Scientific Advisory Board
Updated: August 12, 2007
Gordon Mills M.D., Ph.D. - Chairman, Department of Molecular Therapeutics & Professor of Medicine and Immunology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Background: Dr. Mills is the chair of the MD Anderson cancer center. He is a highly regarded expert in the field of cancer and lipid research. Dr. Mills is on the external advisory board of several cancer research centers including centers at Vanderbilt and Baylor as well as centers in Toronto and Seattle. Dr. Mills is also a consultant for a variety of lipid research companies including Echelon Pharmaceuticals and Cytovia Inc. Dr. Mills provides a broad knowledge of preclinical and clinical drug and antibody development in the lipid research field.
Bart Barlogie, M.D., Ph.D.- Professor and Director, Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, University of Arkansas
Background: Dr. Barlogie is one of the most respected experts in the area of multiple myeloma clinical research. His research focuses on bone marrow transplantation, growth control and genetic markers in cancer.
Douglas Mann, M.D.- Chief of Cardiology, Baylor College of Medicine and Winters Center for Heart Failure Research
Background: Dr. Mann is an expert in cardiac remodeling and heart failure and has done pioneering work in the area of pro-inflammatory cytokines and sphingolipids in heart disease.
Nabil Hanna, Ph.D.
Background: Nabil Hanna, Ph.D. Dr. Hanna is former Executive Vice President of Research at Biogen Idec and served as a Chief Scientific Officer of IDEC Pharmaceuticals. During his tenure at IDEC, Dr. Hanna led the discovery and pre-clinical development of Rituximab and Zevalin, two antibodies approved for therapy of non-Hodgkin's B cell lymphoma. From 1981 to 1990, Dr. Hanna served as a Director of the Department of Immunology at SmithKline Beecham focusing on autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. Prior to that, he has studied the role of natural host defenses against cancer metastasis at the NCI-Frederick Cancer Research Center.
Judith Varner, Ph.D.- Associate Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Diego
Background: Dr. Varner is an expert in the field of cancer and angiogenesis. Her research lab at UCSD focuses upon the molecular mechanism of angiogenic signaling and processes. Dr. Varner routinely performs and consults for drug development companies in the area of in vivo and in vitro assay development, including Biogen-Idec and Pfizer. Dr. Varner provides Lpath with deep domain expertise in angiogenesis.
Edward Dennis, Ph.D.- Professor of Pharmacology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego
Background: Dr. Dennis is considered an expert in the field of lipid research and inflammation with over 250 publications in this area. He is Editor-in-Chief of the top rated Journal of Lipid Research and has chaired numerous international symposiums on bioactive lipids, lipidomics, cancer and inflammation. He has held numerous consultant positions in large pharma including Lilly and Hoffman La-Roche and Board of Directors and SAB positions in biotech. Dr. Dennis provides expertise in the field of lipid research.
Joseph Witztum, M.D.- Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego
Background: Dr. Witztum's research lab at UCSD focuses upon lipoprotein metabolism and mechanisms by which LDL contribute to atherogenesis at the level of the artery wall, oxidized LDL and prevention. His lab works on imaging of atherosclerosis using novel monoclonal antibodies to epitopes found in atherosclerosis lesions. Dr. Witztum is an expert in anti-lipid antibody development and angiogenesis.
Robert Engler, M.D.- Clinical Director, Cardium, Inc. and Professor Emeritis of Medicine at UCSD School of Medicine
Background: In addition to being a clinician and researcher, Dr. Engler is also the scientific founder of publicly held Collateral Therapeutics, now Cardium, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company in phase II/III trials for an angiogenesis therapeutic. Engler's research focus is on cardiac angiogenesis as well as the role of apoptosis following myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.
Brad Cunningham, Ph.D.- President and CSO of IVD Services
Background: Dr. Cunningham is the founder of IVD Services, a company specializing in assay development consulting and antibody development for the in vitro diagnostic market. Lpath benefits from Dr. Cunnigham's expertise in assay development, process validations, and submission of 510K and PMA FDA approvals.
Doug Grotjahn, Ph.D.- Professor of Chemistry, San Diego State University
Background: Dr. Grotjahn is an organic chemist with expertise in catalytic applications of organometallic compounds, hybrids between organic and inorganic materials. Dr. Grotjahn advises the Company in the development of lysolipid analogs.