Nikolaos Tezapsidis, PhD
Dr. Tezapsidis founded Neurotez in 2004 and is serving as Neurotez's president and chief executive officer since its formation and Chairman of Neurotez's newly formed Board of Directors. Having held several positions at a number of prominent academic institutions, Dr. Tezapsidis has more than 18 years of international biomedical research experience. Prior to forming Neurotez, Dr. Tezapsidis served as a scientific consultant to biotechnology investors, providing highly regarded expertise and establishing a business network.
Throughout his career, he has directed the planning and development of a number of innovative research programs that hold exceptional promise for commercialization. From 2001 to 2004 he led a research group at Columbia University. Before joining Columbia University Dr. Tezapsidis held faculty positions at New York University Medical School (2000-2001) and at Mount Sinai School of Medicine (MSSM), New York (1997-1998) and was Laboratory Director at the Institute for Basic Research, New York (1998-2000). He also conducted mentored research at MSSM (1994-1997), the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda (1992-1994) and at the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London, UK (1990-1992).
Among his career honors he received two awards from the Alzheimer's Association, USA and fellowships from the Wellcome Trust and the Science and Engineering Council, UK.
Dr. Tezapsidis received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the Aristotle University, Greece and completed his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry at the University of Sussex, UK.
Mark A. Smith, PhD
Dr. Smith became the chief scientific officer at Neurotez in 2006. He is a Professor of Pathology at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). His research expertise includes: Aging, Alzheimer disease, Cell cycle control, Cytoskeletal organization, Neurodegeneration and Oxidative stress. Prior to joining CWRU in 1992, he worked for Sandoz Pharmaceutical Company, Austria and he obtained his PhD from Nottingham University, UK. Dr. Smith has been consultant to a number of corporations, including Voyager Pharmaceuticals (with a candidate drug for AD in phase III clinical trials), Panacea Pharmaceuticals and CombiMatrix and serves or has served on the Scientific Advisory Board of Legendary Pharmaceuticals, Adlyfe, and BrainWatchers. Dr. Smith has authored nearly 500 peer-reviewed manuscripts and chapters over the past decade and serves on the editorial boards of numerous scientific journals. He is the recipient of several awards including the Ruth Salta Junior Investigator Achievement Award from the American Health Assistance Foundation, Young Scientist Lectureship Award from the International Society for Neurochemistry, the Nathan Shock New Investigator Award from The Gerontological Society of America, the Zenith Award from the Alzheimer's Association, the Jordi Folch-Pi Award from the American Society of Neurochemistry, and the Hermann-Esterbauer Award from the HNE Society.
Jane M. Johnston, PhD
Dr. Johnston is the executive director of Research and Development at Neurotez and has held this position since the company was incorporated in 2005. Dr Johnston is regarded an expert in neural repair and imaging with 15 years of research experience in cellular neuroscience.
Prior to joining Neurotez, she was a consultant for Johnson & Johnson. She has held a number of research positions including principal investigator at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York and was a Visiting Fellow at the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, at the NIH. She has authored numerous scientific publications and developed educational materials for the biomedical sciences.
Dr. Johnston obtained her Ph.D. from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London.
Eugene J. Oliva, MBA
Mr. Eugene Oliva is acting chief financial officer of Neurotez since 2006. He was chief financial officer of Neurotez from 2005 to 2006. Mr. Oliva has 20 years experience in business financing. His expertise include Senior Secured Lending, Mergers and Acquisition, Mezzanine and Equity Sponsors, Due Diligence and Credit Approval, Syndicated Participations, Profit and Loss Management.
Prior to joining Neurotez, Mr. Oliva held positions at Fortis Capital Corporation as the Senior Vice President - Global Corporate Group of between 2001 and 2002 and Vice President - Acquisition & Leveraged Finance between 1996 and 2001.
Michael J. Hoy, M.S.
Mr. Hoy is the Director of Regulatory Affairs of Neurotez. Mr. Hoy has over 15 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry including early phase clinical development, regulatory affairs, and life-cycle management. Mr. Hoy has provided significant input and oversight into numerous Investigational New Drug Applications and supplemental Investigational New Drug Applications in therapeutic areas such as CNS, GI, Hematology, Organ Transplant, Dermatology, and Infectious Disease. In addition, he has served pharmaceutical companies of all sizes as an internal and external consultant to solve simple and complex problems.
Prior to joining Neurotez, Mr. Hoy has held positions of increasing responsibility in large pharmaceutical companies, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Wyeth, and Johnson & Johnson. He has held a number of academic appointments, including adjunct professor, Temple University College of Pharmacy, and adjunct professor, Drexel University College of Medicine, both in Philadelphia.
Mr. Hoy obtained his M.S. in Clinical Pharmacology from Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
