InVivo Therapeutics Corporation Management Team

Mr. Reynolds is responsible for commercializing novel neurological science and technologies that were developed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard Medical School, and Children’s Hospital of Boston.

Prior to joining InVivo Therapeutics, Mr. Reynolds was Director, Global Business Development for Siemens Corporation were he was responsible for new business revenue in 132 countries. At Siemens, Frank won numerous awards including the 2005 Global Presidential Sales Award, and he was a 2004 Top+ USA Strategy Award winner for his initiatives in global sales force strategy and collaboration. Mr. Reynolds was Founder and CEO of Expand The Knowledge, Inc from 1997-2002. In addition Mr. Reynolds has 10 years management experience primarily in healthcare related fields.

Mr. Reynolds has been an Executive Board Member of the Ireland Chamber of Commerce of the United States since 1998. He is a graduate of the Sloan Fellows Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he completed his MBA and coursework at the Harvard Business School. His graduate school education includes a M.S. in Technology Management Program from The Wharton School of Business and a M.S. in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, a Masters in Health Administration from Saint Joseph University, a M.S. in Management Information Systems from Temple University, a M.S. in Psychology from Chestnut Hill College, and he received his Bachelors of Science in Marketing from Rider University.

Robert S. Langer is one of 14 Institute Professors (the highest honor awarded to a faculty member) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Dr. Langer has written over 860 articles. He also has over 500 issued or pending patents worldwide, one of which was cited as the outstanding patent in Massachusetts in 1988 and one of 20 outstanding patents in the United States. Dr. Langer’s patents have been licensed or sublicensed to over 100 pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology and medical device companies; a number of these companies were launched on the basis of these patent licenses. He served as a member of the United States Food and Drug Administration’s SCIENCE Board, the FDA’s highest advisory board, from 1995-2002 and as its Chairman from 1999-2002.

Dr. Langer has received over 140 major awards. In 2002, he received the Charles Stark Draper Prize, considered the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for engineers and the world’s most prestigious engineering prize, from the National Academy of Engineering. He is the also the only engineer to receive the Gairdner Foundation International Award; 65 recipients of this award have subsequently received a Nobel Prize. Among numerous other awards Langer has received are the Dickson Prize for Science (2002), Heinz Award for Technology, Economy and Employment (2003), the Harvey Prize (2003), the John Fritz Award (2003) (given previously to inventors such as Thomas Edison and Orville Wright), the General Motors Kettering Prize for Cancer Research (2004), the Dan David Prize in Materials Science (2005) and the Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research (2005), the largest prize in the U.S. for medical research. In 2006, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. In 1998, he received the Lemelson-MIT prize, the world’s largest prize for invention for being “one of history’s most prolific inventors in medicine". In 1989 Dr. Langer was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, and in 1992 he was elected to both the National Academy of Engineering and to the National Academy of Sciences. He is one of very few people ever elected to all three United States National Academies and the youngest in history (at age 43) to ever receive this distinction.

Forbes Magazine (1999) and Bio World (1990) have named Langer as one of the 25 most important individuals in biotechnology in the world. Discover Magazine (2002) named him as one of the 20 most important people in this area. Forbes Magazine (2002) selected Langer as one of the 15 innovators world wide who will reinvent our future. Time Magazine and CNN (2001) named Langer as one of the 100 most important people in America and one of the 18 top people in science or medicine in America. Parade Magazine (2004) selected Langer as one of 6 “Heroes whose research may save your life.” He has served, at various times, on 15 boards of directors and 30 Scientific Advisory Boards of such companies as Wyeth, Alkermes, Mitsubishi Pharmaceuticals, Warner-Lambert, and Momenta Pharmaceuticals Dr. Langer has received honorary doctorates from the ETH (Switzerland), the Technion (Israel), the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel), the Universite Catholique de Louvain (Belgium), the University of Liverpool (England), the University of Nottingham (England), Albany Medical College, the Pennsylvania State University, Northwestern University and Uppsala University (Sweden). He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Cornell University in 1970 and his Sc.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1974, both in Chemical Engineering.

Dr. Teng studies molecular mechanisms that underlie or enhance experimental therapeutic strategies of neural stem cells for the frequent and challenging issues of experimental spinal cord injury (SCI) and neurodegenerative diseases that are clinically relevant. As a member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, he directs a team of investigators at CHB/BWH and VA Boston Healthcare System with primary focus on using polymer scaffolds to directly ameliorate key pathologic features of the injured spinal cord, and to potentiate neural stem cell (NSC) mediated repair of the injured spinal cord through mitigating neurodegeneration and creating regeneration promoting environment. Dr. Teng has made significant contributions in understanding secondary injury mechanisms and respiratory dysfunction after experimental SCI. His team recently established the first animal SCI model showing chronic respiratory abnormalities.

They are continuing to develop new drugs into clinical applications to improve post-SCI respiratory function, and to test the potential of NSCs in reconstructing respiratory centers. Dr. Teng’s lab finished the first investigation of the respiratory dysfunctions using a murine model of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Their stem cell treatment has successfully doubled the longevity of the ALS-like mice. He and his collaborators in the past year discovered novel mechanisms that are accountable for augmenting therapeutic roles of human NSCs to treat a primate model of Parkinson’s disease. They also initiated new study projects on examining and treating muscular and bone disorders resulting from SCI. His work on finding a new mechanism to treat SCI is included in the HMS dean’s 2004 report. Dr. Teng has authored and co-authored 18 papers in 2004-2005.

Dr. Teng continued his commitment to medical education. He lectured in the Harvard-MIT’s Health Science & Technology graduate program, and grand rounds in the Departments of Neurosurgery, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and SCI service at Harvard and VA. He’s been devoted to the academic training of postdoctoral fellows, clinical trainees, and medical school students at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Children’s Hospital Boston, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, VA Boston Healthcare System and Harvard Medical school.

Administratively, Dr. Teng continues as the Director of the SCI & NSC Lab, Department of Neurosurgery, HMS/BWH/CHB, the Director of SCI Research of the VA Boston Healthcare System, and as the coordinator of the academic programs for the VA national advanced SCI fellowship program. Nationally and internationally, Dr. Teng is a panel member for the brain disorder and clinical neuroscience study section of the NIH, and the motor neuron disease study section of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC), Department of Defense. He is an invited study section member on the grant review panels of the Health Research Board of the Ireland, the Swiss National Science Foundation, and the South Carolina SCI Research Fund. He also serves as panel and guest reviewers for academic journals including Exp Neurol, Nature Biotech, J Neurosci, J Neurochem, J Biomat App, Neurobiol Dis, Neurosci Lett, and Meth Find Exp Clin Pharmacol.

Dr. Teng, as the mentor and sponsor, received the 2004 ERF New Investigator Award from the Foundation for Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

Rajiv will receive his Ph.D. from the medical engineering/medical physics program at the Harvard–MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. As a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow in Dr. Robert Langer's lab, his primary research interests are in neural engineering, electrically conductive biomaterials, and spinal cord injury.

Rajiv received a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering summa cum laude from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2000 and was named Mr. Georgia Tech for outstanding service, leadership, and scholarship. He received a M.Sc. in biomedical engineering from Aalborg University (Denmark) in 2002, completing a thesis project on intraspinal microstimulation with Dr. Vivian Mushahwar.

 

 

Mr. Lapidus is an experienced life-science entrepreneur. Helicos is his third life-science start-up. In 1995 he founded EXACT Sciences Corporation (NASDAQ: EXAS), an applied genomics company that develops and markets non-invasive, DNA-based methods for early detection of colorectal and other common cancers. He served as President from 1995 through 2000 and Chairman of EXACT Sciences' Board of Directors from 2000 through 2005. He continues to serve as a board member. Prior to EXACT, Mr. Lapidus founded Cytyc Corporation (NASDAQ:CYTC) and was President and CEO from 1987 through 1994. In addition to his entrepreneurial activities, Mr. Lapidus holds academic appointments in the Pathology Department at Tufts University Medical School and MIT's Sloan School of Management. He earned a BSEE from Cooper Union. He has served as a trustee of Cooper Union since 2002. Mr. Lapidus holds 29 issued patents.

Dr. Ellis was born in the United Kingdom, where he received a British Petroleum scholarship to the University of St. Andrews. He earned an Honors degree in Chemistry in 1964, followed by a Ph.D. in Biophysics in 1967. After university, he joined 3i Group PLC, the largest private equity manager in the world. From his original position as Management Trainee, David progressed through the Technology Investment arm (Technical Development Capital Limited) and Regional Management network.  After attending the Senior Program at the Sloan School of MIT, Dr. Ellis was selected to found and lead the team responsible for 3i’s technology investments and turnaround investments, where he had oversight of over 100 private equity investments.

From 1975 to 1981, David held operational roles in the U.K. and the U.S.:

• COO and CEO of B.H. Blackwell Ltd., the world’s largest distributor of library materials. Acquired its largest competitor, Richard Abel & Company (Portland, Oregon).
• CFO of Software Sciences International Ltd., a computer systems group specializing in defense systems, air traffic control and newspaper automation.  Orchestrated the sale to BOC Group plc.
• CEO of Software Sciences Inc. In the U.S. book industry, Dr. Ellis introduced specialized point-of-sale systems, back-office inventory control systems, and MIS systems, most notably in association with the Ingram Book Company.

In 1982, David acquired Corporate Finance Associates of Georgia (CFA), a middle-market investment banking group focusing on European companies expanding into the U.S.  His major successes included the introduction of super-conducting magnet technology into the U.S. for what became the MRI business; as part of this work, he served on the board of Oxford Instruments Group plc. Dr. Ellis was also an advisor and early angel investor in Technical Analysis Corporation (developer of the IRMA board) that became the heart of Digital Communication Associates (DCA).

In 1988, David and Sal Massaro launched the EGL investment business. Based on David’s relationships in British finance circles, he raised capital for U.S. venture investments, initially from Mercury Asset Management (MAM), followed later by National Westminster Bank (Natwest). EGL invested in a range of sectors, including information technology, healthcare, instrumentation, manufacturing, and distribution businesses at all stages of development. All investments have been realized. David has also been active as an Angel investor with current investments in Metabolic Testing Services (MTShealth.com), The Gideon Group (thegideongroup.com) and SugarLoaf Products (sugarloafproducts.com).

Dr. Ellis has been very active in the Atlanta technology community since his arrival in 1979. He co-founded the MIT Enterprise Forum of Atlanta and, in 1998, received the Georgia Technology Forum award for “Outstanding Contribution to the Technology Industry.” He currently serves on the advisory board of the College of Sciences at Georgia Tech, as well as the advisory boards of the Shepherd Center and two Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers. David’s memberships include the Technology Association of Georgia, the Technology Executive Roundtable, the British-American Business Group, and the Atlanta Venture Forum.

Mr. Mraz has been active in the medical Device and Life Sciences industry for over 15 years with a focus on medical devices for the spine. HE has been involved in companies large and small with roles in executive management, product development, marketing, sales management and business development - all on a global basis.

Mr. Mraz currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Angstrom Medica, Inc., a biomaterials and medical device company located near Boston, Massachusetts (USA). Angstrom Medica is engaged in the development and commercialization of structural, nanocrystalline calcium phosphate based medical devices for the spinal, sports medicine, trauma and general orthopaedics markets.

Prior to Angstrom Medica, Mr. Mraz was a principal of Link Spine Group Inc., a start-up company that developed the world's first total disc replacement for the lumbar spine and was acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2003. Mr. Mraz was also a key management team member of three other early-stage medical device companies and his early experience includes positions at Figgie Medical Systems, Ortho Development Corporation (acquired by Japan MDM) and Marlow Surgical Technologies Inc. (acquired by Cooper Surgical) as well as DePuy, Inc. and DePuy Spine (formerly AcroMed Corporation) - both acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 1998.

Mr. Mraz also currently serves as a Director of SuperDimension, Ltd. (Herzliya, ISRAEL), an emerging world leader in theminimally-invasive diagnosis and treatment of lung disease (e.g. cancer, emphysema) via interactive real-time guidance of endoscopic tools and bronchoscopy.

Mr. Mraz received a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lafayette College and a M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering and Biomechanics from Case Western Reserve University. Mr. Mraz holds six U.S. Patents for various medical devices and is an active advisor to numerous venture capital groups and other entrepreneurs in the medical device industry worldwide

Arnoldo Hax is the Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Management at the Sloan School of Management of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He served as Deputy Dean of the Sloan School from 1987 through 1990. Prior to joining MIT in 1972, Dr. Hax was a faculty member at the Harvard Business School, and a senior consultant for Arthur D. Little, Inc,.

He has published extensively in the fields of strategic management, management control, operations management, and operations research. He has authored and co-authored nine books, including The Delta Project: Discovering New Sources of Profitability in a Networked Economy with Dean Wilde, and about one hundred journal articles. An accomplished teacher, he won the Sloan School’s Salgo Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Dr. Hax has participated in a great many executive programs at MIT, in many U.S. universities and corporations, and in most countries in Europe and Latin America, as well as Japan, China, and the former U.S.S.R. He has wide consulting experience and has assisted several companies in developing formal strategic planning processes, including Advanced Micro Devices, Eastman Chemical, Merck, EDS, Saturn, Coca-Cola, Digital Equipment Corporation, Motorola, General Motors, Citibank, Prime Computer, Searle, Analog Devices, Westinghouse Electric, Unilever, 3M, and Brown Boveri (Switzerland).

Dr. Hax is former Chairman of the Board of Sloan Management Review. In addition he is Strategic Management Editor for Interfaces and former editor of Operations Research, and Naval Research Logistics Quarterly. He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Manufacturing and Operations Research and the Journal of High Technology Management Research. He has been granted a Dean’s Award for Excellence at the Sloan School of Management and has been listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Education, Who’s Who in the World, and Who’s Who in Science and Technology.

Dr. Acworth is currently research director at the Cambridge-MIT Institute, a joint venture between MIT and Cambridge University. At CMI Dr. Acworth manages $90M of investments in the advanced technology research portfolio.

Previously, Dr. Acworth cofounded a venture-backed MIT spinout company bring an FDA approved medical device to market. He contributed to hardware development, product development, market research and business planning. Dr. Acworth has over 5 years experience in technical project management, having founded the Artificial Star 3 research and development program for NASA, and managed a 25-person team. His team designed, built and certified precision hardware for qualifying space telescopes including the $700M GPB telescope. Procedures certifications were NIST traceable certified, and exceed the international ISO9000 family of standards. Dr. Acworth also has over 6 years experience in commercial product development through his consulting activities with clients such as BMW, Ford Motor Company, KLA Tencor, Microtech Conversion Systems and the U.S. Coast Guard. Dr. Acworth cofounded a medical research program at St. Luke's Hospital in New York that successfully developed an image acquisition and digital image processing system for quantitative coronary arteriography, enabling doctors to automatically analyze angiogram images to diagnose severity of coronary artery blockages. Dr. Acworth holds a PhD in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, specializing in precision mechanical design, a MS and BS from Columbia University, and an MBA from MIT.

Dr. Acworth will join InVivo and lead the product engineering and manufacturing efforts for the company.

Steve Derezinski is currently CEO of Radiant Acoustics, a university-spinout creating high-performance nano-audio products based on patented technology. Steve provides InVivo Therapeutics with entrepreneurial advice on raising capital, engaging with universities and strategic partnerships. Steve Derezinski is graduate of the 2006 Fellow in the Sloan Fellows Program for Innovation and Global Leadership at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Prior to becoming a Sloan Fellow, Steve was Director of Georgia Tech’s VentureLab, a university-based commercialization program. During Steve’s tenure there, he started 8 companies which raised a combined total of $40M in series A venture backing. Steve is also a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and has attended the Venture Capital Institute.

Steve has been a Director of the MIT Alumni/ae Assocation, District 7 Director as well as President of the MIT Club of Atlanta. Steve has his S.B. degree in Mechanical Engineering from MIT and an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management.

James provides InVivo Therapeutics will a broad range of legal guidance. James J. Skeffington, Jr. is a 2006 Fellow in the Sloan Fellows Program for Innovation and Global Leadership at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Prior to becoming a Sloan Fellow, Skeffington was an attorney at Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., where he practiced all aspects of corporate and transactional law including registered public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, venture financing and general business counseling. Skeffington also advised public company clients with respect to corporate governance matters, including compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Skeffington has been a Trustee of Children’s Hospital Boston since 2002. He is also a Trustee of the Adopt-A-Student Foundation, an initiative founded in 1990 to provide tuition for low-income high-school students. Jim serves on the Executive Committee of the Fulton Professional Group, an alumni network that awards scholarships to certain needs-based students at Boston College. In 2002, he received Boston College’s Annual Rising Star Award for his various development efforts. Skeffington received his B.A. from Boston College, an M.Litt. in Management, Economics and Politics from University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.