Leadership
Meet the Regencor Team
Regencor has a first-class managerial and advisory team consisting of experienced professionals in healthcare and business.
If you feel like you'd be a great fit, we are currently on the lookout for dedicated individuals to join our team.
LEADERSHIP
Thomas Okarma, MD, PhD
Executive Chairman and Co-founder
Dr. Okarma brings over 30 years’ experience as CEO of three publicly traded companies, including Geron Corporation, where he was responsible for the world’s first FDA authorized IND for human embryonic stem cells, a milestone in biotechnology.
While at Geron, he also managed the development of Imetelstat, the world’s only telomerase inhibitor drug currently in advanced clinical testing for hematologic malignancies.
Dr. Okarma was also a Senior Vice President of Rhone Poulenc Rorer, following their acquisition of his first company, Applied Immune Sciences.
Under Dr. Okarma’s leadership, Regencor has attracted and retained highly trained and experienced employees, consultants, and CROs/CMOs.
Pilar Ruiz-Lozano, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
As a member of the Faculty at Stanford School of Medicine and the Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Institute, she pioneered the development of tissue engineering and epicardial biology to treat heart disease.
She led the discovery of the cardiac regenerative properties of recombinant human FSTL1 and the development of delivery modalities that are now licensed by Regencor, Inc.
Sean Edwards
President & CEO
Sean serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Regencor and has over two decades of experience as an executive and lawyer helping businesses and clients navigate sophisticated strategic, legal and regulatory issues.
Mr. Edwards has served in executive management roles with a number of life sciences companies across a wide range of therapeutic areas from fibrotic disease to dermatology to women’s health. He has experience in institutional financings, cross-border licensing and M&A. Sean has led teams responsible for taking drug candidates through the FDA and oversaw the launch of national and international brands in the physician dispensed and OTC drug channels.
Sean received his undergraduate degree from Princetion University and his law degree from the University of San Diego and is a licensed member of the State Bar of California
Mark Mercola, PhD
Director
Dr. Mercola is Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Stanford and formerly was Professor of Bioengineering at the University of California, San Diego, the Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Institute and Harvard Medical School.
He pioneered the use of tem cell models of heart disease for drug development. He was a co-discoverer of the regenerative properties of FSTL1.
Nabil Dib, MD, FACC
Clinical Head MyoBead Development
Dr. Dib is the Director of Cardiovascular Research at Dignity Health in Phoenix, Arizona, and is the Founder and President of the International Society for Cardiovascular Translational Research. A Harvard-trained cardiologist, he is internationally recognized as an interventional cardiologist and pioneer in coronary infusion technologies.
Dr. Dib has participated as an investigator in over 65 clinical trials of cardiovascular devices, and cell and gene therapies for cardiovascular disease.
He is the inventor of the ND Infusion Catheter, a widely used FDA cleared medical device for the introduction of cells, biologicals and pharmaceuticals directly into coronary arteries.
Jane Lebkowski, PhD
Advisor
President of R&D, Regenerative Patch Technologies. Dr. Lebkowski was previously CSO of Asterias, Inc., Senior VP and CSO of Geron Corporation, and VP of R&D at Rhone-Poulenc-Rorer.
In these positions, she managed R&D of biologics, and cell and gene therapies for regenerative medicine applications.
She advises on pre-clinical, regulatory and clinical product development.
Team
Mintz Levin
I.P & Corporate Counsel
AmLaw 100 law firm with 500 attorneys serving clients world wide on Corporate/Litigation/IP matters.
David Greenwood
Corporate Finance
Investment banker and Public Biotech CFO for 30 years. Public Biotech CEO and Executive Chairman for 5 years. Board Director for seven life sciences companies.
Dr. Albert Chin
EpicaPatch Delivery Catheter Design
Entrepreneur with 193 US issued patents including the Fogarty-Chin Linear Extrusion Catheter, a $3.2 B product. Former VP of Guidant.
Dr. Pieter Doevendans
Preclinical & Clinical EpicaPatch
Internationally recognized interventional cardiologist whose research focuses on the mechanism of heart failure with over 900 publications.
Skylar David Huang
NIH Grants Administration Accounting
Sigalit Caron
Regulatory Affairs Quality Control
Expert in regulatory affairs, clinical research and business development focused on cardiovascular medicine.
Dr. Yolande Appleman
Preclinical & Clinical EpicaPatch
Cardiologist who designed Designed and implemented multiple successful clinical trials in cardiology with extensive publication history on acute coronary syndrome and non-obstructive coronary artery disease.
Dr. Craig Emter
Preclinical Pig Studies
Associate Professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri. His work is focused on the impact of novel pharmaceuticals and exercise therapeutics on heart failure.
