Leadership
Scott Schorer
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Companies
- GI Dynamics
- Systagenix
- CentriMed / GHX
- IST
Experience
- Multiple clinical trials / regulatory approvals
- Multiple exits
- >$150m raised: public / private
- Patents: 25 issued/pending
Education:
- A.B: Dartmouth College
- B.E.: Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College
- US Army Airborne Ranger
Serial entrepreneur - Deep fundraising/clin/reg/metabolic disease experience
Thomas Vasicek, PhD
CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER
Companies
- Medtronic
- Millennium
- Corning
- Lynx / Solexa
- Roche
Experience
- Multiple clinical trials
- Patents: 10 issued/pending
- Publications: 26+
Education:
- B.S. Chemistry: MIT
- PhD Genetics: Harvard University
- Postdoc, Developmental Biology: Princeton University
Expert in targeted drug delivery, personalized medicine & metabolic hormones - Deep R&D/clin/reg experience
Sangeeta Kashyap, MD
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
Companies
• Janssen
• Ethicon
• Covidean
• Fractyl
• GI Dynamics
Experience
20+ clinical practice
• Multiple clinical trials funded by NIDDK, ADA and industry
• Publications: 120+
Education
• B.S. Biological Science, UC Irvine
• MD UC Irvine College of Medicine
• Postdoc, T32 and NRSA-NIDDK
Expert in obesity and metabolic disorder clinical trial and scientific discovery
Jon Freeman, MBA, CFM
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Mr. Freeman has 25 years of finance, operations and management experience across a variety of industries including medical device, technology, industrial manufacturing, and professional services. He has worked in a wide range of environments, ranging from large public multi-national corporations down to small emerging private companies. Jon has helped lead several companies that have realized substantial shareholder value. Mr. Freeman holds a BA in Economics from St. Olaf College and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.
Scientific Advisors | Endocrinology
Prof Rachel Batterham, MD, PHD
PROFESSOR OF OBESITY, DIABETES & ENDOCRINOLOGY UCL. UCLH BARIATRIC CTR FOR WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AND METABOLIC SURGERY. LONDON, ENGLAND
Experience
- 30+ yrs treating patients with obesity
- Head, Center for Obesity Research & London Hospitals Bariatric Centre for Weight Management
- >170 publications cited >19,000 times
- Advisor: Gila Therapeutics, Novo Nordisk, ViiV and International Medical Press
World leading expert in PYY biology, bodyweight regulation and managing people with obesity
David E. Cummings, MD
PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE (ENDOCRINOLOGY) UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, SENIOR INVESTIGATOR UW MEDICINE DIABETES INSTITUTE, SEATTLE, WA, USA
- 30+ yrs continuous NIH-funded research
- Founding Director, Weight Management Clinic and Program at the Seattle/Tacoma VA Hospital network
- >170 publications plus many book chapters
- 30+ years treating patients with obesity
- Advisor: Gila Therapeutics, GI Dynamics, Metavention, DyaMx
International authority on treating obesity and its co-morbidities
Judith Korner, MD, PhD
PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE DIABETES, ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IRVING MEDICAL CENTER NEW YORK, NY, USA
- 20+ yrs treating patients with obesity
- Founder and Director, Metabolic and Weight Control Center at Columbia
- Chair and Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine
- 20+ yrs NIH-funded research
- Advisor: Gila Therapeutics, GI Dynamics, Digma Medical, Found Health
International authority on hormonal effects of metabolic/bariatric surgery and obesity treatment
Prof Carel Le Roux, MBChB, MSC, FRCP, FRCPath, PhD
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, DUBLIN, IRELAND
- 25+ yrs treating patients with obesity
- Head, Metabolic Medicine & Obesity Complications Clinic
- >340 publications cited >15,000 times
- Advisor: Gila Therapeutics, Novo Nordisk, Johnson&Johnson, Herbalife, Boehringer Ingelheim
Expert in metabolic medicine, recognized world leader in metabolism and obesity.
Donna Ryan, MD
PAST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & PROFESSOR EMERITA, PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CTR. BATON ROUGE, LA, USA
Experience
- 30+ yrs treating patients with obesity
- >200 publication & 45 book chapter and reviews
- President of World Obesity Federation
- Former President of The Obesity Society
- Advisor: Gila Therapeutics, Novo Nordisk, Takeda, Vivus, Eisai, Calibrate
Author & lead in landmark metabolic disease studies – POUNDS Lost, DPP, Look AHEAD, etc.
Scientific Advisors | Nephrology
Allon Friedman, MD
PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE, DIVISION OF NEPHROLOGY, INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, INDIANAPOLIS, IN, USA
- Global leader, movement to improve management of obesity in chronic kidney disease
- Board certified in internal medicine, nephrology, and nutrition
- 25+ years treating patients throughout the range of kidney disease
- Adviser: Gila Therapeutics, GI Dynamics, Goldfinch Bio, Astra Zeneca
Recognized authority on nutrition and obesity in persons with kidney disease
Scientific Advisors | Neuroscience
Michael Cowley, PhD
PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY, MONASH UNIVERSITY, AUSTRALIA.
- 23 years working in drug development
- Founder Orexigen Therapeutics, Monash Obesity & Diabetes Institute
- Authored over 130 papers and chapters.
- Inventor of 180 patent or patent applications (including PCT’s)
- Advisor Gila Therapeutics, Novo Nordisk, iNova, Acino, Curris.
International authority on animal models of disease and metabolic disease drug development.
Harvey Grill, PhD
PROFESSOR OF BEHAVIOR NEUROSCIENCE, DIRECTOR OF THE OBESITY UNITY, INSTITUTE OF DIABETES, OBESITY AND METABOLISM, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA
- 40+ years of NIH funding
- 200 published papers and reviews
- Former President of The Obesity Society and Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior
- Advisor: Gila Therapeutics, Pfizer, Novo Nordisk, Janssen
Expert in the neural control of food intake and body weight, taste guided behavior and affective responses to food
Alan C. Spector, PhD
DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH PROFESSOR DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY AND PROGRAM IN NEUROSCIENCE, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY TALLAHASSEE, FL, USA
- +40 years conducting research on gustation and ingestive behavior in preclinical models
- Former President of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior and the Association of Chemoreception Science
- Fellow of the: American Psychological Association, Association for Psychological Science, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Continuously funded from the NIH for 35 years
- >165 publications
- Advisor: Gila Therapeutics
Internationally recognized expert on the neural basis of taste function and the experimental analysis of taste-related behavior, eating, and drinking in preclinical models
Board of Directors
Scott Schorer
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Companies
- GI Dynamics
- Systagenix
- CentriMed / GHX
- IST
Experience
- Multiple clinical trials / regulatory approvals
- Multiple exits
- >$150m raised: public / private
- Patents: 25 issued/pending
Education:
- A.B: Dartmouth College
- B.E.: Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College
- US Army Airborne Ranger
Serial entrepreneur - Deep fundraising/clin/reg/metabolic disease experience
Richard G. Horan
MANAGING PARTNER, BIOGRAPH VENTURES. GILA DIRECTOR
Biograph Venture
Biograph is an independent venture development firm established in 2018, focused in life sciences and healthcare
Previous positions:
- Slater Technology Fund, Providence, RI
- Sachem Ventures, Princeton, NJ
- Johnston Associates, Princeton, NJ
CEO Positions
- Medical Media Systems
- SEQ/Praelux
- Immunicon Corp
Education:
- A.B.: Dartmouth College
- MBA: Tuck School at Dartmouth
Christopher De Souza, PhD
DIRECTOR, BROADVIEW VENTURES . GILA DIRECTOR
Broadview Ventures
Broadview is a philanthropic, for-profit venture fund supported by the Leducq Family Trust with a mission to accelerate the development of promising technology in cardiovascular and neurovascular disease through targeted investments in and support of early-stage ventures
Current Director positions:
- MassBio
- Acesion, Mellitus, Giner Life Science
Education:
- B.S., M.S.: University Mumbai
- M.S., PhD: LSU
- MBA: Rutgers University
Tim Barberich
GILA DIRECTOR
Experience
40+ years in medical device and pharmaceutical companies
Companies
- Sepracor
- Verastem (NASDAQ: VSTM)
- Frequency Therapeutics (NASDAQ: FREQ)
- TScan Therapeutics (NASDAQ: TCRX)
Founder and CEO
- Sepracor: Founder & CEO (NASDAQ: SEPR) Sold to Dainippon for $2.6Bn
Education:
- B.S. in Chemistry from Kings College