Executive Team
Updated: August 15, 2007
Scott Pancoast - President & CEO
Background: From 1994 to 2004, Mr. Pancoast was managing partner of Western States Investment Corporation, a private San Diego venture capital fund with $30 million to $100 million under management depending on the time period. During that time, he was CEO or interim CEO for six start-up companies and served on the board of directors for over 15 companies, including three public companies. Prior to joining WSIC, he started and ran the Midwest division of a $300 million (in revenues) publicly traded company. He served as the Chairman/President of the San Diego Venture Group during the late 1990s. Mr. Pancoast earned a bachelors degree from the University of Virginia, and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Roger Sabbadini, PhD - Founder, Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer
Background: Dr. Sabbadini has been interested in the role of sphingolipid second messengers in disease, including cancer, inflammation and heart disease for the past 15 years. Dr. Sabbadini has been a professor of Biology at San Diego State University for over 27 years and is the founder of three biotechnology companies incubated out of San Diego State University. Dr. Sabbadini's lab is focused on developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of sphingolipid-related diseases. Dr. Sabbadini is a Charter Member of the SDSU Molecular Biology Institute and a Charter Member of the SDSU Heart Institute. Dr. Sabbadini earned his Ph.D. at the University of California, Davis.
William Garland, PhD - Vice President of Drug Development
Background: Dr. Garland has more than 27 years' experience in the pharmaceutical industry, 18 of which were primarily in pre-clinical development, discovery support, and clinical pharmacology, primarily with Hoffman-La Roche. Dr. Garland is knowledgeable in all phases of drug development, from discovery to post-marketing. He has technical expertise in pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism, medicinal chemistry, regulatory science, and bioanalytical chemistry. Dr. Garland earned his Ph.D. at the University of Washington.
Gary Atkinson - Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Background: Mr. Atkinson has more than 20 years of financial management experience. Prior to joining Lpath, he served as the Chief Financial Officer for three private life science companies. In addition, Mr. Atkinson was the Vice President of Finance at Isis Pharmaceuticals, a publicly held pharmaceutical research and development company. He began his career with Ernst & Young, where he earned his CPA designation. Mr. Atkinson is a graduate of Brigham Young University.
Geneviève Hansen, Ph.D. - Vice President of Research
Background: Dr. Hansen has over 15 years of experience in biotechnology. Dr. Hansen was previously the director of protein therapeutics at Diversa Corporation, where her group led multiple protein therapeutic programs in oncology, auto-immune disease, and anti-infectives. Prior to that, Dr. Hansen headed the immunology projects at Syngenta's Genomics Center. From 1993 to 2001, Dr. Hansen held increasingly senior positions at Ciba-Geigy/Novartis. Dr. Hansen holds a master in biochemistry and a Ph.D. in microbiology and genetics from the University of Paris and did her post-doctoral work at the Max-Planck Institute in Germany.
Glenn Stoller, M.D. - Head of Lpath Ocular
Background: Dr. Stoller is a practicing retinal-eye surgeon. He received his medical degree from NYU School of Medicine and performed his residency at the Harkness Eye Institute of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. He completed his fellowship in medical and surgical diseases of the retina at New York Presbyterian Hospital—Cornell Campus in New York City. He has served as an advisor for a number of pharmaceutical companies. He is a former editorial board member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and an active member of The Retina Society.