Hiroyuki Fujita, PhD
Director, Center for International Research on MicroMechatronics, CIRMM, Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo
Dr Fujita is a world renowned expert in bioengineering and micro-/nanotechnology. Dr. Fujita is a developer of nano transport system by biomolecular motors, parallel gene transfection into arrayed cells and silicon nanotweezers for biophysical experimentation on single molecules (e.g. DNA). www.fujita3.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Luo Lu, MD, PhD
Professor of Molecular Medicine, UCLA
Dr. Lu has a long and productive career in Developmental Neurobiology. His main research interests are in corneal epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis, molecular mechanisms of neurotransmission, and developmental regulation of neural progenitor commitment and differentiation. Dr. Lu’s research is focused on the mechanisms activated in response to growth factors, cytokines and environmental stresses (UV, hypoxia and hyperosmotic pressure). Dr. Lu is an author of over 100 peer reviewed publications and a recipient of multiple NIH grants.
Andrey Mazarati, MD, PhD
Professor of Neurology, UCLA
Dr. Mazarati’s research has been focusing on the mechanisms of status epilepticus and chronic epilepsy with the special emphasis on the role of neuropeptides in seizures. Dr. Mazarati discovered and was the first to describe anticonvulsant and antiepileptic properties of neuropeptide galanin. Dr. Mazarati was one of the first researches to apply long-term seizure monitoring and seizure active detection in epileptic animals. He is an authors/co-author of over 50 peer-reviewed papers, including publications in Journal of Neuroscience, PNAS, and Annals of Neurology. In addition, he is an author of over 20 reviews, editorials and book chapters. Dr. Mazarati is an ad-hoc reviewer for over a dozen of peer-reviewed journals, and a member of a study section at NINDS.
Business Advisor
Mr. Ben Pless
President and CEO of Autnomic Technologies, Inc.
Mr. Pless has over 25 years of experience developing and bringing to market medical devices. Most recently he was the chief operating officer and chief technical officer of NeuroPace, a privately-held company developing electronic implantable devices for the treatment of neurological disorders, such as epilepsy. Prior to joining NeuroPace in 2000, he was responsible for worldwide development activities for the Cardiac Rhythm Management Division of St. Jude Medical, Inc. Mr. Pless previously served as vice president of product development for Ventritex, Inc. and general manager of its Maven Capacitors division until the sale of the company to St. Jude Medical in 1997. He was a founder of Ventritex where he was instrumental in the development of one of the first implantable cardiac defibrillators. His career began at Intermedics, where he was a development engineer for implantable pacemakers. Mr. Pless is a member of the board of directors of several start-up medical device companies and regularly provides consulting services to the venture capital community. Mr. Pless received a B.S.E.E. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and attended graduate school at Rice University. He is a named inventor on approximately 100 patents and patent applications.
Collaborators
University of California, Los Angeles www.ucla.edu
Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute www.labiomed.org
WESCO Microscopes www.wescomicroscopes.com
CELAVIE Biosciences