Innovation & Commercialization Council

Andre Cap MD PhD

CSO Velico Inc

Becky Cap

Senior Vice President of Biotherapies, Vitalant

Becky Cap joined Vitalant in 2024 and oversees the creation and growth of innovative service lines to support the development of novel biotherapeutics for patient care. As senior vice president, she is responsible for Vitalant's portfolio of services for biotherapy developers, including product sourcing, processing, storage and management. Prior to joining Vitalant, Cap held executive, research and consulting roles in the life sciences industry. Cap holds a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and an MBA from Boston University Graduate School of Management.

Donna Chang

CEO Hope Biosciences

As the President and CEO of Hope Biosciences and President of the Hope Biosciences Research Foundation (HBRF), Donna Chang is on a mission to revolutionize the field of cell therapy. She has over 15 years of experience in biotechnology business development, including business expansion and strategic partnering. Donna started her career in economic development in life sciences. She later transitioned into industry, focused entirely on cellular therapeutics. Her passion in this subject is the leading motivation to find solutions to the current limitations in cell therapy and deliver approved therapies to the masses - quickly. Donna co-founded Hope Biosciences in 2016 with a goal to develop and deliver adult stem cell therapeutics that are safe, effective and affordable. Hope Bio’s groundbreaking patented core cell culture technology has been utilized in over 50 FDA authorized protocols in the United States. Founded in 2020, HBRF provides the philanthropic and operational framework to design, sponsor and execute clinical trials that evaluate the therapeutic potential of adult stem cells across a wide range of diseases. Donna graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in Bioethics and Human Biology. She received her Masters (M.S.) in Biotechnology with a concentration in Enterprise Development from Johns Hopkins University.

Mike Fitzpatrick PhD

CSO Cellphire Inc.

Adam Gerber MD PhD

Medical Director Octapharma USA

Dr. Adam Gerber, MD, PhD, is a physician-scientist and Medical and Scientific Director for Critical Care at Octapharma USA. With over a decade of experience spanning research, industry, and academic medicine, Dr. Gerber is at the forefront of developing innovative therapies for critical care, trauma, and acute lung injury. His expertise in pulmonary and inflammatory biology, combined with his leadership in progressing products from discovery to clinical application, makes him a pivotal figure in advancing solutions for acute hemorrhage and blood substitutes. At Octapharma USA, Dr. Gerber provides strategic direction for critical care products, leading new product launches and overseeing medical reviews of regulatory filings. He has spearheaded multiple academic collaborations for investigator-initiated trials and preclinical research, focusing on therapies that mimic and enhance the functions of blood components crucial for patient survival in acute settings.

Obi Greenman

CEO Cerus Corp.

Brett Janis PhD

CEO DesiCorp Inc

Jessica Kenyon

Chief Executive Officer - The Conafay Group

Jessica Kenyon has over 25 years of experience in the development of advanced medical technologies, with a specialized focus on federal research and acquisition. As the CEO of The Conafay Group, she provides strategic expertise in federal R&D programs and fosters partnerships across government, academia, and industry. Jessica previously served as Vice President for Health and Life Science Programs at American Defense International, Inc., where she advised a wide range of domestic and international clients on federal engagement, with particular emphasis on the Department of Defense (DoD). Her extensive career includes over a decade of experience managing DoD medical R&D programs, particularly through her work at the U.S. Army Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC). From 2001 to 2011, she held key roles at TATRC, including Director of the West Coast Satellite Office in Marina del Rey, where she led efforts to build strategic collaborations and support military-relevant medical research. She also served as Congressional Liaison at TATRC's headquarters, facilitating communication between the Center and Capitol Hill. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Johns Hopkins University and holds a Master of Arts from Bryn Mawr College.

Vijayan Nair PhD

Senior Director Special Projects Octapharma USA

Lauren Palestrini PhD CFA

CSO MTEC Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium/DOD

Dr. Lauren Palestrini PhD, CFA, is the Chief Science Officer of the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC), where she leads a diverse medical R&D portfolio supporting military and national preparedness needs. With a PhD in Biomedical Engineering, the Chartered Financial Analyst credential, and extensive experience across academia, industry, and DoD-funded regenerative medicine initiatives, she brings a rare combination of scientific depth and strategic financial insight. Dr. Palestrini has directed large multi-institutional research programs, guided early-stage technologies toward clinical and commercial pathways, and built collaborative networks that bridge government, industry, and academia. Her work focuses on delivering impactful medical solutions that enhance warfighter health, readiness, and survivability.

Zachary Rapp MA

Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder (Sigma Genetics Inc.) 

Zachary Rapp is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Sigma Genetics, where he focuses on the discovery and development of gene delivery platforms and novel therapeutics. His team is developing its magnetoporation platform to induce nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) within cell suspensions, enabling contactless and scalable transfection of DNA, RNA, proteins, and compounds into primary human cells to engineer therapeutics. In addition, he is translating next generation fusogenic proteo-lipid vehicles (PLVs) to deliver DNA by membrane fusion, enabling extrahepatic delivery, repeat dosing, and large genetic payloads for selective in vivo immunotherapies across solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Sigma partners with leading academic and clinical investigators to develop cell and gene therapy assets and advance targeted therapeutics toward commercialization. He received his graduate degree and training at Columbia University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he was part of the founding team developing a translational variant of PTEN (PTEN-Long) as a cancer therapeutic in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Taryn Rose MD

DARPA Consultant