Professor George Church

George Church is Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and Director of PersonalGenomes.org, which provides the world’s only open-access information on human Genomic, Environmental & Trait data (GET). His 1984 Harvard PhD thesis included the first methods for direct genome sequencing, molecular multiplexing & barcoding. These led to the first genome sequence (pathogen, Helicobacter pylori) in 1994. His innovations have contributed to nearly all “next generation” genome sequencing methods and companies (CGI, Life, Illumina, Nanopore). This plus chip-based DNA synthesis and stem cell engineering resulted in founding additional application-based companies spanning fields of medical diagnostics (Knome, Alacris, AbVitro, Pathogenica) & synthetic biology / therapeutics (Joule, Gen9, Editas, Egenesis, enEvolv, WarpDrive).

He has also pioneered new privacy, bio-safety, environmental & bio-security policies. He is director of NIH Centre for Excellence in Genomic Science. His honors include election to NAS & NAE & Franklin Bower Laureate for Achievement in Science. He has co-authored 370 papers, 60 patents & one book (Regenesis).

Anders Sandberg, PHD

Anders Sandberg has a background in Computer Science, Neuroscience and Medical Engineering. He obtained his PhD from Stockholm University for work on neural network modelling of human memory. He is currently senior researcher at the Future of Humanity Institute in the Oxford Martin School, at Oxford University. His research is based on societal and ethical issues surrounding human enhancement, management of low-probability high-impact risks, estimating the capabilities of future technologies, and very long-range futures. He is senior Oxford Martin fellow, and research associate of the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, the Oxford Centre for Neuroethics, the Center for the Study of Bioethics (Belgrade), and the Institute of Future Studies (Stockholm).

John Schloendron, PHD

John Schloendorn, PhD, founded Gene And Cell Technologies in 2013 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer. Prior to founding Gene And Cell Technologies, John was the CEO of ImmunePath, a venture-backed regenerative medicine startup. At ImmunePath, John oversaw the development of immune cell therapies from embryonic stem cells from 2009 to 2012. Even though ImmunePath finished with positive pre-clinical results, it was ultimately unable to raise enough money for a clinical trial and closed its doors in 2012. John also served as the Director of SENS Foundation’s intramural Research Center from 2006 to 2009, where he oversaw the development of enzyme therapies for age-related storage diseases and a variety of other projects through the pre-clinical stages. A native of Germany, John holds a Green Card under the National Interest Waiver, a program designed to retain technology leaders considered of national interest to the USA. At his young age of 34, he is author of several pubmed-indexed publications and inventor on several active patent applications.

Ali Fallah, PHD

Ali Fallah, PhD, CSO, is a specialist in the field of gene therapy. He is co-founder and CEO of RNAx Ltd., a company specialising in RNA based therapeutics. He is also co-founder & CEO at Mede Bioeconomy, and both the president and co-founder of the Iranian Institute of Cell and Gene Therapy. He has a PhD in molecular medicine from Tehran University and has worked in both stem cells and genetics. He has worked with some of the most promising genes considered to have ‘anti-aging’ properties. He is a master of gene therapy building and a long time advocate for curing disease. Ali believes that reading and writing life’s code will be the way of the future.

Aubrey De Grey, PHD

Aubrey de Grey, PhD, Chief Science Officer and co-founder of SENS is the biomedical gerontologist who researched the idea for and founded SENS research foundation. He received his BA in Computer Science and PhD in Biology from the University of Cambridge in 1985 and 2000, respectively. Dr de Grey is editor-in-chief of Rejuvenation Research, is a fellow of both the Gerontological Society of America and the American Aging Association, and sits on the editorial and scientific advisory boards of numerous journals and organisations.

Matthew Scholz,

Matthew Scholz is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Immusoft, a biotech start-up firm that is developing a breakthrough technology that will turn a patient’s B-cells into miniature drug factories. Longer term, this technology has the potential to transform the landscape of biomedicine.

With a background in computer security, Matthew’s initial concept for Immusoft’s core technology was based on using high speed cryptographic hardware to develop novel proteins to fight pathogens. In 2008, Matthew began conducting independent research in immunology and gene therapy and seeked input from some of the world’s top scientists. By 2009, he dramatically evolved the initial concept after conceiving how a research system developed by Nobel Laureate and former President of Caltech, David Baltimore, could be modified for a practical application: programming resting B-cells to secrete therapeutic proteins. Matthew negotiated an exclusive license to the system, then developed and patented a way to improve its efficiency nearly seven-fold, thus making it clinically viable. This modified system is the core of Immusoft’s technology platform.

Along the way, Matthew has recruited a world-class team of scientists and biotech business experts to build Immusoft’s core technology and shape and drive the company. Immusoft’s extensive list of advisors includes experts in immunology, cell therapy, gene therapy, preclinical and clinical development, and CEOs of successful biotech companies. Matthew has also led Immusoft’s highly successful fundraising efforts. In March 2012, Immusoft was among the first to be awarded the Thiel Foundation’s Breakout Labs grant. The start-up has also received a grant from the National Institutes of Health and funds from private investors. In addition, Matthew has secured several valuable collaborations, including nearly $100k of work at no charge from academic labs during the company’s proof of concept stage.

With Immusoft as his third venture, Matthew has 13 years of experience connecting real-world needs with cutting-edge technical solutions. Prior projects include mobile application development and GPS-based fleet logistics (a start-up that he sold in 2009). He holds a degree in Computer Science from the University of Washington and is a frequent speaker at the University of Washington School of Business. Matthew also serves as mentor for the Thiel Fellowship, a program that awards $100k grants to some of the brightest scientific minds in the world who are under age 20.

Hernando Ramirez Llinas

Hernando Ramirez Llinas is a Biotechnology and Nanotechnology expert. He is also a Systems and Computer Engineer (Computer Science), University of Los Andes. He has done work and in-depth research in Molecular Biology, Artificial Intelligence, Nanotechnology, Bioengineering and Cryonics. BioViva is honoured to have him on the team.

• Currently contained in the silver edition of the book “Who’s Who in the World”.
• Chosen to appear in the book “2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century”.
• Nominated for “International Engineer of the Year 2008” by IBC in Cambridge, England.
• Co-founder of the Colombia-Purdue Institute for Advanced Scientific Research.

Mr Llinas worked as a Professor for 20 years. He was selected by EU4M-Consortium of European Union as professor in Erasmus Mundus, Mechatronics & Micromechatronics Master. He has been interviewed by the History Channel and has been featured in multiple TV and newspaper interviews. He is a member of 17 Scientific & research societies. He has been a lecturer in more than 50 seminars in different countries. Hernando is working with BioViva to explore opportunities in Colombia and Latin America.