Board of Managers
Our Board of Managers comes from diverse backgrounds with extensive expertise in medicine, stem-cell research, finance, management, business development, and high-growth startups.
Christof Westenfelder, MD
Chairman of the Board of Managers
Dr. Westenfelder is a Professor of Medicine and Physiology at the University of Utah and Chief of the Nephrology Section of the VA Medical Center. Dr. Westenfelder has extensive experience in clinical and basic research in the field of adult stem cell biology, stem cell translational research with an emphasis in the fields of transplantation medicine, renal and critical care. In addition, Dr. Westenfelder is an internationally recognized expert on the biology and clinical uses of erythropoietin and treatment of acute kidney and multi-organ failure. Dr. Westenfelder has successfully founded a number of companies including Nephrogen, SymbioCellTech, LLC and Nephrocelltech, and he holds numerous patents pertinent to SCT’s technology. He has obtained an IND from the FDA for the conduct of a successful Phase I Trial in which the safety and kidney protective activity of allogeneic, bone marrow-derived Multipotent Stromal aka Mesenchymal Stem Cells was demonstrated.
Axel Zander, MD
Dr. Zander is emeritus Professor of Medicine and Manager of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Center at the University of Hamburg in Germany. Dr. Zander is an internationally recognized expert in bone marrow transplantation and stem cell research, with particular expertise in novel clinical uses of adult stem cells in regenerative medicine. Dr. Zander has founded and co-founded a number of companies including Nephrogen, SymbioCellTech, LLC and Stem Cell Rescue, and he holds numerous patents related to steam-cell therapy.
Anna Gooch, PhD
Dr. Gooch has significant experience in Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine research and commercialization. Her previous experience includes serving as Board Member and Clinical Operations Manager at Allocure, Inc., where she was responsible for oversight and management of all laboratory operations supporting a successful FDA approved Phase 1 Clinical trial for the novel treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI) utilizing cultured mesenchymal stem cells. Dr. Gooch currently serves as Chief Scientific Officer for SymbioCellTech.
G. Russell Reiss, MD
Dr. Reiss is a cardiothoracic surgeon and scientific investigator with extensive training and background in Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine including the therapeutic use of adult stem cells in cardiac and renal patients. He has successfully obtained multiple FDA stem cell INDs for the treatment of ischemic heart disease and renal failure patients and currently serves as both an officer and consultant for Life Science companies throughout their discovery to commercialization process. Dr. Reiss has previously collaborated with the SymbioCellTech corporate team as a clinical, scientific and regulatory advisor and now serves as Chief Operating Officer and Investor Relations.
Robert Maddock, MBA
Mr. Maddock is a Senior Vice President and a member of the Investment Committee at Inverness Counsel LLC, in New York City. In addition to managing portfolios for high net worth clients, pensions and other institutions, he conducts fundamental research on energy stocks. Prior to joining Inverness in 1993, Mr. Maddock worked at White Oak Capital Management and was an Investment Officer at the Bank of New York. He earned a BA from the University of Utah in 1985 and an MBA from New York University in 1992. Mr. Maddock has served as a former Trustee and Vice President for the Putnam County Land Trust.
Kevin Sullivan, Esq
Mr. Sullivan currently serves as chief legal officer, general counsel, and corporate secretary of Otter Products, LLC and Blue Ocean Enterprises, Inc. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Washington, his law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law, and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Prior to joining Otter Products, LLC and Blue Ocean Enterprises, Inc., Mr. Sullivan practiced tax and corporate law at a Seattle-based law firm.
James Horton
Mr. Horton is a managing partner at H2M Capital in Salt Lake City, Utah, a modern venture capital firm that supports the most promising founders in high-growth markets. Mr. Horton holds board of director positions in multiple companies including Plansight and Nikola, where he is also the Finance Chair for the Advisory Board. Mr. Horton completed his advanced business education at the University of Oxford Said Business School and holds a BA in English and Business from Brigham Young University.
REGAN B HANSEN, MD
Dr. Hansen is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon practicing at Lewiston Orthopedics since 1999 after completing his medical training at the University of Utah School of Medicine and residency training at the prestigious Campbell Clinic in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Hansen received his undergraduate education at Brigham Young University where he was active in football, receiving All-Western Athletic Conference honors. He is currently licensed in Idaho and Washington and is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Hansen’s expertise in total joint reconstruction allows him to perform numerous joint replacement surgeries annually, making him one of the highest volume surgeons for joint reconstruction.
ERIC GOSINK, PHD
Dr. Gosink is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence with UC Riverside in California. He specializes in early stage technology with expertise in scientific research, technology transfer, patent management, business development, strategic alliances, negotiating, market research, business mentoring and educational outreach. He is skilled in complex commercial and academic operations. Mr. Gosink served as a post-doctoral research fellow studying cellular biology after receiving a PhD and MS in Physiology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He also worked as a research technician for the Veterans Administration Medical Center and obtained a BA in Biochemistry & Cellular Biology from UC San Diego.