Our Team
OUR TEAM
Meet the experts behind our company
Management
President: Nik Heble, PharmD, JD
Dr. Heble is a successful patent attorney, scientist and entrepreneur; with experience in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, materials and consumer products. Formerly, a partner with Blank Rome LLP, Nik represents early stage companies and universities in a variety of technology related matters. He also co-founded Thubrikar Aortic Valve, Inc., a clinical stage medical device company; and is a partner in Altus Labs, LLC, a consumer product and drug development company.
Dr. Heble is a successful patent attorney, scientist and entrepreneur; with experience in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, materials and consumer products. Formerly, a partner with Blank Rome LLP, Nik represents early stage companies and universities in a variety of technology related matters. He also co-founded Thubrikar Aortic Valve, Inc., a clinical stage medical device company; and is a partner in Altus Labs, LLC, a consumer product and drug development company.
Chief Scientific Officer: Aejaz Sayeed, PhD
Dr. Aejaz Sayeed, Ph.D is a cancer biologist with 20 years of experience in academic research and medical education. Working in premier laboratories across United States has provided a broad-based interdisciplinary oncology training with particular expertise in preclinical tumor models of breast, prostate and liver cancer. His main focus has been investigating cancer biomarkers and molecular signatures associated with different histological grades of cancer. As a faculty at Thomas Jefferson University Dr. Aejaz studied the role of microvesicles in prostate cancer progression. He also investigated the crosstalk between integrins and growth factor receptors while studying radiation resistance of prostate cancer. For the past four years, Dr. Aejaz Sayeed has been investigating circulating microvesicles and exploring circulating biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis using a liquid biopsy platform. Dr. Aejaz Sayeed holds an adjunct professor position at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and has been teaching Biochemistry and Human Genetics courses for the MBS program.
Dr. Aejaz Sayeed, Ph.D is a cancer biologist with 20 years of experience in academic research and medical education. Working in premier laboratories across United States has provided a broad-based interdisciplinary oncology training with particular expertise in preclinical tumor models of breast, prostate and liver cancer. His main focus has been investigating cancer biomarkers and molecular signatures associated with different histological grades of cancer. As a faculty at Thomas Jefferson University Dr. Aejaz studied the role of microvesicles in prostate cancer progression. He also investigated the crosstalk between integrins and growth factor receptors while studying radiation resistance of prostate cancer. For the past four years, Dr. Aejaz Sayeed has been investigating circulating microvesicles and exploring circulating biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis using a liquid biopsy platform. Dr. Aejaz Sayeed holds an adjunct professor position at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and has been teaching Biochemistry and Human Genetics courses for the MBS program.
Chief Business Officer: Brian Eves, Esq.
Life Sciences Corporate Counsel for Biotechnology corporations at all stages of the growth cycle. Specializes in Contract, Corporate Governance and Compliance law. Mr. Eves is a Member of the Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, and Federal Bar Associations. He received is BA from LaSalle University, and his Doctor of Law from Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law.
Life Sciences Corporate Counsel for Biotechnology corporations at all stages of the growth cycle. Specializes in Contract, Corporate Governance and Compliance law. Mr. Eves is a Member of the Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, and Federal Bar Associations. He received is BA from LaSalle University, and his Doctor of Law from Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law.
Board of Directors
Wayne Yetter, MBA
Mr. Yetter is a pharmaceutical industry veteran, board director and advisor. He has held leadership positions at global companies, including President and CEO of Novartis Pharmaceuticals US and founding CEO of Astra-Merck (now AstraZeneca). He has also held senior roles at IMS Health, Odyssey Pharmaceuticals, and Verispan. Mr. Yetter served as a director of InfuSystem Holdings, with previous board roles that include Chairman of NuPathe, Noven Pharmaceuticals, Transkaryotic Therapies and Lead Independent Director of Matria Healthcare. He was previously a member of the pharmaceutical industry association (PhRMA) Executive Committee. Mr. Yetter holds a B.A. in Biology from Wilkes University and an M.B.A from Bryant University.
Timothy M. Block, PhD
Dr. Block is President and Co-founder of the Hepatitis B Foundation, its research arm the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, and the PA Biotechnology Center. Dr. Block’s focus has been in the area of therapeutic drug and biomarker of disease screening and discovery including methods of DNA co-transfer to mammalian cells, and methods of discovery of antiviral drugs and biomarkers of liver cancer. His work, with Nobel Prize Winner Baruch S. Blumberg, Anand Mehta and Raymond Dwek, pioneered the use of glycoproteomics for detection of biomarkers of liver cancer, leading to Golph2/GP73 and core fucosylated serum proteins as risk stratifiers for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, in use today (Abbot Labs, HotGene, Glycotest). He is scientific co-founder of several life sciences companies, co-inventor on 20 issued patents and 23 applications, has coauthored more than 250 scholarly papers. He was named a 2017 Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). That same year, he was named a “Visionary in Hepatitis” by the World Hepatitis Alliance. Dr. Block is also Adjunct Professor at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Louis P. Kassa, III, MPA
Mr. Kassa is EVP and COO of the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center and Baruch S Blumberg Institute. He oversees all operations, business development, as well as financial reporting, planning and compliance. He has been a major part of the success of those organizations, helping identify promising startup companies, locating them at the Biotechnology Center and nurturing their growth.
Nik Heble, PharmD, JD
Dr. Heble is a successful patent attorney, scientist and entrepreneur; with experience in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, materials and consumer products. Formerly, a partner with Blank Rome LLP, Nik represents early stage companies and universities in a variety of technology related matters. He also co-founded Thubrikar Aortic Valve, Inc., a clinical stage medical device company; and is a partner in Altus Labs, LLC, a consumer product and drug development company. Dr. Heble will assist in technology assessments and evaluating intellectual property/commercial opportunities related to same.
Mr. Yetter is a pharmaceutical industry veteran, board director and advisor. He has held leadership positions at global companies, including President and CEO of Novartis Pharmaceuticals US and founding CEO of Astra-Merck (now AstraZeneca). He has also held senior roles at IMS Health, Odyssey Pharmaceuticals, and Verispan. Mr. Yetter served as a director of InfuSystem Holdings, with previous board roles that include Chairman of NuPathe, Noven Pharmaceuticals, Transkaryotic Therapies and Lead Independent Director of Matria Healthcare. He was previously a member of the pharmaceutical industry association (PhRMA) Executive Committee. Mr. Yetter holds a B.A. in Biology from Wilkes University and an M.B.A from Bryant University.
Timothy M. Block, PhD
Dr. Block is President and Co-founder of the Hepatitis B Foundation, its research arm the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, and the PA Biotechnology Center. Dr. Block’s focus has been in the area of therapeutic drug and biomarker of disease screening and discovery including methods of DNA co-transfer to mammalian cells, and methods of discovery of antiviral drugs and biomarkers of liver cancer. His work, with Nobel Prize Winner Baruch S. Blumberg, Anand Mehta and Raymond Dwek, pioneered the use of glycoproteomics for detection of biomarkers of liver cancer, leading to Golph2/GP73 and core fucosylated serum proteins as risk stratifiers for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, in use today (Abbot Labs, HotGene, Glycotest). He is scientific co-founder of several life sciences companies, co-inventor on 20 issued patents and 23 applications, has coauthored more than 250 scholarly papers. He was named a 2017 Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). That same year, he was named a “Visionary in Hepatitis” by the World Hepatitis Alliance. Dr. Block is also Adjunct Professor at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Louis P. Kassa, III, MPA
Mr. Kassa is EVP and COO of the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center and Baruch S Blumberg Institute. He oversees all operations, business development, as well as financial reporting, planning and compliance. He has been a major part of the success of those organizations, helping identify promising startup companies, locating them at the Biotechnology Center and nurturing their growth.
Nik Heble, PharmD, JD
Dr. Heble is a successful patent attorney, scientist and entrepreneur; with experience in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, materials and consumer products. Formerly, a partner with Blank Rome LLP, Nik represents early stage companies and universities in a variety of technology related matters. He also co-founded Thubrikar Aortic Valve, Inc., a clinical stage medical device company; and is a partner in Altus Labs, LLC, a consumer product and drug development company. Dr. Heble will assist in technology assessments and evaluating intellectual property/commercial opportunities related to same.
Scientific Advisory Board
Harvey Alter, MD, MACP
Dr. Alter is Distinguished NIH Scientist Emeritus. He co-discovered the Australia antigen, a key to detecting hepatitis B virus. Later, he spearheaded a project at the Clinical Center that created a storehouse of blood samples used to uncover the causes and reduce the risk of transfusion-associated hepatitis. He was principal investigator on studies that identified non-A, non-B hepatitis, now called hepatitis C. His work was instrumental in providing the scientific basis for instituting blood donor screening programs that have decreased the incidence of transfusion-transmitted hepatitis to near zero. Dr. Alter earned his medical degree at the University of Rochester Medical School and trained in internal medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital and at the University Hospitals of Seattle. In 2000, Alter was awarded the prestigious Clinical Lasker Award. In 2002, he became the first Clinical Center scientist elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), and in that same year he was elected to the Institute of Medicine. Only a small number of scientists nationally are elected to both of these scientific societies. In 2013 he received the Canada Gairdner International Award, given to a scientist whose advances have had, or will potentially have, a significant impact on health outcomes in the developing world.
Timothy M. Block, PhD
Dr. Block is President and Co-founder of the Hepatitis B Foundation; its research arm, the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute; and the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center. His work, with Baruch S. Blumberg, Anand Mehta and Raymond Dwek, pioneered the use of glycoproteomics for detection of biomarkers of liver cancer, leading to the use of Golph2/GP73 and core fucosylated serum proteins as risk stratifiers for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. His work with Ying Su led to use of “microDNA” detected in the urine as a cancer marker. More recently, he and his colleagues (Ju-Tao Guo, Hai-Tao Guo, Andy Cuconati) have identified small molecule inhibitors of hepatitis B virus, which are in clinical phase human testing today. His work with Ying Su led to use of “microDNA” detected in the urine as a cancer marker (JBS Sciences). More recently, he and his colleagues have identified small molecule inhibitors of hepatitis B virus, which are in clinical phase human testing, today (Arbutus Biopharma).
Ying Su, PhD
Dr. Su is Co-founder, JBS Sciences, Chief, JBS Laboratory for Early Cancer detection, and Professor, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute. She is an Associate member of the Early Detection Research Network (EDRN) of the NCI and is one of few pioneers in the field of transrenal DNA for cancer detection. Dr. Su's lab first demonstrated that circulation-derived DNA in urine is mostly less than 300 bp, designated as low molecular weight urine DNA, which can be used for cancer detection. Dr. Su's research team has developed the technology to preferentially isolate this circulation derived urine DNA for detection of colon and liver cancers. In addition, a Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for collection and storage of urine samples for biomarker studies in the EDRN of the NCI has been established by her group. Dr. Su has collaborated with Dr. Frank Song in developing various approaches to bring the transrenal DNA technology to clinical applications in the fields of cancer detection and personalized cancer management. Recently, the assays to detect CRC-associated hypermethylation of vimentin in urine of patients with CRC and HBV double mutations, p53 mutations in urine of patients with HCC have been developed in collaboration with the scientists of the JBS Science Inc.
Richard George Pestell, PhD
Dr. Pestell received an M.B.B.S. from the University of Western Australia, an F.R.A.C.P. (Endocrinology and Oncology training), an M.D. and a Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne, an F.A.C.P. (Fellow American College of Physicians), and an M.B.A. from New York University. He has been in executive leadership at USA Universities and Medical Centers since 2002.
He completed Post Doctoral studies at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. He was subsequently faculty at Northwestern University Medical School, Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Chairman of the Department of Oncology at Georgetown University and Associate Vice President at Georgetown University Medical School. He has previously Executive Vice President of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia. He has served as Director of two NCI-designated Cancer Centers (Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, 2002-2015), founded two biotechnology companies and is the author of multiple issued patents. He is concurrently Distinguished Professor, Translational Medical Research, and the President of the Pennsylvania Cancer and Regenerative Medicine Research Center at the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute. He has received a number of awards for his work in clinical activity, research and education in Medicine including elected membership to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Elected Member, American Society for Clinical Investigation, Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, Doctor Honoris Causa, University of Western Australia, Doctorus Honorus Causa Medical Science from University of Melbourne, RD Wright Medallion, and the Eric Sussman Prize. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours for distinguished service to medicine, and to medical education, as a researcher and physician in the fields of endocrinology and oncology.
Dr. Alter is Distinguished NIH Scientist Emeritus. He co-discovered the Australia antigen, a key to detecting hepatitis B virus. Later, he spearheaded a project at the Clinical Center that created a storehouse of blood samples used to uncover the causes and reduce the risk of transfusion-associated hepatitis. He was principal investigator on studies that identified non-A, non-B hepatitis, now called hepatitis C. His work was instrumental in providing the scientific basis for instituting blood donor screening programs that have decreased the incidence of transfusion-transmitted hepatitis to near zero. Dr. Alter earned his medical degree at the University of Rochester Medical School and trained in internal medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital and at the University Hospitals of Seattle. In 2000, Alter was awarded the prestigious Clinical Lasker Award. In 2002, he became the first Clinical Center scientist elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), and in that same year he was elected to the Institute of Medicine. Only a small number of scientists nationally are elected to both of these scientific societies. In 2013 he received the Canada Gairdner International Award, given to a scientist whose advances have had, or will potentially have, a significant impact on health outcomes in the developing world.
Timothy M. Block, PhD
Dr. Block is President and Co-founder of the Hepatitis B Foundation; its research arm, the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute; and the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center. His work, with Baruch S. Blumberg, Anand Mehta and Raymond Dwek, pioneered the use of glycoproteomics for detection of biomarkers of liver cancer, leading to the use of Golph2/GP73 and core fucosylated serum proteins as risk stratifiers for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. His work with Ying Su led to use of “microDNA” detected in the urine as a cancer marker. More recently, he and his colleagues (Ju-Tao Guo, Hai-Tao Guo, Andy Cuconati) have identified small molecule inhibitors of hepatitis B virus, which are in clinical phase human testing today. His work with Ying Su led to use of “microDNA” detected in the urine as a cancer marker (JBS Sciences). More recently, he and his colleagues have identified small molecule inhibitors of hepatitis B virus, which are in clinical phase human testing, today (Arbutus Biopharma).
Ying Su, PhD
Dr. Su is Co-founder, JBS Sciences, Chief, JBS Laboratory for Early Cancer detection, and Professor, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute. She is an Associate member of the Early Detection Research Network (EDRN) of the NCI and is one of few pioneers in the field of transrenal DNA for cancer detection. Dr. Su's lab first demonstrated that circulation-derived DNA in urine is mostly less than 300 bp, designated as low molecular weight urine DNA, which can be used for cancer detection. Dr. Su's research team has developed the technology to preferentially isolate this circulation derived urine DNA for detection of colon and liver cancers. In addition, a Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for collection and storage of urine samples for biomarker studies in the EDRN of the NCI has been established by her group. Dr. Su has collaborated with Dr. Frank Song in developing various approaches to bring the transrenal DNA technology to clinical applications in the fields of cancer detection and personalized cancer management. Recently, the assays to detect CRC-associated hypermethylation of vimentin in urine of patients with CRC and HBV double mutations, p53 mutations in urine of patients with HCC have been developed in collaboration with the scientists of the JBS Science Inc.
Richard George Pestell, PhD
Dr. Pestell received an M.B.B.S. from the University of Western Australia, an F.R.A.C.P. (Endocrinology and Oncology training), an M.D. and a Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne, an F.A.C.P. (Fellow American College of Physicians), and an M.B.A. from New York University. He has been in executive leadership at USA Universities and Medical Centers since 2002.
He completed Post Doctoral studies at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. He was subsequently faculty at Northwestern University Medical School, Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Chairman of the Department of Oncology at Georgetown University and Associate Vice President at Georgetown University Medical School. He has previously Executive Vice President of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia. He has served as Director of two NCI-designated Cancer Centers (Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, 2002-2015), founded two biotechnology companies and is the author of multiple issued patents. He is concurrently Distinguished Professor, Translational Medical Research, and the President of the Pennsylvania Cancer and Regenerative Medicine Research Center at the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute. He has received a number of awards for his work in clinical activity, research and education in Medicine including elected membership to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Elected Member, American Society for Clinical Investigation, Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, Doctor Honoris Causa, University of Western Australia, Doctorus Honorus Causa Medical Science from University of Melbourne, RD Wright Medallion, and the Eric Sussman Prize. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours for distinguished service to medicine, and to medical education, as a researcher and physician in the fields of endocrinology and oncology.
