Histories
Life Sciences
Adams, Thomas
Dr. Thomas H. Adams holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of California, Riverside. Dr. Adams founded Gen-Probe, Inc. in 1984 and served as its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman until its acquisition by Chugai Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. in 1989. Dr. Adams subsequently founded Genta, Inc., a publicly held biotechnology company in the field of antisense technology, and served as its Chief Executive Officer until 1997. Before founding Gen-Probe, Dr. Adams held management positions at Hybritech, Technicon Instruments, and the Hyland Division of Baxter Travenol.Learn more »
Anderson, Richard
Dr. Richard Anderson obtained a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California-Davis in 1979. From 1981-1984 he worked as a scientist at Bayer Diagnostics (Miles Laboratories). In 1984, Dr. Anderson began work with Hybritech in 1984 and then went on to help found Biosite in 1988. From 1998-2001, he served as the Vice President of R&D at Nanogen, then from 2001-2003 as the Vice President of R&D at Genicon Sciences. Dr. Anderson also served as Director of Immunoassay Development at BD Diagnostics.Learn more »
Birndorf, Howard
Dr. Birndorf holds a Master of Science in Biochemistry degree from Wayne State University and has received honorary doctorates from both Wayne State University and Oakland University. Beginning in 1978, Dr. Birndorf worked with Hybritech Incorporated and he later went on to participate in the founding and management of notably successful biotech companies such as Gen-Probe (1984), IDEC Pharmaceuticals (1985), Gensia Pharmaceuticals, Ligand Pharmaceuticals (1988), Neurocrine Biosciences (1992), Nanogen (1993), and Illumina Inc. (1998). He was co-founder of Nanogen and served in various roles, including CEO and Chairman, until August 2009. Dr. Birndorf also has been an investor in biotech start-ups, served as President of Birndorf Technology Development, and participated in numerous other ventures.Learn more »
Blickenstaff, Kim
Mr. Blickenstaff earned a Masters of Business Administration from Loyola University Chicago’s Graduate School of Business. He held various finance operations, research management, sales management, strategic planning and marketing positions with Hybritech Incorporated and Baxter Healthcare. Mr. Blickenstaff was Chairman, Chief Executive Office and co-founder of Biosite Incorporated. In August 2007, he joined Tandem Diabetes Care as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Board Member. Mr. Blickenstaff has been active in the medical device and diagnostics industry for over 15 years and served on the board of directors for innovative, young healthcare companies such as SenoRx and MediVation Incorporated.Learn more »
Buechler, Ken
Dr. Buechler received his doctorate in biochemistry and his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Indiana University. Dr. Buechler was a senior research scientist for the Diagnostics Research and Development Group at Hybritech Incorporated in San Diego. As a Senior Research Scientist, he was responsible for new product development and was the transfer project leader for ICON® QSR CK-MB, a cardiac marker assay. In addition, he was responsible for the design and synthesis of reagents for use in the first rapid, visual pregnancy test, the ICON® hCG test. Dr. Buechler served in various roles with Biosite Incorporated including Director of Chemistry, President, Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder. He co-invented certain Biosite proprietary technologies and served as a member of the American Chemical Society, the Biochemical Society, the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine and the American Association of Clinical Chemists.Learn more »
Cohen, Kenneth
Mr. Cohen received degrees in biology and chemistry from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Cohen began his career at Eli Lilly and Company in 1978, where, among many different responsibilities over ten years, he directed business planning for the Medical Instrument Systems Division (now known as Guidant Corporation) and managed the launch of Prozac. Subsequently, Mr. Cohen served as Vice President of Business Affairs at Argus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Vice President of Marketing and Business development for LifeCell Corporation, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Canji Incorporated, and President and Chief Executive Officer of Synbiotics Corporation. In August 2003, Mr. Cohen co-founded Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors.Learn more »
Comer, William
Dr. Comer received a B.A. in Chemistry from Carleton College in 1957, and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Pharmacology from the University of Iowa in 1961. From 1961-1991 he was employed by Mead Johnson & Co. which was acquired by Bristol-Myers; he was responsible for discovery and worldwide clinical development of pharmacodynamic agents and was President of Pharmaceutical Research and Licensing until the merger in 1990 to become Bristol-Myers Squibb, when he became Senior Vice President of Strategic Management. He managed the discovery and development of more than 10 blockbuster products. From April 1991 until November 1999 he was President and CEO of SIBIA Neurosciences, a company focusing on drug discovery and the development of neurodegenerative disease therapeutics, which became publicly traded in May 1996 and was acquired by Merck in November 1999. Currently, Dr. Comer is the Founder, President and CEO of NeuroGenetic Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Learn more »
Crawford, John
Mr. Crawford earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematical sciences from Stanford University and an MBA from the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business. Over the course of his career, Mr. Crawford has been a consultant, executive officer and board member for 12 venture-backed and privately-funded technology firms. In 1981, he was the first full-time executive at International Genetic Engineering, Inc. and later was founding president of San Diego-based Corvas International, Inc., shepherding both of the companies through listings on NASDAQ. During his 12-year tenure at Corvas, Mr. Crawford raised over $200 million from equity investors and corporate alliances in his capacity as Chief Financial Officer. He served as Chief Financial Officer of Conforma Therapeutics, Cabrellis Pharmaceuticals and Phenomix Corporation.Learn more »
Desmond, Walter
After receiving his PhD in biochemistry from UCLA in 1979, Dr. Walter Desmond went to work for Hybritech for over twenty years, where he contributed to the development of TANDEM and ICON technologies and other important developments. He went on to work in the San Diego educational field with Lincoln High School and the Science/School-to-Career program, and as a board member with the San Diego Science Alliance.Learn more »
Dobak, John
Dr. Dobak received his Bachelor’s Degree from University of California Los Angeles and his M.D. from the University of California San Diego in 1992. He went on to serve as Chief Executive Officer with CryoCor, and Chief Executive Officer and founder of Intercool where he was a co-inventor of Intercool’s technology. Subsequently, Dr. Dobak founded and was Director of Lithera, Incorporated and went on to found and serve as President of the JAKK Group. Dr. Dobak has been active in the San Diego technology community as a member of CONNECT.Learn more »
Dunham, Jeanne
Ms. Dunham received a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Rutgers University and an MBA in production management from San Diego State University. Born in Dover, NJ in 1945, Jeanne M. Dunham passed away in her sleep in May 2010. A longtime Mission Hills resident and member of San Diego's biotech community, she moved to San Diego to work at Calbiochem Corporation in the 1970s and was part of the early management of the successful local biotech company Hybritech. For 18 years, she was President and owner of Bioserv Corporation, a local contract manufacturer which was sold in 2007. For many years Ms. Dunham was a regular instructor for University of California San Diego Extension's biotech certificate program and she also taught biotech related classes at San Diego State University.Learn more »
Felgner, Phil
Dr. Felgner received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry/Neuroscience from Michigan State University in 1978 and also completed Postdoctoral training in Biophysics at University of Virginia. He has over 25 years of experience in the biotechnology industry, including senior research positions at Syntex Research where he developed the first cationic lipid reagent for gene transfer. In 1988, Dr. Felgner became Director of Product Development, Chief Scientific Officer and founder of a start-up company, Vical, Inc. With colleagues at Vical and at the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Felgner made a landmark discovery regarding functional reporter gene sequences and demonstrated that potent antiviral immune responses could be generated following intramuscular injection of plasmids encoding viral antigens. These findings have led to development of a new class of infectious disease vaccines referred to as "DNA vaccines". Dr. Felgner has been issued more than 35 patents and published over 100 scientific papers, and for his numerous biotechnology innovations, he received the Southern California 1996 “Inventor of the Year” award. He went on to found Antigen Discovery, Inc. and served as a Professor at the University of California Irvine.Learn more »
Greene, Howard
Howard (Ted) Greene received a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Amherst College and an MBA from Harvard University. Largely based in San Diego and retired to Michigan, his business career included founding or managing eleven medical technology companies. He was the co-founder of Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. and served as its Chief Executive Officer from 1987 to 1996 and on its Board of Directors until 2009. From 1986 to 1993, he was a co-founder and general partner of Biovest Partners, a venture capital firm that seed-funded and had success bringing several firms from start up to IPO, such as Pyxis, Neurex, Epimmune, Biosite, Amylin and Vical. He became involved in the early formation of Hybritech Inc. and was Hybritech’s Chief Executive Officer from 1979 until its acquisition by Eli Lilly Inc., in 1986. His early career included work for Baxter Healthcare from 1974 to 1979 and as a consultant working for McKinsey & Co. from 1967 to 1974.Learn more »
Hagan, Phillip
Dr. Hagan collaborated with Hybritech and its research as a radiopharmacist beginning in 1978 and was involved in cancer research until 1987. Dr. Hagan continued to work in nuclear medicine until 1997.Learn more »
Halpern, Samuel
Dr. Halpern received his M.D. in 1962 from the University of Louisville School of Medicine and completed an internal medicine residence in 1968 at the University of Oklahoma. He worked with Hybritech beginning in 1970 as a consultant doing radiopharmaceutical research until 1991. Dr. Samuel Halpern trained in radiochemistry, clinical nuclear medicine and obtained board certification in internal medicine.Learn more »
Jolly, Douglass
Dr. Douglass Jolly was born in the United Kingdom and received a Ph.D in Biochemistry from the University of Glasgow. Before entering the biopharmaceutical industry, Dr. Jolly pursued his academic career in biophysics and molecular biology at the Weizmann Institute, Harvard Medical School, Scripps Clinic, the University of California, San Diego and The French National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM) in Paris, France. For many years Dr. Jolly was a senior biotechnology executive involved in translating gene-based products from research through clinical development at Viagene, Inc., Chiron Corporation, Oxford BioMedica, Inc., and Advantagene, Inc., where he also served as President. Dr. Jolly co-founded Tocagen, and previously co-founded Viagene. He is an internationally recognized expert in the field of gene therapy and its industrial application with over 100 published scientific articles and an inventor on over 45 issued patents. Dr. Jolly has also served as Vice Chairman of the Industrial Liaison Committee of the American Society of Gene Therapy (ASGT).Learn more »
Kabakoff, David
Dr. Kabakoff earned his Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Case Western Reserve University, his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Yale University, and post-doctoral research at the University of California San Diego. He held senior executive positions with Syntex, Hybritech, Inc., Corvas International, Dura Pharmaceuticals and Spiros Development Corp. Dr. Kabakoff co-founded Salmedix and subsequently negotiated its acquisition by Cephalon, Inc. He has over 30 years of experience leading technology and product development programs in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and drug delivery fields. He served as an Executive Partner with Sofinnova Ventures, Chairman of Trius Therapeutics, Chairman of Amplimmune, Inc., and Director of InterMune, Inc. and Allylix, Inc.Learn more »
Klause, Karen
Ms. Klause received her degree from the University of Virginia and has over 30 years of experience in the health care field. She began her career at Technicare Corporation, where she held a variety of senior positions, including Director of the MR Business Unit, Managing Director of Technicare Italia, s.r.l., and Director of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In 1984, she joined Hybritech Incorporated as Vice President for the In Vivo Imaging and Therapeutics Division, and was responsible for technology licensing and strategic partnering activities. Additionally, she was President of two successful Limited Partnerships for the development of In Vitro Diagnostic and In Vivo Imaging and Therapeutics products. In 1995, Ms. Klause became President and CEO of Digirad Corporation, where she raised over $34 million in equity funding and launched the world’s first solid-state gamma camera. In 1999, Ms. Klause joined AuntMinne.com as President and successfully launched the largest and fastest growing online community for radiology professionals worldwide. Ms. Klause joined CMP Media LLC in 2000 as EVP of Strategic Development, and subsequently assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer for the medical education division, CME LLC. In 2010, Ms. Klause joined Response Biomedical Corporation as Managing Director of Europe, the Middle East & Africa, responsible for business development/expansion throughout her territory. She then became a strategic advisor for the life science industry and a member of several boards and councils.Learn more »
Laikind, Paul
Dr. Laikind earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California at San Diego and has served as a research faculty member at the UCSD School of Medicine. Dr. Laikind founded Gensia Inc. in 1986 and was Vice President of Business Development and a Director at Gensia where he was responsible for establishing major research and development corporate partnerships with leading U.S. and European companies. While at Gensia, Dr. Laikind also founded Viagene Inc. a biotechnology company acquired by Chiron Inc. in 1995. He went on to be a co-founder, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer for Metabasis. Dr. Laikind has served as Chairman of BIOCOM, served on the Board of the San Diego Chapter of the American Liver Foundation, and been a member of BIO Emerging Companies Section Governing Body.Learn more »
Nova, Tina
Dr. Nova holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of California, Riverside. From 1994 to January 2000, Dr. Nova served as Chief Operating Officer and President of Nanogen, Inc., a provider of molecular diagnostic tests, where she was a co-founder, and from 1992 to 1994, Dr. Nova served as Chief Operating Officer of Selective Genetics, a targeted therapy biotechnology company. She has served as a member of the board of directors of Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Cypress Bioscience, Inc., and on the board of trustees of the University of San Diego. Dr. Nova was a life science sector representative to the Independent Citizen’s Oversight Committee overseeing the California Stem Cell Initiative (Proposition 71) from inception through 2008. She served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Genoptix, Inc., and as a member of its Board of Directors.Learn more »
Owen, Cole
Mr. Owen studied Industrial Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and also obtained a degree in Business. He was a former U.S. Naval Officer and veteran of two tours of duty in Vietnam. Prior to entering the health care industry, Mr. Owen worked as an industrial engineer for Celanese Fibers Corporation and for American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T). He was an early member of management at Hybritech, Inc., and was a founder of The Immune Response Corporation and Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mr. Owen has been an advisor to founding management for several successful life sciences companies, including Gen-Probe and Biosite, among others. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Applied Molecular Systems. Mr. Owen has held various senior marketing and business positions and has served as the principal of Owen & Associates, a Life Sciences consulting firm. He has substantial experience in technology assessments, product development and the marketing of medical products. Mr. Owen initially became affiliated with the University of California San Diego (UCSD) through its “CONNECT” offices. He has lectured and taught courses on entrepreneurship for UCSD in the Rady School of Management and Graduate School of International Relations & Pacific Studies as well as taught courses at the University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.Learn more »
Payne, Greg
Mr. Payne received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of California San Diego and then immediately went on to work more than 25 years with Hybritech, Inc. in various departments, including research and development, and regulatory affairs. He concurrently served at BCI and Beckman Coulter in management positions. Subsequently, Mr. Payne served in a management position with Gen Probe and then as Director of Regulatory Affairs at Becton Dickinson.Learn more »
Rastetter, William
Dr. Rastetter holds a Bachelor of Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Masters and Ph.D in Chemistry from Harvard University. After leaving teaching on the East Coast, he joined Genentech Inc. (1982-1986), where he worked as a scientist and later as director of corporate ventures. He joined IDEC Pharmaceuticals in 1986, where he held a number of senior executive positions, including Chief Executive Offider for IDEC (1986-2002) and Executive Chairman of Biogen IDEC (2003-2005). At IDEC, Dr. Rastetter drew on his background in science to support management decisions, and he was instrumental in the company’s decision to develop Rituxan which was co-marketed with Genentech. He served on the board of directors at Illumina Inc. and been involved in entrepreneurial and investment activities as a partner for the venture capital firm Venrock, where he participated in the development of companies like Argonaut, Genencor, and Spiros Development Corporation. He has held faculty positions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, and also sat on the board of the California Healthcare Institute.Learn more »
Respess, William
Dr. Respess received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Virginia Military Institute, obtained his J.D. from George Washington University and earned a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He served as partner of Lyon & Lyon LLP, and Vice President and General Counsel of Hybritech, Inc., Gen-Probe, Inc., and AME, and served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Dr. Respess joined Nanogen in May 2004 with more than three decades of biotechnology experience in intellectual property, licensing and general corporate law. He has been a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association and a frequent lecturer on intellectual property and licensing law.Learn more »
Richman, Douglas
Dr. Richman earned his Bachelor of Arts at Dartmouth College and his M.D. at Stanford University. He trained as an infectious disease physician and medical virologist at Stanford, the NIH and Harvard before joining the faculty at University of California San Diego in 1976. Dr. Richman focused his investigation on HIV disease and pathogenesis. His laboratory was the first to identify HIV drug resistance, joined with two other labs in identifying latently infected CD4 cells as the obstacle to eradication of HIV with potent antiretroviral therapy, and described the dynamics of the neutralizing antibody response to HIV and the rapidity of viral escape and evolution in response to this selective pressure. Dr. Richman served as Professor of Pathology and Medicine at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), as the Florence Seeley Riford Chair in AIDS Research, Director of the Center for AIDS Research at UCSD and staff physician at the VA San Diego Healthcare System. Dr. Richman has been a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Association of Physicians and the Infectious Disease Society of America.Learn more »
Royston, Ivor
Dr. Royston earned his Bachelor of Arts (1967) and M.D. (1970) degrees from Johns Hopkins University and completed post-doctoral training in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology at Stanford University. He was involved in the biotechnology industry in San Diego from its inception in 1978 with the founding of Hybritech, Inc. and with the founding of Idec Pharmaceuticals in 1986 which later merged with Biogen. Dr. Royston was instrumental in the formation, financing, and development of numerous successful public biotechnology companies. He was on the faculty of the medical school and cancer center of the University of California, San Diego from 1977 to 1990 and then went on to serve as Founding President and CEO of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center from 1990 through 2000. Dr. Royston was appointed to the National Cancer Advisory Board in 1997 and has also served as Chairman of Ligocyte, on the Board of Directors of HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals, and as Founding Managing Partner of Forward Ventures.Learn more »
Schneider, Richard
Dr. Richard (Dick) S. Schneider obtained a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from University of California Berkeley, attended the Stanford University School of Business, and obtained a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from University of Wisconsin. He completed his post-doctoral studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From 1967 to June 1983, Dr. Schneider was the Vice President and Founder of Syva Corporation, and then served as President of Biomedical Consulting Associates from 1983 to 1989. He served as Vice President of 3i Ventures Corporation, the Director of Landec Corp., an Advisor at Alliance Technology Ventures and as a General Partner at Domain Associates from October 1990 until his retirement in June 1999. Dr. Schneider served as a member and director of many boards and committees with Sonosite Inc., Pelion Venture Partners, and Pacific Horizon Ventures. He has been Director of Selective Genetics, Inc., AvanViva, Inc., Imagyn Medical, Inc., Sonosite Inc. and MitoKor. He acquired over 25 years of product development experience in the fields of medical devices and biotechnology, spent nearly 18 years as an executive with Syntex Corporation and related subsidiaries, and was involved with a career in capital that spans over 15 years.Learn more »
Taylor, Ron
Mr. Ron Taylor received a Bachelor of Arts from University of Saskatchewan and a Master of Arts from University of California Irvine. He served in management roles at Allergan Pharmaceuticals and was responsible for the operations and international sales at Hybritech, Inc. Mr. Taylor went on to found Pyxis Corporation and served as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer until 1996. He has served as a director for Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Red Lion Hotels and ResMed, and as Chairman of the Board of 3E Company, EMN8 Corporation, Asteres, Inc. and Aethon, Inc. Mr. Taylor has also served as Chairman of the University of California San Diego Foundation and the ResMed Foundation.Learn more »
Valkirs, Gunars
Dr. Gunars E. Valkirs received his Bachelor’s and Doctorate degrees in Physics at University of California San Diego. Dr. Valkirs was a scientific investigator with the Diagnostics Research and Development Group at Hybritech Incorporated. During his tenure at Hybritech, he invented and developed the first rapid visual pregnancy test, the ICON® hCG test. Dr. Valkirs has served as Senior Vice President of Biosite Discovery and co-founder of Biosite Incorporated. Dr. Valkirs was responsible for the development of the Company’s antibody technology. He also served as Director of Nautilus Biotech.Learn more »
Wang, Robert
Dr. Robert Wang has served for more than 20 years in the biotechnology and biomedical device industries. He was Vice President of Pharmaceutical Operations for Genta Incorporated, Vice President of Product and Process Development for Gen-Probe Incorporated, and Senior Director of Product Development, Process Development and Manufacturing at Hybritech Incorporated. Dr. Wang also served as Associate Director of the Center for Bio/Pharmaceutical and Biodevice Development at San Diego State University and as its Director of Corporate Affairs.Learn more »
Wollaeger, Tim
Mr. Tim Wollaeger earned a B.A. in Economics from Yale in 1966, served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for three years, and earned an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 1971. He worked at Baxter International and at Hybritech, Inc., San Diego's first biotechnology company, until their acquisition by Eli Lilly & Co. Mr. Wollaeger was a founder and general partner at Biovest where he helped found Pyxis, Vical and Biosite. He also helped found Columbia Hospital Corporation and served as Senior Vice President. In 1994, Mr. Wollaeger founded Kingsbury Capital Partners, a venture capital firm whose investments include Aurora Biosciences, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Phamis Software, Health Data Sciences, Senomyx, Sub-Q, TKT, Althea and Digirad. He went on to join Sanderling as Managing Director in 2002 and also joined the Chimerix Board in 2002, having co-founded the company and served as Chairman of the Board from 2002 to April 2010. Mr. Wollaeger has over 35 years of experience in biotechnology and medical products fields in both corporate management and venture capital., and was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 1995 and Corporate Director of the Year in 2001.Learn more »
Telecommunications
Viterbi, Andrew
Dr. Andrew J. Viterbi received his Bachelor and Masters degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his Ph.D. in Digital Communications from University of Southern California (USC). He taught at University of California Los Angeles and consulted for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) immediately after obtaining his Ph.D. He was a co-founder of Linkabit in 1968, a small military contractor, and co-founded Qualcomm with Irwin Jacobs in 1985. He created the Viterbi Algorithm for interference suppression and efficient decoding of a digital transmission sequence, used by all four international standards for digital cellular telephony. Qualcomm is the recognized pioneer of the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology, which allows many users to share the same radio frequencies, and thereby increase system capacity many times over analog system capacity. He is a Life Fellow of the IEEE, and was inducted as a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 1978 and of the National Academy of Sciences in 1996.Learn more »
