Keynotes & Speakers

2012 BIOS

Lynn L. Bergeson
Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C)

Lynn L. Bergeson is Managing Director of Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C), a Washington, D.C. law firm focusing on conventional and nanoscale industrial, agricultural, and specialty chemical product regulation and approval matters, environmental health and safety law, chemical product litigation, and associated business counseling and litigation issues.  She is Principal of The Acta Group, L.L.C. and The Acta Group EU, Ltd with offices in Washington, D.C. and Manchester, UK, and President of B&C Consortia Management, L.L.C. (BCCM) with offices in Washington, D.C.

BCCM is an affiliate of B&C, which has strong institutional experience in consortia management. BCCM provides cost effective administrative and management services to consortia to ensure their interests are protected and their voices heard on issues of concern.  BCCM works with industry groups to develop or expand advocacy and/or product stewardship programs, to develop and conduct communications outreach to local, state, federal, or international government entities, to formulate and initiate research programs -- whether voluntary or in response to regulatory requirements, and many other activities.

Ms. Bergeson counsels clients on a wide range of issues pertaining to chemical hazard, exposure and risk assessment, risk communication, and related legal and regulatory aspects of conventional and nanoscale chemical regulatory programs under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation, and on issues pertinent to nanotechnology and other emerging transformative technologies.

Ms. Bergeson is listed in The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers (2006-2011), U.S. News - Best Law Firms first-tier ranking for environmental law in Washington, D.C. (2010); Law360’s Five Most Admired Environmental Attorneys (2010); Washingtonian’s List of Top Lawyers (2009), and The Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2005-2010).

Ms. Bergeson is a graduate of Michigan State University (B.A., magna cum laude), and the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America, where she was a member of the Law Review.  She is admitted to the bar of the District of Columbia and several federal circuit courts.

Robert Burns
Senior Vice President, Harris & Harris Group, Inc.

Mr. Burns was a Senior Vice President of Lux Research, a firm that performs technology scouting and market assessments in emerging technology. He is a Director at The North Carolina Center of Innovation in Nanobiotechnology. In 2011, he was selected as one of seven executives to receive an Eisenhower Fellowship. In addition, he sits on the NC Governor's China Advisory Board. He was graduated in Economics (B.A.), from The University of Maryland- College Park and in International Business (M.B.A.) from The George Washington University.

Congressman G.K. Butterfield – D
1st Congressional District North Carolina

Congressman G. K. Butterfield is a lifelong resident of Wilson, N.C., and has served the people of the First Congressional District of North Carolina since 2004. His father was a well-respected dentist and elected official in Wilson, N.C., and his mother was a classroom teacher for 48 years.

Congressman Butterfield graduated from Charles H. Darden High School before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from North Carolina Central University (NCCU), in Durham, North Carolina. He later earned a Juris Doctorate degree from NCCU School of Law.

For 14 years, Congressman Butterfield practiced law in his home community, and was best known for his success with several eastern North Carolina voting rights lawsuits that resulted in African-American communities having the ability to elect candidates of their choice to public office.

In 1988, Congressman Butterfield was elected Resident Superior Court Judge for the First Judicial Division. For the next 12 years, he presided over civil and criminal court in 46 counties of North Carolina.

In February 2001, then-Judge Butterfield was appointed to the North Carolina Supreme Court but was defeated in the November 2002 election. After his defeat, he was then appointed to the Superior Court bench to resume his duties as a trial judge.

After serving 15 years as a state judge, in 2004, Congressman Butterfield retired after being selected as the Democratic nominee in the special election to fill the unexpired term as U.S. Representative for North Carolina’s First Congressional District. He was first elected on July 20, 2004, and continues to serve today.

In the 110th Congress, Congressman Butterfield became part of House leadership with an appointment as a Chief Deputy Whip. Chief Deputy Whips are responsible for helping to formulate policy and for ensuring the passage of legislation. He is the first Democrat from North Carolina to serve as a Chief Deputy Whip.

Congressman Butterfield serves on the powerful House Committee on Energy and Commerce. He serves as the Ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade. The subcommittee’s jurisdiction includes interstate and foreign commerce, including all trade matters within the jurisdiction of the full committee; regulation of commercial practices, including sports-related matters; consumer affairs, consumer protection, consumer product safety and product liability; motor vehicle safety; and regulation of travel and tourism.

Congressman Butterfield previously served as vice chairman of the Energy Subcommittee in the 111th Congress and now serves as a member of the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.

Congressman Butterfield is an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Army. His family includes adult daughters Valeisha, Lenai and Tunya; and son-in-law, Dahntay.

Vincent Caprio
Executive Director, NanoBusiness Commercialization Association

Mr. Caprio www.vincentcaprio.org is the Executive Director of the NanoBusiness Commercialization Association www.nanobca.org. Mr. Caprio is one of the foremost advocates for government funding of emerging technologies at both the State and Federal levels. Mr. Caprio has testified before the state legislatures of New York and Connecticut, and has participated in NanoBusiness’ Washington, DC Roundtable for the past nine years. Mr. Caprio is the founder and event director of the 11th Annual NanoBusiness Conference which will be held in Boston, MA in September 2012. During the past 6 years (2006-2012), Mr. Caprio was an invited speaker and guest lecturer on Nanotechnology at over 50 conferences. In addition, Mr. Caprio has appeared on numerous Connecticut TV and radio stations, including WICC 600AM http://www.annkarrick.com/ThisWeek, discussing the impact of Water and Nanotechnology.


Mr. Caprio graduated from Villanova University in 1979 with a B.S in Accounting and completed a MBA from Northeastern in 1987. Mr. Caprio is a member of Villanova University’s Financial Club and serves as an active member of Villanova’s President Club. Mr. Caprio serves on the Board of Trustees for the Easton Community Center and the Easton Learning Foundation in Easton, CT. In the summer of 2008, Mr. Caprio was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Fabricators & Manufactures Association Communications, Inc. based in Rockford, IL.

The Honorable Kelly H. Carnes
President and Chief Executive Officer, TechVision21

Kelly Carnes is President and CEO of TechVision21, a Washington, DC-based technology strategy firm. TechVision21 leverages technology, business and government expertise to help companies: pinpoint and secure research and technology funding; forge critical alliances with business and government leaders; and promote and protect their interests in Washington.

Most recently, Ms. Carnes served four years as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Technology Policy where she served as a key point person on numerous high profile issues affecting technology businesses, including regulation of E-commerce, H-1(b) visas, the R&D tax credit, securities litigation reform, financial accounting standards, and the high tech work force shortage.

Ms. Carnes previously enjoyed a highly successful technology business career, as an attorney at a top national law firm, where she structured and negotiated more than $1 billion in technology business transactions.

Ms. Carnes graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She also graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law School, where she served as Topics Editor for the Georgetown Law Journal.

Professor David L. Carroll, Ph.D.
Director, Center for Nanotechnology & Molecular Materials
Wake Forest University

David Carroll is a U.S. physicist and nanotechnologist, Fellow of the Society of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, and director of the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials at Wake Forest University. He has contributed to the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology through his work in nanoengineered cancer therapeutics, nanocomposite-based display and lighting technologies, and high efficiency nanocomposite photovoltaics.

Professor Carroll's academic research is focused on the synthesis, assembly, characterization, and applications of nanostructures. He has published over 200 articles on nanotechnology and the nanosciences, in scholarly journals such as PRL, PNAS, APL, Advanced Materials, and NanoLetters and currently has an h-index of 35. Prof. Carroll is editor-in-chief of the journal Engineering. He has published a text book: One Dimensional Metals, edited two books, written three book chapters, and holds 12 patents. Dr. Carroll is a frequent speaker at international conferences, a reviewer for 23 different journals, a regular panelist or consultant for NSF, SFI, DFG, AFOSR, ARO, and NASA, and a consultant to a number of industrial interests. He serves on the board of SciWorks and the North Carolina School of Math and Science. Prof. Carroll has been actively involved in four spin-off companies utilizing technologies from his labs.

Prof. Carroll earned his BS in physics from NC State University and his PhD in physics from Wesleyan University with Dr. Dale Doering (thesis advisor). Carroll's thesis examined the thermodynamics of charged defects in complex oxide materials. As a postdoctoral associate for Prof. Dawn Bonnell at the University of Pennsylvania, Carroll worked on the application of scanning probes to size and dimension related phenomena in oxide supported metal nanoclusters. From there Carroll became a research associate at the Max-Planck-Insitut für Metallforschung (MPI) in Stuttgart, Germany under the direction of Prof. Manfred Rühle. His primary research was on nanoscale phenomena at metal-ceramic interfaces using a combination of microscopy techniques.

Paul S. Clayson
President & CEO. HzO

Mr. Clayson has been a business owner, global strategic planning expert, financial and investment strategist and senior political advisor for the past 30 years. He currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of HzO, Inc., a Salt Lake City-based startup with cutting-edge, breakthrough technology that makes electronic devices water resistant. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Voyss Solutions, a North Carolina based cloud-computing company and as a member of the Board of Directors of Soligen, a California based solid-state drive manufacturer. Mr. Clayson previously served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of nCoat, Inc., an award winning nanotechnology materials development and manufacturing company, which he sold in 2010. He has served as President and COO of Sequoia Pacific Research Company.

Previously, Mr. Clayson managed congressional campaigns and served as Chief of Staff to two U.S. Congressmen. He served in the White House as a lead advance agent to two U.S. Presidents. Mr. Clayson served as senior management and operations officer for prominent institutional investment advisory and research firms in Portland, Oregon, growing assets under management from $400 million to over $2 billion. As a senior officer for a Utah-based publicly traded technology company, he developed global marketing, business, product development, and finance strategies and helped grow the company from an R&D base to a globally commercialized firm. Mr. Clayson has served in key positions in numerous charitable, civic and political—Chairman of the Utah Nanotechnology initiative, board member of the Utah Technology Industry Council, Chairman of the North Carolina WIRED Action Committee for Advanced Manufacturing, member of the Board of Directors of the Piedmont Triad Entrepreneurial Network. He currently serves as Chairman of the Industrial Advisory Board for the Engineering Resource Center at North Carolina A&T State University.

Roger Cubicciotti, Ph.D.
President & CEO, NanoMedica LLC

Roger is an entrepreneur with a passion for market-driven innovation, collaboration and venture development, particularly at the intersection of biotechnology, nanotechnology and clinical medicine. He has spent much of his energy over the past 25 years facilitating commercially directed partnerships among academic, corporate and government stakeholders. Although trained in the physics, chemistry and biology of molecules, cells, tissues and organs, Roger has become increasingly interested in the designed chemistry of teams -- helping people work together to achieve common goals. He currently serves on boards of a number of for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

In the past 15 years, Roger has co-founded several companies, including NanoMedica, Molecular Machines, Rational Affinity Devices, Abacus Biocomputing Systems and the Stem Cell Healing Foundation. He holds over a dozen patents on technologies ranging from cardiovascular diagnostics to single-molecule detection, drug delivery, signal processing and photovoltaic devices. Prior to founding NanoMedica, he held research, development and management positions at Stanford University Medical Center, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, the Naval Biosciences Laboratory, Corning Medical, Ciba-Corning Diagnostics, Photest Diagnostics and Biotechnology Development Associates. He earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and his bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from the University of California at Berkeley.

Seamus Curran, PhD
Associate Professor, Physics Department, University of Houston

Dr. Curran joined the Physics Department at the University of Houston in July 2007 as an Associate Professor specializing in nanocomposites fabrication for applications in nanoelectronics and nanophotonic systems. Previously, he held the position of Assistant Professor at New Mexico State University (NMSU). Prior to joining NMSU he held postdoctoral positions at Rensselaer, the Max Planck Institute in Stuttgart and both postdoctoral and lecturer position at Trinity College.

Dr Curran has published or submitted over 60 journal publications, published a further 20 articles in conference proceedings, while his research has been cited (ISI) over 2100 times and h index of 21. Research funding for D Currans program is over $2.9 Million in the last 8 years. He also holds 4 patents and has submitted 10 patent applications at various stages.

The research initiated at New Mexico State University and continued at the University of Houston has focused on developing nanocomposites formed from a variety of polymer hosts and nanofiller materials. The filler materials include nanotubes, Fullerenes, quantum dots and organic based dye molecules. This has been done in a controlled manner by using near field optical microscopy, proximal probe methodologies (Atomic Force Microscopy [AFM] and Electric Force Microscopy [EFM]), developing an understanding of the vibrations and morphological changes that occur in the formation of these nanocomposites. Once the criteria of understanding had been accomplished we have been able to take different polymer hosts and mix them with a variety of filler nanomaterials and focus those architectures and mixes in a specific electronic manner. This has yielded positive results in photovoltaics, field emission thin films, nanocomposite electronic coatings and just recently optical limiting in a non-linear fashion.

Matthew Dahm, MPH
Research Industrial Hygienist, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Mr. Dahm graduated with a Masters of Public Health in Environmental and Occupational Health from Saint Louis University and a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from Murray State University. Currently he is a Research Industrial Hygienist in the Industrywide Studies Branch at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Since joining NIOSH, Mr. Dahm has focused primarily on the exposure assessment methods for carbon nanotubes and nanofibers and is currently leading the NIOSH Industrywide Study field efforts to collect representative workplace exposures for these materials. He has published several articles on occupation exposures to carbon nanotubes and nanofibers and was recently awarded the National, Department of Health and Human Services Employee of the Month award for January.

Michael Dickey
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University

Michael received a BS in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology (1999) and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin (2006) under the guidance of Professor Grant Willson. From 2006-2008 he was a post-doctoral fellow in the lab of Professor George Whitesides at Harvard University. Michael has several years of industrial work experience as a co-op for Kimberly Clark working on non-wovens and as a Chemical Engineer for Merck working on scaling up pharmaceutical processes. Prior to arriving at NC State Michael received several honors, including the Georgia Tech Presidents Scholarship, a NSF Graduate Fellowship, and a NIH Post-doctoral Fellowship. In August 2008, he joined the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at NC State University where he is currently an Assistant Professor. He received the NSF CAREER award in 2010 and the Sigma Xi Young Faculty Award in 2011. Michael’s research interests include the study of soft materials, thin films and interfaces, and unconventional nanofabrication techniques. The goal of the research is to introduce new functionality into devices (e.g., stretchable circuits, soft electronics, efficient solar cells,) in a simple, inexpensive, and scalable manner.

Anil R. Diwan, PhD
President and Chairman, NanoViricides, Inc.

Dr. Diwan invented novel polymeric micelle-based nanomedicine technologies as early as 1991. As such, he is considered a pioneer in the field of nanomedicines. Dr. Diwan is a prolific inventor and a serial entrepreneur. He co-founded NanoViricides, Inc. in 2005, and helped take it public in a reverse shell merger (stock symbol: NNVC). Prior to co-founding NanoViricides, Inc., he has founded TheraCour Pharma, Inc., a privately held company focused in nanomedicines and cell-targeted drug delivery, and AllExcel, Inc., a company with diverse portfolios including nanomedicines, small chemicals, device technologies, as well as informatics.

Anil holds a Ph.D. from Rice University, TX, a B.Tech. from Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai (IIT-B), India, and has consistently held high scholastic ranks and honors. Dr. Diwan has over 25 years of Bio-Pharmaceutical R&D experience with over 20 years as an entrepreneur. He has one issued patent, three filed international patent applications (resulting in several national level patents), and several anticipated patent applications in various stages. Under Dr. Diwan’s leadership, NanoViricides, Inc. has been able to keep both administrative and R&D costs at extremely low levels while robustly expanding the drug pipeline every year. Dr. Diwan has been instrumental in raising $35 Million of financing for NanoViricides, Inc.

A "nanoviricide®", as defined by the Company, is an antiviral agent based on the TheraCour® polymeric micelle technology, that is designed to seek, bind to, encircle, and destroy a virus particle, in a classic war-strategy. This is accomplished by displaying specific ligands that bind to the virus particle on the surface of the flexible polymeric micelle. The resulting nanoviricide is designed to “look like” the cell surface to which the virus binds. This biomimetic platform technology has enabled the Company to rapidly develop highly effective drug candidates against a number of viral diseases.

The Company is currently developing drugs against five commerically important diseases: FluCide™, a single drug against all influenzas including pandemic viuses, bird flu (H5N1), and highly pathogenic strains; HIVCide™ which was found to be so effective in SCID-hu mouse model studies that it is widely believed that it could result in a “functional cure” of HIV/AIDS; HerpeCide™ for oral and genital herpes; DengueCide™, a single drug to combat all dengue virus types; and a broad-spectrum antiviral for infections of the external eye. Together, these pathogens are estimated to comprise approximately $40Bn in market size.

Michael A. Donner
Senior Counterintelligence Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC

Mr. Donner is the Senior Counterintelligence Officer of the Department of Energy’s, Forrestal Field Office in Washington, DC. His second career began in 2007 following 25 years of federal law enforcement experience as a FBI Special Agent; the last 15 years of his bureau service he worked espionage matters that included several high profile national security investigations involving foreign penetrations of the United States intelligence community. In addition, he managed domestic counterintelligence programs that were designed to counter the threat of foreign intelligence services operating within the United States. Mr. Donner also had assignments in various field offices and special assignments abroad.

In 2002 he entered the ranks of the Senior Executive Service and then held a two year position with the Central Intelligence Agency, and later at FBIHQ as Chief of the Eurasian and the Espionage Sections respectively. He has had a lengthy career within the intelligence community and has received numerous commendations and awards for successful resolution of issues that he and fellow colleagues had achieved. Mike is currently focused on leading a counterintelligence program within the capitol region designed to protect the Department of Energy and its employees. The mission is to neutralize identified threats from foreign intelligence services who target DOE’s personnel and programs.

Neal Fowler
CEO, Liquidia

Mr. Fowler joined Liquidia in 2008 after seven successful years at Johnson & Johnson (J&J). While at J&J,  Neal served as President of Centocor, Inc.,  a multi-billion dollar subsidiary focused on development and commercialization of industry leading biomedicines used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.  At Centocor, Mr. Fowler prepared the company for the launch of two potential blockbuster products and continued the company's legacy of double-digit growth for their flagship product REMICADE® (infliximab).  Prior to Centocor, Mr. Fowler was president of Ortho-McNeil Neurologics Inc. and vice president of the central nervous system franchise at Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals.  Mr. Fowler joined J&J after a successful 13-year career at Eli Lilly and Company, where he doubled sales of the cardiovascular business unit over a three-year period.  Mr. Fowler is a native of Raleigh, NC and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy and Masters of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH).

Jason Fromer
Global Business Development Executive, NanoProfessor

Jason is currently the Senior Business Development Executive for the NanoProfessor Nanoscience Education program, division of NanoInk. NanoInk holds several patents in nano and nano-biotechnology and manufactures a line of instrumentation well suited for industry, research, and education. Jason has global responsibility for a cutting edge nanoscience program aimed at training the workforce of tomorrow and bringing nanotechnology to the masses.

Before being recruited by NanoInk, Jason was District Sales Manager at Takeda Pharmaceuticals where he led multiple districts to top regional and national rankings. Jason began his career at Takeda in 2001 and has held positions as a Regional Sales Trainer and Professional Sales Representative. Jason participated in several product launches during his tenure and was consistently recognized as one of the top sales performers in the nation.

Jason graduated Magna cum Laude from the University of South Carolina with dual degrees - a BS in Marketing/Finance and a BS in Management.

Specialties International Sales, Marketing, and Business Development in the Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, and Education sectors.

James Gaylord
FBI Supervisory Special Agent

James Gaylord graduated from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, in 1984 with a Juris Doctor. He entered FBI service as a Special Agent on July 29, 1985, and was assigned to its Minneapolis Field Office, where he conducted White Collar and Organized Crime investigations until 1987.

From 1988 to 1990 he studied the Vietnamese language at the U.S. Army Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. He was thereafter assigned to the Counterintelligence/International Terrorism squad, Santa Ana Resident Agency, Los Angeles Field Office, and worked mainly within Orange County’s “Little Saigon”.

Mr. Gaylord was the Case Agent for the Chi Mak espionage investigation from its February 2004 inception to June 2007 conclusion, when all five defendants were convicted. He was also the Co-Case Agent for the Greg Chung economic espionage investigation, which concluded with a conviction and sentencing in 2010. He and his fellow investigators twice received the U.S. Attorney’s “Award for Excellence” and the “National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation” from the Director of National Intelligence, as well as the Attorney General’s “Distinguished Service Award”, the “Director’s Award for Superior Performance by a Litigative Team” from the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, and were nominated for the FBI Director’s “Outstanding Counterintelligence Investigation Award”.

Zagit Z. Gaymalov, Ph.D.

Co-founder & CEO, 
NeuroNano Pharma

Dr. Zagit Gaymalov is co-founder and chief executive officer of NeuroNano Pharma, a biopharmaceutical company developing novel nanotherapeutics for the treatment of obesity and Alzheimer disease. In addition, he also serves as a deputy director for translational research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine. Dr. Gaymalov’s professional focus is on the advancement of paths to commercialization for academia derived innovative healthcare technologies, products, and services. Dr. Gaymalov also serves as the president of Pharma Leads, a healthcare marketing consultancy, helping its clients with innovations’ commercialization in pharma and biotech industries.

Dr. Gaymalov received his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the College of Pharmacy at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He did his graduate work on the delivery of macromolecules and development of cancer immunotherapies, under the patronage of world-renowned leader in drug delivery and nanomedicine, Dr. Alexander V. Kabanov.

Christopher Gergen
Co-founder and Executive Director

Christopher Gergen is founding Executive Director of Bull City Forward, a non-profit focused on catalyzing sustainable enterprise in Durham, NC – an effort that is quickly becoming a model for other cities including the launch of Queen City Forward in Charlotte.  Bull City Forward complements Christopher’s role as an adjunct faculty member at the Entrepreneurial Leadership Initiative at Duke University within the Terry Sanford School of Public Policy’s Hart Leadership Program as well as his position as “Innovator in Residence” at the Center for Creative Leadership.

Christopher is also a founding partner of Life Entrepreneurs, LLC, a leadership development and consulting firm, and co-author of the nationally acclaimed book Life Entrepreneurs: Ordinary People Creating Extraordinary Lives (Warren Bennis Leadership Series; Jossey-Bass).  Furthermore, Christopher co-authors a bi-weekly column on social innovation for the Raleigh News & Observer and the Charlotte Observer titled “Doing Better at Doing Good.”

Christopher’s entrepreneurial credentials include co-founding SMARTHINKING which became the leading online tutoring provider in the United States—serving over 200,000 students from more than 1,000 universities, colleges, and high schools – before being acquired by Pearson Education. Other entrepreneurial ventures include starting a coffeehouse/bar dedicated to promoting the arts and music in Santiago, Chile and helping to launch the “Entrepreneur Corps”—a national service initiative sponsored by AmeriCorps*VISTA that placed 400 full-time business volunteers for a year of service in over 90 non-profit organizations across the country. Previously, Christopher started LEAD!, a non-profit leadership, entrepreneurship, and service program for Gonzaga College high school students in Washington, D.C. and is a founding board member of the E.L. Haynes Public Charter School also in D.C.

Further professional experience includes serving as Vice President of New Market Development for K12 Inc. and Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Business Development and Strategy for New American Schools. Christopher received a Bachelor of Arts with honors from Duke University, a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the George Washington University, and his M.B.A. from Georgetown University. He lives with his wife and two children in Durham, NC.

John Glushik
General Partner, Intersouth Partners

John joined Intersouth in September 1999 and focuses primarily on the technology portfolio. Since joining Intersouth, he has managed the full-cycle venture investment process from deal origination to successful exit, serving as a diligent and respected board member and advisor to management.

John has a background in engineering and consulting within the telecommunications and aerospace industries. His previous experience includes management consulting at Booz-Allen & Hamilton, telecommunications satellite engineering at General Electric and data communications research as a Draper Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He serves on the boards of the Florida Venture Forum and the Atlanta Venture Forum. He also serves on the advisory boards of the Entrepreneurs Foundation of the Southeast, the Georgia Research Alliance and Southeast TechInventures. He serves on the Engineering Alumni Council and Devil Fund Board at the School of Engineering at Duke University. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Kenan Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina where he teaches a course on venture capital. He also teaches at the Fuqua Business School at Duke University where he is an Entrepreneur Affiliate.

John holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering and materials science from Duke, an M.S. in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Ronald T. “Rudy” Guerin
Managing Director, Pamir Consulting LLC

Mr. Ronald T. “Rudy” Guerin is Managing Director of Pamir Consulting LLC. Mr. Guerin joined Pamir after 30 years service in the FBI where he held the position of Acting Deputy Assistant Director for Operations, Counterintelligence Division at the FBI headquarters in Washington D.C.

Mr. Guerin was assigned to several sensitive counter-intelligence investigations including the Larry Wu-Tai Chin espionage investigation. He was also the case agent in a double agent operation that resulted in the expulsion of two PRC diplomats from the United States. In 1991, Mr. Guerin received the prestigious National HUMINT Collector award from DCI William Webster for his efforts. In 1993, Mr. Guerin was assigned to the Aldrich Ames espionage investigation that resulted in the arrest and conviction of Ames and his wife, Rosario. In 1995, while assigned to the Earl Pitts espionage investigation, Mr. Guerin became a supervisor in the Washington Field Office. In August, 1996, Mr. Guerin became supervisor of an International Terrorism Squad in the Washington Field Office. This Squad was the office of origin for the Bureau's HAMAS program. In April 1997, Mr. Guerin was re-assigned to the Chinese Counterintelligence Squad as supervisor. In 2002, Mr. Guerin and his squad received the Director’s Award for Excellence in Counterintelligence Investigations.

In September, 2001, Mr. Guerin was detailed to the National Counterintelligence Executive (NCIX). In this position Mr. Guerin engaged the Counterintelligence Community to develop a national counterintelligence strategy on an annual basis.

In May, 2002, Mr. Guerin was appointed as Section Chief to the East Asia Section, Counterintelligence Division, FBIHQ. In this position, Mr. Guerin was in charge of the FBI’s China counterintelligence program. During this time he was involved in the Katrina Leung, JJ Smith matter. He was also instrumental in the Bureau obtaining concurrent jurisdiction for export control violations in counterintelligence matters, which has led to the arrest of over 50 people since November, 2004.

From February, 2006, Mr. Guerin was named the Acting Deputy Assistant Director for Operations, Counterintelligence Division, FBIHQ, which he held until his retirement on 6/30/06.

Charles E. Hamner, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Chair, Board of Directors

Charles E. Hamner, D.V.M., Ph.D. is chair of the board of directors at The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences, located in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina. Dr. Hamner is well-known for his pivotal role in advancing North Carolina and the RTP to preeminence within the biosciences industry. His name stands out as a biotechnology pioneer whose accomplishments have brought a huge new industry to the state.

When the North Carolina General Assembly created the North Carolina Biotechnology Center in 1981, it was the nation's first state-sponsored biotechnology initiative. Reorganized in 1984 as a private, nonprofit corporation, the center recognized that a fresh vision and strong leadership was vital for growth. Dr. Hamner met with the center’s board of directors in 1987 to propose his comprehensive business model, which featured cornerstones of support from academics, industry and state government. His own background was a unique combination of experience in these three areas. The center agreed and gave him the opportunity to lead the organization.

At the time, Dr. Hamner had just finished serving 10 years as Associate Vice President for Health Affairs at the University of Virginia Medical Center, where he helped transform the organization to a thriving medical institution with an annual profit. Prior to that position, he consulted and worked for many years at a pharmaceutical company and also as a researcher at the University of Virginia, where he helped develop the technique of in vitro fertilization in cats. With a bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and three degrees from the University of Georgia — a master’s degree in chemistry, a doctor of veterinary medicine degree, and a doctoral degree in biochemistry — Dr. Hamner was well prepared to coordinate collaboration among university, government and industry at the Biotechnology Center.

First, he had to persuade North Carolina leaders why biotechnology should play a major role in the state’s future. To accomplish this, Dr. Hamner asked the Biotechnology Center’s board of directors to help him meet with the 30 most influential academic, industry and government leaders in North Carolina. Of those leaders, half were enthusiastic about Dr. Hamner’s vision and said they wanted to help, while the other half were noncommittal. Yet Dr. Hamner ultimately succeeded in persuading decision makers to understand the big picture. With its top research universities and medical schools, extensive community college system, spacious research parks, progressive business climate, fledgling biotechnology industry and abundant natural resources, North Carolina was poised to develop into a biosciences titan.

Dr. Hamner worked closely with political leaders, hammering out tough policy issues and obtaining North Carolina research dollars. He began by having the Biotech Center help hire more than 40 of the world’s best scientists into the research universities. The Center granted the research universities $70 million to pay for professors, and the professors in turn applied to research organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for grants, winning $850 million in funding. Under Dr. Hamner’s leadership, the Center provided biotechnology workshops for 1,000 high school teachers, with the result that 100,000 students learned about life sciences careers in the biotech industry. To move research results from the laboratory to the market, Dr. Hamner developed a convertible loan fund that helped 52 startup companies obtain $450 million in venture capital. Among the 14 top biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies he helped recruit to the area are Bayer, BASF, Biogen and Wyeth. These companies built $900 million worth of facilities and created 6,000 new jobs in North Carolina. The state spent millions promoting Dr. Hamner’s biotechnology business plan, but it has reaped billions from the effort.

North Carolina today ranks among the nation’s top five biotechnology states. More than 500 bioscience companies are headquartered or have operations in North Carolina, employing more than 58,000 people, according to the Biotechnology Center. A 2010 report from the non-profit Battelle Institute estimates the total economic activity of the biotech industry in North Carolina to be over $64 billion – a strong return on the state’s investment of more than $1.2 billion in just the past ten years. Furthermore, the benchmarking findings indicate that North Carolina continues to reside in a strong competitive position, with only Massachusetts recording a slightly higher growth rate in the sector.

Dr. Hamner was instrumental in ensuring that a conference facility was part of the Biotechnology Center's headquarters. Named for him in 2002, the Hamner Conference Center is a beautiful facility centrally located in RTP and equipped with almost 20,000 square feet of meeting space available to biotechnology and non-biotechnology clients for either professional or educational events.

After leading the North Carolina Biotechnology Center for 14 years, Dr. Hamner retired on March 31, 2002, but not for long. Now he is the namesake for The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences, a private, nonprofit organization with goals just as lofty as those of the Biotechnology Center. The Hamner is in a strong position to continue its traditional environmental risk assessments while expanding to translational pharmaceutical research and development. Translational research teams consist of basic and clinical multidisciplinary scientists who are members of both academic and industrial communities. The Hamner has the facilities, the scientific expertise, the experience and FDA Good Laboratory Practices certification, all of which allows the integration of safety and efficacy studies during the preclinical development of pharmaceuticals. The Hamner also provides a capstone specialty training experience for Ph.D. scientists from academics, industry and government. It is a gathering place for meeting, discussing and resolving topical scientific issues and governmental science policy, leading to a cleaner environment and better standard of living for all.

Throughout his research career, Dr. Hamner has authored more than 50 scientific publications, coauthored chapters in 12 books on reproductive physiology and biochemistry, and edited two editions of Drug Development. Dr. Hamner was the recipient of Triangle Business Journal’s 2010 Health Care Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the 2011 North Carolina Award for Public Service, which is the highest civilian honor the state bestows. In 2008, TechJournal South named him one of the 25 Most Influential People in the Southeast Technology Community. Dr. Hamner maintains membership in the following professional societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Veterinary Medical Association, Biotechnology Industry Organization, Drug Information Association, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), American Physiological Society and Society for the Study of Fertility. A lifetime gardener and tennis player, he lives with his wife of 45 years in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

John Hardin
Executive Director, North Carolina Office of Science & Technology

John Hardin is the Executive Director of the Office of Science and Technology. He was appointed acting director in 2008 and executive director in 2009.  From 2003 to 2008, he served as the office’s Deputy Director and Chief Policy Analyst.

In his current role he conducts strategic planning and makes recommendations for technology-based economic development, implements technology-related economic development policy and resource allocations, supervises the staff of the N.C. Board of Science and Technology, directs and oversees the administration of grant programs to support technology development and commercialization, and oversees strategic initiatives.

From 1998 to 2003, he served as Assistant Vice President for Research and Sponsored Programs in the UNC General Administration. From 1998 to 2005, he held an Adjunct Assistant Professor position in the Dept. of Political Science at UNC-Chapel Hill. He currently holds an Adjunct Assistant Professor position in the Dept. of Public Policy at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he teaches courses on American politics, public policy, and policy analysis. 

A native of Tulsa, Okla., he holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in political science from UNC-Chapel Hill, and a B.A. in economics from Baylor University.

Daniel Joseph Christian Herr, Ph.D.
Professor & Nanoscience Department Chair

Dr. Herr is a pioneer in collaborative nanotechnology research. He is the Director of Semiconductor Research Corporation’s [SRC’s] Nanomanufacturing Sciences area, leading an international team that provides vision, guidance, and leveraged support for a number of the top interdisciplinary, nanoelectronics related, university research programs. He also serves as Adjunct Associate Professor in Materials Science and Engineering at North Carolina State University, where he co-teaches a graduate level course on The Materials Science of Nanoelectronics. He founded a quality engineering start-up that enabled rapid and robust, custom product, material, and process design. His suite of applied optimization tools is significantly more robust than Taguchi’s methodology. More recently, he was elected to serve as the AAAS Industrial Science and Technology section’s Member-at-Large, and Fellow of the International Society for Optical Engineering for the design, development, and commercialization of two early families of chemically amplified resists. He is the inventor of several foundational patents and disclosures on defect tolerant patterning, controlled nanotube synthesis and placement, deterministic semiconductor doping, and ultimate CMOS devices. As founding co-chair of the International Technology Working Group on Emerging Research Materials, Dr. Herr provides ongoing technical leadership for the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors [ITRS] community. He also serves as Senior Editor for IEEE Transactions in Nanotechnology, Coordinating Editor for the Journal of Nanoparticle Research, Reviewer for the Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, and co-chair of several international technical conferences. He was as a contributing team member when SRC was awarded the 2005 National Medal of Technology.

Douglas W. Jamison
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director

Mr. Jamison has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since January 2009; as President and Chief Operating Officer from January 2005 to December 2008; as Treasurer from March 2005 to May 2008; as a Managing Director since January 2004; as Chief Financial Officer from January 2005 to December 2007; and as Vice President from September 2002 to December 2004. He has been a member of our Board of Directors since May 2007. Since January 2009, he has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Harris & Harris Enterprises, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, since 2005, he has served as a Director; and from January 2005 to December 2008 he served as President . From 1998 to 2002, Mr. Jamison worked as a Senior Technology Manager at the University of Utah Technology Transfer Office, where he managed intellectual property for the University of Utah. This included assessing technologies in both the biological sciences and the physical sciences, working with patent attorneys to develop patent protection, and developing and marketing these technologies with industry. He is a Co-Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Nanotechnology Law & Business and Co-Chair of the Advisory Board, Converging Technology Bar Association and a member of the University of Pennsylvania Nano-Bio Interface Ethics Advisory Board. He was graduated from Dartmouth College (B.A.) and the University of Utah (M.S.).

David Jassby, Ph.D.,
Executive Director, Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT), Duke University

David Jassby is the Executive Director of the Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT), an NSF-EPA jointly funded research center headquartered at Duke University. He received his Ph.D. from the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Duke University in 2011. He has a M.S. in Environmental Engineering from UC Davis, and a B.Sc. in Microbiology from Hebrew University. His research focuses on environmental application and implication of nanotechnology. In particular, David is interested in the use of novel materials for drinking and wastewater treatment, as well as investigating how nanomaterials interact with the environment, and how these materials transform and are transformed by their surroundings. David hails from Israel, a country well acquainted with challenging water issues and innovative, technology-driven, solutions. v

A. Neil Jones
Co-founder and Vice-President of Scientific Operations, Kryosphere Inc., North Carolina

Neil Jones is co-founder and Vice-President of Scientific Operations for Kryosphere Inc. He oversees the day-to-day operations and management of millions of biospecimens for the research and medical community. Additionally, he serves as commercial analyst for the company in both domestics and international business development.

Prior to joining Kryosphere, his career spanned the continuum from bench top drug discovery to progressing through various leadership roles at Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Eurogentec NA, and GlaxoSmithKline. Mr. Jones received his formal education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His work has produced three US issued patents, over 16 scientific publications and the recipient of the 2010 “Magic Johnson Business & Healthcare Award” in association with Diversity Alliance for Science.

Over the last 12 years, Mr. Jones has been actively advocating life science and biotechnology in our schools. He currently serves as a member of the North Carolina Business Committee for Education which is comprised of leading corporations and businesses focusing on the link between education and economic growth, Business LEADS Initiative via Institute for Competitive Workforce (US Chamber of Commerce), Corporate/Industry Advisor for “Biotechnology in NC Schools Orange County Project”, former advisor with NC Contemporary Science Center as well as career coach for Futures for Kids. It is his passion and goal to help make a difference through education and opportunity.

Raymond Jones
President, North Carolina Aerospace Alliance

Ray has nearly thirty years of leadership and management experience in a wide range of industries. He is an experienced entrepreneur, aerospace engineer, lawyer and corporate financial specialist. He had both fixed-wing and helicopter flying experience in the U.S. Navy.

Mr. Jones earned a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, With Merit, and a J.D. from George Mason Law School, With Distinction.

Ray ran two successful technology companies before joining VX Aerospace, an aerospace parts manufacturer, in 2006. In past positions, Ray worked as an aerospace test engineer in the defense industry in VA, a corporate financier with Shearson Lehman in NY, and an intellectual property law specialist with IP Law Global and Finnegan Henderson in Washington DC.

Ray also serves on the Governor’s Innovation Council, the Governor’s Defense Council, and the Governor’s Economic Development Board.

Russell L. Jones, MBA
Account Executive, Summers Thompson Lowry, Inc.

Russ has been a commercial insurance broker/consultant since 1981 providing risk management, insurance, and employee benefits services to North Carolina companies.

Specializing in life science and technology companies, Russ has a deep understanding of the risks involved in R&D and commercialization of these industries. His proficiency includes analysis of a client’s business exposures and customizing a risk management and insurance program including property, liability, workers compensation, life, health and employee benefits.

Having developed strong relationships with many of the largest property, liability and employee benefits companies licensed in North Carolina, Russ is a member of the Independent Insurance Agents Association and the National Association of Health Underwriters.

Russ also brings an extensive network of individuals and organizations who provide other professional services to the life science and technology industries. He is active in North Carolina life science and technology business development as a member of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) in the Research Triangle Park since 1984 and a co-founder of the Piedmont/Triad Entrepreneurs Network (PTEN) in 1985.

Russ holds a BS degree from Boston University and an MBA from Adelphi University.

Griff Kundahl

Executive Director
, Center of Innovation for Nanobiotechnology (COIN)

Griff has over a decade of career focus on the commercialization of nanotechnologies. His work has encompassed emerging technology law, public policy, communications, and industry relations. He formerly served as General Counsel of the NanoBusiness Alliance, the national trade association for the nanotechnology community, as well as Executive Chairman of the Colorado Nanotechnology Alliance.

Griff also served as the Vice President for Convergence (nano, bio and IT) in the Life Sciences section of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, Director of Global Programs at the University of Denver School of Engineering and Computer Science as Director of Global Programs, and an attorney at practice in the life sciences sector. Griff holds a B.A. from The University of Pennsylvania, an M.A. from The University of Alabama and a J.D. from The University of Denver.

Philip Lippel, PhD

Nanotechnology Consultant

Philip Lippel is an expert consultant on both the science and policy behind innovative nanotechnology with experience in government, industry, and academia.

As a senior policy analyst at the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office, Dr. Lippel provided top level scientific support to the director; helped to keep Congress, the public, and other interested parties up to date on federally funded nanotechnology research and development; and liaised with companies, NGOs, and state agencies interested in nanotechnology commercialization. He served as a U.S. delegate to the Working Party on Nanotechnology at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and was the founding Executive Secretary for two working groups of the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council.

As a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Science Foundation, he worked on a variety of science communication and policy issues—including nanotechnology and science education—in NSF's Office of Legislative and Public Affairs.

Dr. Lippel also built scanning tunneling microscopes (STMs) and used them for nanotechnology research (at the IBM Almaden Research Center and as a faculty member in the Physics Department of the University of Texas at Arlington); founded and served as President of L Cubed Consulting, which developed educational uses of STMs with support from NSF's Small Business Innovation Research Program; and was a Member of Technical Staff at Agilent Technologies, where he designed network test equipment and was active with telecommunications standards groups.

He received an A.B. in Physics and in Theatre from Williams College, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Physics from Brandeis University.

Scott Livingston
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Livingston Securities LLC.

Dr. Ajay Malshe
Founder / EVP / CTO, NanoMech

Dr. Malshe (PhD. 1992) calls himself a "Profeneur" (Professor plus Entrepreneur), 21st Century Knowledge-Age Inventors and Industrialists.

He is the Founder, Executive VP and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of NanoMech (www.nanomech.biz). NanoMech Inc. is a nanotechnology platform innovations company with nanomanufacturing factory and products in four green application sectors. NanoMech associates ThinkSmall™ to deliver big product innovations. Company's award winning innovations in critical application sectors are making a difference to improve quality of life. NanoMech was founded in 2002 and today the company has delivered to the world breakthrough nano innovations in machining and manufacturing, lubrication and energy, packaging for fresh produce supply chain, biomedical implant coatings and strategic military applications. NanoMech invests in world class people, ideas and tools to increase competitiveness in the global market. Company brings ideas from innovation to implementation, introducing nanomanufactured product platforms to market- Machining (ex. TuffTek®) and Lubrication (NanoGlideTM), Sustainable and Biocide Additives (nGuardTM) and Functional Nanopowders (ElementXTM).

Nanomanufacturing is already a huge market and is anticipated to continue to grow rapidly. A recent Lux Research study predicts that nanomanufactured goods will grow from $147 billion in 2007 to $3.1 trillion in 2015. Clearly no single company is going to compete across the entire breadth of this market. However, NanoMech has focused on platform nanomaterials and platform manufacturing technologies that offer a broad range of high value market opportunities. The vision of NanoMech is to be the world leader in nanomanufacturing innovation and product development with an emphasis on platform technologies that are scalable for efficient mass production.

Malshe as an inventor has received 31 awards/recognitions, including Fellowship of American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME), voted in NanoBusiness Alliances Selected Most Influential Nanotechnology Leaders of 2010, nomination in Marquis Who's Who in America (2009; 63rd Edition) and 2005 Frost and Sullivan Technology Excellence Award for research, education and service achievements (1996-2008). Also, he is a Fellow of Institute of Physics, London, UK. He has authored over 200 plus peer reviewed publications, 13 books and book chapters, and holds 10 patents. He has an extensive track record of global collaborations with academic institutions and companies from Australia, Japan, India, Germany, Ireland, etc. He is a member of professional societies such as ASME, SME, IEEE, MRS, ASEE and IMAPS. At NanoMech he is directing a team of world-class scientists and engineers.

He is also 21st Century Endowed Chair Professor of Materials, Manufacturing Processes and Integrated Systems at the Department of Mechanical Engineering and adjunct-faculty of Microelectronics and Photonics Program at the University of Arkansas. He is the Director of the Materials and Manufacturing Research Laboratories (MMRL; a cluster of 5 laboratories). Malshe has multidisciplinary research programs in the fields of nanomanufacturing, IC, MEMS and micro and nano device packaging and integration, and surface engineering for advanced machining. He has graduated over 45 graduate students (PhD/MS), trained numerous post-doctoral fellows, and provided research experience to several undergraduate and high school students. His graduates work at leading organizations, such as IBM at Almaden, University of Florida, Qualcomm Technology, Texas Instruments, etc.

Carol Marino
Vice President, Syngenta Ventures


Carol Marino is currently Vice President, Syngenta Ventures, responsible for investing in and managing a portfolio of innovative agriculture science companies in the U.S. Her investment focus is equity investments in privately held companies which can provide both strategic value as well as financial returns to Syngenta. Carol serves as director on the Boards for several of her portfolio companies.

Prior to joining Syngenta Ventures, Ms. Marino was Vice President Venture Investments, Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, where her venture focus was on equity investments in pharmaceutical and biotech companies at all stages of development.

Prior to joining J&J, Carol was the Vice President of Business Development for Clinical Development Capital LLC, a company which provides strategic investment capital to pharmaceutical companies for clinical development. Prior to joining Clinical Development Capital, Carol was a Vice President at Bristol-Myers Squibb Corporation. Throughout her tenure at BMS she held executive positions in Corporate Strategic Planning, Business Development, e-Business Alliances, and Cardiovascular Marketing. As Vice President of the Sanofi Pharma Alliance, Carol managed all aspects of the BMS/Sanofi Joint Venture Alliance. Prior to joining BMS, she held various positions at Merck & Co., Inc., including Strategic Planning, Business Intelligence, Business Analysis and Global Marketing, where she was responsible for bridging the worldwide market needs with R&D programs and priorities. Carol also held sales and marketing positions at Squibb Corporation and Sterling Drug.

Carol holds a Master of Science degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of New Hampshire, and a B.S. in Chemistry from Merrimack College.

Sandra Merkel-DeJames, Ph.D.
Senior Manager, BioBusiness Development and Acquisitions, Novozymes

Sandy has extensive experience in the biotechnology industry in direct research, global technology commercialization and new business creation. She is experienced in identifying new technology applications, integrating next-generation market needs with technology, and strategy development for new market entry. Currently, Sandy is working in Novozymes BioBusiness Development and Acquisitions, to create, build and launch new lines of business, through driving organic growth of existing technologies in new application areas, in-licensing new technologies, and via acquisition. She is now anchoring both technology and market platforms, including use of biologically-based antimicrobial technologies in technical applications, and use of microorganisms in agriculture and post-harvest applications. Prior to this, Sandy was involved in business development and commercialization of Novozymes’ Biopharma products and technologies. Sandy holds a Ph.D. in Biology and completed her Post-Doctoral training at the UNC School of Medicine.

F. Mark Modzelewski
Co-Founder & Executive Director, Water Innovations Alliance


Mark is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Water Innovations Alliance. a seasoned technology entrepreneur, executive, investor and visionary, currently focused on developing several early stage ventures in cleantech and health 2.0. He is also serving as CEO of the cutting edge water purifications start-up 349Q.

Mark is a member of the Nanotechnology Technical Advisory Group to the President's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology (PCAST). He was recognized by Forbes as a "powerbroker" and has been featured in Time, Newsweek, U.S. News, ABC, BBC, N.Y. Times, Business Week, Fortune and the Wall Street Journal, among others. Mark also appears regularly as a Fox Business News and CNBC technology commentator and on occasion serves as a co-host of SquawkBox. He was also a featured columnist for the Boston Herald's Hub 2.0 column.

Adnan Nasir, MD PhD
President Nanodermatology Society

Dr. Adnan Nasir is a leader in dermatology and nanotechnology in the United States. Since 2010, he has been President of the Nanodermatology Society, an international organization dedicated to fostering education, collaboration, and research in nanotechnology for the maintenance of skin health and the alleviation of disease. The Society is composed of physicians, dermatologists, physicists, chemists, policy makers, industry leaders, regulators, nanotechnology scientists, and students involved in nanotechnology specifically related to dermatology from teaching, to education, to scientific research. Adnan's interests include teaching, patient care, and medical research. Since 1999, he has served as Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at UNC Chapel Hill. As Medical Director and Principal Investigator of clinical research in dermatology at Wake Research Associates, he has directed nearly 100 studies in psoriasis, eczema, hyperhidrosis, skin cancer, cutaneous infections, and cosmetic dermatology. He has presented his clinical and scientific work at national and international conferences.

Adnan has published extensively on nanotechnology in the management of dermatologic disease, cosmetic dermatology, and infectious disease. He has conducted surveys on nanotechnology knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions in the dermatologic community, and has identified gaps to target in medical education. He is collaborating with the UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine Department of Dermatology and the Swiss Nanoscience Institute in Basel on research applications of nanocantilevers for the diagnosis of melanoma. Adnan is also collaborating with the UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering and the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine on research in the use of two-photon polymerization for the synthesis of micro and nanostructures for drug and vaccine delivery to the skin and for the creation of the next generation of skin suture material. In conjunction with the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and Albany Medical College, he is working to develop a nanotechnology in medicine curriculum and textbook. Adnan is on the editorial board of journal Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology in Biology and Medicine, the World Journal of Dermatology, and Men's Health. He is the author of a book for the general public on atopic dermatitis and is the senior editor of a textbook on nanotechnology for dermatologists.

Adnan is past president of the North Carolina Dermatology Association, and a North Carolina Medical Society Leadership College scholar. He received his PhD in molecular biology and his MD from the University of Rochester.

Fern Phillips O'Brian
Partner
Thompson Hine LLP

Fern is a partner in the firm's Product Liability Litigation, Business Litigation and Life Sciences practice groups and the Washington, D.C. office chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative. She focuses her practice on health effects litigation and regulatory matters involving product liability and toxic tort. She has litigated numerous cases involving medical and pharmaceutical products, consumer products, environmental exposures to heavy metals, chemicals, and tobacco, among others.

Fern also represents emerging technology companies and research organizations, including those developing and commercializing nanotechnology-enabled products. She represented Wyeth in "fen-phen" diet drug litigation. She served as national counsel for a major bloodbank in US AIDS and hepatitis C cases.

Fern regularly counsels clients on liability prevention, regulatory matters, and liability-related transactional issues, including due diligence. She also represents companies in the homeland security and biodefense areas; recently she advised a private research and university consortium in pursuing a bid for a national bioterror research laboratory.

Fern is a frequent author and speaker on product liability and mass tort issues such as class actions, admissibility of expert evidence, and product liability prevention. Prior to private practice, she served as a law clerk to former Circuit Judge Kenneth W. Starr of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Fern is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, the commonwealth of Virginia, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, United States District Court for the District of Maryland, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Kevin Pang, Ph.D., MBA
Director, Lux Research

Kevin leads our China BioPharma and our Formulation and Delivery practices. He also directs Lux Research’s dedicated team of expert consultants that help top executives in the Innovation 1000 make critical decisions about markets, technologies, and strategy to better position existing businesses for growth and to launch new businesses wisely. Kevin and his team help our many clients size and prioritize addressable markets, correctly interpret the competitive landscape, anticipate disruptive technologies and companies, and develop sound go-to-market and business development strategies.

Kevin has more than 20 years of industry experience in the healthcare IT, biotechnology, and market intelligence industries. Prior to Lux he served as VP of Advisory Services at Decision Resources, a leading pharmaceutical market research and intelligence company helping the world’s biopharmas optimize therapeutic pipelines using modeling and forecasting . He has presented at and chaired discussion panels regarding biopharma markets at the Harvard Business School and the MIT Sloan School of Business.

Kevin holds bachelor degrees in Genetics and Molecular Biology from U.C. Berkeley, a Ph.D. from the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at Harvard University and his MBA from Bentley University. He has authored more than 20 primary publications in leading research journals and holds a number of patents in the areas of growth factors and stem cells.

Alan Rae, B.Sc., Ph.D., M.B.A., M.R.S.C. C.Chem.
CEO, NanoMaterials Innovation Center

Dr. Rae has worked in the electronics, ceramics, nanotechnology and “clean tech” industries for over 25 years in the UK and USA, managing global businesses and technology development at a startup, operating company and corporate level. He is now CEO of the NanoMaterials Innovation Center in Alfred, NY.

Alan is active in industry associations and standards work with iNEMI, ISO, SMTA, IMAPS, IPC, and JISSO.

He has held Director and VP positions with 4 new companies and has consulted for two Fortune 100 companies in alternative energy. He is a Contributing Editor for Global Solar Technology, a leading alternative energy publication, is an Entrepreneur in Residence with NYSERDA and a member of the Directed Assistance Committee for Directed Energy.

Travis Reese
President & COO for Mandiant Corporation

Travis Reese serves as the President and Chief Operating Officer at MANDIANT, where he leads strategic growth and manages day-to-day operations across the company. As an industry veteran with a proven track record driving revenue growth and market leadership, he brings over 18 years of experience in executive and program management, computer forensics, information security, information warfare, criminal & fraud investigations, counterintelligence, antiterrorism, and law enforcement as both a Federal Agent and executive within a large government defense contractor.

Travis brings extensive experience and proven success in creating and managing security organizations, specifically in providing elite technical solutions focused on mission-critical national security programs for the Intelligence Community, as well as the Departments of Defense, State, Homeland Security, and Justice.

Prior to joining MANDIANT, Travis served as Co-Founder and Vice President of the Computer Forensics & Intrusion Analysis Group at ManTech International Corporation, where he built one of the fastest growing and highly-regarded business units in the classified government contractor sector. Specifically, Travis led sales and operations for four multi-million dollar business units comprising technical experts who delivered advanced forensics, intrusion, cyber defense, and specialized network architecture solutions tailored to the National Security and Intelligence communities.

Travis is a former Special Agent with the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations. During his 10 year military career he managed and conducted countless specialized criminal, counterintelligence, antiterrorism, economic crime, and computer forensic investigations. He performed incident response and forensic analysis of seized computer evidence related to central systems fraud, narcotics, counterintelligence, and criminal investigations. He has extensive operational field experience and has testified as an expert witness in both military and civilian proceedings.

Travis has attended executive education through Harvard Business School and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Wayland Baptist University. Travis is also a certified Program Management Professional with the Program Management Institute and holds an active government security clearance.

Scott E. Rickert, Ph.D.
Co-Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nanofilm

Dr. Rickert is among the earliest pioneers in the field of nanotechnology.  His innovative research work began during his tenure as a Professor of Macromolecular Science at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, in the 1980s.  By 1985, Dr. Rickert recognized the immense, untapped potential of nanotechnology and founded Nanofilm, built on the foundation of his laboratory studies.

The company’s first patented nano-scale film was commercialized that year with a major international optical company.  Today, Dr. Rickert heads a company with a substantial portfolio of commercialized and research technology, serving customers around the globe.  He leads a staff of 50, doing work in a 50,000-square-foot research, lab production and manufacturing space in Valley View, Ohio, near Cleveland.  He has helped Nanofilm develop nanotechnology-based research and commercial relationships with a number of global corporations, including Ferro and Carl Zeiss Vision, Inc., among others.

Dr. Rickert’s scientific knowledge and deep experience in nanotechnology commercialization has made him a trusted advisor to a variety of industries, government entities, global organizations and policy development groups.

Richard Ridgley
Chief Scientist, National Reconnaissance Office

Richard D. Ridgley is currently the Chief Scientist for the Advanced Technology Office at the National Reconnaissance Office in Chantilly, Virginia.  Hereceived a BS degree in Physical Sciences in 1977 from the University of Maryland and a MS degree in Management in 1982 from Frostburg State College. Mr. Ridgley was a recipient of the Director of National Intelligence Fellows Award in 2006.  His present research interests involve applications of carbon nanotube technologies to reengineer/transform space systems for solving national security problems.

Keith Robson
Chief Executive Officer, AssuredNano Limited

Keith has over 25 years experience in micro and nanotechnology. During that time, he has held a wide variety of positions ranging from process and product development through business development and marketing to general management in markets including occupational health, electronics, encapsulated products, specialty chemicals and coatings. For much of his industrial career, Keith has had management responsibility for technical, quality and SHE aspects of micro and nanomaterials.

He has successfully delivered innovation and business growth in a number of blue chip companies including 3M, Huntsman Tioxide and ICI. Following ICI, he was for four years Managing Director of a $15M pa t/o SME in the Northwest of England, a subsidiary of the US Corporation, Gerber Scientific. Immediately, before establishing AssuredNano, he played a prominent role in setting up NanoCentral under the UK’s MNT Capital Facilities programme and then managed the Manufacturing and Processing theme of the Technology Strategy Board’s Nanotechnology KTN, covering related areas such as nanomaterial SHE and nanomaterial legislation.

In addition to being the CEO of AssuredNano Limited, Keith is CEO of a start up bio-sensor company, Sapient Sensors Limited . He is also Business Development Manager of the Thermal Technologies Centre, a collaboration between the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and Tata Steel, to form an open access expertise centre for industries and developers who are involved with, or interested in using, thermal processes.

Keith holds a PhD in Chemistry and a BSc in Chemistry and Geology from the University of Durham. He also has an MSc in Electrochemistry from the University of Newcastle–upon-Tyne and an MBA from Durham University Business School. Before going into industry, Keith was a Post-doctoral Research Fellow studying surface adsorbed species using inelastic neutron scattering spectroscopy.

Johnny Rodrigues
Managing Partner, Xemerge

Mr. Johnny Rodrigues brings more than 15 years of experience in international sales, business development and events production. At Xemerge, he is responsible for expanding the company’s sales channels, working closely with business partners, and building and maintaining customer relationships.

Mr. Rodrigues holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from New York University, and is working towards an MBA from the Leonard Stern School of Business.

Dr Ginger Rothrock
Program Manager, Emerging Technologies, RTI International

Dr Ginger Rothrock is the Program Manager for Emerging Technologies at RTI, where she is responsible for business and technical development for new strategic areas in RTI’s nanotechnology portfolio. Dr Rothrock acts as principal investigator and program manager for a number of R&D programs for nano-enabled products in building materials, composites and controlled release systems. Dr Rothrock also consults with government and private industry identifying potential risks and value of nano-enabled products.

Prior to RTI, Dr Rothrock was Co‐Founder and Principal Technologist of Liquidia Technologies ‐‐ a dynamic mid‐stage nanobiotech firm. She and her colleagues at the University of North Carolina formed Liquidia in 2005, from nanotechnology research stemming from UNC’s Department of Chemistry. Dr Rothrock led multiple initiatives within Liquidia since its inception, pursuing her greatest passions – healthcare and energy. She served as the Project and Technical Manager for multiple customer feasibility studies in the areas of nanotechnology focused cleantech, including membranes, photovoltaics, displays, and solid state lighting and life science applications including oncology, ocular delivery, agriculture, and inhaled therapeutics. Dr Rothrock gained valuable experience working at Novartis, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the EPA prior to her founding work at Liquidia

Dr. Rothrock has a Ph.D. in Chemistry, has authored over 30 peer-reviewed articles and patent applications, more than 50 presentation abstracts, and about 40 study reports. Dr. Rothrock is an active member of the entrepreneur community and held various offices and board seats within a number of professional scientific associations, including Women in Bio, Association of Women in Science and the American Chemical Society.

Kenneth E. Russell, Ph.D.
Director, Enterprise Strategy, Cisco

Ken is focused on building executive level relationships with Cisco’s customers and their partners, providing guiding experience as a trusted advisor for CIOs and their staffs.
His experience includes developing and implementing enterprise programs (Enterprise Strategy, Organizational Leadership, Change Management, Enterprise Architecture, Bioinformatics,) and forging necessary relationships with Legal, IT, Senior Leadership, and Lines of Business to ensure necessary commitments for success. Ken leads with a combination of technology expertise, organizational acumen, and a keen understanding of the importance of precise communication and practical governance. He leverages coaching and mentoring to assist with behavior and culture change efforts (including organization architecture, situational leadership, leader vs. manager, and communication skills coaching).

This approach blends traditional areas of Operations and Applications with Technology, Architecture, and Integration to provide oversight and specific attention to the areas of:
• IT Leadership
• Governance
• Financial Value
• Technology Innovation
• Organizational Leadership
• High Performing Team Development

Prior to joining Cisco, Ken was Chief Information Officer for the David H. Murdock Research Institute (DHMRI) in Kannapolis, North Carolina where he provided executive leadership to drive delivery and execution of the technology requirements for developing and implementing a green-field life sciences research facility. His experience includes several years as director of IT Strategy & Consulting with Duke Energy, leader of the Enterprise Architecture program at Bank of America, as well as technology and strategy engagements with Fortune 500 organizations (including financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail), academic institutions, non-profits, and innovative startup companies. Specific areas of value include:
• American Express (Enterprise Architecture, Organizational Consulting, Assessment & Certification)
• Bank of America (Enterprise Architecture, Organizational Leadership, Coaching, Governance, Compliance)
• Duke Energy ( Organizational Leadership, Coaching, Governance, Compliance)
• Family Dollar Stores (Enterprise Architecture, Mentoring, Coaching, Organizational Consulting)
• Lowe's Home Improvement Stores (Enterprise Architecture, Coaching, Organizational Consulting)

Ken has a BA in English, and MS and PhD degrees in Education and Organizational Leadership. Ken lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife Ann and their two children, Christian and Alison. He serves on the Board of Advisors for the College of Computing & Informatics and is chairman of the Bioinformatics Professional Science Masters program at the University of North Carolina – Charlotte. His research has explored the impact successful leaders have on their organizations and how a leader's individual style can impact an organization's transparency.

Christie M. Sayes, Ph.D.
Program Manager, Nanotoxicology & Nanopharmacology, RTI International

Dr. Christie M. Sayes is the Program Manager for Nanotoxicology & Nanopharmacology in the Center for Aerosols and Nanomaterials Engineering at RTI International. She was formerly a professor of toxicology at Texas A&M University. Dr. Sayes maintains her adjunct faculty appointment at Texas A&M in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Interdisciplinary Program in Toxicology. She has more than a decade of experience in the fields of nanotechnology and nanotoxicology. She has authored numerous publications, including original research, invited reviews and book chapters. She is a member of the Society of Toxicology, the American Chemical Society, and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. She serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for the EPA’s FIFRA Program and on the Editorial Board of the journals Nanotoxicology and Toxicology Letters. Recently, she was elected onto the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Chapter Society of Toxicology. Dr. Sayes has proven abilities in providing technical guidance and leadership to students, technicians, and colleagues; a high aptitude for development of complex particle toxicological and biocompatibility basic and applied research projects in cell culture based and animal based models; substantial training in nanomaterial & nanotoxicology research techniques & instruments; significant experience working independently & collaborating across disciplines and organizations; excellent communication and interpersonal skills with colleagues in science and engineering, senior management, and new and existing clients and other funding sources.

Recent projects focus on addressing questions involving the toxicity of engineered nanomaterials using both cell culture and whole animal models, the dosimetry (i.e. relevant dosing concentrations) of nanomaterial suspensions that are physiologically relevant, the adequate material characterization needed for form meaningful interpretations, and the development of predictive models (experimental and mathematical) using structure-activity relationships.

Francis A. Stockwell, III
Chief Underwriting Officer, Medmarc Insurance Group

Fran is Medmarc’s Chief Underwriting Officer and is responsible for the establishment of risk selection and pricing criteria, supervision of policy language design and modifications and the development of key production goals. He also establishes underwriting authority levels for the underwriting staff and reviews both new and renewal business on a referral basis. Fran continues to personally manage a limited number of strategic client relationships, working closely with the company’s claims and loss control teams to identify and prioritize essential services.

Fran has been a commercial insurance underwriter for 34 years. He became Medmarc's Underwriting Manager in November 1986 and, in 2002, was promoted to his current position. Prior to his tenure with Medmarc, Fran was employed by CIGNA Worldwide and AFIA as an international property and casualty underwriter. He began his career with Aetna Casualty and Surety.

Fran is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo and holds a BA degree.

Dr. Sunit Talapatra
Associate, Foley & Lardner

Dr. Talapatra is an associate with Foley & Lardner LLP. He is a member of the Chemical, Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical and Private Equity & Venture Capital Practices as well as the Nanotechnology and Life Sciences Industry Teams. He specializes in preparing and prosecuting patent applications in the fields of biotechnology, biochemistry, pharmaceuticals, and chemistry. In addition, he assists in patentability, infringement, and freedom to operate investigations. Dr. Talapatra has significant experience in the areas of cell biology, immunology, pharmaceutical formulations, and plastics. He is frequently quoted in FDA Week. Prior to joining Foley, Dr. Talapatra was a patent agent with Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP.

Dr. Talapatra earned his J.D. degree from The George Washington University in 2007. He received his Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology from the University of Pennsylvania (2002). He received his M.S. in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Chicago (1999) and his B.S. in chemistry from the University of California at Los Angeles (1995). Dr. Talapatra’s graduate work in cancer biology, conducted under the guidance of Dr. Craig Thompson, resulted in the identification of novel proteins and mechanisms in the regulation of cell survival.

Dr. Talapatra is admitted to practice in Virginia and the District of Columbia and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Martin Sinozich
Piedmont Angel Network

Martin Sinozich (47), Managing Member of Venn Capital, has held operational and information technology roles since 1984. In addition to his investment and management roles at Venn Capital, Martin launched and manages three Planet Fitness locations in Greensboro, High Point and Kernersville. Before moving to North Carolina in 2004, Martin served in a variety of operations and problem-solving assignments with MBNA America Bank, Fidelity Investments, and Prudential Home Mortgage. Martin is an active investor with venture capital, real estate, and private equity interests. Martin has commercial real estate experience including construction management, lease negotiations, and land acquisition. He is a licensed Real Estate Broker and a licensed General Contractor with an unlimited-classification license in North Carolina. Martin received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia, where he was an Echols Scholar.

Sally Tinkle

Deputy Director, National Nanotechnology Coordination Office

Dr. Sally Tinkle is the Deputy Director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office of the National Science and Technology Council. Her responsibilities include facilitation and coordination of the National Nanotechnology Initiative, especially the environment, health, and safety activities. Previously, as Senior Science Advisor in the Office of the Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr. Tinkle developed the NIEHS nanotoxicology extramural research portfolio and the NIEHS NanoHealth and Safety Enterprise, a framework for public-private partnerships. She has been an active member of the trans-NIH Nanotechnology Task Force and is senior author of the health implications section of the NIH Nanotechnology Report to the NIH Director. At the federal level, Dr. Tinkle co-chaired the Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology (NSET) subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council (2009 – 2010) and is the NSET Nanotechnology Environment and Health Implications working group (NEHI) Task Group Leader for human health and nanomaterials. She is a senior author on the human health sections of the three NEHI environment health and safety (EHS) documents that form the federal approach to EHS research. She is frequently an invited speaker at nanotechnology meetings, both nationally and internationally.

Dr. Tinkle received her PhD from the Department of Physiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, CO and was a postdoctoral fellow at the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Science. Prior to joining NIH, she was the leader of a pulmonary and dermal toxicology laboratory at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health in Morgantown, WV.

Frank M. Torti, MD, MPH, FACP
VP Strategic Programs/Director, Comprehensive Cancer Center & Chair, Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

Dr. Torti received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Johns Hopkins University, his M.D. from Harvard Medical School (cum laude), and his M.P.H. from the Harvard School of Public Health, where he trained in cancer epidemiology and nutrition.  He was an intern and resident at the Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, a Harvard teaching hospital, and a fellow in medical oncology at Stanford University.  While on the Stanford faculty, he served as Executive Officer of the Northern California Oncology Group and Associate Director of the Northern California Cancer Program, and was instrumental in the development and oversight of the data management functions and overall administration of that NCI-designated clinical cooperative group and its regional network in northern California. While at Stanford, he led one of the most active genitourinary programs in the country.  He was tenured at Stanford University.

Dr. Torti joined Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 1993 as the Charles L. Spurr Professor of Medicine, Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Chair of the Department of Cancer Biology. He developed and is principal investigator on a training program in cancer biology for PhD students and MD and PhD postdoctoral fellows that is funded by an NIH T32 grant.  He is the founding and past president of the Cancer Biology Training Consortium, a national society of cancer biology chairs and program directors that now involves 70 US academic medical centers.

He has published in Science, J. Biol. Chem., Mol. Cell. Biol., Proc. Nat. Acad. of Sci., J. Immunol., J. Clin. Oncol., Lancet, Cancer Res., New Eng. Jour. Med., Ann. Int. Med., Cell, and other highly respected journals.  He has served on or chaired a number of national study sections, including those of the NIH, VA, DOD, and American Institute for Cancer Research. He currently is a member of the External Advisory Boards of four Comprehensive Cancer Centers, as well as the nominating committee for the American Association of Cancer Institutes. He served on the NIH Council for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and was recently appointed to the NCI’s Board of Scientific Advisors.

Dr. Torti is an active and well known clinical investigator in urologic oncology.  He is widely published in this area and has designed and executed clinical trials that have become standards of care in genitourinary oncology.  He has routinely been selected by his peers for lists in national magazines of “America’s top doctors” and “top cancer doctors.”

Dr. Torti has made fundamental observations on the molecular action of oxidants and cytokines and their relationship to cancer and iron homeostasis. His recent interests include alterations in iron homeostasis in cancer and the development of novel antiangiogenic compounds. He has been continually funded by an NIH RO1 grant for his basic science research since his lab was established in 1988.  He holds a MERIT award from the NIH, an honor bestowed on only 3% of all NIH grantees.

In 2008, Dr. Torti took a leave from Wake Forest to accept an appointment as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Principal Deputy Commissioner (second ranking official) and the FDA’s first Chief Scientist, a new position mandated in the FDA Amendments Act of 2007. As Chief Scientist, a number of FDA offices and centers reported directly to him, including the Office of Critical Path Programs, the National Center for Toxicological Research, the Offices of Fellowship and Training, Genomics and Personalized Medicine, Pediatric Therapeutics, Special Health Issues, Orphan Drugs, Women’s Health and Combination Products. While Chief Scientist, Dr. Torti developed and implemented the FDA commissioner’s fellowship program, established a new FDA Journal of Regulatory Science, developed the overarching vision and priorities and implementation plan for FDA science, created a plan for recruitment, retention and career development in the Office of Oncology Drug Products (for which he received a Department of Health and Human Services “Commissioner’s Commendation”), established the first FDA science writers symposium, developed a program of peer-reviewed “science first” research awards, developed an HHS-wide economic adulteration task force, and coordinated the scientific integration of the FDA’s informatics transformation.

In January 2009, Dr. Torti was appointed Acting Commissioner of the FDA. He managed complex multi-state food-borne illness outbreaks, and initiated a scientific taskforce on scientific tools for rapid detection of pathogens that coordinated efforts of the Department of Homeland Security, DARPA, CDC, FDA, USDA, NIST, and NIH. He also developed strong collaborations with NIH and NCI leadership to tackle complex scientific issues surrounding rodent and primate toxicology and human epidemiology of estrogen disruptors. Dr. Torti was able to develop at the FDA a strong and growing sense of community around the preeminence of science in a regulatory agency.

Dr. Torti returned to Wake Forest in the spring of 2009 to assume the newly created position of Vice President for Strategic Programs as well as resuming his positions as Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center and Chair of the Department of Cancer Biology.  As part of the new position, Dr. Torti leads and provides oversight for not only the scientific, but also financial and strategic initiatives of all inpatient and outpatient cancer clinical programs.

Suzy V. Torti, Ph.D.
Professor, Biochemistry, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine

Dr. Torti received her B.A. from Reed College in Portland Oregon and her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Microbiology from Tufts University. She was a postdoctoral fellow at University of California at Berkeley and a research fellow at Stanford University. She was appointed to the Biochemistry faculty in 1993.

Dr. Torti's laboratory is interested in iron metabolism, proteins of iron metabolism, and relationships between iron metabolism and cancer.

J. Robert Tyler III
Partner, Poyner Spruill

Rob has over 20 years of business, corporate law and intellectual property licensing experience. For more than 15 years, Rob has focused his practice on representing life sciences, and technology companies in equity and debt financings, intellectual property and technology licensing, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate matters.

Prior to joining Poyner Spruill, Rob was a Partner with Hutchison Law Group. Previously, Rob practiced at two large North Carolina and Virginia law firms. He has also served as an assistant general counsel of a New York Stock Exchange listed health care services company.

Rosalind Volpe, D.PH
Executive Director, Silver Nanotechnology Working Group

At the present time, Dr. Volpe serves as the Executive Director of the Silver Nanotechnology Working Group (SNWG), a Program of the Silver Research Consortium. The SNWG is an industry effort to foster the collection of data on silver nanotechnology in order to advance the science and public understanding of the beneficial uses of silver nanoparticles in a wide-range of consumer and industrial products. The SNWG made a detailed presentation to the EPA Scientific Advisory Panel on Nanosilver in November, 2009 on the topic “Evaluation of Hazard and Exposure Associated with Nanosilver and Other Nanometal Oxide Pesticide Products.” A paper published in Environmental Science and Technology (120 Years of Nanosilver History: Implications for Policy Makers- Nowack, Krug, and Height/2011 ) explains the SNWG position on Nanosilver. After three years of working with the EPA, the SNWG’s member company, HeiQ Materials, AG., received in December 2011, a provisional registration from EPA OPP for their nanosilver product, HeiQ AGS 20. The SNWG currently awaits the release of a revised EPA OPP Nanopesticide Policy, based on public comments submitted September 2011.

Earlier in her career, Dr. Volpe served as the Asst. Manager and then Manager of the Environmental Health Research Department at ILZRO (International Lead Zinc Research Org) from 1980-1989 working with the human heath effects of the metals, zinc, cadmium and lead. Since 1989 to the present she has served as a consultant to ILZRO in the Environmental Health Department and has also worked with the ILZRO RAPS (Remote Area Power Supply) Program in South America, bringing electricity to small remote villages on the Amazon with hybrid electricity systems (batteries, solar power and generators).

Rosalind Volpe received a BA from Barnard College of Columbia University in Biology in 1975 and a Doctorate of Public Health in Environmental Health Sciences from Columbia University in 1988.

Stephen Waite
Managing Partner, SoundView Advisory

Stephen Waite is currently a managing partner at SoundView Advisory, a boutique strategic advisory firm specializing in emerging technology. Steve is a noted institutional investment manager, strategic corporate advisor, professor and author, with over 25 years of experience on Wall Street. He was a co-founder of a multi-billion dollar investment management firm.

Steve has extensive experience in global economic and financial market issues with tenures at Morgan Stanley & Co, The Capital Group, Merrill Lynch, and CSAM/BEA Associates. In addition, he helped found ThelnfoPro, Inc., an independent technology research firm, and served as the company’s Chief Knowledge Officer and was a member of the Board of Directors. Steve also served on the Strategic News Service Future in Review (FiRe) Technology Conference Advisory Board, NanoDynamics, Inc. Scientific Advisory Board, and has worked with the partners at GaveKal Research. He is currently assisting the NanoBusiness Commercialization Association and is a member of its Advisory Board.

A highly-rated Adjunct Professor of Finance at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, Steve is the author of the book Quantum Investing and co-author of the book, Boomernomics. He has a Masters Degree in Economics from The Pennsylvania State University and is a past participant at the Santa Fe Institute.

Chris William
Managing Director, Private Client Group, Wells Fargo and Executive Producer, Carolina Business

Chris William is a Managing Director in the Private Client Group for Wells Fargo, Moderator and Executive Producer for the long-running, syndicated PBS television program CAROLINA BUSINESS REVIEW, which is seen each week in 22 markets throughout North & South Carolina. As a finance professional as well as broadcast moderator, he has been uniquely qualified to observe and comment on business and industry for 2 decades. William is also the host and co-founder of The Forum for Corporate Conscience. An organization of nearly 150 CEO’s that discussed issues around corporate sustainability, ethics and values. In addition, he is host and Director for the Forum on Sustainable Business and the creative round-table IF: INNOVATION FIRST. He participates annually in, and authors numerous business and industry panels and conferences across the Carolinas.

David F. Williams, PhD
Professor, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine

David Williams was trained as a materials scientist and has 40 years experience in the medical device/tissue engineering fields, all at the University of Liverpool, UK, where he has been Head of Clinical Engineering and Director, UK Centre for Tissue Engineering, and is now Emeritus Professor. He is the Editor-in-Chief, Biomaterials, the world’s leading journal in this field, and is Continental Chair-Elect, TERMIS-Europe. He has written or edited 35 books and published close to 400 scientific papers. He received the prestigious Founders Award of the US Society for Biomaterials in 2007. He was appointed as Professor and Director of International Affairs, Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine in 2008 and is also a Visiting Professor, Christiaan Barnard Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cape Town, South Africa, a Visiting Professorial Fellow, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Australia, and Guest Professor, at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.

Miles Wright
CEO, Xanofi

Miles has over 20 years of startup, entrepreneurial and manufacturing expertise in a variety of industries. His successful launches include Accugraphics, Eyebeam, Signature Publishing, and MCW Properties, in addition to developing new technology for CoastMaster. He co-founded a prominent nonprofit group to benefit children in Haiti and has served as a Director for numerous organizations.

William C. Zamboni PharmD, PhD
Associate Professor, DPET; Associate Member, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; Director, GLP Analytical Facility, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Currently, William Zamboni is an Associate Professor in the School of Pharmacy and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Zamboni’s research program is part of the Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics n the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and Molecular Therapeutics in the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is the Director of UNC GLP Bioanalytical Facility and the Director of the Translational Oncology and Nanoparticle Drug Development Initiative (TOND2I) Lab at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He is also the Co-Director of the North Carolina Biomedical Innovation Network (NCBIN) for GLP toxicology and pharmacology studies of small molecule and nanoparticle agents.

He has been involved in translational studies of anticancer agents for several years. His research interests focus on the application of pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacogenetic principles in the optimization of the chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer. Information obtained from preclinical and clinical translational studies can greatly add to the understanding of the pharmacology of anticancer agents, permit individualization of chemotherapeutic treatment based on pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacogenetic principles, and allow for the rational design of therapeutic regimens.

A second focus of his research is on the developments of nanosomal and nanoparticle anticancer agents and evaluating the relationship between the disposition f the s agents and the reticuloendothelial system. As part of these studies, he has used microdialysis to evaluate the tumor extracellular fluid disposition of anticancer agents and factors affecting the delivery and removal of anticancer agents. He has also developed methods and technologies to differentiate between the inactive-encapsulate and active-release forms of the drugs and are evaluating potential phenotypic probes from the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic disposition of nanosomal and nanoparticles. The clinical relevance of studies is underscored by the need to treat solid tumors with anticancer agents that have a high tumor delivery of liposomal and nanoparticle agents, and generate administration schedules to enhance selective tumor uptake.

Michael Zapata III
Executive Chairman, Protochips Inc.

Michael Zapata III is an entrepreneur and angel investor focused on technology based businesses. He spends the majority of his time working with first time management teams in operational roles to build their businesses and grow them internationally. He has a strong focus on technology product development, sales, marketing and strategic relationships, particularly in Asia. Michael was the founding Director of the Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Program at NC State University and the Associate Director of the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science. His current positions include Entrepreneur-in-Residence at NC State, Chairman of ArrayXpress, a diagnostic genomics company and Executive Chairman of Protochips, a nanotechnology analytical instrumentation company. Mr. Zapata is active in consulting with universities and foreign governments in the establishment and optimization of new product development, innovation and commercialization programs. He is appointed by the US Secretary of Commerce to the Export Counsel and he is a retired Lieutenant Colonel, having served as a US Army Combat Aviation Officer.