Dr. Sandra Dunn founded Phoenix Molecular Designs in 2012 with a singular vision: to transform the way breast cancer is treated. That vision was born from personal loss, multiple generations of her family have been affected by the disease, and has since grown into a career spanning more than 30 years of research, leadership, and innovation in oncology.

A leading voice in breast cancer research and drug development, Sandra has dedicated her life to advancing therapies that improve outcomes for women facing this disease. Her work has contributed to the discovery and development of PMD-026, a first-in-class RSK2 inhibitor currently in Phase 2 clinical trials. Under her leadership, PhoenixMD is advancing a more precise, targeted approach to breast cancer treatment that reflects the complexity of the disease and the urgency of the need.

PhoenixMD now holds the first RSK2 inhibitor, a breakthrough in targeting the once "undruggable" RSK2 gene. Dr. Dunn's innovative approach, involving advanced medicinal chemistry and computational modeling, led to the creation of PMD-026. In a ground-breaking Phase 1/1b clinical trial, she tripled the chances of halting cancer growth in patients with high RSK2, backed by a companion diagnostic developed in tandem with Roche. PMD-026 has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of breast cancer and sits at the apex of multiple other deadly cancers.

She is widely recognized for “drugging the undruggable” — turning a once-impossible target, RSK2, into a first-in-class therapeutic candidate with the potential to change the future of breast cancer treatment.

Throughout her career, Sandra has led multinational oncology research programs and served on numerous advisory and oversight committees, including the National Institutes of Health, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (USA), and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. She was the youngest member of the DOD Breast Cancer Research Program in the early 1990s and received early recognition for her work as a postdoctoral fellow at NIH.

As one of the few female founders and CEOs in biotechnology, Sandra is a proud member of the Biotech Sisterhood, a collective of women leading the next generation of life science companies. She has raised millions to support cancer research, built high-performing, mission-driven teams across sectors, and shared her insights on some of the industry’s biggest stages, including the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). In 2021, she was named to the Forbes 50 Over 50 Visionary list for her leadership and impact.

Today, she continues to lead PhoenixMD with purpose, passion, and a deep commitment to changing the future of breast cancer.

“Integrity guides every key decision I make. I believe in rolling up my sleeves, leading by example and building teams where every person’s perspective matters. That’s how you take on groundbreaking challenges that balance science, medicine and business.”

Dr. Ken Kobayashi is a medical oncologist and clinical pharmacologist with more than 25 years of experience in oncology drug development. He has brought more than 28 investigational agents into the clinic in the US and Japan, including five first-in-human studies, and has been directly involved in 60 programs spanning signal transduction inhibitors, epigenetic modifiers and immunotherapy. He has worked on both the industry and regulatory sides of IND, NDA and Breakthrough filings in the US, Japan and Europe.

Dr. Kobayashi most recently served as Chief Medical Officer of Pyxis Oncology, leading clinical and regulatory operations. Before that, he was Senior Vice President, Clinical Development at Kinnate Biopharma, a precision oncology company developing small molecule kinase inhibitors, and Vice President, Early Oncology Development and Clinical Research at Pfizer. He has also held senior roles at Daiichi Sankyo, AstraZeneca, Janssen and Novartis, where he built and led development organizations in Japan and Asia, and earlier at the National Cancer Institute and the FDA. He received his M.D. from Northwestern University Medical School and his A.B. from Washington University in St. Louis.

Dr. Aarthi Jayanthan is a founding member of the Phoenix Molecular Designs team, launching the company’s discovery research and diagnostics program in 2015. By developing a sophisticated cancer modeling platform, she led our team in the advancement of the first in human RSK inhibitor by bridging computational biology, medicinal chemistry and functional cancer biology. She is a contributing inventor of several issued patents as a result of this pioneering work. On the companion diagnostics front, she led the biomarker co-development of RSK2 CDxV from pre-clinical method development and screening to a CAP/CLIA certified clinical stage assay with Roche Ventana. Aarthi has advanced several surrogate biomarker programs using gene expression profiling of model cancer systems and primary tumors on the Nanostring platform. With a deep understanding of cancer cell biology, she has developed models of drug resistance to several breast cancer therapeutics, including paclitaxel and CDK4/6 inhibitors. Beyond this, Dr. Jayanthan identified novel drug combinations for PMD-026 which expand the potential to maximize life-cycle development following initial regulatory approval for the agent.

Aarthi earned her Ph.D. at the University of Calgary in the area of molecular cancer biology and cell signaling, with a focus on developing novel therapies for children with cancer. For over 10 years, she contributed to numerous preclinical studies of experimental therapies in childhood cancer, including leukemia, AT/RT, neuroblastoma and lymphoma. She also provided support in Phase I clinical trials sponsored by the Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutics Investigators Consortium (POETIC).

Mr. Mike Liggett brings 30 years of experience in the health care and finance industries. Mike was a practicing pharmacist for 7 years before obtaining his training and certification as a Chartered Accountant. After spending 7 years at Price Waterhouse Coopers (then Price Waterhouse), he joined Inflazyme Pharmaceuticals Ltd. in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer. He provided leadership through multiple financings and other strategic initiatives before successfully transitioning the company to establish its footprint in the forestry sector as Eacom Timber. His background includes over 20 years as a public and private company CFO with strategic and operational expertise and proven success in finance, M&A, strategic partnerships, restructurings, and risk management. Mike holds a BSc in Pharmaceutical sciences from the University of British Columbia and holds Chartered Accountant designation.

Joe Ninosky is a 25-year veteran in the life sciences arena, with extensive experience in all aspects of CMC, including drug substance and drug product development, scale-up, tech transfer, and GMP manufacturing. Raised from the bench and evolving to the board room, Joe has held positions of increasing responsibility at small to mid-size biotech companies ultimately reaching the point where he leads departments and programs as the effective VP of CMC, representing and overseeing all CMC functions (Process Development, Analytical Development, GMP Manufacturing, Regulatory Submissions) for programs at Phase 1 through commercial launch.

Joe also has a deep understanding of the GMP, Quality, and Regulatory arenas, and often serves as the CMC subject matter expert when interfacing with regulatory agencies during audits and submissions. Joe’s most recent oncology experience was as the VP of CMC for Biotheryx. Joe holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of California at San Diego and an MS in Chemical Engineering from Oregon State University.

Seasoned clinical operations and quality professional with more than 25 years of leadership experience in global oncology drug development, clinical operations strategy, and clinical quality assurance. Recognized for building and leading high-performing clinical teams, developing operational infrastructure, and overseeing complex global clinical programs from early development through regulatory approval and commercialization.

Selected accomplishments include supporting multiple successful regulatory approvals and submissions, including Imbruvica®, Defitelio®, Vyxeos™, and Adcetris™.

Ms. Barker began her clinical research career at Fox Chase Cancer Center (Temple University) as a Research Nurse, which served as the foundation for her transition into the biotechnology industry. Prior to joining Phoenix Molecular Designs, she held Director and Vice President level leadership positions at Pharmacyclics, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, and Summit Therapeutics, in addition to serving as a clinical operations consultant for multiple biotechnology start-ups.

Throughout her career, she has led complex oncology programs, supported regulatory submissions and product approvals, and developed expertise in clinical quality, compliance, CRO oversight, and operational infrastructure development.

Ms. Joyce Reyes is an executive with over 26 years of Manufacturing, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance experience in various roles at both small and large biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies. Ms. Reyes has extensive experience in small molecules, recombinant protein (fermentation and cell culture: monoclonal antibodies, enzymes, peptibodies, and biosimilars), cell/gene therapy and viral production processes.

Prior to establishing Themis Quality and Regulatory Consulting, Ms. Reyes worked as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Quality at Pacific-Link Consulting (PLC). Prior to PLC, Ms. Reyes worked at Somaxon Pharmaceuticals supporting the approval of Silenor; Jennerex Biotherapeutics as Director of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance supporting the development of a novel vaccinia based oncolytic virus; at Geron Corporation as Manager of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance supporting cell based therapies and assisted in filing the first ever human embryonic stem cell therapy to the FDA; at Cell Genesys as a Regulatory Affairs Specialist supporting cell based therapy projects; InterMune as a Regulatory Affairs Associate; Xoma Corporation as a Senior Manufacturing Associate with experience from vial thaw to fill/finish activities for various programs that involved mammalian cell culture (monoclonal antibodies), viruses (adenovirus) and microbial fermentation (E. coli); and prior to these positions in various manufacturing roles at Invitrogen and Baxter.

Ms. Reyes received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from St. Mary's College of California, Moraga and a Masters in Health Law from The University of California, San Diego/California Western School of Law. Ms. Reyes is also RAC certified.

Leena Das-Young is a founder, investor, and is currently the CEO of Caliber Biosciences, a precision immuno-oncology company. She is also Managing Partner at Emerald Bioventures focused on new companies in the fields of Oncology, Immunology, Women’s Health, and others. She also leads RaniBio, a life sciences advisory firm. Previously, Leena was General Manager/Chief Lunar Officer at Guardant as Head of the early cancer detection unit. Prior to Guardant, she worked in Pfizer Oncology for 15 years, most recently as VP Head of the Late Phase Development Group responsible for a portfolio of 13 assets and over 300 clinical trials. At Pfizer, she played an instrumental role in the development & approvals of innovative agents such as Ibrance, Xalkori, Lorbrena, Sutent, Talzenna and others including six BTDs. She also oversaw the complex regulatory defence establishing two new surrogate clinical endpoints for regulatory approvals.

Previously, Leena held increasingly responsible commercial roles at Pfizer and at Bayer. She led the successful launch of Sutent reaching $1B in sales as one of first ‘nichebusters’ and re-launched Cipro oral growing it from $600m to ~$1B. Leena holds a B.S. in Pharmacy and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD) from Purdue University. She is a classically trained musician, plays eight instruments, and enjoys traveling and spending her time with her family.

Fred Eshelman is the Founder of Eshelman Ventures, LLC an investment company primarily interested in healthcare companies. Previously he founded and served as Chair/CEO of Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPDI) prior to the sale of the company to private equity interests. After PPD he served as founding chairman and largest shareholder of Furiex Pharmaceuticals (FURX), a company which in-licensed and rapidly developed new medicines. Furiex was sold to Forest Labs/Actavis in 2014. His career has also included positions as SVP development and board member of the former Glaxo, Inc., as well as management positions with Beecham Laboratories and Boehringer Mannheim Pharmaceuticals.

He is currently on the boards of several biotechs, and previously was chair of The Medicines Company (MDCO-sold to Novartis) and was on the board of Bausch Health (BHC). Eshelman has served on the executive committee of the Medical Foundation of NC, and was appointed by the NC General Assembly to serve on the Board of Governors for the state’s multi-campus university system (chair of audit committee), as well as the NC Biotechnology Center. In addition, he chairs the board of visitors for the School of Pharmacy at UNC-CH. The School was named the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in recognition of his many contributions to the school and the profession. US News & World Report named the School #1 in the US.

He has received many awards including the Davie and Distinguished Service Awards from UNC, outstanding alumnus from both the UNC and U. Cincinnati Schools of Pharmacy, Life Science Leadership Award (CED) and the NC Biotech Hall of Fame. Eshelman received the Doctor of Pharmacy from the U. of Cincinnati, completed a residency at Cincinnati General Hospital, and a BS Pharm from UNC-CH. He completed the OPM program at Harvard Business School. Eshelman also received an honorary doctor of science from UNC-CH.

Dr. Nick Sharp, an entrepreneur, scientist, and veterinarian, is deeply committed to building companies at the intersection of science and medicine. As a clinician, he is double board-certified in veterinary surgery and neurology.

His dedication to translational medicine goes back many years. He received his PhD from Duke University School of Medicine for identifying the mutation in a canine model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the first of just two large animal models now used to develop therapies for this disease. After spending over 20 years in academia, Nick has authored 135 scientific articles, including two books, 30 chapters, and 66 peer-reviewed publications. His current research interest is to analyze the clinical and market opportunities for RSK inhibition in oncology, particularly breast cancer.

After his career in academia, in 2004, Nick became an owner and partner at Canada West Veterinary Specialists, where he helped to grow the business from a small team with a big vision to a 26,000 sq. ft., 24-hour emergency referral hospital. It is now one of North America’s most successful, privately owned, multi-specialty veterinary practices.

Steve has worked in oncology since 1999 and has experience in a wide range of areas, including medical affairs, product development, sales, marketing, and general management. He has a proven track record of success, with his last three of four companies all with investor exits of minimum 12x+ returns. He founded the multi-armed immunotherapy company, OncoMyx, in 2018 and raised $75M of venture funding. Previously, he was Vice President of Medical Affairs at Ignyta, which was recently acquired by Roche/Genentech for $1.7B, and he led the global operation of the testing of 20,000 patients in an oncology basket trial for entrectinib in 15 countries. The ROS1 & TRK kinase inhibitor, now launched by Roche (www.rozlytrek.com), was the first in the industry to receive breakthrough designation equivalents in USA, Europe, and Japan, and also one of the first to run a global concurrent registrational adult and pediatric trial.

Prior to Ignyta, he bootstrapped his first company, Flagship Bio, as founding CEO to 75 employees and had an exit with a 16x return for his investors. This company’s platform digital pathology image analysis was instrumental in the approval of the first muscular dystrophy gene therapy drug (www.exondys51.com). He was also General Manager at Aperio, which exited to Danaher for $180M, and his team drove the global adoption of digital pathology (whole slide tissue image analysis) in the industry. He and his team developed the first standards for the use of digital pathology in preclinical and clinical trials testing by pharmaceutical companies and was involved in the 510k approvals of three different companies' image analysis IHC FDA 510k medical device clearances. Prior to Aperio, he built the Bioinformatics Department for a Fortune 500 Company, Quest Diagnostics, which now delivers several billion dollars of annual revenue and is the largest clinical diagnostics testing laboratory in the United States.

He holds a Ph.D. in Biological Engineering and an MBA from the University of California Davis, and a BS in Physics from Wheaton College, Illinois. He has 30+ publications and is the first author of the book Molecular Histopathology and Image Analysis in Drug Development.

Patricia has over thirty years of experience in finance including start-ups as well as publicly traded companies. In 2020, Patricia launched her private consultancy business, The Next level Up, to help start-up CEO’s of Life Science companies raise capital needed to advance their growth and pipelines. Prior to starting the Next Level Up, Patricia spent a decade at Pfenex Inc. (PFNX), beginning with the spin out of the novel protein production platform from the Dow Chemical Company into a stand-alone biotechnology company. She was instrumental in developing and executing on Pfenex’s financial strategy that included an IPO and provided the capital needed to obtain FDA approval on its lead candidate and eventual final exit through acquisition. Prior to Pfenex Inc, Patricia led finance and corporate development teams in the life science and technology industries of various start-ups and publicly traded companies.

Patricia received her MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles. She holds an active CPA license in the State of California.

Dr. Nick Glover is a biotechnology executive, strategic adviser, and board director with more than 25 years of experience in drug discovery and pharmaceutical development, including over two decades as a CEO of public and private life sciences companies. He has led oncology-focused organizations through discovery, clinical development, financing, strategic transactions, and value-creating exits, including leadership roles at Sierra Oncology, YM BioSciences, and Viventia Biotech. His work has contributed to the development and advancement of therapies such as momelotinib, now marketed as Ojjaara for myelofibrosis.

Based in Victoria, British Columbia, Dr. Glover currently serves as CEO and board director of MycRx, where he is advancing oral small-molecule inhibitors targeting Myc, one of oncology’s most important and historically challenging targets. He also advises and serves on boards for multiple biotechnology companies, bringing deep expertise across oncology, translational science, corporate strategy, financing, and clinical development. Across his career, he has helped raise more than $700 million in public equity capital and has been involved in financings exceeding $1.35 billion, with a track record spanning public markets, venture-backed companies, and global pharmaceutical transactions.

Dr. Sanjeev Thohan brings over 30 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, specializing in Fractional Leadership for R&D. As President of SARx Consulting and Chief Scientific Officer for Alnair Therapeutics, Arise Biopharma, and LatentSpace Therapeutics, he leads initiatives in lead optimization, IND filings, and clinical trial design. Holding an MS and PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology, his expertise spans interspecies drug metabolism, bioactivation, and systems toxicology.

With a track record of contributing to 42 successful INDs across multiple therapeutic areas, Dr. Thohan has played key roles in two IPOs and has been instrumental in the development and launch of breakthrough therapies, including Rifaximin, Cabozantinib, Cobimetinib, Tafenoquine, Scemblix, Tecovirimat, Gvoke, and Darovasertib. His leadership experience spans top organizations such as Walter Reed, Covance, AstraZeneca, Viropharma, Exelixis, Novartis (NIBR), Phoenix Molecular Designs, and Kinnate.

Beyond consulting, Dr. Thohan actively mentors startups, raises funds, and serves on multiple Scientific Advisory Boards, including NIH/NCI collaborations (Centers for Advancing Innovation) and initiatives such as Founders Corner. His advisory roles extend across biotech companies, including Aliri, Axiom Bio, Chemacopia, Cogentis Therapeutics, FormationVE, Phoenix Molecular Designs, and RanTran—driving innovation across therapeutic fields.

Dr. Alan Ashworth is President of the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of California, San Francisco and Senior Vice President for clinical services, UCSF Health. He was a key member of the team that discovered the BRCA2 gene in 1995, which is linked to an increased risk of breast, ovarian and other cancers. In 2005, his lab identified a way to exploit genetic weaknesses (using synthetic lethality) in cancer cells with mutated BRCA1 or 2 genes, leading to a new approach to cancer treatment, PARP inhibition. Four different PARP inhibitors have now been approved by the FDA for the treatment of ovarian, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancer based on his work. He continues to develop new treatments for cancer using genetic principles. Alan has received a number of awards and prizes many of which recognize the innovative and translational nature of his work as well as its clinical impact.

He is an elected member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, the American Association of Arts and Sciences, the American Association of Cancer Research and the Royal Society (equivalent to membership of the National Academy of Sciences). Prizes include the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Lifetime Achievement Award, the David T. Workman Memorial Award of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation, the Meyenburg Foundation’s Cancer Research Award, the Genetics Society Medal, the inaugural winner of the Basser Global Prize, and the Susan G Komen Brinker award.

Dr. Mike Varney is a pioneer drug discoverer and biotech leader. As one of the original fifteen employees at Agouron, a biotech based in San Diego, he built a team that developed protein-structure based design, a novel approach to drug discovery that is utilized globally by drug discovery teams today. In 1997, the Agouron team launched Viracept, an HIV protease inhibitor that achieved the highest first year launch sales of any biotech product at the time. Mike’s leadership at Agouron resulted in the discovery of a number of currently marketed anti-cancer agents including Xalkori and Inlyta, a drug that won the American Chemical Society’s Heroes of Chemistry Award in 2018. In 2005, he was recruited to Genentech, the US based R&D organization in Roche, to expand the organization’s drug discovery capabilities to include small molecules. Focused on agility and pioneering science, Mike built a team-based organization that today produces more that 40% of Genentech’s development portfolio including the marketed anticancer agents Erivedge and Cotellic.

In 2015, Mike was appointed Executive Vice President and Head of Genentech’s Research and Early Development (gRED) and a member of the Roche Corporate Executive Committee in Basel. In this role, he was responsible for all aspects of gRED innovation, drug discovery and development. He also focused on building a team-based culture empowered to clear the path to patients. Under his leadership, gRED teams discovered and developed successful medicines that include Venclexta with Abvie, the first bcl-2 inhibitor and Polivy, an antibody drug conjugate for the treatment of DLBCL. Pioneering molecules in the clinic include Mosunetuzumab, a bispecific antibody targeting CD20, and GDC-9545, a next generation estrogen receptor degrader. Mike retired from Genentech in July 2020, leaving a diversity of drug platform types that includes personalized therapeutic vaccines and cellular therapies. He holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry from the California Institute of Technology, and was an American Cancer Society postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University.

Stephen Oh, M.D., Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Medicine and Co-Chief of the Division of Hematology at Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Oh is interested in fundamental mechanisms driving the initiation, development, and progression of hematologic malignancies, with a particular focus on myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). His laboratory employs patient samples and animal models to interrogate dysregulated inflammatory cytokine signaling networks in MPNs and secondary acute myeloid leukemia. Dr. Oh has extensive clinical experience in the diagnosis and management of MPN patients and has contributed to numerous clinical trials investigating novel targeted therapies for MPN patients. The long-term objective of his work is to translate the findings from his laboratory research into improved therapies for MPN patients.

Dr. Martín Sebastian Olivo is a trained medical oncologist and renowned leader in oncology drug development, with over 15 years of experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. He has held pivotal leadership roles, including Chief Medical Officer at SystImmune and Protara Therapeutics, Inc., and Vice President of Clinical Development at Gilead Sciences, Inc. (formerly Immunomedics, Inc.). At Gilead, Dr. Olivo spearheaded clinical efforts in metastatic breast cancer therapeutics, playing a key role in the development of Sacituzumab Govitecan, a groundbreaking Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC), which contributed to Immunomedics’ $21 billion acquisition by Gilead Sciences.

Dr. Olivo also played a significant role in securing an $8.4 billion partnership between SystImmune and Bristol Myers Squibb for a bispecific ADC, demonstrating his ability to drive high-impact industry collaborations. Previously, he served as Global Clinical Lead at Daiichi Sankyo Cancer Enterprise, where he developed a comprehensive clinical development plan for an early-stage oncology candidate targeting lung and breast cancer (HER3 ADC, Patritumab Deruxtecan). This ADC was later partnered with Merck in a total deal valued at over $20 billion. Earlier in his career, he held key positions at Eisai Inc., including International Program Team Leader for Halaven (Eribulin Mesylate), a critical therapeutic for breast cancer.

Dr. Olivo has successfully filed multiple IND applications for ADCs in the U.S. and Europe, including first-in-class bispecific EGFR x HER3 ADCs. His expertise encompasses ADC technology, strategic clinical development, and securing transformative partnerships within the oncology field.

Dr. Olivo earned his medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires and a master’s in Clinical and Pharmacological Research from Austral University. He also completed fellowships in Clinical Oncology and Drug Development at the Canadian Cancer Trials Group.

With a proven track record of advancing innovative oncology therapeutics and forging impactful industry deals, Dr. Olivo remains committed to improving patient outcomes worldwide.

Dr. Naoto Ueno is a tenured Professor of Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. His research is in the area of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)/triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the molecular mechanism of metastasis and cancer microenvironment in breast cancer. He is best known for his various preclinical development and biomarkers which led to novel investigator-initiated clinical trials related to breast cancer. Naoto is the Executive Director of the Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Program and Clinic and Section Chief of the Translational Breast Cancer Research at Department of Breast Medical Oncology. Here, his current research interests include elucidating the role and the underlying mechanism of several signaling pathways, including epidermal growth factor receptor, transforming growth factor beta (TBF- beta), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and Axl receptor tyrosine kinase, in promoting the progression of TNBC and IBC. His research also focuses on determining the impact of the tumor microenvironment on the efficacy of targeted therapy and establishing novel therapeutic approaches by modulating the tumor microenvironment. He has more than six ongoing investigator-initiated clinical trials for patients with IBC and TNBC.

He serves as a standing member of the Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology Study Sections, NIH. He is also the chief-in-editor of Journal of Cancer and serves as the editor of Journal of National Cancer Institute. Naoto received the Nylene Eckles Distinguished Professorship of Breast Cancer Research in 2012, the University of Texas System Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award for his mentoring contributions in 2014 and MD Anderson Distinguished Clinical Faculty Mentor Award in 2019.

Dr. Gadi has 30 years of experience in cancer research and expertise in clinical care, clinical oncology, and translational breast cancer research. He is a pioneer in the use of patient-derived organoids for both drug target discovery and functional drug screening for patient care. His research interests include breast cancer, immunogenetics and immunotherapy for solid tumors, and the development of cell-based therapies for cancer.

VK is Director of Medical Oncology, and Associate Director of Translational Medicine at the University of Illinois Cancer Center at Chicago. Before joining U.I.C., he was an Associate Member of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Clinical Research and Public Health Sciences Divisions and an Associate Professor at the University of Washington, Division of Oncology. He is a board-certified medical oncologist with a sub-specialty in breast cancer. He is a serial biotech innovator, has co-founded several companies, and sits on the scientific board of both nascent and mature biotech companies.

He received his M.D. and Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Washington and his oncology fellowship at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Gadi also holds a B.S. in Biology/Biological Sciences from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Ms. Tara Coleman is a triple negative breast cancer survivor diagnosed at age 34. Tara became involved with her local breast cancer community immediately after her diagnosis allowing her to meet a number of other women in similar life circumstances. With an innate desire to help others, a healthcare background and a love of research she soon found herself volunteering locally and nationally in many aspects of the breast cancer community including: RISE, Young Survival Coalition Patient Advocacy Council, National Breast Cancer Coalition Project LEAD, Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium advocate, Institutional Review Board community representative for UCSD Medical Center and La Jolla VA , advocate for Athena Breast Health Network @ UCSD, Young Survival Coalition San Diego member, bulletin board contributor to Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE) and an Ambassador Breast Cancer Network of Strength educator (formerly known as Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization).

Tara has a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy and undergraduate degree in Medical Sciences. She is also a lymphedema therapist, combining her breast cancer advocacy work and her career as an occupational therapist to continue to help people affected by breast cancer. She hopes to help increase awareness of breast cancer among young women and to advocate on behalf of all breast cancer survivors.