The primary role of the HealthAdvance™ Mentors-in-Residence (MIRs) is to collaborate with their matched Innovators and craft compelling proposals for a commercially viable product or solution, with a strong focus on improving human health.
Mentors are individually matched to the Innovator teams that have been invited to submit a full application to the program by the HealthAdvance team. The Innovator teams are selected based on the Pre-Qualification Applications they submit to express interest in pursuing this funding opportunity.
Meet the HealthAdvance MIRs
Michael Baran, PhD, MBA
Principal, Pfizer Ventures; Executive Director, External Science & Innovation, Worldwide R&D, Pfizer, Inc.
Michael Baran's primary responsibilities are to lead the identification, evaluation, selection and management of equity investments aligned with the future directions of Pfizer. He currently is responsible for Pfizer’s investments in Imcheck Therapeutics, ImmunOs Therapeutics, Accelerator NYC, AnTolRx, and Biodesy.
At Pfizer, Mike has previously held other prominent roles as the Senior Director of Portfolio Strategy and Senior Director (critical assessment of the R&D portfolio for maximizing productivity and value generation) and the Senior Director, Scientific Affairs for the R&D President's Office (enabling and communicating R&D strategic agenda and leading workforce development program).
Mike earned his PhD from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Biochemistry conducting research in structural biology and scientific software development. He also holds an MBA from the Rutgers Business School with a focus in pharmaceutical management.
Areas of Expertise:
- Biopharma: Vaccines
- Therapeutics: Blood & Lymphatic Disease, Cardiovascular, Dermatology, Diabetes, Metabolism, Endocrinology & Obesity, Gastroenterology & Digestive Disease, Immunology, Autoimmune & Inflammation, Infectious Diseases, Nephrology – Renal, Neurodegenerative, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Respiratory & Pulmonary, Transplantation, Regenerative Medicine – Tissue Engineering
- Biomedical: Genomics, Precision Health
- Other: Rare diseases
Tanya Borsuk, PhD
Director, Business Development and Strategy, Celgene
A graduate of the Joint Molecular Bioscience Program at Rutgers University in 2007, Tanya has spent over a decade helping companies in the Biotech and Pharmaceutical industries develop their technology and drug pipelines. Her roles in the Pharmaceutical industry have spanned from R&D consulting at a top global boutique consulting firm in NYC, to launch planning, and global business insights and competitive intelligence. She is currently a Director of Business Development at Celgene Corporation (acquired by BMS in November 2019), where she is responsible for search and evaluation of new business opportunities for the Oncology-Hematology franchises.
Areas of Expertise:
- Biopharma: Therapeutics, Vaccines
- Drug Discovery Technology: Biomedical Research Tools
- Therapeutics: Immunology, Autoimmune & Inflammation, Infectious Diseases, Neurodegenerative, Oncology
- Devices & Instrumentation (Hardware): Biomedical
Bruce Galton
Principal, Galton Consulting, LLC, a biopharmaceutical and healthcare practice.
Bruce has over 20 years of experience as the President and CEO of publicly and privately held development stage biotechnology companies and manufacturers. He has negotiated licenses and sales agreements, has in-licensed technologies and sponsored research projects with major universities across North America and has participated in the acquisition and divestiture of product lines and companies. He has also helped to raise tens of millions of dollars in equity financing. As a consultant, he has been a project manager for pre-clinical toxicology, drug metabolism, and pharmacokinetic IND enabling studies, participated in technology portfolio assessments and provided development prioritization plans, negotiated IP licenses, drafted business plans, assisted clients with VC networking and has supported client due diligence for partnering negotiations. Bruce is also co-inventor on several biotechnology patents and applications.
Areas of Expertise:
- Biopharma: Vaccines
- Therapeutics: Immunology, Autoimmune & Inflammation, Infectious Diseases, Oncology, Respiratory & Pulmonary.
- Other: Finance, Organizations, Negotiations
Peter Golikov
Principal, Panteleimon Life Science Consulting
Peter is a resourceful, results driven leader with >20 years of experience in general management, drug development and business development. Peter has a strong business and technical experience in bio-pharmaceutical environments.
He has previously helped North American universities in marketing unlicensed technologies, mentoring faculty and emerging life science companies in business planning, IP portfolio management, grant applications, fundraising and general management.
Peter has been a leader at two pharmaceutical companies: Virologix, and EpiCept Corporation and was responsible for hiring/managing R&D staff, raising over $18M in private equity capital. During his tenure at EpiCept, he successfully submitted 5 IND’s and moved 3 products into late stage clinical development. Earlier in his career, Peter was a senior clinical research associate for 12 years and gained experience in Phase I-IV clinical studies in several therapeutic areas including analgesia, cardiovascular, and infectious disease. During this tenure 4 NDAs and NDA Amendments were approved by the FDA.
Areas of Expertise:
- Biopharma: Biomedical Applications, Diagnostics, Drug Delivery, Therapeutics, Vaccines
- Therapeutics: Biomedical Research Tools, Animal Models of Disease, Blood & Lymphatic Disease, Cardiovascular, Immunology, Autoimmune & Inflammation, Infectious Diseases, Oncology,Psychiatry, Radiology, Regenerative Medicine - Tissue Engineering, Respiratory & Pulmonary, Transplantation
- Biomedical Other: Precision Health, Biodefense
- Devices and Instrumentation: Consumer Applications, Biomedical
- Imaging: Software, Systems, Tracers/Probes/Reporters
- Software Applications: Life Sciences and Biomedical
Albert J. Di Rienzo
President and CEO, Radicle Innovation, LLC
Al is an entrepreneurial, high energy, and accomplished executive with broad experience in scientific, technological, and business leadership – building, creating, and sustaining cultures of innovation within fast-paced, high-growth, agile, and productive environments. He is a unique visionary with passion for excellence, and innate ability to set and communicate vision, mission, and strategy to technical and non-technical audiences alike.
During his career, Al has been responsible for billions of dollars in revenue via the release of well over a 100 successful products. In a career spanning nearly 35 years in academia, government and industry, Al has held positions with the Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute at Syracuse University, One Health Group, RedSky, Blue Highway, National Biodefense Science Board, Welch Allyn, Phillips Medical Systems, Siemens Medical Systems, Honeywell Aerospace and General Dynamics.
Areas of Expertise:
- Therapeutics: Cardiovascular, Ear, Nose & Throat, Neurodegenerative, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Respiratory & Pulmonary, Transplantation.
- Biomedical Other: Precision Health, Public Health, Healthcare Delivery, Biodefense
- Digital Health: Health IT
- Devices and Instrumentation: Consumer Applications, Industrial Applications, Biomedical
- Imaging: Software, Systems
- Software Applications: Life Sciences and Biomedical
Harvey D. Homan, PhD, MBA
Principal, HDH Associates International LLC
Harvey is a corporate executive, founder, director, CEO, investor and advisor to pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, and digital health companies, with a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. He has held leadership roles at Sterling Health and The Boots Company in new product development, clinical, regulatory, sales, and strategic marketing that supported commercialization of dozens of international products for brands including Bayer, Neurofen, Strepsils, Midol, Phillips, Diaparene, and E45.
Harvey is a member of Advisory Boards for the Therapeutics and Biomedical Device Accelerators at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUMC) and development teams for potential breakthrough discoveries. He has served as a mentor and EIR for NYU Berkley Innovation Labs, Blackstone Launchpad@NYU; the EDC@NJIT; and Industry Mentor and adjunct faculty for NSF I-Corps. PhD (neuropharmacology), UGA; MBA, NYU Stern.
Areas of Expertise:
- Biopharma: Diagnostics, Drug Delivery, Therapeutics
- Therapeutics: Dermatology, Gastroenterology & Digestive Disease, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Orthopedics - Bone, Neurodegenerative Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Psychiatry, Urology
- Digital Health: Digital Health/Health IT
- Devices and Instrumentation: Consumer Applications, Biomedical
- Imaging: Software, Systems, Tracers/Probes/Reporters
- Software Applications: Life Sciences and Biomedical
- Other: Combination drug and device, Lab-on-a-chip
Jonathan Kiel, PhD
Chief Science Officer, SOLUtion Medical
Jon has held engineering positions at DuPont and multiple positions at start-up companies, including co-founding and successfully commercializing the Nima Sensor, a food allergen sensing platform. He spent over six years as a Managing Scientist at Exponent providing scientific solutions in a variety of areas, such as materials, sensors, risk assessment, and technical due diligence. Jon is currently the Chief Science Officer at SOLUtion Medical, a company focused on simplifying adrenal crisis health management.
Areas of Expertise:
- Advanced Materials and Chemicals: Biomedical Applications
- Biopharma: Diagnostics, Drug Delivery
- Biomedical-Other: Precision Health, Healthcare Delivery, Biodefense
- Devices & Instrumentation (Hardware): Consumer Applications, Industrial Applications, Biomedical
- Technology-Other: 3-D Printing
Ron Rothman, PhD
Principal, Strategic Bio Insights
Ron leads Strategic Bio Insights, a consultancy providing actionable recommendations through competitive intelligence and market intelligence on medical devices, pipeline therapeutics, nanotechnology, devices and biotechnology since 2007. Among his other major engagements is his role as a QED Business Advisor, University City Science Center, successfully securing milestone-based funding of 4 medical device ventures for market-driven prototype development and pre-clinical proof-of-concept studies; Member, Board of Directors, Pharmaceutical Consulting Consortium, Inc., a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association with 400 Life Science industry members; and whose mission is to help early- to mid-stage life science companies to succeed by improving their business model, strategies and commercial viability.
Ron is also the Chief Business Officer and Founder, BioRegenics, Inc., an orthopedic medical device development company focused on innovation for repairing cartilage and bone.
Areas of Expertise:
- Biopharma: Diagnostics, Drug Delivery, Therapeutics
- Therapeutics: Dermatology, Immunology, Autoimmune & Inflammation, Infectious Diseases, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Orthopedics - bone, Neurodegenerative, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Regenerative Medicine - Tissue Engineering, Respiratory & Pulmonary, Transplantation
- Biomedical-Other: Precision Health
- Digital Health/Health IT
- Other: Go-to-market strategy, Ideation, Competitive Intelligence, Regulatory, Lean Start-up Business model