Bring back light to people whose world has gone dark

Dr. Michael J. Young is recognized for his significant contributions to the field of regenerative ophthalmology. Affiliated with the Schepens Eye Research Institute, an integral part of Harvard Medical School, Dr. Young's groundbreaking research has primarily centered around retinal diseases and potential regenerative therapies. His endeavors have shed light on stem cell-based approaches to treat conditions like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa. Over the years, he has pioneered techniques to transplant retinal cells into diseased eyes, seeking ways to restore or prevent vision loss. Beyond his research, Dr. Young's influence extends to his roles as an educator and mentor, fostering the next generation of ophthalmologists and vision researchers. His unwavering commitment to advancing our understanding of retinal diseases and exploring therapeutic avenues stands as an inspiration to the medical community. His work at the Schepens Eye Research Institute underscores the importance of translational research in bridging the gap between laboratory findings and real-world applications, bringing hope to countless individuals affected by vision-related conditions.

Myron Spector, Ph.D., is Professor, Emeritus Orthopaedic Surgery (Biomaterials), Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Affiliate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he teaches 2 subjects: Tissue Engineering and Organ Regeneration; and Design of Medical Devices. He has 50+ years of experience in researching and developing biomaterials-based treatments for a wide array of medical problems, principally involving the principles and practice of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. His studies in the past 15 years have been directed toward the development of injectable biopolymer gels incorporating cells and/or regulatory molecules (viz., growth factors) for the treatment of lesions in the central nervous system, and musculoskeletal and dental tissues. His anorganic bovine bone graft product has been used in 15 million patients worldwide. From 1993-97, Professor Spector served as the Chairman of the FDA Advisory Panel for General and Plastic Surgery Devices. He served as the President of the Society for Biomaterials (1990-91), and has received awards from: the Society for Biomaterials (2002 Clemson Award for Applied Biomaterials Research); the Orthopaedic Research Society/American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (2001 Elizabeth Winston-Lanier Kappa Delta Award); and The Hip Society (2004 John Charnley Award). In 2005 he co-founded the journal, Biomedical Materials: Materials for Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine and served as its Editor-in Chief through 2019. Professor Spector has published 350+ journal articles.

Dr. Cepko is the Bullard Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at Harvard Medical School and the Blavatnik Institute, and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. She began working in labs at the age of 12, in the USDA's Forest Disease Laboratory, working with a mentor, Dr. John Palmer. She attended the University of Maryland where she majored in Microbiology and Biochemistry. She received her PhD degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, working with Phillip Sharp on adenovirus capsid assembly, and remained at MIT as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Richard Mulligan, where she was involved in the development of retrovirus-mediated gene transduction. She moved to Harvard Medical School as a faculty member to join the newly formed Department of Genetics in 1985. Dr. Cepko has launched and directed two graduate programs. She founded the Biological and Biomedical Sciences PhD Program with Dr. Clifford Tabin, and served as its Director for 11 years. She subsequently founded an enrichment program for self-selected PhD students from all of Harvard's life sciences graduate programs. This program, the Leder Human Biology and Translational Medicine, is now Co-Directed by Dr. Cepko and Dr. Thomas Michel. Dr. Cepko was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2002. In 2011, she received the Bressler Prize in Vision Science awarded to under-recognized scientists and clinicians in their field for her work in retina development. In 2019, she was selected by Brandeis University to give the Lisman Memorial Lecture in Vision Science

Dr. Stephen Redenti is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Lehman College and in the CUNY Graduate Center Doctoral programs in Biochemistry and Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology. A central goal of the Redenti Lab is to advance understanding of cell and tissue communication to contribute to repair of damaged neural tissue. To identify molecular mechanisms contributing to intrinsic cellular intelligence and decision-making we draw on evolutionary and developmental biology, bioinformatics, computer modeling and collaborative bioengineering strategies. An additional line of research in the lab involves analysis of stem cell and progenitor cell extracellular vesicle release rate, morphology, and molecular   content.   Our   initial   studies   have   focused   on   induced   pluripotent   stem   cell microvesicles characterization. We use Nanosight analysis, electron microscopy, proteomics, gene expression analysis and in silico modeling. The goals of this work include defining the significance of stem cell extracellular vesicles in maintaining pluripotency and toward application in nerve tissue regeneration.

Motoichi Kurisawa received his PhD degree from the School of Materials Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), in 1998. He joined the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), A*STAR, in 2003, and is currently a Team Leader and Principal Research Scientist. He is a recipient of the outstanding paper award from the Journal of Artificial Organs in 1997 and 2002, and won the Grand Prize at The Crown Prince Creative, Innovative Product and Technical Advancement (CIPTA) Awards in 2015. He has served on the editorial board of the journal Biomedical Materials since 2016.

Dean   Eliott   M.D.,   is  Stelios Evangelos Gragoudas Professor of phthalmology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Eliott, Director of the Mass. Eye and Ear Retina Service, is a recognized leader in surgery for complexretinal conditions. As a clinical innovator and clinician scientist, Dr. Eliott wasamong the first surgeons to perform clinical trials in intravitreal sustaineddrug delivery device implantation, epiretinal vision-restoring electrical deviceimplantation, subretinal stem cell transplantation, and gene therapy for avariety of blinding retinal disorders. He discovered an innovative the rapeutic approach   to prevent intraocular scarring and blindness after retinaldetachment surgery, and was co-founder of Helio Vision Inc., which was acquired by Aldeyra Therapeutics.

Dr. Pennesi's interest in degenerative retinal disorders began shortly after his first year in college, when he spent a summer working at the Retina Foundation of the Southwest. He worked under the supervision of Dr. David Birch and saw patients with retinal degenerations such as retinitis pigmentosa as well as studying animal models of this disease. After college, Dr. Pennesi completed a combined M.D./Ph.D. at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. His thesis work focused on identifying new animal models of retinal degeneration. He received numerous awards while in graduate school, including the John J. Trentin Award for earning the highest GPA in his class and the BRASS scholarship for playing an active role in community service. For his residency training, Dr. Pennesi spent his internship year in San Diego at Scripps Mercy Hospital, followed by his ophthalmology residency at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Pennesi joined the faculty of Casey Eye Institute and is now a Professor in Ophthalmic Genetics and as the chief of the Ophthalmic Genetics Division. Both Research to Prevent Blindness and the Foundation Fighting Blindness have recognized Dr. Pennesi with career development awards to support his ambition to conduct transitional research that will bring treatments for diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa from the laboratory to the clinic. Additionally, he is the recipient of the 2011 ARVO/Alcon Early Clinician Scientist, the Alcon Young investigator Award in 2014, and the Casey Eye Institute Resident teach award. His research focuses on developing novel treatments for inherited retinal diseases. He is currently exploring the potential of a new class of drugs to up regulate protective growth factors in the retina.

Charles C. Wykoff, MD, PhD is Director of Research at Retina Consultants of Texas; Chairman of Research, Retina Consultants of America; and Deputy Chair of Ophthalmology for the Blanton Eye Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital. He received his baccalaureate from MIT, PhD from Oxford University while on a Marshall Scholarship, and MD from Harvard Medical School. His basic science research related to cellular adaption to oxygen availability and VEGF biology contributed to the 2019 Nobel Prize in Medicine that was awarded to his PhD supervisor Peter Ratcliffe. Dr. Wykoff completed ophthalmology residency and vitreoretinal fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute where he served as Chief Resident/Co-Director of Ocular Trauma and received a Heed Fellowship and the Ronald G. Michels Award. He is passionate about translational research and novel ways to accelerate drug and device development. He has published over 300 peer-reviewed manuscripts and serves on multiple scientific and medical advisory boards, safety monitoring committees, and global steering committees for endeavors spanning the innovative process from early to late-stage developments. He serves on the ASRS Board of Directors, is a founding member of the Ophthalmology Retina Editorial Board, is the Chief Medical Editor for Retina Specialist, and a past President of the Vit-Buckle Society.  He is a member of the NEI Audacious Goals Steering Committee and has been awarded multiple Achievement, Honor and Senior Honor Awards including the ASRS Young Investigator and the AAO Secretariat Awards. His guiding philosophy is to build and strengthen innovative, ethical teams focused on developing new approaches to improving outcomes for blinding diseases.

Eric D. Nudleman, M.D., Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at UC San Diego Shiley Eye Institute. He joined UC San Diego (UCSD) after completing his fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at the renowned William Beaumont Hospital. Prior to his fellowship, Dr. Nudleman graduated from Stanford University with bachelors and doctoral degrees. He earned his medical degree at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University in New York then went on to Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri for his residency. Dr. Nudleman is the recipient of many prestigious honors such as the Ronald G. Michels Fellowship, Heed Fellowship, the Doris P. and Harry I. Wexler Prize, Rosenbaum Research Award, and the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology/Research to Prevent Blindness Resident and Fellow Research Forum Award. He has participated in multiple National Eye Institute and industry-sponsored clinical trials. At UCSD, Dr. Nudleman's clinical focus is on vitreoretinal diseases and surgery, with a special interest in pediatric vitreoretinopathies. His laboratory focuses on developmental angiogenesis and the role of the Wnt signaling pathway with a particular interest in identifying novel targets to treat vascular diseases.

Dr. Sherman brings more than 25 years of pharmaceutical experience, specializing in regulatory and clinical strategy, and therapeutic development for rare diseases. He served as Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Horizon Therapeutics, from 2009 till 2023, a global biotechnology company focused on medicines for rare, autoimmune, and severe inflammatory diseases which is now part of Amgen. Dr. Sherman joined Horizon Therapeutics from IDM Pharma where he served as Senior Vice President of Research and Development and CMO. Prior to IDM Pharma, Dr. Sherman was Vice President of Clinical Science at Takeda Global Research & Development Center, Inc., a subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Dr. Sherman was also CMO and Executive Vice President at NeoPharm, Inc., held numerous clinical research and development and medical affairs roles at Searle/Pharmacia, and clinical pharmacology and clinical research and development roles at Squibb/Bristol-Myers Squibb.

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Dr. Sherman received his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and completed an internal medicine internship, residency, and chief medical residency at Northwestern University. His fellowship training was at the University of California, San Francisco, where he was also a research associate at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Dr. Tom Zioncheck was Senior Director in Business Development at Genentech. He was responsible for in-licensing external innovation in the areas of Ophthalmology, Neuroscience, Metabolic Disease, and Drug Delivery. Currently, at InGel, he is one of the main business development advisors for the hydrogel platform.

Tom started his career at Genentech in 1988. He was hired as a Scientist and was subsequently promoted into roles of increasing responsibility including Senior Scientist, Project Team Leader, and Director of Development Sciences. He has made numerous drug development contributions, co-authored 30 scientific papers and is co-inventor on six patents.

Dr. Zioncheck has a BS degree in Chemistry and earned his PhD degree in Biochemistry from Purdue University.

Greg Kunst stands at the forefront of the biotech industry, with over two decades of experience driving innovation and impactful advancements in patient care and global health. Currently serving as the president, chief executive officer, and board member at Valitor Biotech. Prior to Valitor he was CEO of Aurion biotech for 4 years. Throughout his career, Mr. Kunst has achieved numerous accomplishments, including raising $132 million for Aurion Biotech over the last three years. He played a pivotal role in expanding Glaukos Corporation’s revenue from zero to $300 million and expanding its presence to more than 20 countries.

In addition to his role at Aurion Biotech, Mr. Kunst serves on the board of Pr3vent INC since 2023 and acts as a strategic advisor at Oculogica since 2019. His strategic insights and visionary leadership have played a pivotal role in shaping the direction and success of these organizations. At InGel, he serves as a main business development and pharma relationships advisor.

Mr. Kunst’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in economics from Brigham Young University in 2002 and a Master of Business Administration in general management and strategy from Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management in 2006. He has also completed prestigious programs such as the Novartis Advance Program in Strategy and Communications at The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth in 2014 and the M2 Leadership Program on the role of the leader at Novartis in 2013.

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Dr. Sofen is an accomplished CMC leader and was CTO at Abata Therapeutics with over 20 years of experience in technical innovation, product development, and manufacturing alliance management and strategy. Prior to Abata, he was an independent CMC consultant primarily focused on supporting biotech companies in the cell and gene therapy space and vice president of technical operations at CRISPR Therapeutics, where he built the manufacturing organization and led CMC efforts, which resulted in filing an IND for a hemoglobinopathy cell therapy in less than 18 months and transferring an allogeneic, gene edited CAR-T program to external CDMOs. Steve holds a Ph.D. in bioinorganic chemistry from the University of California. At InGel, he is a critical CMC advisor for IGT001 program towards US IND.

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Tony was Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development at Crispr Therapeutics. In a period of 4 years, he built a world class R&D engine and a pipeline of over 10 product candidates. He and his team have brought first CRISPR based therapy CTX001, 3 allogeneic CAR–T (CTX110 (CD19), 120 (BCMA), 130 (CD70)), and the first CRISPR edited pancreatic islet progenitor cells (VCTX210) from research bench to the clinic. Prior to CRISPR Therapeutics, he was SVP and Head of Oncology Integration and Innovation at AstraZeneca and oversaw the development and commercialization of Lynparza and Imfinizi (anti–PD–L1). 10 Phase 3 trials designed under his leadership have now read out positive (Lynparza: SOLO1, SOLO2, SOLO3–1L & PSR Ovarian, OlympiAD–TNBC, POLO–Pancreatic, PAOLA – 1L Ovarian, ProFound 2LmCRC, ; Imfinizi: Pacific– NSCLC, CASPIAN 1L SCLC, Poseidon 1L NSCLC (IO+IO+CHEMO).

Prior to joining AstraZeneca, Tony was the head of Neurology and Ophthalmology at Merck and led the development and launch of Zioptan and several Phase 3 programs including CGRP–RA for migraine, A2a–RA for Parkinson’s disease, prostaglandin for glaucoma, and several early programs in neuropathic pain, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease.

Tony received B.S. in Electrical Engineering at UCLA, and M.D. from Johns Hopkins. He was Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins specialized in neuropathy and neuromuscular diseases. Tony described and elucidated the pathogenesis of a new disease called “acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN)”. He has published widely in several fields with over 80 papers. He is currently Adjunct Associate Professor of Neurology at University of Pennsylvania and Assistant Professor of Neurology at Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Friedrich is a board-certified neurologist and pharmacist and, for more than 10 years, has successfully headed clinical development programs in the US, Europe, and Asia. Dr. Friedrich was a key strategic leader in the successful development of alfibercept and other ophthalmic therapies at Bayer Pharma, including indications for DME, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusions. Dr. Friedrich also led development activities for rare ophthalmic diseases at ProQR Therapeutics and jCyte, where he headed the intravitreal oligonucleotide program for genetic forms of Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and clinical development for an intravitreal cell therapy program for RP, respectively. Dr. Friedrich holds a private lectureship for Neurology at the University Hospital of Tuebingen, Germany, where he was also Deputy Chair of the Department of General Neurology. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles in ophthalmology and neurology. At InGel, Dr. Friedrich serves as the clinical liaison with the clinical site for IGT001.

Namrata Saroj, OD has over 20 years of experience focusing on global development and commercialization of drugs and technologies advancing ophthalmic care. She has collaborated with multiple companies across various stages from early start-ups to late-stage development and commercialization. In this capacity, she has effectively helped these companies with strategic partnerships, clinical development, trial enrollment, launch preparation and commercialization support which she is currently doing at InGel.

Dr. Saroj has been a significant contributor towards the commercialization of LUCENTIS^® and EYLEA^®, two of the most successful products in this sector. Dr. Saroj is also the co-founder of Clinical Trials Resource Group, a CRO focused on executing ophthalmology clinical trials. Previously, she led the Ophthalmology Medical Affairs team as an Executive Director at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Dr. Saroj has previously held positions at Genentech, Inc. and Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital. Dr. Saroj is the President of Association for Macular Diseases, a non-profit organization offering support to individuals, their families, friends, and the professional community.

Dr. Saroj earned her Doctor of Optometry from the University of California, Berkeley. She received a Bachelor of Science in Optometry from the University of California, Berkeley and Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry, magna cum laude with distinction from Whittier College.