his fellowships in Cytopathology and Surgical Pathology at New York University Medical Center.

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Life Science Partner Recruits Ricardo Mesa-Tejada, MD, to Clinical Leadership at Aureon Biosciences

Founder and Director of Immunocytochemistry Laboratory at MetPath/Quest

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Dr. Ricardo Mesa-Tejada, a recognized leader in the field of anatomic pathology to become vice president, pathology, Aureon Biosciences Corporation. 

Aureon is a Yonkers, New York-based company enabling personalized patient care utilizing a systems pathology approach to develop predictive clinical tests for cancer care as well as to enable biopharmaceutical research and development.

Dr. Mesa-Tejada will lead the team of specialized anatomical pathologists interrogating and analyzing tissue to provide the first comprehensive and fully integrated view of the progression of cancer by studying multiple molecular pathways of disease as well as micro-anatomic imaging.  By utilizing state-of-the-art informatics, Dr. Mesa-Tejada will be able to provide referring physicians some of the first predictive tests for cancer by integrating molecular pathology and clinical informatics.

“Ricardo is the prototype of physician-scientist who has a keen interest in harnessing new technologies for better patient care,” noted Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.  “He was drawn to Aureon by its intersection of clinical informatics, image analysis and molecular diagnostics to greatly improve the treatment planning of complicated diseases like prostate cancers.”

Dr. Mesa-Tejada is uniquely qualified due to his significant research and clinical service as a pathologist at New York’s Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.  A pioneer in integrating technologies for better patient care, he established the immunocytochemistry laboratory at MetPath in 1987, and remained as either an employee or consultant through its acquisition and integration into Quest Diagnostics.  He remained as director of research in anatomic pathology at the company until 1997.  Until he joined Aureon, he was a consultant to Thieme, an investment banking firm focused on the life sciences.

Dr. Mesa-Tejada received his MD from University of Madrid, completed his residency in Pathology at Columbia-Presbyterian, and was a fellow in OB/GYN Pathology in 1976.

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Adherex Selects Brian Huber As Chief Scientific Officer

Life Science Partner connects accomplished research executive with cancer therapeutics company

Life Science Partner announces the placement of Brian E. Huber, Ph.D., as chief scientific officer (CSO) at Adherex Technologies, Inc., in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. As CSO, Huber will lead a 20-person research and development team focused on the preclinical development of compounds.

He and his team will provide scientific intelligence and guide decisions about potential clinical effectiveness and regulatory strategies. A biopharmaceutical company, Adherex discovers and develops cancer therapeutics through its pioneering platform for tumor vascular targeting.

“Brian’s a prime example of a scientist who thrived after his original transition from academia. In the ’90s, he was at Glaxo, which was known for its modern, innovative research organization,” says Thomas H. Callaway, Life Science Partner’s founder and president. “During that time, he demonstrated great entrepreneurial instincts and an ability to build high-performance drug development infrastructures. Adherex’s broad oncology pipeline should benefit from his work.”

A successful manager, Huber has managed multiple departments and large staffs at one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. As a researcher who has secured many patents, he has contributed extensively to the literature and has frequently lectured at and organized symposia.

Huber comes to Adherex from GlaxoSmithKline where, most recently, he held the position of vice president of biology and pharmacology drug discovery. In this role, he was accountable for seven departments with total staff numbering 170, held therapeutic responsibility in more than a dozen areas, managed the portfolio from strategy through target selection and preclinical development, and chaired both joint ventures and major strategic alliances.

Under Glaxo Wellcome, he was director, and more recently vice president of the division of pharmacology with responsibility for the departments of cancer biology, rheumatic diseases, the metabolic diseases and virology.

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Dennis W. Harris Joins Serologicals Executive Team as Vice President

To build Serologicals’ product portfolio, Life Science Partner recruits former Amersham Biotech head of North American R&D, global genomics.

Life Science Partner announces the placement of Dennis W. Harris as vice president of research and development/business development and chief scientific officer at Serologicals Corporation in Norcross, Georgia.

With the move, Harris becomes the senior leader in strategic planning for overall product portfolio expansion as well as identification and development of new product opportunities. Serologicals is a global provider of products and technologies for the development and manufacture of biologically based products. The company competes in three primary areas: specialty cell culture supplements, life science reagents, and diagnostic antibodies.

“In Harris, Serologicals welcomes just the right talent for their product development efforts,” says Life Science Partner Founder and President Thomas H. Callaway. “Harris is a leader in creating integrated systems for genomics and the discovery sciences. And he’s a proven R&D manager at the global level as well.”

Throughout his 22-year career, Harris has demonstrated both a keen scientific awareness and an aptitude for successfully managing research and development projects in the molecular biology industry. In his dual role as vice president of research and development for North America and genomics at Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, for example, Harris led an organization with 220 scientists and engineers while maintaining strategic responsibility for genomics research worldwide, among other duties.

Harris comes to Serologicals most recently from Vitra Bioscience, where he served as executive vice president of research and development. At Vitra, Harris held primary responsibility for automating and integrating cellular assays with engineering software for higher throughput as well as cultivating relationships with top pharmaceutical companies.

As senior vice president for ACLARA BioSciences, a developer of technologies for gene and protein analysis, he directed the company’s R&D program and was heavily involved in strategic development. Later, Harris led system integration and business development efforts at ACLARA BioSciences, in which capacity he closed the company’s largest deal.

Harris launched his career as a development scientist with Amersham in 1982. As life sciences research program manager, based in England, he later led a team of scientists funded by the European Economic Community to develop automated systems for DNA sequencing, template preparation and related methodologies. More recently, while senior program manager at Molecular Dynamics (later acquired by Amersham), he directed the development and launch of the MegaBACE 1000 DNA Sequencing System. In this role, he provided technical and strategic direction while managing engineering, software, applications, reagent development, and marketing. He was then promoted to vice president of research and development for North America and genomics, a position he held for three years.

Harris holds a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.

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