meet the
leadership
team

Jonathan N. Thon, Ph.D.
Founder, CEO

An accomplished biotech entrepreneur and recognized leader in human cell culture, Jonathan excels at translating scientific advances into preclinical, and clinical stage programs. He is a problem solver and a disruptive innovator, with major contributions that include the production of functional human platelets from stem cells, and the invention of bioreactor platforms to scale cell culture.

Before STRM.BIO, Jonathan was CEO & CSO of Platelet BioGenesis, which he took from a startup concept to a Series A-1 company of over 40 employees. Jonathan was also a professor and lecturer at Harvard Medical School, where he guided dozens of students toward rewarding careers in medicine and biopharma. He is a frequent speaker at scientific conferences, entrepreneurship meetings, and thought leadership events around the world.

Jonathan earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of British Columbia and completed his postdoctoral research fellowship in hematology at Harvard Medical School.

David Raiser, Ph.D.
Chief Operating Officer

David is a seasoned biotech executive with experience in all aspects of startup formation, operations, and early-stage company growth. He brings together biotech leadership expertise and a passion for turning transformative science into impactful solutions. An active member of Boston’s startup community, David is a sought-after speaker and panelist on entrepreneurship and innovation.

Prior to joining STRM.BIO, David was co-founder and CEO of Aldatu Biosciences, a biotech venture focused on commercializing a novel molecular detection technology for infectious disease diagnostics. Under David’s leadership, Aldatu responded to the pandemic by pivoting their operations to deliver products for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 detection. David earned his Ph.D. in molecular biology from Harvard.

Robert Hughes
Chief Financial Officer

Rob is an accomplished financial executive with over 25 years of experience, with considerable experience in building and guiding early-stage, growing life science companies. He brings an in-depth understanding of corporate finance and has expertise in strategic planning, fundraising, financial analysis and reporting, mergers and acquisitions, budgeting, and risk management. Prior to STRM.BIO, he held leadership roles at Stridebio, Selentity Therapeutics, and Viamet Pharmaceuticals.

Rob is a CPA and holds a B.S. from the University of Maryland, where he double majored in Finance and Accounting. He also holds an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina.

Laura Goldberg, M.D., Ph.D.
VP of Research and Development

Laura is an experienced director and technical expert in hematopoietic stem cell biology and the role of extracellular vesicles in modulating cell function. She is committed to improving human health through applied research and the equitable distribution of therapeutics and clinical care.

Laura’s accomplishments as a researcher and her background in molecular genetics, specifically gene therapy, are essential to STRM.BIO’s mission. Laura earned her M.D. and Ph.D. in molecular genetics and biochemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. She went on to complete her MD training with an Internal Medicine Residency at University of Pittsburgh then Hematology and Oncology Fellowship at Brown University.

Before STRM.BIO, Laura was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard University and hematologist in the Division of Hematology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

board of
directors

Jonathan Thon, Ph.D.
Common Director

Jonathan Thon, Ph.D.
Common Director

Dr. Thon is serial biotech entrepreneur, accomplished CEO, and experienced Board member with success in founding and leading startups through company formation, pre-clinical development, and multiple financing rounds. Jonathan was an Asst. Prof. at Harvard Medical School.

Minnie Mildwoff, M.S., J.D.
Independent Director

Minnie Mildwoff, M.S., J.D.
Independent Director

Minnie is the Global Therapeutics Area Lead at Novartis, and a seasoned regulatory affairs professional with broad drug development experience in a variety of therapeutic areas and modalities. Minnie has held regulatory leadership roles at Cadent therapeutics, Merrimack, and Biogen Idec. She holds a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School and a M.S. in regulatory affairs and health policy from the Massachusetts School of Pharmacy.

Fei Shen, Ph.D.
Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund

Fei Shen, Ph.D.
Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund

Fei is Managing Director at the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund. She was previously head of B-I’s In Vivo Pharmacology, Immunology & Respiratory Research group. Fei holds a Ph.D. in neuropharmacology from the Loyola University School of Medicine.​

Tim Xiao
Delos Capital

Tim Xiao
Delos Capital

Tim Xiao, CFA, FRM, is a Partner and founding team member at Delos Capital since its inception in 2014. He has closed deals with an aggregate value of $4 billion, and serves as a director of Sichuan Clover Biopharmaceuticals, OncoMyx Therapeutics, Luqa Pharmaceuticals, Curatia Medical and Thermalin.​

scientific
advisory
board

Kellie Machlus, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Kellie is a principal investigator in the Vascular Biology Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is an expert in megakaryocyte- and platelet-derived extracellular vesicles and their role in megakaryocyte differentiation and inflammation.

George Vassiliou, Ph.D.
Professor of Haemat. Medicine,​ University of Cambridge

George is a Senior Fellow and Honorary Consultant Hematologist at Cambridge University Hospitals and heads the Haematological Cancer Genetics Group at the Sanger Institute. His research focuses on clonal hematopoiesis and the pathogenesis of blood cancers.​

Lindsey George, M.D.
Director of Clinical Gene Therapy,​ Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Lindsey is an attending Physician in the Division of Hematology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She has led early phase clinical trials in AAV-mediated gene transfer for hemophilia with a focus on hemostasis and thrombosis disorders. ​

Eric Crombez, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer,​ Ultragenyx Gene Therapy

Eric is the FDA Alternate Industry Representative on the Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee since Jan 2020. Prior to Ultragenyx, he served as CMO at Dimension Therapeutics.

Jon Rowley, Ph.D.
Founder & Chief Product Officer,​ Rooster Bio​

Jon manages process and product development programs at Rooster Bio (previously their CEO and Technology Officer). Before Rooster, he served as innovation director, cell processing technologies at Lonza. Jon specializes in technology road-mapping, cell therapy biomanufacturing, biomaterials, and tissue engineering.​

investors

investors with a shared vision

Our investors believe that EV technology can bring new, effective treatments to patients in need.

STRM.BIO has brought together a group of forward-thinking investors who, like us, see the potential for EV technology to fulfill the promise of gene therapy. With their contributions, we’re building the right team to make our vision a life-saving reality. We’re grateful for their commitment and expertise.