The board:
- Holds meetings three times per year and ad hoc meetings as needed
- Engages and interacts frequently with the DDI team
- Conducts scientific reviews of proposed and ongoing projects
- Provides feedback for strategic directions of pipeline programs
- Offers guidance for business development and licensing opportunities
Sharon Ayd, PhD, MBA
Dr. Ayd is CEO of Ayd Biopharma Consulting Group, LLC. She has over 35 years of global R&D experience and is an expert in regulatory affairs, clinical development and operations. She also has experience in venture-backed biopharmaceutical companies and has contributed to the approval of more than 100 drugs worldwide. She was a founding member of Transcend Therapeutics (TSND:NASDAQ), chief operations officer at Advanced Life Sciences (ADLS:NASDAQ) and chief scientific officer at Pinnacle Biologics (private). She was previously global vice president of innovation and development at Fresenius-Kabi (DAX:FRE) and global vice president of R&D at Hospira/Pfizer (NYSE:HSP).
John Byrd, MD
Dr. Byrd is the Chief Medical Offcer at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and a Distinguished University Professor of Medicine at the University of Cincinnati. He is a physician scientist focused on immune and molecular pharmacology and clinically on developing new treatments for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). He has more than 400 publications related to his work. Dr. Byrd has participated in the comprehensive development of five drugs that ultimately have been FDA approved for CLL and AML.
David Carbone, MD, PhD
Dr. Carbone is a professor of Internal Medicine, director of the OSUCCC – James Thoracic Oncology Center and the Barbara J. Bonner Chair in Lung Cancer Research. He is a world-renowned lung cancer expert with over 200 peer-reviewed publications.
Pat Confalone, PhD
Dr. Confalone is an R&D consultant at Confalone Consulting, LLC. He has over 46 years of R&D experience and is an expert in medicinal chemistry, process R&D, and preclinical development. He was previously VP at DuPont, VP at Bristol-Myers Squibb, SVP at DuPont Merck Pharmaceuticals and Chairman of the Board of the American Chemical Society.
Andrew Dahlem, DVM (h.c), PhD
Dr. Dahlem is chief of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and senior research professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine. He is also the chief development officer at Gate Neurosciences. He has previously served as VP and COO of Lilly Research Laboratories (LRL), and led the Lilly Research Operations Group to advance drug discovery, molecule and technology acquisition, and business development efforts.
Zihai Li, MD, PhD
Dr. Li is a renowned medical oncologist and immunologist and the founding director of the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology (PIIO) at Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). The PIIO is a bench-to-bedside research initiative that focuses on harnessing the immune system to fight cancer at all levels, from prevention to treatment and survivorship. Dr. Li is also a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Ohio State and a member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, where he specializes in studying mechanisms of immune regulation in cancer. His current interests focus on developing better immunotherapeutics against this disease by reprogramming the tumor microenvironment.
Mark Mulvihill, PhD
Dr. Mulvihill currently serves as Chief Scientific Officer for a new biotech company in stealth mode and President of MJ Mulvihill R&D Consulting, where he helps multiple clients define the scientific approach underlying the development of their respective company’s pipeline. Over the last 24 years, he has excelled in research and early development leadership roles at OSI, Astellas, X-Rx, Warp Drive and HiberCell. He is the inventor of two novel heterocycles which can be found in clinical candidates Linsitinib and OSI-027, and approved drug Acalabrutinib.
Bobby Sandage, PhD
Dr. Sandage is the president and CEO of Euclises Pharmaceuticals and managing director at the Paula and Rodger Riney Family Foundation and Lightchain Capital, LLC. He brings over 35 years of pharmaceutical research and development experience. He was formerly president and CEO of Coronado Biosciences, head of the oncology program at Covidien Pharmaceuticals, EVP and chief scientific officer at Indevus Pharmaceuticals, and has held senior drug development positions at DuPont Merck. Additionally, he remains an active board member of Mateon (MATN), Immunophotonics and Tensive Controls.
Robert Stein, MD, PhD
Dr. Stein is EVP of R&D at MiMedx Group and a venture partner of Samsara Capital. He brings over 35 years of experience in innovation and leadership in the pharma and biotech industries. Previously, he was president of R&D at Agenus Inc. and EVP of R&D for DuPont Merck Pharmaceuticals, president of R&D and chief scientific officer (CSO) for Incyte Pharmaceuticals, president of Roche Palo Alto and CEO of KineMed.
For more information, contact the DDI at ddi@osumc.edu.