Dr. Galant received her PhD in medical biophysics from the University of Toronto. She provides expertise in antibody design, immunotherapy, and biochemical immuno-characterization. Dr. Galant was the winner of the inaugural Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research ECHO 2019 $250,000 pitch competition. She is the recipient of numerous academic fellowships and has co-authored over 15 publications in research areas ranging from chemical informatics to immunotherapy drug development.
Dr. Galant received her PhD from the University of Toronto, where her work helped lead to the development of misTTR, an antibody for the potential treatment of ATTR Amyloidosis, that has since been humanized and entering Phase 2/3 clinical trials. Previous to her work at the University of Toronto, Dr. Galant was the on-site coordinator for the chemical research abroad program and a research associate at the University of Szeged in Hungary.
Fun Fact: Dr. Galant is an avid pinball machine enthusiast and passionate member of the Pinside community
Dr. Sun received his PhD in medical biophysics from the University of Toronto. He provides expertise in neurogenerative protein manipulation and target engagement assays. He leads both antibody design and the development of antibody-mediated immunotherapeutic-mediated clearance assays.
Dr. Sun was the winner of the inaugural Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research ECHO 2019 $250,000 pitch competition. Dr. Sun was also awarded $165,000 by Brain Canada for his work on ALS. Dr. Sun’s ALS research provided new insights into the formation of TDP-43 protein assemblies in the molecular mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia as his PhD thesis. Dr. Sun also holds an MSc in biochemistry from the University of Toronto.
Fun Fact: Dr. Sun is a connoisseur of rare and fine single malt scotch from Islay
Sandy is an executive with over 30 years of experience in the life sciences industry, where he has extensive and deep relationships with pharma senior R&D and business management executives, as well as the investment community. He currently serves as the President and board member of IMIDomics, Inc as well as Chair of Carisma and non-executive board member of Essa and Compugen (public companies). He has been the CEO or President of five companies (four private, one public), Chair/board member of many public and private companies and has raised over $750 million in capital, and led numerous M&A and licensing transactions.
Fun fact: Sandy was going to become a rabbi.
Dr. Angèle Maki is a business development executive with nearly twenty years of deal-making experience spanning small biotech and big pharma. She is currently Senior Vice President and head of business development at ReCode Therapeutics, a leading genetic medicines company.
Prior to ReCode, Angèle held business development roles with increasing responsibility starting at Medarex followed by BMS (which acquired Medarex), Genentech, 23andMe, Merck & Co, and Eli Lilly. During her career, she has successfully led diligence and negotiations on numerous in - and out- licensing transactions, from early-stage research technologies to clinical-stage assets.
Angèle has a Ph.D. in biological chemistry from Stanford University and completed postdoctoral work in molecular biology at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla. She completed her B.Sc. in chemistry at the University of Winnipeg in Canada.
Fun Fact: Dr. Maki owns a Tonal exercise machine which she uses for challenging herself to advanced workouts led by ex-NFL players
Mr. Glinter is the Founder and CEO of Pendant Biosciences, formerly Nanoferix, headquartered in Nashville, TN. He is also the Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Department of Neurological Surgery and Neuroscience Research at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and an Expert Contributor at the Entrepreneurial Mind.
Concurrently, Mr. Glinter holds a variety of mentorship roles including being a Mentor in Residence at the Wond’ry Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Vanderbilt University, and a Mentor at Life Sciences Tennessee and Jumpstart Foundry. He is also a Master Mentor at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center and at Launch TN. Mr. Glinter founded B&G Holdings to invest in and coach early stage and start up companies. He attended both the University of Maryland College Park and the George Washington University and actively volunteers as a Board Member for a variety of organizations.
Fun Fact: Shawn used to volunteer as a professional clown in children’s hospitals.
Dr. Barry A. Springer, Ph.D., is currently the Principal at Springer Bio-Tech Consulting, LLC, advising early-stage biotechnology companies since 2021. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, he has an accomplished background in small molecule and biologics drug discovery, development, licensing, and technology development.
His career began at DuPont Merck, moving on to be a founding member at 3-Dimensional Pharmaceuticals (3DP). His notable contributions led to the company's acquisition by Johnson & Johnson (J&J). As VP of Enabling Technologies at J&J R&D, he was a member of the leadership team that brought drugs to the clinic, including Invokana.
From 2011 to 2020, Dr. Springer served as VP of Janssen BioTherapeutics, overseeing strategy, operations, and external innovation initiatives. His leadership roles resulted in high-value partnerships, new technologies, and the development of significant drugs such as Rybrevant, Amivantamab for NSCLC, Teclistamab and Talquetamab for multiple myeloma. He earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois and completed his postdoctoral training at U.C. Berkeley.
Fun Fact: Barry is a big Chicago Cubs fan.
Alejandra completed her M.Sc. in Medical Science at the University of Toronto. She brings nearly two years of industry experience in the cell and gene therapy field and over five years of academic research experience in cell and molecular biology. Alejandra's research has focused on using pluripotent stem cells to model Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, a blood disorder, and explore therapeutic approaches for Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative condition. At Paradox, she contributes her expertise in stem cell biology to support the development and execution of cell-based assays.
Fun fact: Alejandra loves travelling to Peru and highly recommends hiking Machu Picchu, going off the grid in the Amazon rainforest, sandboarding in the Ica desert, surfing in the beach town of Mancora, and trying all the delicious food in her hometown of Lima!
Dr. Ferro is a former Scientific Officer at Novartis and prior to that a Clinical Team Leader at Sanofi Pasteur. He has extensive experience in vaccine development for infectious diseases and was the Head of Internal Medicine at Hospital Militar in Nicaragua.
Dr. Ferro received his Medical Degree from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogata Columbia) and specialized in Internal Medicine. He also holds a Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Toronto.
Dr. Venner completed his medical training at the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta and the University of British Columbia for a sub-specialty degree in Hematology. He then went on to pursue a Plasma Cell Dyscrasias Fellowship with a focus in amyloidosis at the National Amyloidosis Centre, London UK. Now based at the BC Cancer - Vancouver Centre, he is the clinical lead for the BC Myeloma and Plasma Cell Dyscrasia Program (BCMPP). He has 15 years of experience in treating patients with amyloidosis. In addition to being actively involved in clinical trials, his current academic interests involve clinical outcomes research in plasma cell dyscrasias, examining the evolution of therapy in these diseases and the impact novel combinations have on survival.
Fun Fact: Dr. Venner loves music and, to quote DJ Peanut Butter Wolf, "his vinyl weighs a ton".
Chidozie Ugwumba serves as Managing Partner of SymBiosis, a venture capital firm focused on investments in biotherapeutics. At SymBiosis, Mr. Ugwumba leads sourcing, due diligence, and execution of investments, and serves as an advisor to SymBiosis' portfolio companies. He has led numerous investments in therapeutics companies in the US and Europe, across disease areas including cardiometabolic, CNS, dermatology, Gl, infectious disease, and oncology, and across modalities such as precision medicine, biologics, and cell, gene, and regenerative therapy. Prior to SymBiosis, Mr. Ugwumba led the Direct and Impact Investment Group of WIT, LLC and worked across multiple asset classes at Partners Group, a global private investment manager. Mr. Ugwumba earned an MBA from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University, and a BA in Political Science from Amherst College.
Fun Fact: Chidozie speaks several languages and has played Othello in French.
Dr. Andrew Badley is an Infectious Disease doctor, the enterprise chair of the Department of Molecular Medicine, the Medical Director of Medical Industry Relations, and the director of the HIV Laboratory at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is the past Associate Dean of Research, Director of Drug Discovery, and the Founding Director of the Office of Translation to Practice at Mayo Clinic. His work has led to multiple patents, IND submissions, investigator initiated clinical trials, as well as the formation of new companies.
Dr. Badley has received numerous honors, including the Clinical Scientist Award in Translational Research, conferred by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the Dalhousie University Alumnus Award, and the Outstanding Investigator Award, conferred by Mayo Clinic. He has also held many corporate roles, including Chief Medical Officer, Chief Scientific Officer, Founder, Scientific Advisory Board member, and Board of Director for Life Sciences companies. Dr. Badley serves as an operating advisor for venture capital who invest in the Life Sciences, where he assists with diligence and ongoing governance to portfolio companies as a board member or observer.
Fun fact – likes to spend free time with family, travelling, and fishing.
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