Investment
With Purpose
Eckuity Capital is a healthcare-focused growth equity firm investing in established companies with demonstrated clinical relevance, scalable business models, and durable market positions. We partner with management teams to support disciplined growth and long-term value creation.
Our team brings deep experience across healthcare investing, operations, and company building. We work closely with portfolio companies on strategic planning, commercial execution, and organizational development as they scale.
Leveraging long-standing relationships with healthcare operators, strategic buyers, and institutional investors, we help companies strengthen market positioning and prepare for successful liquidity outcomes, including strategic transactions and public offerings.
Meet the team
Managing Partner
Youssef Sebban
Youssef Sebban is the Founder and Managing Partner of Eckuity Capital, where he leads the firm’s global strategy, investment execution, and portfolio development. With over a decade of experience in healthcare investing, he focuses on growth equity and late-stage venture opportunities that bridge scientific innovation with commercial scalability.
Before founding Eckuity, Youssef was a Partner at Forepont Capital Partners, a New York–based growth investment firm specializing in neurology and brain–computer interface technologies. There, he led cross-border investments and strategic partnerships across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, developing a global network of more than 100 hospital systems and healthcare institutions across 30 countries. His work supported the international expansion of pioneering healthcare platforms and strengthened cross-market capital formation within the sector.
Youssef began his career in healthcare investment banking at Goldman Sachs in London, where he advised leading life sciences and medical technology companies on strategic financings and M&A.
An endurance athlete and multiple-time Ironman World Championship qualifier, Youssef brings the same discipline and long-term focus to investing that he applies to sport. He holds dual Master of Science degrees in Management from the London School of Economics (LSE) and HEC Paris.
General Partner
Dr. Victoria Manax Rutson, MD
Dr. Victoria Manax is a Founding General Partner at Eckuity Capital, where she leads the firm’s Biotech Services vertical and drives the expansion of distribution and commercialization capabilities across the United States and global markets. She brings more than two decades of leadership experience at the intersection of clinical medicine, healthcare innovation, and growth-stage investing.
A medical oncologist by training, Dr. Manax has held senior executive roles within leading biopharmaceutical and medtech organizations, overseeing the development, approval, and commercialization of breakthrough therapies and technologies that have advanced standards of care worldwide.
Before co-founding Eckuity, she served in senior clinical and strategic positions at Celgene (Bristol Myers Squibb), Immunicom, and Duo Oncology, and was the inaugural Chief Medical Officer of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, where she guided adaptive clinical trial design and biomarker-driven oncology programs. She has also advised the U.S. FDA and international regulatory authorities and continues to serve on multiple clinical and scientific advisory boards.
An active healthcare investor for more than 15 years, Dr. Manax has participated in a diversified portfolio spanning venture, growth equity, and healthcare real assets. She is an internationally recognized expert and lecturer, having spoken at institutions such as Harvard Business School, and has been honored with distinctions including Who’s Who in Healthcare, the Belfast Ambassador Award, and appointment as a Government Advisor to Northern Ireland for Health and Life Sciences.
General Partner
Karim Maasarani
Karim Maasarani is a General Partner at Eckuity Capital, where he focuses on identifying and scaling disruptive innovations across medical technology, digital health, and biotechnology. He brings more than 15 years of experience spanning life sciences investing, corporate strategy, and healthcare operations, combining technical expertise with a disciplined investment approach that drives strategic and commercial value across the portfolio.
Before joining Eckuity, Karim was a Vice President at Amzak Health, where he led growth-stage investments in medtech and biotech, with a focus on AI-enabled platforms and next-generation therapeutic technologies. His portfolio included companies such as Histosonics, Koko Medical, Thryv Therapeutics, and Monte Rosa Therapeutics, among others. He also served as Board Member and Interim CEO of Si Paradigm, a specialty diagnostics company where he led operational transformation and profitability initiatives. Earlier in his career, Karim held senior roles within Merck’s Strategy & Business Development group, where he led investments and partnerships in oncology and AI- driven diagnostics, contributing to major strategic transactions and collaborations with Illumina, Natera, PathAI, Owkin, and QureAI. He began his career in R&D and technical operations at Dentsply Sirona and Becton Dickinson, gaining first-hand experience in product development and commercialization.
Karim holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biomedical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and an MBA with Honors from Columbia Business School. His cross-functional background in investment, corporate strategy, and product development provides a distinctive perspective on building and scaling high-growth healthcare businesses.
Principal
Dr. Michael Salako, PhD
Dr. Michael Salako is an experienced life science and healthcare investor who combines scientific rigor with a strategic eye for high-impact opportunities and is renowned for his deep expertise in drug discovery, business development and venture capital. He has built a career at the nexus of scientific innovation and strategic investment.
Dr. Salako has a proven track record of building successful portfolios, most recently at Start Codon, a Roche-Genentech/Novartis-backed fund, where, as Investment Director, he led the sourcing, due diligence and negotiation of numerous high-value deals across Therapeutics, Digital Health, Diagnostics and Medtech. His leadership was instrumental in helping to build a diversified portfolio exceeding $150 million in collective value, underscoring his ability to identify and nurture ventures with significant commercial and scientific promise. He has also supported companies on boards, as a Non-Executive Director or Observer.
Prior to Start Codon, Dr. Salako held senior business development roles at Cancer Research UK, forging clinical trial commercial partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and was part of the organisations inaugural seed fund. Dr. Salako also led multidisciplinary teams in drug discovery campaigns, in collaboration with biopharma, at Cancer Research Technology (now called Cancer Research Horizons).
Beyond deal-making, Dr. Salako has played a key role in shaping the next generation of venture capitalists through mentorship and strategic initiatives. His expertise is regularly sought by industry leaders and advisory boards, reflecting a career dedicated to bridging the gap between groundbreaking science and sustainable business growth.
Dr. Salako has a first-class degree in Biochemistry, a PhD in Molecular Virology and Molecular Toxicology, an MBA focused on finance and entrepreneurship, postdoctoral experience in immuno-oncology, drug discovery expertise to Principal Scientist level and is a Certified Licensing Professional. He is the recipient of a number of awards and is active on the life science/healthcare startup scene.
Investment Associate
Allison Hood
Waez Umer is a healthcare investor at Eckuity Capital, where he focuses on identifying and supporting high-growth opportunities across the healthcare innovation landscape. At Eckuity, he works closely with founders and management teams to evaluate investments, conduct industry and market diligence, and support value creation across healthcare technology, medical devices, and healthcare services.
Prior to his investing career, Waez pursued medical training, bringing a strong clinical foundation to his investment approach. His background enables him to assess healthcare businesses through both a clinical and commercial lens, with particular focus on patient impact, regulatory considerations, and real-world adoption.
Waez holds a medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and remains actively engaged in healthcare innovation and emerging trends at the intersection of clinical practice and healthcare investing.
Investment Analyst
Waez Umer, MD
Waez Umer is a healthcare investor at Eckuity Capital, where he focuses on identifying and supporting high-growth opportunities across the healthcare innovation landscape. At Eckuity, he works closely with founders and management teams to evaluate investments, conduct industry and market diligence, and support value creation across healthcare technology, medical devices, and healthcare services.
Prior to his investing career, Waez pursued medical training, bringing a strong clinical foundation to his investment approach. His background enables him to assess healthcare businesses through both a clinical and commercial lens, with particular focus on patient impact, regulatory considerations, and real-world adoption.
Waez holds a medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and remains actively engaged in healthcare innovation and emerging trends at the intersection of clinical practice and healthcare investing.
COO & Head of Investor Relations
Ryan Green
Ryan Green serves as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Investor Relations at Eckuity, leading the firm’s global fundraising, investor relations, and strategic partnership initiatives. With nearly two decades of experience in private markets, Ryan oversees engagement with institutional investors, family offices, and strategic partners worldwide, while also collaborating with the investment team on syndication and coinvestment opportunities across the firm’s growth equity portfolio.
Prior to joining Eckuity, Ryan held senior capital development roles at several leading global private markets firms, including Unigestion, Abbott Capital, LGT Capital Partners, and Commonfund, where he was instrumental in expanding institutional investor relationships across North America, Europe, and the Middle East. He also served as a Partner at Seasons Capital Management, where he led fundraising and investor engagement for venture and growth-stage healthcare and technology funds.
Ryan began his career as the founder of TrainerLink Inc., a healthcare technology startup focused on improving patient engagement and clinical outcomes. His entrepreneurial background and deep understanding of the healthcare ecosystem inform his investor partnerships and his approach to aligning long-term institutional capital with transformative companies. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University and is an active contributor to several investor and healthcare innovation forums.
CFO
Jonny He
Jonny He serves as Chief Financial Officer of Eckuity, overseeing all financial, operational, and compliance functions of the firm. With more than 15 years of experience across private equity and venture capital fund management, Jonny brings deep expertise in fund accounting, financial reporting, investor relations, and regulatory oversight.
Prior to joining Eckuity, Jonny was Controller at New Science Ventures, a venture capital firm with over $1 billion in assets under management, where he led all aspects of fund operations, financial management, audits, and tax compliance while supporting partners in portfolio monitoring and valuation. Earlier in his career, Jonny held senior positions at global fund administration firms and financial institutions including Hedgeserv, JPMorgan, and Gen II Fund Services, where he managed complex private equity client relationships and implemented institutional-grade reporting processes. He began his career at BDO Seidman, providing audit and assurance services to financial institutions and investment managers.
Jonny holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Accountancy from CUNY Brooklyn College and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of New York.
Head of Portfolio Operations
Elaine Pang
Elaine Pang is Director of Portfolio Operations at Eckuity Capital, where she oversees portfolio management systems, performance tracking, and operational best practices across the Firm’s healthcare and life sciences investments. She plays a central role in coordinating post-investment integration, financial oversight, and strategic reporting between Eckuity and its portfolio companies.
Ms. Pang brings over 15 years of experience in financial operations, banking, and corporate management. Before joining Eckuity, she held roles at Drexel, Bank of America, and Deutsche Bank, where she specialized in financial planning, operational efficiency, and risk management. Her background provides the Firm with a strong foundation for ensuring institutional-grade controls and operational alignment across multiple jurisdictions.
At Eckuity, Ms. Pang manages the Firm’s portfolio monitoring framework, oversees fund-level data reporting, and supports portfolio companies in implementing scalable infrastructure and governance processes. She collaborates closely with investment and finance teams to enhance transparency, accountability, and performance measurement across the platform.
Ms. Pang has BA from LaSalle University in Philadelphia where she also serves on the
Board of Trustee. Elaine holds FINRA Series 7 and 63.
Legal Advisor
PETER CICALA
Peter Cicala serves as Legal Advisor at Eckuity Capital, leading the firm’s intellectual property, regulatory, and legal diligence initiatives across healthcare, biotech, and medtech investments. With more than two decades of combined experience in life sciences legal strategy and R&D operations, he offers deep technical and commercial insight into the value levers of proprietary platforms.
Mr. Cicala provided counsel to venture-backed biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms, guiding them through intellectual property strategy, lifecycle management, and commercialization planning. His advisory roles have encompassed patent prosecution, licensing, litigation, due diligence, and strategic transactions across small molecules, biologics, and advanced therapies (including CAR-T).
Mr. Cicala has particular expertise in Hatch-Waxman (Paragraph IV) litigation, regulatory disputes, and patent enforcement in both U.S. and European jurisdictions. He has overseen complex patent challenges, freedom-to-operate assessments, and portfolio defenses for companies seeking global scale.
Earlier in his career, Peter worked as a medicinal chemist, contributing to drug discovery and development programs at both pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions. That technical background gives him a unique ability to bridge scientific innovation with legal risk management. Mr. Cicala holds a Juris Doctor (JD) and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and frequently collaborates with scientific, regulatory, and business teams to align legal strategy with investment and operational objectives.
Operating Partner
Jason Criscione
Jason Criscione, PhD is an Operating Partner at Eckuity Capital, where he works with portfolio companies on scientific strategy, product development, and technical execution. He partners with management teams to help translate complex innovation into scalable, commercially viable platforms, with a particular focus on life sciences and healthcare technology businesses navigating critical growth and inflection points.
In addition to his role at Eckuity, Jason is the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Enquyst Technologies. In this capacity, he leads the company’s scientific vision, technology development, and external collaborations, drawing on extensive experience building and scaling science-driven organizations. His operating background spans bioprocess development, materials science, and applied biomedical engineering, with a track record of advancing technologies from early research through commercialization.
Jason brings a rigorous, data-driven approach to problem solving, informed by years of hands-on leadership across interdisciplinary teams in both academic and commercial settings. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and is recognized for his ability to bridge scientific depth with strategic and operational decision making. Jason holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Yale University. His combination of technical expertise, entrepreneurial experience, and growth-stage operating insight enables him to serve as a trusted partner to founders and leadership teams scaling innovative healthcare companies.
Operating Partner
Mark Goldstone
Mark Goldstone is an Operating Partner at Eckuity Capital, where he leads the firm’s commercial strategy and market access initiatives across its global healthcare portfolio. With more than 25 years of experience spanning venture capital, healthcare operations, and strategic commercialization, he has built and scaled businesses at the intersection of science, strategy, and execution.
Prior to Eckuity, Mark was a Founding Partner at Forepont Capital, a healthcare- focused venture investment firm, where he executed and managed growth and strategic investments across life sciences, healthcare services, and technology. Earlier in his career, he held senior global operating roles, including Worldwide President of DDB Healthcare, Global CEO of Healthcare at Interbrand, and COO of EuroRSCG Life (now Havas Health & You), leading multidisciplinary teams across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Throughout his career, Mark has advised and developed commercialization strategies for leading global pharmaceutical and consumer health companies – including Pfizer, Merck, Novartis, Bayer, GSK, Sanofi, Johnson & Johnson, and Roche – helping bring numerous top-selling therapies to market and shaping modern go-to-market models that remain industry benchmarks.
Originally trained as a pharmacist, Mark is a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, a Board Member of the Galien Foundation, and Chairman of the Life Sciences Advisory Board to the Government of Northern Ireland. His combination of scientific training, investment experience, and commercial leadership uniquely positions him to support the growth and scale of high-potential healthcare enterprises.
Venture Partner
Dr. Michael Rossbach, PhD
Dr. Michael Salako is a Principal at Eckuity Capital, where he leads scientific and technical diligence across the firm’s MedTech, HealthTech, and Biotech Services investments and supports portfolio and partner coverage across Western Europe. With more than 18 years of experience spanning growth equity, venture capital, translational research, and biopharmaceutical business development, he brings a multidisciplinary perspective to identifying, scaling, and internationalizing breakthrough healthcare businesses.
Prior to joining Eckuity, Dr. Salako served as Investment Director at Start Codon, a leading life sciences venture fund backed by Roche-Genentech and Novartis, where he sourced, structured, and supported numerous investments across therapeutics, diagnostics, medtech, and digital health. During his tenure, he helped grow a diversified portfolio exceeding $150 million in value and guided several companies through late- stage financing and strategic transactions.
Previously, Dr. Salako held senior roles at Cancer Research UK and Cancer Research Technology (now Cancer Research Horizons), where he led oncology discovery programs and structured collaborations with major pharmaceutical partners. He played a key role in launching Cancer Research UK’s inaugural seed fund, bridging academic science and commercial scale-up.
Beyond his investment responsibilities, Dr. Salako is an active mentor and thought leader in the global healthcare innovation ecosystem, advising funds, founders, and corporates on growth financing, partnership development, and translational strategy. He holds a First-Class Honours degree in Biochemistry, a PhD in Molecular Virology and Molecular Toxicology, and an MBA focused on Finance and Entrepreneurship. He completed postdoctoral research in Immuno-Oncology, achieved Principal Scientist level in drug discovery, and is a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP). He has received multiple industry awards and continues to contribute to the international healthcare and growth investment community.
Venture Partner
Dr. Abderrahim Mahfoudi, PhD
Abder Mahfoudi is a Venture Partner at Eckuity Capital, where he supports investment sourcing, diligence, and strategic advisory efforts across healthcare and life sciences. He brings a strong background in corporate development, innovation strategy, and strategic partnerships, and works closely with the Eckuity team and portfolio companies to evaluate growth opportunities and inform commercialization and expansion initiatives. Abder is currently a senior executive at ALJ, where he focuses on identifying and advancing new growth platforms, strategic investments, and partnerships across healthcare and adjacent sectors. In this role, he has led cross-functional initiatives spanning business development, external innovation, and alliance management, with an emphasis on scaling differentiated technologies and building long-term strategic value. Throughout his career, Abder has operated at the intersection of strategy, innovation, and execution, with experience across both entrepreneurial and large-scale corporate environments. He is recognized for his ability to develop and manage complex partnerships, assess emerging technologies, and translate strategic priorities into actionable growth initiatives.
Abder’s combination of corporate leadership experience, strategic perspective, and industry relationships enables him to provide valuable insight to Eckuity’s investment process and to support portfolio companies as they scale.
Venture Partner
DR. Philippe Douste-Blazy, MD
Dr Philippe Douste-Blazy is a cardiologist, politician, and former Minister for Health, Minister of Culture and Foreign Minister of France. He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of UNITLIFE and previously served as the chairman of the executive board of UNITAID, the international drug purchase facility hosted by the World Health Organization.
He was the mayor of Lourdes from 1989-2000 and Toulouse from 2001-2004. Since 2008, Douste-Blazy has been Special Adviser to UN Secretary-General on Innovative Financing for Development. Douste-Blazy is also responsible for organizing the first World Conference of Non-Governmental Donors, which seeks to raise funds to facilitate the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.
Through his work with the UN and UNITAID, Douste-Blazy travels extensively throughout the world raising money for governmental and non-governmental global health organizations as well as advising the UN Secretary General on global health issues.
Dr Douste-Blazy holds a number of honors and distinctions for his services to society:
Commandeur dans l’Ordre royal norvégien du mérite
Chevalier dans l’Ordre de la Légion d’honneur
Grand-Croix de l’Ordre du mérite du Chili
Commandeur de l’Ordre d’Isabelle la Catholique
Medal of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay
Honorary Knight Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Venture Partner
Lokman Ouijdani
Lokman Ouijdani has 10 years of experience across Tech and Finance (Microsoft, Google, Clocktower Ventures) in which he has led over $100 million in acquisitions and lead the launch of multiple Cloud and AI offerings. Most recently, Lokman lead the launch from ideation to commercialization of first of its kind value-based AI products and solutions that brought over $500M in Bookings to Google cloud services.
Lokman has gained an in-depth knowledge of the complex technology sector in the United States and has deep connections with some of the most strategic technology acquirers in the United States, the Middle East and Africa.
Lokman has a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington and an MBA from UCLA.
Venture Partner
DR. Richard Pasternak, MD
Dr Richard Pasternak has spent the last 40 years as an academic and biopharmaceutical clinician-scientist. He is a recently retired Clinical Professor at the Weill Cornell Medical College and remains a strategic consultant. He has served on multiple Boards including Cerenis Therapeutics (now ABIONYX), where he also served as CEO 2018-19. He is presently on the Boards of Anthos Therapeutics Magenta Medical Ltd. and Milestone Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Pasternak was previously VP, Clinical Research and Head of Cardiovascular at Merck & Co. and then VP, Head of Global Scientific Affairs and Scientific Leadership (2008-2010). Dr. Pasternak worked on key strategic business development issues, regulatory affairs, medical affairs, and political affairs; and he was also a Merck policy liaison for medical and scientific issues.
Prior to joining Merck, Dr. Pasternak was Director of Preventive Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He received his B.A. and M.D. from Yale University and completed his medical and cardiology training at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
Dr. Pasternak has long-standing research interest in vascular disease, lipid disorders and atherosclerosis, as well as in epidemiology, prevention, and patterns of practice and disease management. He was a member of the NIH’s Coordinating Committee of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) and of the third Adult Treatment Panel (ATP III), has served on many national and international committees, and has published and spoken extensively.
Venture Partner
Frederic Gilg
Frederic Gilghas worked for the past 15 years with prominent private equity groups exclusively focused on fast growing consumer brands – most notably L Catterton and TSG Consumer Partners with a global origination role focused on Europe and spanning across all consumer verticals (beauty, healthcare, wellness, retail, fashion, consumer services, consumer tech). As an entrepreneur, he cofounded / was an early investor in several high impact/disruptive companies including among others Cellprothera, a global leader in regenerative medicine; Babo Botanicals, a US organic digitally native babycare brand; PR Group, a pioneer of renewable energies in South East Asia; Biofuture, a European organic food and supplements brand.
Frederic started his career in Foreign Affairs (NATO) and has lived and worked in Singapore, Paris, New York, Brussels, Hong Kong and Madrid. He is a graduate of IEP Paris (Sciences Po) and HEC (MS), speaks French, English, Spanish and German.
He believes supporting genuine, uniquely differentiated and responsible brands bringing together communities can help shape the world we live in as they spontaneously align talent, purpose and conviction.
Venture Partner
Daniel Vial
Daniel Vial brings a wealth of healthcare experience, both as an investor and former pharma executive.
Daniel started his career through the launch of a daily newspaper for doctors : “Le Quotidien du Médecin” in France and “Arzte Zeitung” in Germany. “Le Quotidien du Médecin” merged with the medical arm of the Vivendi Group while “Arzte Zeitung” merged with IMS (now Iqvia).
Subsequently, he founded PR INT, a consultancy dedicated to supporting pharma corporations, medical institutions and scientific associations from drug development to commercialization. PR INTernational become one of the leading global consultants in drug evaluation, pharma marketing issues and market access, as well as one of the largest scientific event organizers in Europe. Daniel joined SANOFI as the special advisor to the CEO, Chris Viehbacher, from 2008 to 2014.
More recently, Daniel, a successful investor in French & US biotech companies, serves as a consultant to pharma, biotech, e-health and institutions with a focus in Asia where he advises public institutions such as regions and cities in China. He is the President of the International committee for the Safeguard of the Great Wall of China.
Daniel holds a Master’s in Marketing and Public Relations from the University of Vincennes.
He is a “Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur”.
Backed By An Industry Leading Advisory Board
François Sarkozy, MD
Dr. François Sarkozy is a distinguished physician, health strategist, entrepreneur, and advisor with extensive experience across pharmaceuticals, consulting, and digital health innovation. As founder and CEO of FSNB Health & Care, he leads strategic consulting initiatives at the nexus of medical research, policy, and industry transformation in Europe, and maintains an influential voice in health systems and public affairs.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Sarkozy held senior leadership positions in pharmaceutical R&D, global strategy, and consulting. He served as Medical Director in France for leading pharmaceutical organizations, and later led AEC Partners, a healthcare consulting and strategic advisory firm with offices in Paris and New York. He has also been active in digital health, including serving as Chairman of Tonic App, a European healthtech platform, supporting its scale into major European markets.
Dr. Sarkozy is the founder of Tous Pour la Santé TV (All for Health), a media and content platform that fosters informed public discourse on health innovation and policy. He holds advanced medical training, including work in pediatric and respiratory physiology, and continues to engage in thought leadership across health, digital innovation, and systemic reform.
Tom Schoenherr
Tom Schoenherr is Chief Executive Officer for Ambry Genetics. He has over 25 years of commercial experience in biotechnology, specifically molecular diagnostics, with a solid track record in building high-growth companies.
Before joining Ambry, Tom led Counsyl’s commercial strategy and was responsible for driving business growth and increasing market share in the very competitive carrier screening space. He served in similar leadership roles at Quest, Siemens Healthcare, and Abbott Diagnostics, as well as having served on several advisory boards providing leadership and guidance to management teams and company founders on their organizational goals and strategies of businesses to access and determine potential opportunities.
Tom is an advocate in the relentless pursuit of new and better ways of working, empowering organizations and teams to embrace digital transformation and telemedicine to generate new and significant value for consumers and shareholders. His passion truly lies in ensuring patients around the world have access to transformational medical options.
Tom earned his BS from Michigan State University and completed his Executive Business Development Program from the University of Notre Dame.
DR. DIANE SIMEONE, MD
Dr. Diane Simeone is an internationally renowned pancreatic surgeon and
researcher with a long-standing career focused on treating pancreatic
cancer and pancreatic cystic tumors. She is the current director of Moores
Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health where she provides the overall
strategic and intellectual direction for the center’s research programs,
administrative structure, and multidisciplinary cancer clinical care. She
serves as the principal investigator for the Cancer Center’s support grant
sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Dr. Simeone partners with academic and clinical leaders to guide cancer
research and care and provides counsel to campus and university-level
committees.
Prior in her career, Dr. Simeone served as the director of the Pancreatic
Cancer Center and was the associate director of translational research at
Perlmutter Cancer Center at New York University Langone Health.
Throughout her career, Dr. Simeone has driven innovation in cancer care by
building a continuum between scientific discovery and new approaches for
cancer detection and treatment. She has published more than 230 studies
in leading peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Simeone served as the chair of the
scientific and medical advisory board of the Pancreatic Cancer Action
Network and is a past president of the American Pancreatic Association and
Society of University Surgeons.
She is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and is a
member of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Pancreatic Cancer Task force
and the NCI Cancer Centers Study Section. She also serves on the Board of
Directors for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. She is the
principal investigator and lead of Precision Promise, a national clinical trials
consortium focused on next generation clinical trials for people with
pancreatic cancer. She is also the founder of the Pancreatic Cancer Early
Detection (PRECEDE) Consortium, an international consortium established
to drive the early detection of pancreatic cancer.
Hocine Sidi-Saïd
Mr. Hocine Sidi-Said is a Co-founder and serves as Chief Executive Officer and Board Member at KELIX Bio. He serves as an Advisor at The Aentib Group. Mr. Sidi-Said also serves as a Board Member of Bharath Home Medicare. He served as CEO at Axantia, a regional branded generics pharmaceutical platform. He is also a Co-Founder and serves as Managing Director at Bio-nAbler LLC, an investment and advisory firm that partners with Sovereign Wealth Funds and Private Equity firms across Asia and the MENA region. He has led the Emerging Markets Region at UCB as their Executive Vice President and senior positins at Pfizer including CEO of India.
Hocine Sidi Said joined Pfizer in 1986 after completing his MBA from Schiller International University in Paris and holds a degree in Business Administration Management Institute Franco-American in Paris.
Dr. Manuel Hidalgo Medina, MD
Dr. Hidalgo has served as chief of the division of hematology and medical oncology at Weill Cornell Medicine/New York-Presbyterian Hospital since 2019 and is responsible for leading clinical and translational research in hematology, vascular biology and oncology. He is also the E. Hugh Luckey distinguished professor of medicine and associate director for clinical services at the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Hidalgo is currently serving on the board of Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Dr. Hidalgo brings to the Board more than 20 years of experience in translational and clinical research in anticancer drug development, with an emphasis in gastrointestinal cancers. He has also led the early clinical development of new anticancer agents for pancreatic cancer among other solid tumor cancers.
Prior to his current position, Dr. Hidalgo served as chief of the division of hematology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and clinical director of the Rosenberg Clinical Cancer Center from 2015 to 2019. During this time, he was the Theodore W. and Evelyn G. Berenson professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Hidalgo also held leadership positions at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) in Madrid and at the Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he was director of gastrointestinal oncology program.
Dr. John Hood, PhD
Dr. Hood is a veteran of the California life science community who has founded and led several successful biotechnology companies in his 20-year career. He is currently Founder, CEO and Executive Chairman of Endeavor Biomedicines, a company funded in 2021 to develop novel therapeutics for oncology and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Prior to that, John was the Founder and CEO of Impact Biomedicines (now owned by Bristol-Myers Squibb), the developer of fedratinib, which has subsequently been approved worldwide for the treatment of myelofibrosis. He began his career as Director of Research at TargeGen in 2001, where he co-discovered fedratinib and led a team identifying small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and eye disease. John is an inventor on 100+ patents and the author of 50+ scientific articles. He received his Ph.D. in Medical Physiology and a B.S. in Biochemistry from Texas A&M University.
