Advances in Regenerative and Stem Cell Therapies

May 17, 2023

Rosalind Franklin University Panelists

Robert Marr, PhD
Dr. Marr received his undergraduate degree in applied biochemistry from the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Afterward, he did his graduate work in the laboratory of Dr. Frank Graham at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, where he worked on gene therapy for cancer. After receiving his PhD in molecular biology genetics and cancer, he moved to the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla California. There, his work in the laboratory of Dr. Inder Verma primarily focused on the application of gene transfer technology to the study and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

The overlying area of Dr. Marr’s interests are in the study of neurodegenerative diseases. More specifically, he focuses on Alzheimer’s disease and the use of gene transfer vectors as a tool to investigate specific gene function(s) in the brain as it relates to Alzheimer’s. The derivation of potentially new therapeutic approaches to Alzheimer’s disease is also an area of focus for Dr. Marr, as well as the role of Alzheimer’s related genes in the process of traumatic brain injury. Finally, his laboratory has been working on the use in induced human neurons to model aspects of dementia and for their application to regenerative medicine.

Daniel Peterson, PhD

Dr. Peterson obtained a BS degree from the University of Southern California and a PhD from the University of Otago School of Medicine, New Zealand. He did a post-doctoral fellowship in stem cell biology and gene therapy at University of California San Diego with Professor Fred H. (Rusty) Gage. Dr. Peterson then moved to the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, where he was a staff scientist in the Laboratory of Genetics.

In 1998, Dr. Peterson joined the faculty of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and established the Laboratory for Neural Repair and Neurogenesis. This was subsequently broadened in its focus to become the Laboratory for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine. In 2007, with the support of the Board of Trustees of Rosalind Franklin University, Dr. Peterson established the Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (CSCRM). In addition to directing the CSCRM, Dr. Peterson is Professor of Neuroscience and is the author of more than 65 peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Dr. Peterson is an internationally recognized scientist in the fields of stem cell biology and gene therapy. Peterson recently served as Chairman of the National Institutes of Health Study Sections, Neurogenesis and Cell Fate and Juvenile Protective Factors. He serves on the editorial boards of the scientific journals Stem Cells and Development, Neurobiology of Aging, Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, Frontiers in Neurogenesis, Aging and Disease, and Patents on Regenerative Medicine, and ISRN Stem Cells. He is the past-president of several societies, including the American Society for Neural Therapy and Repair. Dr. Peterson also serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for the Brain Research Foundation, the National Scientific Advisory Council of the American Federation for Aging Research, and as a commissioner for the Italian National Scientific Review Panel.

Industry Panelists

Yekaterina Galat, MS, BS
Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer
Artec BioTech

Yekaterina Galat received her Bachelor of Science degree at the California State University, Long Beach and her Master of Science in Management at the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. In 2010 she began her career in genetic diagnostics at the Reproductive Genetics Institute located in Chicago, where she developed standardized protocols and conducted testing for aneuploidy, monogenic disorders, and HLA matching. In 2012 she joined a stem cell laboratory at the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago affiliated with the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Her research became focused on derivation and differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) for disease modeling, therapy, and regeneration.

Yekaterina Galat is a co-inventor of a differentiation method of hPSCs toward blood lineages. The cells derived with this unique approach can be used to study factors affecting hematopoiesis and drug efficacy, as well as provide a source for cellular immunotherapy and for treatment of blood disorders. 

Nicholas Manusos, MBA
Mr. Manusos is chief executive officer of Ryne Bio. Recently as president and CEO of Opsis Therapeutics, Mr. Manusos led the company through a $70MM upfront/funding strategic R&D alliance with Bayer-BlueRock Therapeutics, and as COO of Iota Biosciences, resulting in a $300MM acquisition by Astellas.

Mr. Manusos previously held roles as COO of Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics Inc. and its board observer seat at Century Therapeutics; as VP, global head of business development at Baxter International Inc.; as VP, licensing and business development at Takeda Pharmaceuticals; and executive positions at Abbott Laboratories. He received his MBA from Northwestern University, J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management and his BBA in operations management from University of Wisconsin.

Steve Morris
Mr. Morris is founding partner, CEO and board member of Biolife4D. He has more than 20 years of extensive experience in the precision machining and manufacturing industries, including 15 years serving as president of privately held Inland Midwest Corp. that merged with MedTorque Inc.. In 2000, he acquired a controlling interest in IMC and led the company’s transformation into a premier, state-of-the-art facility catering exclusively to the medical technologies industry. 

He later formed Creative Manufacturing Consulting Solutions (CMCS), a consulting company focused on achieving sustainable manufacturing solutions in the areas of operational and process optimization, quality system development and optimization, and industry and regulatory compliance.

While leading CMCS, Mr. Morris simultaneously conducted more than two years of in-depth research into the specific processes and technologies of the 3D bioprinting and regenerative medicine field — and quickly recognized the nearly unlimited financial and human potential of this emerging market. He then formed Biolife4D, a regenerative medicine 3D bioprinting company with the goal of facilitating the biological printing of viable human organs for utilization in patient-specific human transplantation.

Mr. Morris’ key strengths include building and optimizing state-of-the-art innovative processes, putting together best-in-class teams and having a keen sense of strategic vision. He is uncompromising to produce high-quality products and customer service. 

Moderator
Connie M. Cleary, DPM
Director, Innovation & Industry Relations
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science