Our Team
Gideon Bollag, PhD
Cofounder and Chief Scientific Officer
Reinaldo Diaz, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
Stuart Barlow, MBA, CPA
Chief Accounting Officer
Jackie Walling, MBChB, PhD
Chief Medical Officer
Dov Gal, Esq
VP, Administration and
Associate General Counsel
Gideon Bollag, PhD
Cofounder and Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Bollag previously served as Plexxikon’s chief executive officer. Under his leadership, the team developed two FDA-approved drugs, Zelboraf® for metastatic melanoma and Turalio® for tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT). Dr. Bollag was also a member of the founding scientific team at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, where he oversaw the discovery of Nexavar® approved to treat renal cell and liver cancer, and Ibrance® for advanced breast cancer. He serves on the external advisory board of the National Cancer Institute’s RAS initiative and on the scientific advisory board at Ambagon Therapeutics. Dr. Bollag received his PhD in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.
Reinaldo Diaz, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Diaz brings more than 30 years of investment, financing and business development expertise. He concurrently serves as a venture partner at Longitude Capital Management and previously served as managing director of Auven Therapeutics, a life sciences private equity firm. He is a member of the board of Inozyme Pharma and Lexeo Therapeutics. Diaz received his undergraduate and MBA degrees from Harvard University.
Stuart Barlow, MBA, CPA
Chief Accounting Officer
Mr. Barlow brings more than 40 years in accounting and financial management, including 13 years in drug development. He concurrently serves as chief accounting officer for Auven Therapeutics, a life sciences private equity firm. Mr. Barlow is a certified public accountant. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston University and an MBA degree from Columbia University.
Jackie Walling, MBChB, PhD
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Walling brings extensive experience in global clinical development of oncology and rare disease drugs, most recently serving as chief medical officer for Plexxikon. She was previously vice president, clinical development at BioMarin Pharmaceutical. She received her PhD in biology from the University of Southampton, UK and her MBChB from the University of Bristol.
Dov Gal, Esq
VP, Administration and Associate General Counsel
Mr. Gal concentrates on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, including capital-raising transactions, corporate finance, joint ventures, shareholder or partnership arrangements, and banking and investor relationships. He represents a wide range of investors in start-up, early stage and venture capital financings, private placements, PIPE transactions, and other debt and equity offerings. He is a partner at the Schneider Law Group, and a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto.
Joseph Schlessinger, PhD
Cofounder and Chairman of Board
Douglas Hanahan, PhD
Cofounder
Gideon Bollag, PhD
Cofounder and Chief Scientific Officer
Patrick Enright
Longitude Capital Management
Steve Liapis, PhD
Northpond Ventures
Axel Bolte
Independent Board Member
Joseph Schlessinger, PhD
Cofounder and Chairman of Board
Dr. Schlessinger is a professor of pharmacology at Yale University School of Medicine, and until July 2022, had served as chair of the department of pharmacology at Yale since 2001. He was previously director of the Skirball Institute for Biomolecular Medicine, and professor and chair of the department of pharmacology at NYU Medical School. Prior to NYU, he was a member of the Weizmann Institute of Science and professor of cancer research in the department of immunology. He has co-founded multiple biotechnology companies, including Sugen, Plexxikon, Kolltan Pharmaceuticals and Inozyme Pharma. Dr. Schlessinger received a PhD in biophysics from the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Douglas Hanahan, PhD
Cofounder
Dr. Hanahan is a distinguished scholar in the Lausanne Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and emeritus professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL). From 1988 to 2010, he was a professor of biochemistry at UCSF in San Francisco. He began his scientific career at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where he developed one of the first transgenic mouse models of cancer. Known as one of the pioneers who helped propel the functional genetic era of cancer research, Dr. Hanahan co-wrote the ‘Hallmarks of Cancer’ series, a seminal resource in cancer research. His current research includes genetic signatures and physical cues in the microenvironment that modulate tumor invasion and metastasis, with the goal of advancing knowledge of cancer mechanisms and therapeutic applications. He received the American Association of Cancer Research’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 and has been elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, the US National Academy of Science, and the European Molecular Biology Organization. Dr. Hanahan received a bachelor’s degree in physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a PhD in biophysics from Harvard, as well as an honorary degree from the University of Dundee (UK).
Gideon Bollag, PhD
Cofounder and Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Bollag previously served as Plexxikon’s chief executive officer. Under his leadership, the team developed two FDA-approved drugs, Zelboraf® for metastatic melanoma and Turalio® for tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT). Dr. Bollag was also a member of the founding scientific team at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, where he oversaw the discovery of Nexavar® approved to treat renal cell and liver cancer, and Ibrance® for advanced breast cancer. He serves on the external advisory board of the National Cancer Institute’s RAS initiative and on the scientific advisory board at Ambagon Therapeutics. Dr. Bollag received his PhD in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.
Patrick Enright
Longitude Capital Management
Mr. Enright is a managing director and founder of Longitude Capital. He was previously managing director at Pequot Ventures, where he co-led the life sciences investment practice, and before that, was a managing member of the Delta Opportunity Fund at Diaz & Altschul Capital Management. He began his investment career at PaineWebber Development Corporation. Mr. Enright has held senior executive positions at Valentis, Boehringer Mannheim (acquired by Roche), and Sandoz (Novartis). He currently serves on the boards of Aptinyx, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Vera Therapeutics, the National Venture Capital Association and multiple privately held biopharmaceutical companies. Mr. Enright holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a BS in biological sciences from Stanford University.
Steve Liapis, PhD
Northpond Ventures
Steve Liapis is a Principal at Northpond Ventures where he focuses on biotechnology platforms and therapeutics and leads Northpond’s newco incubation efforts with the Wyss Institute at Harvard and the School of Engineering at MIT. Steve is Board Director at Kyverna Therapeutics, Totus Medicines, Opna Bio, and Parthenon Therapeutics, and is a Board Observer at 1859 Inc., Artisan Bio, Ori Biotech, Kytopen, and Stride Bio. Previously, Steve was Director of Portfolio Decision Resources at Sanofi, where he led global strategy and resource prioritization for Sanofi Oncology. Prior to Sanofi, Steve was Head of Strategy at Arbor Biotechnologies and served in leadership positions at L.E.K. Consulting where he focused on R&D and commercial strategy for immuno-oncology as well as advanced therapeutic modalities including gene therapy, gene editing, and cell therapy. Steve holds a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Harvard University where he trained in the laboratory of Dr. John Rinn, focusing on the discovery and molecular characterization of novel long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), as well as identifying the role of lncRNAs in disease pathogenesis. He also holds a Master’s Degree in genetics and plant biology from Yale University and an undergraduate degree in environmental science from Stockton College.
Axel Bolte
Independent Board Member
Axel Bolte, MSc currently serves as a senior advisor and director of Inozyme Pharma, Inc. (INZY), a company he founded in 2017 and where he served as President and CEO until April 2023. Since March 2017, Mr. Bolte also has served as a managing member of Healthcare Advisors GmbH, a private healthcare advisory company.
Mr. Bolte served as a venture partner at HBM Partners AG, a provider of investment advisor services in the life sciences industry, from February 2017 to September 2019 and as an investment advisor to HBM Partners AG from March 2003 to January 2017. Mr. Bolte has served on multiple boards of directors of private and public biotechnology companies, including IVERIC bio, Inc (ISEE, sold to Astellas Pharma), PTC Therapeutics (PTCT) amongst others. Mr. Bolte received a master’s degree in biochemistry from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland and an M.B.A. from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Benjamin Cravatt, PhD
The Scripps Research Institute
Robert Darnell, MD, PhD
Rockefeller University
Frank McCormick, PhD
The University of California,
San Francisco
Berta Strulovici, PhD
Formerly at Weizmann
Institute of Science
Joseph Schlessinger, PhD
Yale University
Douglas Hanahan, PhD
Ludwig Institute
Benjamin Cravatt, PhD
The Scripps Research Institute
Dr. Cravatt is the Norton B. Gilula professor of chemical biology in the department of chemistry at The Scripps Research Institute. His research is focused on chemical proteomic technologies for protein and drug discovery, with particular interest in cancer and the nervous system. Dr. Cravatt is a co-founder of Activx Biosciences (acquired by Kyorin), Abide Therapeutics (acquired by Lundbeck) and Vividion Therapeutics (acquired by Bayer). His honors include the Eli Lilly Award in biological chemistry, the ASBMB Merck Award, the AACR Award for Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry in Cancer Research, the Wolf Prize in Chemistry, and memberships in the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Medicine, and American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Cravatt received his BS in biological sciences and BA in history from Stanford University, and a PhD from The Scripps Research Institute.
Robert Darnell, MD, PhD
Rockefeller University
Dr. Darnell is professor of cancer biology, head of the laboratory of molecular neuro-oncology and senior physician at Rockefeller University Hospital. He is also an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a senior visiting fellow at MITRE, and the founding director and CEO emeritus of the New York Genome Center. Dr. Darnell is a physician scientist who has pioneered next-generation approaches to understanding RNA genomics in human disease. His work on disease mechanisms of tumor immunity and autoimmune brain disease led to the basic discovery that neurons have unique systems for regulating RNA metabolism, and the development of a new tool, HITS-CLIP, to study RNA regulation in vivo, which he has applied to discovering the mechanism by which the Fmr1 protein inhibits neuronal translation. Dr. Darnell’s ongoing work focuses on harnessing big data and molecular genetics to apply his scientific discoveries to clinical care. Dr. Darnell holds bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemistry from Columbia University and an MD/PhD in molecular biology from Washington University. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Frank McCormick, PhD
The University of California, San Francisco
Dr. McCormick, PhD, is professor at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center where he previously served as director until 2014. Prior to UCSF, Dr. McCormick held research leadership positions at Cetus and Chiron, before founding Onyx Pharmaceuticals. At Onyx, he initiated drug discovery efforts that led to the approval of Nexavar® in renal cell and liver cancer. Dr. McCormick’s group also led to the identification of the CDK4 kinase inhibitor, Ibrance®, approved for advanced breast cancer. Dr. McCormick’s research centers on targeting Ras proteins and their regulators, including the NF1 protein neurofibromin. He is the author of 398 scientific publications and holds 20 issued patents. He has served as president for the American Association for Cancer Research and since 2013, led the National Cancer Institute’s RAS initiative overseeing the national effort to develop therapies against Ras-driven cancers. Dr. McCormick received his BSc in biochemistry from the University of Birmingham and PhD in biochemistry from the University of Cambridge. He is a fellow of the Royal Society and member of the National Academy of Sciences.
Berta Strulovici, PhD
Formerly at Weizmann Institute of Science
Dr. Strulovici was most recently the founding director of the center for personalized medicine at Weitzmann Institute of Science, focused on novel technologies in genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics and chemical biology to advance personalized medicine and life sciences in Israel. Before that, she was chief technical officer and vice president of research at Ipierian. She has a track record of building and leading outstanding teams, while integrating innovative processes into seamless, successful enterprises in start-up and large pharma environments. At Merck Research Laboratories, Dr. Strulovici served as vice president of basic research in charge of early drug discovery of lead compounds for Merck Worldwide. She previously served as director of research & development at Tularik, Dr. Strulovici received her PhD from Weitzmann Institute in reproductive endocrinology.
Joseph Schlessinger, PhD
Cofounder and Chairman of Board
Dr. Schlessinger is a professor of pharmacology at Yale University School of Medicine, and until July 2022, had served as chair of the department of pharmacology at Yale since 2001. He was previously director of the Skirball Institute for Biomolecular Medicine, and professor and chair of the department of pharmacology at NYU Medical School. Prior to NYU, he was a member of the Weizmann Institute of Science and professor of cancer research in the department of immunology. He has co-founded multiple biotechnology companies, including Sugen, Plexxikon, Kolltan Pharmaceuticals and Inozyme Pharma. Dr. Schlessinger received a PhD in biophysics from the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Douglas Hanahan, PhD
Cofounder
Dr. Hanahan is a distinguished scholar in the Lausanne Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and emeritus professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL). From 1988 to 2010, he was a professor of biochemistry at UCSF in San Francisco. He began his scientific career at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where he developed one of the first transgenic mouse models of cancer. Known as one of the pioneers who helped propel the functional genetic era of cancer research, Dr. Hanahan co-wrote the ‘Hallmarks of Cancer’ series, a seminal resource in cancer research. His current research includes genetic signatures and physical cues in the microenvironment that modulate tumor invasion and metastasis, with the goal of advancing knowledge of cancer mechanisms and therapeutic applications. He received the American Association of Cancer Research’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 and has been elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, the US National Academy of Science, and the European Molecular Biology Organization. Dr. Hanahan received a bachelor’s degree in physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a PhD in biophysics from Harvard, as well as an honorary degree from the University of Dundee (UK).
Dalya Ataca, PhD
Associate Scientist
Pan-Yu Chen, PhD
Senior Scientist
Somenath Chowdhury, PhD
Director, Chemistry
Ehud Drori
Senior Lab Manager
Fleuriane Gallean
Senior Research Associate
Kerry Inokuchi
Associate Director, Program
and Alliance Management
Bernice Matusow
Associate Director,
Preclinical Development
Chrissy Nichols
VP, Development
Hoa Nguyen
Lab Manager
Sadegh Saghafinia, PhD
Scientist
Parmveer Singh
Senior Director,
Business Development
Sophia Qiqun Zeng, PhD
Associate Director,
Biology