ONL THERAPEUTICS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director, Clinical Retina Research Unit and Retinal Surgeon, Wills Eye Hospital Professor of Ophthalmology at Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine
Job Titles:
- Manager of Accounting and Financial Reporting
Since joining ONL in 2021, Amanda has been responsible for developing an in-house capability for accounting and financial reporting, a key area for the company's future growth and success. Amanda most recently was senior accountant with Millendo Therapeutics, a publicly-traded, early-stage biopharma company where she managed internal accounting and finance processes, in addition to leading special projects for the implementation of enterprise-wide financial administration systems. Amanda has a background in corporate accounting from the technology manufacturing sector in addition to her degree in Management Science from University of California, San Diego.
Job Titles:
- SENIOR DIRECTOR, RESEARCH and STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Dr. Kocab earned his Ph.D. in immunology at the University of Michigan where he studied cell signaling pathways related to cell death and inflammation. Specifically, his work focused on understanding the signaling from receptors closely related to Fas, as well as the effector proteins involved in regulating these processes.
During his time at ONL, Dr. Kocab has worked closely with senior management on a variety of key functions across the company. He currently leads the company's research, preclinical, and data management activities. In his role, Dr. Kocab also serves as the company's primary liaison with critical strategic partners and collaborators.
Bill Burns is former President, CEO and Board member of Encore Vision, Inc., which he sold to Novartis in January 2017 for $375 Million in upfront payments plus undisclosed future milestone payments. Bill continues to guide integration of Encore Vision technology into the Novartis organization.
Prior to his time at Encore Vision, Bill spent 20 years at Alcon Laboratories, holding a number of executive positions, including Vice President Worldwide Marketing for Pharmaceutical and Consumer Products. In this role, he was responsible for strategic marketing direction and input to clinical product development. Bill also held the position of Director of Business Development at Bristol Myers Squibb and worked at Norwich-Eaton Laboratories.
Bill has a B.A. degree in Biology and Biochemistry from Slippery Rock University and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School's Program for Management Development.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Greater Houston Retina Research Foundation With Retina Consultants of Houston
Connie brings a diverse 25-year career in life science and business to ONL, having worked in large and small pharma, early-stage biomedical technology commercialization and management consulting. Previously, she served as Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Millendo Therapeutics where she was responsible for building critical infrastructure as the company became publicly traded, including investor and public relations, corporate communications, and facilities/operations. Connie was managing director of Fast Forward Medical Innovation (FFMI), the commercialization and entrepreneurship arm of the University of Michigan Medical School, supporting early-stage technology development. At Sepracor (now Sunovion) Connie was Senior Director and brand team leader for the sedative hypnotic and respiratory franchises, developing integrated marketing plans and sales force strategies, including the launch of product line extensions. Earlier in her career, Connie worked at Pfizer on commercial teams in allergy/respiratory, cardiovascular and CNS.
Connie received her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychobiology from Harvard University, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- BOARD OBSERVER
- Vice President and Global Head of Ophthalmology at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
Dr. Grosskreutz is Vice President and Global Head of Ophthalmology at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR). In this role, she leads a group of talented scientists to develop pioneering ophthalmic medicines with the goal of producing therapeutic breakthroughs for patients with eye disease - using gene therapy, biologics and innovative small molecule approaches. From 2010 -2017, she was the Global Translational Medicine (TM) Head for Ophthalmology at NIBR and her group led all of the first-in-human and proof-of-concept clinical trials for ophthalmic indications at Novartis.
Prior to joining Novartis, Dr. Grosskreutz was the co-Director of the Glaucoma Service and headed a glaucoma research laboratory at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Harvard Medical School. She is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and has been on the Harvard Medical School faculty since 1994. Dr. Grosskreutz received her MD and PhD from University of Iowa College of Medicine and did her Ophthalmology Residency and Glaucoma Fellowship at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Harvard Medical School. Dr. Grosskreutz is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, as well as several other professional associations.
Job Titles:
- CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
- Member of the Board
- PRESIDENT
- Healthcare Executive
David Esposito is an experienced healthcare executive who has built and scaled multiple companies that resulted in successful exits to strategic buyers.
David is the former CEO of Armune BioScience where he led the development and commercialization of blood-based diagnostics to improve the early detection of cancer. The Company successfully launched the only non-PSA blood test to improve the detection of prostate cancer. Armune BioScience was sold to Exact Sciences (EXAS) in 2017.
He was President of Phadia US Inc. (allergy and autoimmune diagnostics) and played a pivotal role in the sale of the business to Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) for in 2011. David began his career as a sales representative with Merck & Co. Inc. and rose through the ranks of sales, marketing and commercial strategy for the US Division.
David is a combat veteran, led an infantry platoon with the 101st Airborne Division through several combat operations, and was recognized with a Bronze Star for combat action in Iraq in 1991. David earned his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and his MBA from Syracuse University.
Job Titles:
- Chief of Ophthalmology at Denver Health Medical Center
David M. Kleinman, MD, MBA, FACS is a board-certified ophthalmologist with fellowship training in vitreoretinal surgery. He practices clinically at the Flaum Eye Institute at the University of Rochester Medical Center where he serves as a Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology (part time). Dr. Kleinman received his medical degree with honors from University of Colorado School of Medicine where he also completed his ophthalmology residency. His fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery was completed at the University of Toronto School of Medicine.
Dr. Kleinman is the former Chief of Ophthalmology at Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado. He has been a clinical investigator for multiple studies evaluating the pharmaceutical treatment of retinal disease and has made numerous contributions to clinical and research publications in national and international journals of ophthalmology. In addition, he participated as a surgeon for the Himalayan Cataract Project and served as a staff ophthalmologist for Project ORBIS International, Inc. Dr. Kleinman is an experienced ophthalmic consultant to the pharmaceutical industry and has special expertise in clinical trial design, clinical operations, and strategic planning. He has been a longstanding retinal consultant to ONL and served as Consulting Chief Medical Officer from 2014 to 2018.
Job Titles:
- CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER
- CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER
- CO - FOUNDER
- Member of the Board
- Professor
Dr. Zacks is a professor of ophthalmology and a clinician-scientist at the University of Michigan, Kellogg Eye Center. For over the past 15 years his research has focused on the molecular regulatory mechanisms controlling photoreceptor death or survival in retinal disease. Dr. Zacks is a pioneer and recognized thought leader in the field of retinal neuroprotection and photoreceptor cells physiology. He has demonstrated that the Fas pathway is largely responsible for cell death and has discovered unique molecules that block the Fas receptor and preserve photoreceptors.
A recognized expert in the study of retinal detachment, Dr. Zacks has received numerous honors for his work, including the Macula Society's W. Richard Green Lecture and Award in 2011. He earned his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed his residency in ophthalmology and fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary of Harvard Medical School.
Job Titles:
- Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School and Chief of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Mass General Hospital
Job Titles:
- Lead Regulatory and Compliance Consultant
Kristin is an experienced regulatory and compliance professional with over 15 years of experience in ophthalmology spanning clinical, quality, and regulatory affairs. Prior to starting her consulting company, Kristin formerly served as the Vice President of Quality and Regulatory Affairs at Lexitas Pharma Services, Inc., and as one of Lexitas's first employees built the quality and regulatory departments from the ground up. Kristin specialized in helping ophthalmic clients understand and navigate the complex regulatory processes necessary for drug approval. Prior to her ten years at Lexitas, Kristin worked at Inspire Pharmaceuticals with several marketed and investigational ophthalmic products.
Kristin is a NC-licensed attorney and a patent attorney, holding a Juris Doctor and Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law from Loyola University Chicago. She is also RAC certified and holds multiple data protection certifications.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Administrative / Operations
Linda has nearly 25 years of experience providing operations and administrative support across a broad range of companies, from large CROs to small biotech. Linda joined ONL in 2018 where, in her role as Manager, Administrative Operations, she helps behind the scenes with multiple functions related to company operations including financial management, information technology/cybersecurity and HR.
Lindsay Puscas is an experienced clinical research professional with a specialized background in ophthalmologic clinical trials.
Lindsay formerly served as Clinical Research Project Manager for the Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan, the nation's largest public research university. Over her ten years there she oversaw a portfolio of over 200 clinical studies ranging from phase 0 to post-market approval, with a focus in inherited retinal dystrophy pediatric gene therapy trials. Lindsay managed a nine-person team to execute every aspect of the clinical trial process, including protocol and study development, regulatory compliance and risk mitigation, subject recruitment and retention, as well as safety and data management.
Previously, Lindsay worked as an emergency medical technician and a rehabilitation specialist for adults with brain and spinal cord injuries. A Certified Clinical Research Professional and Ophthalmic Assistant, Lindsay earned her B.S. in Nutritional Sciences from Michigan State university and M.S. in Nutrition and Food Science from Wayne State University.
Lori is a highly accomplished bio-pharmaceutical professional with 13+ years of cross-functional experience in biotech, pharmaceutical and hospital industries. Her expertise in clinical development and precision in operations have allowed her to develop innovative solutions and forge strategic partnerships. With a strong commitment to excellence, she is dedicated to utilizing her data analysis skills to make a significant impact in the field of healthcare and drive the successful commercialization of groundbreaking therapies.
Lori received her Bachelors in Science degree in biology and music from South Dakota State University, PharmD from Wingate University, PGY1 General and PGY2 Critical Care Residency from The Nebraska Medical Center, and MBA from The University of Michigan Ross School of Business.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- BOARD OBSERVER
Dr. Nakada, VP Venture Investments for Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JJDC, has almost 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, starting her career at the laboratory bench at Centocor and moving to a research leadership role before Centocor's acquisition by Johnson & Johnson in 1999. She transitioned to Janssen Business Development where she executed deals to support the expansion of the Biologics portfolio, and joined JJDC, Johnson & Johnson's corporate venture group in 2013. She is passionate about leveraging Johnson & Johnson's capabilities to help her portfolio companies succeed.
Dr. Nakada has a A.B. in Biology from Harvard College and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently on the Boards of Navitor Pharmaceuticals, Twenty-eight Seven Therapeutics, Ribon Therapeutics, as well as the New England Venture Capital Association where she is working to champion change as an active contributor to its Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
Job Titles:
- CHAIRMAN of the BOARD
- Chairman of Our Board of Directors
Mark Hooper has served as the chairman of our board of directors since November 2018. Mark has nearly 40 years of experience in public accounting, including 17 years as a partner with Ernst & Young. Currently, he serves as a founding member of Andrews, Hooper, Pavlik PLC, a regional CPA firm in the state of Michigan. During his career, Mark has accumulated broad professional expertise which ranges from advanced tax matters for business and publicly traded corporations to estate and individual tax planning.
An active member of the business community, Mark serves on the board of directors of the Auto Owners Insurance Group and Capital Community Angels, in addition to ONL Therapeutics. He also holds the position of treasurer of the Capital Community Angels and has served as chair of a number of community boards, providing guidance to groups ranging from the Capital Region Community Foundation to the Broad College of Business Alumni Board at Michigan State University.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager Consultant, Clinical Operations
Melanie Fortin is a passionate life sciences professional with more than 14 years in the Eye Care industry with a focus on Ophthalmology Research (Preclinical as well as Clinical Phases I-IV) for both anterior and posterior segment ophthalmic indications. Throughout her career, Melanie has served in various roles of increasing responsibility for military, private practice, academia, CRO, and biotech sponsors in positions including ophthalmic technician and clinical research coordinator, research department supervisor, Clinical Trial Assistant (CTA), Clinical Trial Manager (CTM), Clinical Project Manager (CPM), and Clinical Operations Consultant. Melanie is dedicated to advancing the field of ophthalmology clinical research while aiding in the fight to develop new treatments and pharmacotherapies that will transform and improve the lives and vision of people all over the world.
Melanie has multiple scientific publications and was awarded the Chris J. Barry Award for Best Article in the Journal of Ophthalmic Photography in 2015. Melanie is a United States Air Force veteran who served with the Aerospace Vision department of the 4th Medical Group and was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal. Melanie earned her B.S. degree in Human Biology from the University of Colorado and a M.S. in Biomedical Sciences.
Job Titles:
- MEMBER of the BOARD
- Co - Founder and Partner of Bios Partners
- Member and Investor With Cowtown Angels
Dr. Robertson, Co-Founder and Partner of Bios Partners, has over 35 years of experience in pharmaceutical research and development, including R&D strategies, project management, clinical trials, regulatory filings, product launch, market support, translational medicine and medical communication.
Dr. Robertson is a member and investor with Cowtown Angels and the owner of Arrochar Consulting LLC. She formerly was a Vice President in Research and Development at Alcon Laboratories, Inc., where she grew and led organizations that were responsible for the ophthalmic pipeline, otic pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. During her tenure at Alcon, she and her colleagues successfully developed, registered, and globally launched sixteen ophthalmic medications, as well as treatments for otitis media and nasal allergy.
Dr. Robertson received a Ph.D. in Biology-Immunology from Johns Hopkins University, was an Arthritis Foundation post-doctoral research fellow at UTHSC Dallas, and completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School. She volunteers with the University of North Texas Health Science Center entrepreneurial program and as an adjunct for the Ophthalmology Department of UT Southwestern Medical School. She currently serves on the boards of early stage companies Azitra, Trefoil Therapeutics, and AyuVis Research, as well as the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Foundation and the non-profit incubator TECH Fort Worth.
Stephanie Wietholter is an experienced clinical research coordinator with nearly ten years of combined experience in ophthalmic clinical trials and working as a certified ophthalmic assistant in a retina clinic.
Job Titles:
- Chairman in Retinal Diseases and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Colorado
Job Titles:
- GLAUCOMA STRATEGY and DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR
Dr. Mallick brings 30 years of experience in ophthalmology research and development, with over a decade in senior leadership roles in companies spanning the US, Canada, and Europe. Prior to joining ONL, Dr. Mallick was the Vice President and Head of Clinical Development at Nicox Ophthalmics, an international ophthalmology company headquartered in Nice, France, where he led the development program for two ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials in the US and China for its lead compound in glaucoma. Dr. Mallick gained his therapeutic area expertise in ophthalmology at Alcon Research Ltd. in Ft. Worth, Texas, where he held positions of increasing responsibilities that resulted in four product approvals in glaucoma and culminated in an appointment with Alcon's ESBATech, a biomedical research company based in Zurich, Switzerland. As the clinical unit head there, he directed two IND submissions and proof of concept trials resulting in the market approval for a new wet AMD product. As Vice President of R&D at QLT Inc. in Vancouver, he led the development of an oral synthetic retinoid as an orphan drug in inherited retinal diseases. Previously, as Vice President and Global Development Lead at Shire/Takeda, he managed all aspects of multiple ophthalmic development programs, from late preclinical stages through commercialization. Dr. Mallick has a MPharm in Pharmaceutics, PhD in Biochemistry and MBA in Marketing and International Management.