Koon Yan “Chris” Pak, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

Dr. Chris Pak brings three decades of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. Chris was formerly with Centocor, now a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson, where he invented and developed novel radiopharmaceuticals and participated in the filing of twelve IND applications for cancer and cardiovascular diseases. He has founded and led multiple societies promoting Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and entrepreneurship organizations.
Dr. Pak has published more than eighty articles and holds numerous patents on therapeutics and diagnostics. His awards include the 2019 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist of Greater Philadelphia, Asian Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Asian American Business Award, Ben Franklin Emerging Business Award, State University of New York Alumni Honor Roll, and the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chinese American Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.

Jeffrey A. Mattis, Ph.D

Senior Vice President of Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, Board Director

Dr. Mattis is a biopharmaceutical executive with more than 30 years’ experience in the technical development of biopharmaceuticals. Dr. Mattis previously served as Vice President of Pharmaceutical Development for Centocor. Dr. Mattis was instrumental in the technical development of several biopharmaceuticals approved for the US and multinational markets. These include ReoPro®, an anti-platelet drug for use in coronary angioplasty; Remicade®, a drug for treatment of Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis; and Myoscint®, a cardiac imaging agent.

Brian D. Gray, Ph.D.

Senior Vice President of Research

Dr Gray has more than 25 years’ experience in the design and synthesis of novel compounds for biomedical research, diagnostics and drug delivery, with special expertise in fluorescent dyes and lipophilic agents. Following a research career at SmithKline Beckman, Dr. Gray co-founded Zynaxis, Inc., a biotech, as Director of Medicinal Chemistry. Later as V.P. of Chemical Research for PTI Research, Inc., he provided contract and custom chemistry services for life sciences and designed novel research reagents for neuronal tract tracing (NeuroVue® dyes) and cell tracking (CellVue® dyes). Dr. Gray earned a Ph.D. from the University of Dundee, Scotland, and carried out post-doctoral research in complex organic molecule synthesis at Oregon State University. He has been Principal Investigator in multiple grants.

Michael Silvon, Ph.D., MBA

Senior Vice President of Business Development

Dr. Silvon has driven profitable, pragmatic life sciences operations over the breadth of small and large molecule drug development; creating, fixing and growing multiple high science, heavily regulated businesses as a senior executive for Charles River Labs, Bioanalytical Systems and ICI/Zeneca. He orchestrated six acquisitions and integrated and ran businesses for three of these long-term. As VP Global Biopharmaceutical Services for Charles River Labs, he restructured and consolidated five global sites into a global leader in molecular biology, virology and microbiology services. Mike serves as Executive Chair for Sannova Analytical, a Private Equity funded CRO, and also served in Director and operating roles with Chronic Airways Therapeutics, Claro Labs, and Spark Insights. Mike is also a member of the American Lung Association Covid-19 Advisory Panel.

John M. Farah, Jr., Ph.D.

Executive Advisor

Dr. Farah has broad expertise in life sciences business development, strategic analysis, R&D, ex-US commercialization, and scientific/clinical affairs, with a focus on products for hematology & oncology, neurosciences & pain, and infectious/inflammatory disorders.

It was through various operational- and executive roles within pharma, most notably at Cephalon, Inc., that Dr. Farah acquired extensive corporate experience in product and technology in- and out-licensing and acquisition; medical technology and market assessment in support of product development and licensing; and commercialization planning.

Through consultancy, Dr. Farah has advised clients on drug and biologic product development, corporate partnering strategies, licensing deals, and patent/license disputes. He has organized key opinion leader advice and support. Dr. Farah currently serves as an independent director at Pond Technologies, an ESG company addressing global sustainability challenges. As an industry advisory board member for the Coulter-Drexel Translational Research Partnership Program, Dr. Farah advises faculty applicants and awardees on advancing innovative technologies from clinical application to commercialization. Dr. Farah is a co-author and co-inventor on over 40 publications, whitepapers, and patents.