Board of Directors

University Directors
Melur (Ram) Ramasubramanian, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research
University of Virginia

Michael J. Friedlander, Ph.D. 
Vice President for Health Sciences and Technology,
Virginia Tech
Founding Executive Director,
Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute
Senior Dean for Research,
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Srirama Rao, Ph.D. 
Vice President for Research and Innovation 
Virginia Commonwealth University 
Office of Research 

Morris W. Foster, Ph.D.  (Treasurer)
Vice President for Research 
Old Dominion University 

Deborah Crawford, Ph.D. 
Vice President for Research 
Office of the Provost 
George Mason University 

​Jerry L. Nadler, M.D.
Professor and Chair
​Department of Internal Medicine
Eastern Virginia Medical School 

Dennis Manos, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Research and
​Graduate/Professional Studies
Director, Applied Research Center
Director, William and Mary Research Institute
​William and Mary

 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
David X. Cifu, M.D. (Chairman)
Board Chairman 
Associate Dean of Innovation and System Integration,
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Herman J. Flax, MD Professor and Chair, Department of PM&R,
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
 Senior TBI Specialist,
Principal Investigator, Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium
U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs

Health Care System Providers
Howard P. Kern 
President and Chief Executive Officer
Sentara Healthcare 

​Commonwealth of Virginia
Robby Demeria
Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade for Technology 
Commonwealth of Virginia 

Vince Barnett
Vice President, Business Investment
Virginia Economic Development Partnership 

Private Equity/Venture Capital Director
Thomas D. Roberts, III (Secretary)
Partner 
Harbert Venture Partners 

Life Science Company Director
Jeff Conroy
Founder and CEO
Embody LLC

Virginia Biosciences Industry
Jeff Gallagher 
CEO 
Virginia Biotechnology Association 
​

Project Management and Oversight Panel 

Science and Clinical
Ali Andalibi, Ph.D. 
Associate Dean of Research 
George Mason University 

O. John Semmes, Ph.D.
Director
​Leroy T. Canoles, Jr. Cancer Research Center
Eastern Virginia Medical School

​George S. Bloom, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology, Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Director, Neuroscience Undergraduate Program
University of Virginia

Venture Capital Firms
Scott Meza 
Shareholder and Attorney at Law 
Greenberg Trauig 

Bob Creeden
Managing Director
UVA Seed Fund and New Ventures

Life Science Companies
Rony Thomas 
President & CEO 
LifeNet Health, Inc. 

James C. Powers 
Chairman and CEO 
Hemoshear, LLC 

Gerard Eldering
President
Innovate Tech Ventures ​

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Michael Grisham
​President & CEO

Mike Grisham has served as Founder, Managing Member and CEO of GPB Scientific LLC since 2002. He has over 21 years of experience in biosciences, building diagnostic and healthcare companies. Mr. Grisham founded and served as CEO of Celective DX (acquired by On-Q-ity); Verinata Health Inc. (acquired by Illumina); and Paradigm Health Corporation (acquired by Alere). Grisham holds a BA from University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.