Evren Alici, M.D., Ph.D.
CEO AND CHAIRMAN
OF THE BOARD
Dr. Evren Alici is a senior researcher and group leader in Hematology at Karolinska Institutet (KI), Department of Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden. He also serves as co-director of NextGenNK, an international Competence Center for the development of next-generation NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies based at KI. He received his M.D. and did his residency at the Ege University, Turkey. He received his Ph.D. in 2006 at KI. His main research interests are novel approaches to generating universal cells including allogeneic NK cells, multiple myeloma, lentiviral and retroviral gene transfer, stem cell transplantation and immunology. He is a member of several international and national committees, advisory boards and scientific meetings. He is currently leading a group of more than 20 scientists. Dr. Alici participated in the planning and design of the first clinical study with gene-modified cells in Sweden and authored the final publication. Additionally, he was also responsible for the first-in-man autologous NK cell therapy clinical trial that was classified as advanced therapy medicinal product use.
Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren, M.D., Ph.D.
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
& BOARD MEMBER
Professor Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren earned his medical and doctoral degrees at Karolinska Institutet (KI). He also serves as Center Director of NextGenNK, an international Competence Center for the development of next-generation NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies based at KI. In 2001, he was appointed Professor of Infection Medicine and Director of the Center for Infectious Medicine (CIM), a Strategic Research Center at the Department of Medicine, KI. He has authored >300 articles within the fields of immunology, infectious diseases and cancer and been cited >20,000 times. Immune reactions mediated by innate immune cells such as NK cells have been a long-standing focus of his research. Starting off from simple model systems, Ljunggren and collaborators early on provided fundamental insights molecular specificity and function of NK cells. In recent years, he has gone on to explore the same cells in humans. His research group is now taking new steps exploring the use of NK cells in therapeutic settings in humans with cancer. Professor Ljunggren has been a member of the organizing or scientific committees of numerous international conferences. He has had multiple national and international assignments, involving external research evaluations and participation in international advisory boards. He has been a member of the editorial board of several leading international journals within the field of immunology. He has functioned as Dean of Research at KI and is a member of the Nobel Assembly at KI, which awards the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Douglas W. Calder
PRESIDENT
& BOARD MEMBER
Mr. Calder serves on the Board of Directors for NextGenNK, an international Competence Center for the development of next-generation NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies based at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. He also serves as a Director for BioFlorida and is a Member of the Society for Natural Immunity.
A graduate of Florida State University, Mr. Calder has nearly 25-years of life science executive experience, with an emphasis on investor relations, capital markets strategies and public/media relations, having served in senior executive and officer roles for biotechnology companies and research institutes including the Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Biovest International, Accentia Biopharmaceuticals and Viragen, as well as having formerly served as a licensed registered representative financial portfolio manager with a focus on life science equities with the NYSE-member firms, Gruntal & Co. and Dean Witter Reynolds.
Samuel Duffey, Esq.
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL
& BOARD MEMBER
As a former attorney for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Duffey has practiced corporate, business and securities law for more than 30-years. Mr. Duffey is the General Counsel for MyMD Pharmaceuticals and serves on the Board of Directors for Immuno(Logx), a cell therapy spin-out from Moffitt Cancer Center. Mr. Duffey formerly served as President & CEO of Biovest International, a pioneer in the development of neoantigen cancer vaccines in collaboration with the U.S. National Cancer Institute. Previously, Mr. Duffey was general counsel of numerous biotech companies and served as President and CEO of Accentia Biopharmaceuticals. Mr. Duffey earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence with Honors from Drake University.
Jim DiCesaro, CFA
DIRECTOR OF CAPITAL MARKETS STRATEGIES
Mr. DiCesaro has more than 20 years of experience in Capital Markets including investment banking and equity research. After beginning his career in the equity research department at Raymond James & Associates, his focus for the past 15+ years has been on raising growth capital for small to middle market private and public companies. He most recently served as a Managing Director at Skyway Capital Markets, rejoining former colleagues to help lead Skyway’s life sciences practice.
Jim is a graduate of the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Engineering Sciences. Mr. DiCesaro is a CFA charterholder.