Cory Berkand, PhD

Cory Berkland is a professor in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry at Washington University in Saint Louis.  Previously, he was a professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and in the Department of Chemical Engineering at The University of Kansas.  He received MS and PhD degrees from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University in Ames.  His lab studies pharmaceuticals and materials with an emphasis on molecular design and transport in the human body, and more recently, wearable technologies.  He is a co-founder of Orbis Biosciences (acquired by Adare Pharmaceuticals), Savara Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SVRA), Bond Biosciences, Kinimmune, Axioforce, and other start-ups.  He has served as a board member, C-level executive, and secured funding for these companies.  He also has experience in Biotech investing and worked as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Sofinnova Investments.

Juliane Bubeck-Wardenburg, MD, PhD

Dr. Juliane Bubeck Wardenburg is the Donald B. Strominger Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of Pediatric Critical Care at Washington University. She received her M.D. and Ph.D. degrees in Immunology from Washington University in St. Louis, subsequently pursuing clinical training in General Pediatrics and Pediatric Critical Care at the University of Chicago. During this time, Julie investigated the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus infection in the laboratory of Dr. Olaf Schneewind in the Department of Microbiology as a Pediatric Scientist Development Program Fellow. Since 2008, the Bubeck Wardenburg laboratory has focused on the role of bacterial toxins in perturbation of host cellular and tissue homeostasis. Julie is known internationally for her expertise in the molecular pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus disease. Her laboratory has made seminal contributions to understanding how S. aureus alpha-toxin contributes to infection, positioning this protein as a leading target of S. aureus vaccines in human clinical trials. As the founder of Forward Defense, LLC, she has advanced a novel approach to the development of a S. aureus vaccine designed for infants and children. As a practicing clinician, Julie has a deep understanding of the challenges of preventing and managing severe clinical infections. She is the recipient of the Society for Pediatric Research Young Investigator Award and the University of Chicago Distinguished Investigator Award. In 2012, she was named a Burroughs Wellcome Investigator in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases. She has been elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the American Academy of Physicians.

Sarah K. England, PhD

Dr. England is the Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Professor of Medicine and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University in St. Louis. She also directs the Center for Reproductive Health Sciences and is a Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology. Dr. England’s research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying uterine function during pregnancy. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, the March of Dimes, and other funding agencies. She has authored over 100 research and review articles and has reviewed for over 50 journals in basic science, translational, and clinical fields. Dr. England serves on review committees for multiple funding agencies including the NIH, American Heart Association, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. She was a former Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow and worked in the office of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for one year on policies related to maternal child health issues, women’s health, and the healthcare workforce. Her memberships include: National Academy of Medicine, Society for Reproductive Investigation, Society for the Study of Reproduction, Perinatal Research Society, American Physiological Society, and Society for General Physiologists.

Sheila Grant, PhD

Dr. Sheila Grant received her Masters in biomedical engineering and PhD in materials engineering from Iowa State University. After graduation, she worked four years at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, CA.  In 2001, Dr. Grant became a faculty member in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO. She is currently a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering and manages three accelerators funded by the NIH REACH, NSF ART, and BARDA DRIVe agencies to assist researchers in translating their promising technologies. Dr. Grant has created several high tech ventures including G5 Biological Innovations, LLC which has a current NIH Phase 1 STTR.  Her research interests include the development of nanostructured biocomposites for enhanced tissue integration.  She has published over 100 papers and has numerous patents; she is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, a Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society, and a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

Elaine Haynes, RPh, MBA

Elaine Haynes is President and CEO of KaloCyte, Inc., a pre-clinical biotech startup developing an artificial red blood cell substitute that can be freeze-dried and stored for use when blood is not available. She has raised over $5M in investor funding and $14M in non-dilutive grant funding for KaloCyte, moved the company to Baltimore and grew the team to 9 employees. She is a seasoned business leader with over 35 years of healthcare experience and extensive expertise with development and commercialization of complex pharmaceuticals including radiopharmaceuticals, medical devices, sterile products, and controlled substances. Her expertise includes championing new product and commercial development programs, product launches, lifecycle management, general management, oversight of and collaboration with manufacturing, quality and regulatory affairs, capital equipment and plant expansion projects, P&L and budget management, and FDA interactions including new approvals, product recalls, safety monitoring and post-marketing reporting, M&A and divestitures.

Elaine was with Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals for over 28 years through early 2017. As Vice President of Alliance Management and Divestitures, she led the divestitures of Mallinckrodt’s contrast media and nuclear imaging businesses, delivering nearly $1 billion in total transaction value. Prior roles included Vice President & General Manager where she led teams in North and South America as well as global commercial functions for Imaging, Marketing Director, Training Manager, and Nuclear Pharmacist.

She completed her executive MBA at Washington University in St. Louis Olin Business School and her BS in Pharmacy from St. Louis College of Pharmacy, where she served on the Board of Trustees for 9 years. She serves on the Board of Directors for ARTMS, a radioisotope technology company based in Canada, as the company’s first independent director.

Allison Krepel

With a formal education in biomedical engineering, Allison works on behalf of the law firm of Polsinelli’s clients in the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications in the medical device, biomaterials, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, nuclear medicine, environmental, and mechanical disciplines. She also focuses on non-infringement, invalidity, and freedom-to-operate (FTO) opinions, patentability analysis, and due diligence for intellectual property transactions.

Prior to joining Polsinelli as an associate, Allison worked as a scientist with the firm. Before law school, she was a licensing associate at Washington University’s Office of Technology Management where she managed university technologies and negotiated licenses in the areas of engineering, surgery, imaging, biology, radiology, and radiation oncology.

Allison also volunteers for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Pro Bono Program.

Mitzi Krockover, MD

Mitzi Krockover, MD, holds the positions of Founder and CEO at Woman Centered, LLC, as well as the host and producer of the Beyond the Paper Gown podcast, which focuses on empowering women through information and inspiration for optimal health. Additionally, she is a Partner at SSB Solutions, specializing in healthcare management consulting, development, and investment. As a Managing Director at Golden Seeds, an angel investment organization supporting women-led companies, Dr. Krockover co-chairs the Golden Seeds Health Care Sector Group and co-leads the Arizona Chapter.

Dr. Krockover’s career is marked by a strong dedication to women’s health. She was the inaugural Medical Director of the Iris Cantor-UCLA Women’s Health Center, recognized as a Center of Excellence by the Department of Health and Human Services. Following this, she became Vice President of Women’s Health at Humana Inc., acting as the primary healthcare strategist and spokesperson for women’s health issues.
Her involvement extends to several key organizations. She is a member of the Forum of the Innovation Economic Forum, backed by the Gates Foundation and the NIH, and the Women’s Health Innovation Council of Springboard. This organization nurtures the growth of women-led companies in various health-related fields, offering access to resources and expert networks. Dr. Krockover’s governance experience includes roles on both private and non-profit boards, such as the Institute for Mental Health Research and the Black Women’s Health Imperative. She is also a part of the National Council of the Institute for Public Health at Washington University, as well as the Washington University Phoenix Cabinet. Dr. Krockover completed her AB in Arts and Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, followed by a medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She finished her internal medicine residency at Northwestern University.

Kirsten Leute

At Osage University Partners, Kirsten is responsible for the relationships with the more than 100 academic institutions that are partnered with the fund, engaging potential new partner institutions, and enhancing and creating value-add programs for the partnered academic institutions.

Kirsten is an experienced technology transfer professional, spending 19 years in technology transfer at Stanford University and the German Cancer Research Center. Prior to joining OUP, she was Associate Director at Stanford’s Office of Technology Licensing. Over her career at Stanford, she managed portfolios of inventions in most technology areas, but concentrated in biotechnology.

Kirsten has also been actively involved in technology transfer outside her daily work. She is a former two-time board member for the Association of University Technology Managers and speaks frequently on university technology transfer.

Brett Maland

Brett is a Business Development Director for the Office of Technology Management with a focus on software and the physical sciences. He has been working in the intellectual property field for fourteen years, primarily in tech transfer, but also in private practice as a registered patent attorney.  His prior experience includes technology transfer at the University of Missouri, law for the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and engineering for Halliburton and Jacob’s Engineering.  Brett received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Arizona, his master’s degree in business administration from Arizona State University, and his juris doctorate from the University of Missouri.

Greg Markiewicz

Greg Markiewicz, MBA, is a Business Development Director in the Office of Technology Management (OTM) at Washington University in St. Louis. Having joined OTM from UCLA, he leads development of patent and copyright assets across a range of engineering technology platforms from Washington University School of Medicine and McKelvey School of Engineering. Prior to his university tech transfer roles, Greg led global businesses in the electronics and specialty materials sectors. He has a BS and MS in engineering, and a MBA.

Valencia Martin Wallace

As Deputy Commissioner for Patents at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Ms. Martin Wallace manages and leads the Patent organization’s efforts related to international intellectual property (IP) harmonization and oversees patent examining functions in Technology Centers that examine the technologies of communication, mechanical engineering, manufacturing and medical devices and processes and design. Regarding international IP harmonization, she specifically provides executive leadership on international patent legal issues and various work sharing efforts with international partners. 

Ms. Martin Wallace is currently the Executive Lead for the USPTO’s initiative the Council for Inclusive Innovation (CI2).  The CI2, comprised of representatives from industry, academia, and government, will help guide the USPTO in developing a comprehensive national strategy to build a more diverse and inclusive innovation ecosystem by encouraging participation demographically, geographically, and economically.

As part of her twenty-eight year career at the USPTO, she recently served as Deputy Commissioner for Patent Quality where she was responsible for sustaining the high quality of the USPTO’s patent examination processes and products. She also served as Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations, where Ms. Martin Wallace oversaw operations in the software technology centers, served as executive co-lead on the implementation of the AIA First-Inventor-to-File statutory framework, and led the implementation of the Office of Patent Examination Support Services.

Ms. Martin Wallace is a graduate of Howard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, and The George Washington University School of Law, where she earned a Juris Doctorate. She has also received a certificate in Advanced Public Administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Public Administration.

Mike McCay, PhD

Mike McCay, PhD, is the Director of Patent Management at Washington University’s Office of Technology Management (OTM) and is a USPTO-licensed patent agent. OTM’s Patent Management group prepares and prosecutes patent applications directed to a variety of technologies developed by Washington University creators. Mike has worked as a patent practitioner for over fifteen years at the intellectual property practices of two St. Louis law firms as well as at OTM. Previously, Mike worked as a biosimulation engineer at Entelos, a biotech start-up in the San Francisco Bay area, where he helped develop predictive computational models of diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and exercise-induced fatigue used by pharmaceutical industry clients for the identification of potential drug targets as well as the design of clinical trials. In addition, Mike worked as an aeronautical engineer at McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft Company (now Boeing), where he developed computer simulations of the flight dynamics of various fighter aircraft and assessed aircraft stability and control characteristics based on wind tunnel testing of scaled models, manned flight simulator evaluations, and flight testing of prototype fighter aircraft.

Nichole Mercier, PhD

Nichole Mercier is the Assistant Vice Chancellor and Managing Director of the Office of Technology Management for Washington University in St. Louis. Under her leadership, WashU’s activity in technology transfer has grown exponentially by doubling or more the invention disclosures, licensing transactions, and startups formed. Dr. Mercier is strongly committed to ensuring that women and minorities engage in technology transfer and entrepreneurship, establishing Women in Innovation and Technology (WIT) at WashU and Equalize as a national program to enable academic women researchers to overcome barriers to entrepreneurship. She received her Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and M.A. and B.A. from Clark University. 

Anne Miller

Anne Miller is the Director of Research Commercialization for the Office of the Vice President for Research at Saint Louis University. She oversees the University’s intellectual property portfolio and industry contracting activities. In addition, Anne and her team work to promote innovation and entrepreneurship though programs such as NSF-funded SLUStart I-Corps. In addition, Anne is an adjunct instructor in Saint Louis University’s Global Grad initiative. Anne has a B.A. in Political Science, and an M.A. in Leadership and Organizational Behavior.

Michelle Oyen, PhD

Michelle L. Oyen is the inaugural Director of the new Center for Women’s Health Engineering, based in the McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to her current appointment, she was on the faculty at the University of Cambridge (2006–18) in the UK and then briefly at East Carolina University (2018–21). Michelle has degrees in Materials Science and Engineering (BS), Engineering Mechanics (MS), and a PhD in Biophysical Sciences. She has worked on many problems in tissue biomechanics and biomimetic materials. She has researched engineering approaches to pregnancy and women’s health for over twenty years, particularly in methods to prevent, diagnose, and intervene in preterm birth. Current research projects include multi-scale modeling of placenta function, microstructural fracture models for amniotic sac rupture, and physical properties of the healthy and pathological uterus.

Leena Prabhu, PhD, MBA

Leena Prabhu, PhD, MBA, is the Director of Business Development and Licensing at Washington University’s Office of Technology Management (OTM). Leena and her team are responsible for evaluating invention disclosures, managing patent portfolios, negotiating licenses and developing commercialization strategies to maximize the translational impact of university technologies. Prior to joining the OTM, Leena worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as a research scientist and as a technology transfer professional. Leena has also worked at Schering Plough Pharmaceuticals (Merck) as part of the international & domestic product management team. She holds a PhD in Molecular Biology from I.I.Sc. (Indian Institute of Science) and a MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Valerie Ratts, MD

Valerie Ratts, MD, is associate dean for admissions and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Washington University School of Medicine. A native of St. Louis, she earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. After she completed her fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the Johns Hopkins, she joined the Washington University faculty in 1994. She has been the Program Director for the Infertility and Reproductive Medicine Center at Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital since 1998. She is a member of the medical staff at Barnes-Jewish, Missouri Baptist Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Presently, she is chairman of the Committee on Admissions for the School of Medicine.

Ratts has expertise in polycystic ovary syndrome, fertility preservation, and reproductive surgery. She has received a National Institutes of Health-sponsored Reproductive Scientist Development Program Award. Ratts is a member in multiple societies, including the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Society of Reproductive Endocrinologists and the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. She has received numerous awards and honors including Alpha Omega Alpha and Excellence in Teaching in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University. Ratts has been consistently ranked nationally among the Best Doctors in America.

Holly Rockweiler

Holly Rockweiler is co-founder and CEO of Madorra, a women’s health company dedicated to changing the treatment paradigm for vaginal atrophy and dryness. She co-founded Madorra as a spin-out of the Stanford Biodesign Fellowship where she implemented ethnographic research to identify unmet clinical needs and define user, market, and product requirements for solutions in women’s health, urology, nephrology, and infectious disease. Prior to Biodesign, she worked as a Senior Research Scientist at Boston Scientific where she developed therapies to enable more efficient care for patients living with heart failure. Her pre-clinical and clinical research has led to more than 20 pending and issued patents. Holly holds a M.S. and a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis

Andrew Toole, PhD

Dr. Andrew Toole is the Chief Economist at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and a Research Associate at the Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW). Dr. Toole joined the USPTO with experience in the private sector, academia, and government. After completing his PhD in economics at Michigan State University, Andrew Toole went to Stanford University as a postdoctoral student before becoming a faculty member at Illinois State University and Rutgers University in New Jersey. His research focuses on the economics of innovation, intellectual property, and related science and technology policies. Dr. Toole has published in the Journal of Law and Economics, the Review of Economics and Statistics, Research Policy, Management Science, and many other peer-reviewed journals.

Malcolm Townes, PhD

Dr. Malcolm Townes has the position of Innovation Fund Manager in the Office of Technology Management (OTM) at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU). In this role, he oversees the WashU Gap Fund, which provides funding for translational work on promising non-therapeutic medical, engineering, and physical science technologies created by WashU researchers to increase the chances of these technologies attracting the necessary industry partners to commercialize them. Prior to joining WashU, he had worked in the field of technology transfer and economic development for 16 years, first at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) and then at Saint Louis University. Before that he served in various product management roles with several industrial products companies where he had profit and loss (P&L) responsibility for product lines with as much as $50 million in annual revenues.  Dr. Townes received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Missouri S&T.  He obtained a Master of Business Administration with concentrations in entrepreneurship and marketing from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. He earned his Ph.D. in Public and Social Policy, with a focus in technology transfer policy, from Saint Louis University.

Mohamed A. Zayed, MD, PhD, MBA

Dr. Mohamed Zayed is a Professor with Tenure in Surgery, Radiology, and Molecular Cell Biology at Washington University School of Medicine. He is also an affiliated Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Washington University in St. Louis McKelvey School of Engineering. He is an American board of Surgery certified vascular surgeon and currently practice general vascular surgery with a focus on peripheral arterial and venous occlusive disease. He has been awarded several honors including a distinguished fellowship in the Society for Vascular Surgery (DFSVS), fellowship in the American Heart Association (FAHA), and fellowship in the American College of Surgeons (FACS). He previously served as a Vascular Cures Foundation Wylie Scholar, and an American Surgical Association (ASA) Foundation Fellow. He is currently Director of Vascular Surgery Research, and Director of the multi-disciplinary CardioVascular Research Innovation in Surgery and Engineering (CVISE) Center. He is PI and Co-PI of multiple active NIH and foundation research grants evaluating critical topics in vascular disease and novel technology development. Over the past 5 years he has filed >40 patent applications, has 4 issued patents, and co-founded three startup biomedical companies. In his various roles as physician, surgeon, educator, research scientist, and academic entrepreneur, he has led and worked with various diverse teams with a range of expertise in science, medicine, engineering, and business. Dr. Zayed recently completed an MBA at the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis where he received specialized training in finance, strategy, and management of strong teams.