BRAINBOX SOLUTIONS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Professor of Laboratory Medicine at the UCSF School of Medicine
Dr. Wu is a Professor of Laboratory Medicine at the UCSF School of Medicine and is the chief of the clinical chemistry and toxicology laboratories at San Francisco General Hospital. In this capacity, his clinical and research laboratory conducts testing for routine analytes in blood, urine and cerebral spinal fluid for electrolytes, metabolites, hormones, proteins, and biomarkers.
His particular area of interest is in cardiac biomarkers for acute cardiac diseases (troponin, B-type natriuretic peptide, and novel biomarkers of ACS and heart failure). He has been expanding his work in biomarkers in Brain Injury over the past 2 years as well. An additional primary area of research is focused on "personalized therapeutics," i.e., the use of biomarkers to determine proper selection and dosing of drugs to maximize efficacy and minimize adverse reactions. His research lab also conducts research on point-of-care testing devices.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor
- Vice Chair
Dr. Kuehl is Vice Chair of Emergency Medicine and Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and is the Emergency Medicine Residency Program Director.
He completed Medical School at University of Minnesota Medical School and his Emergency Medicine Residency at Stanford University. He has also completed residencies in Preventive Medicine and a Research Fellowship in the Center for Policy and Research in Emergency Medicine, at the Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University.
His focus in research includes broad interests in practice variation and how physicians make decisions, health care costs, and traumatic brain injury with a specific interest in improving accuracy of diagnosis and prognosis in TBI, and building on his research history on the appropriate use of MRI's.
Dr. Okonkwo is executive vice chair for clinical operations and is director of neurotrauma, director of scoliosis and spinal deformity at UPMC Presbyterian. He is also professor and clinical director of the Brain Trauma Research Center of the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Okonkwo's clinical interests are traumatic injuries to the brain and spine as well as scoliosis and spinal deformity. His research endeavors involve developing advanced neuroimaging modalities and novel therapeutic interventions for brain and spinal cord injury. Dr. Okonkwo is the principal investigator of a nationally funded clinical core to study the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury.
He is also principal investigator of several ongoing clinical studies in Neurotrauma in Pittsburgh. He is also PI and Clinical Core Leader and Study Site Leader for TRACK-TBI the NINDS-funded, multicenter Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Brain Injury study.
Donna has 30+ years of healthcare experience, beginning as a critical care nurse, and migrating to operating and senior management in hospital, physician group practices, and then diagnostic industry positions.
She spent 8+ years with Baxter in senior (group) executive positions in business development, sales and marketing of clinical products aimed at improving care and reducing health care costs. She served in senior management roles for 10 diagnostic companies providing key leadership in two company exits and is a recognized leader in Cardiovascular Diagnostics, changing clinical practice in this space
She formed Virginia Life Sciences Investments, Inc. and led Series A investment in ImmunArray, the original home of a broad portfolio of biomarkers for Neurological Disease Diagnosis and Monitoring.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Chief Technology Officer
James has extensive experience in product development and operations in both startup and large companies.
Prior to joining BrainBox James was the President of Critical Diagnostics, a cardiac biomarker company. James led Critical Diagnostics from its formation through commercialization of three IVD products for the cardiac biomarker called ST2. Previously, he spent four years as the Executive VP of Business and Operations for IntelligentMD and before that eight years at Applied Biosystems (ABI) in a series of product management positions. James holds a B.S. in chemistry from Grand Valley State University and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of South Carolina.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder and Managing Partner of BioVentures Investors
- Member of the Harvard Medical School
Marc is co-founder and Managing Partner of BioVentures Investors. He brings well over 30 years of managerial and investment experience in the healthcare sector.
Marc is a member of the Harvard Medical School Advisory Council on Discovery, serves as Chairman Emeritus of the Harvard Varsity Club and is a member of the Board of Directors for both Step by Step Supportive Services and the Richi Childhood Cancer Foundation. Marc currently serves on the Board of Directors for Endotronix, Verax Biomedical, POC Medical, Cardiosolutions, HydroCision, sGC Pharma and Rachiotek.
Job Titles:
- Director of Data Analytics
Director of Data Analytics NaZanin Mirshahi, PHD, MBA NaZ has over 10 years of research experience in the biotechnology field. She received her Ph.D. in computer science (Biomedical Image Processing), her M.Sc. in computer science, and MBA with a concentration in information resource management from VCU. NaZ has taken the lead role in data analysis and development of machine learning models and statistical algorithms for the company.
Preston has 14+ years of broad accounting experience, including the software and healthcare industry.
He started his career in public accounting, where he spent 10 years, which included auditing and corporate accounting specializing in financial reporting. He has had extensive experience in consolidated and international financial reporting where he prepared the domestic and international financial statements and external lender/investor packages.
A world-leading expert in traumatic brain injury, Diaz-Arrastia is the Presidential Professor of Neurology in Penn's Perelman School of Medicine.
His most recent work explores using MRI, functional MRI and PET scanning to characterize the multiple complex mechanisms involved in traumatic injury to the brain, as well as combining imaging, genomic and tissue biomarkers to better predict patient outcomes after traumatic brain injuries and to develop novel therapies.
Diaz-Arrastia earned an M.D. in 1988 and Ph.D. in biochemistry in 1986 from Baylor College of Medicine and a B.A. magna cum laude in biochemistry in 1979 from Rice University. From 1989 to 1992, he was a resident in neurology at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, following a one-year internship in internal medicine at Beth Israel Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board for Owens & Minor Inc
Bob is the chairman of the board for Owens & Minor Inc. He is also an advisor to New Richmond Ventures and managing partner of Pinnacle Ventures LLC and Sledd Properties, a family commercial real estate company.
Previously, he was with Performance Food Group, a company which he co-founded in 1987 and where he served in the roles of President, CEO and Chairman until the company's acquisition by and merger with Vistar and Roma Food in 2008.
Bob is on the board of Owens & Minor Inc., SCP Pool Corporation, Universal Corporation, and Bon Secours Health System, Richmond. He was also senior economic advisor to Virginia Governor's office from 2010-2013. Long active in community affairs, Bob currently serves on the board of VCU School of Business Foundation and Homeward's Board of Advocates. Past board service includes the Management Roundtable and nonprofits such as Venture Richmond and Better Housing Coalition.
Scott Gazelle is a physician-scientist and academic entrepreneur who has been involved in the development, commercialization and assessment of new medical technologies for more than 25 years.
He graduated from Dartmouth College and Case Western Reserve University Medical School. He trained in General Surgery and Radiology at University Hospitals of Cleveland. In 1992 he joined the MGH faculty and is currently Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School and Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard School of Public Health and Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs and Associate Vice-Chair for Research in the MGH Department of Radiology.
Scott has established and directed basic science, clinical and policy-focused research programs. In 1997, Scott established the MGH Institute for Technology Assessment, now one of the largest and most successful academic programs for early-stage technology assessment and comparative effectiveness research. He is a founder of GreyBird Ventures, LLC is the world's first venture firm focused exclusively on solving the most critical diagnostic problems to accelerate the trend toward precision medicine.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine at the George Washington University
Dr. Atabaki is Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine at the George Washington University and Children's National Health System. Dr. Atabaki is the Medical Director of Informatics and Associate Medical Director of Telemedicine at Children's National.
Dr. Atabaki's area of research expertise is in concussion and health informatics and she has been principal investigator on development of clinical decision rules for decreasing unnecessary CT scans, assessment of concussions and medical therapies for prophylaxis of post-traumatic seizure.
Dr. Atabaki received the National Heroes Award for Research, awarded by the Maternal Child Health Bureau, for her leadership in research to reduce unnecessary CT scans and radiation in children with traumatic brain injury. She is the recipient of the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor for her work in advocacy, research and clinical care for children.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer, Global Supply Chain Management
Steve joined ImmunArray in January 2013 and transitioned to BBS as the company was spun out of ImmunArray.
He brings more than 30 years of R&D and operations experience in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and chemical industries to the company.
His expertise in small molecule and recombinant protein drug development includes process development, manufacturing, quality regulatory submissions, strategic planning, and financial analysis.
Tim has over 20 years of experience in assay development, clinical research, genomics and microarray technologies. In his career in neuroscience and cancer, he has spearheaded international research consortia.
Tim received his Bachelors of Science in Biology at the University of Vermont, his Master's in Neuroscience and his PhD in Neuropathology from King's College, University of London. His PhD thesis work and further post-doctoral training, were performed in the Department of Neurosurgery at VCU where he assumed a faculty position. Since joining ImmunArray in 2015, he has designed and directed the research and development efforts that have taken the TBI portfolio from licensed IP to technically sound assays that provide clinical discrimination. In directing the research program, he has organized the publication strategy, has been the main author and presenter of company data to national and international audiences.
Job Titles:
- Principal at Genoa Ventures
Vikram Chaudhery is a Principal at Genoa Ventures with experience as a business executive, life sciences investor, management consultant and entrepreneur. Prior to joining Genoa, Vikram served as Head of Life Sciences at Lam Research where he led overall strategy, partnership/business development and venture investment functions for life sciences, focusing on next generation ‘omics technologies. His investments included Nanostring, Omniome, Antheia, and MissionBio.
Dr. Frank Peacock is Professor of Emergency Medicine, Associate Chief of Emergency Medicine and Research Director for Emergency Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. He is also the immediate past chief medical officer and prior president of the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care.
Dr. Peacock has and continues to serve as PI or co-PI for many high profile national and international clinical trials such as PRONTO, ADHERE-EM, IMPACT, CHOPIN, CLUE, FASTTRACK and TRUE-HF. His clinical interests and research focus include acute coronary syndrome, acute heart failure, Traumatic Brain Injury, biomarkers, improvements in emergency medical care, and more rapid patient disposition.
Dr. Peacock received his medical degree from Wayne State University Medical School and completed his Emergency Medicine training at William Beaumont Hospital, Detroit, Mich.