Scientists United Against Tropical Diseases.
We're joined by an expertise in diagnostics AND A PASSION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
DDTD was established in 2011, stemming from a long-standing desire to tackle diseases that are not adequately addressed. We have assembled a high-quality team composed of industrial scientists and academic experts. We are modeled similar to other successful biotech start-ups. Our board of directors consists of leaders with demonstrated success in both start-ups and in established companies.
We are passionate about serving the needs of the underprivileged within our capacity as scientists. In addition, we believe it is important to increase public awareness - especially within our local San Diego community - of the dire need to improve global health. The community’s resulting civic engagement can make an impact globally and DDTD wants to lead these efforts.
Board of Directors
Marco A. Biamonte, President. Marco holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Cambridge, UK, and performed post-doctoral studies at the Swiss Institute for Technology (ETH-Z). Marco worked as a medicinal chemist in the pharmaceutical industry for 14 years, mostly in oncology. He co-led up to 3 projects simultaneously in 3 different therapeutic areas and managed up to 12 chemists. He and his colleagues have had success in advancing 2 new drugs into clinical trials (BIIB-021 and BIIB-028, respectively in Phase II and Phase I). In 2011, motivated by a long-standing desire, Marco created DDTD.
Tom Blackshaw, Board Member. Tom has worked at Roche Diagnostics Corporation for four years as Senior Director of Corporate Business Development. Prior to Roche he worked at Merck Millipore Corporation and PerkinElmer, Inc. in corporate business development roles. He has extensive experience in business development, licensing and mergers and acquisitions; he has worked on over 50 acquisitions/divestitures that closed.
Beverly Coyne, Secretary. Beverly Coyne has worked at Qualcomm Technologies for the past eight years and is the Chair for Diversity Employee Network QAAAD. Prior to joining Qualcomm, she held leadership positions in Investor and Public Relations with Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Wingcast International and Natural Alternatives International. Ms. Coyne has served on the board for the San Diego branch of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI). She is a former Sergeant in The United States Marine Corps and was at that time the youngest Marine in the Corps and one of the first women to complete Radio Operators training going on to train as an Air Traffic Controller.
Robert Epple, Board Member. Robert brings in expertise in drug design. Robert was previously the Associate Director at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF, San Diego, 2000-present). He has worked on many diverse projects and delivered several clinical candidates. Robert completed his Ph.D. at the Swiss Institute of Technology (ETH-Z), and performed post-doctoral studies in the group of Nobel Laureate Barry Sharpless at the Scripps Research Institute (San Diego, CA).
Vish Gaitonde, Treasurer. Vish Gaitonde is a senior Information Technology executive, currently Director, Product Strategy, at Oracle Corporation. His 25 year career has encompassed leadership and management roles in Product Strategy, Strategic Alliances, and Business Development. Vish has a B. Eng. from University of Mumbai (India), and M.S., in Management, from Clemson University. He is credentialed and affiliated with professional organizations in the fields of Configuration Management (CMI), New Product Development (PDMA), Supply Chain Management (APICS) and Program Management (PMI).
Josh Salisbury, Board Member. Josh Salisbury is CEO and Founder of Salisbury Advisors, an investment bank that advises on capital raises for venture capital funds, and in mergers and acquisitions, primarily in healthcare and tech. Josh was previously a Managing Director with DRI Healthcare, a pharmaceutical private equity firm, and prior to that Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Development for Eli Lilly (“Lilly”), Josh also served as an investment banking Managing Director with Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch. Josh formerly served as a board member of The Innovation Factory. Josh graduated from the University of Chicago with a BA in Economics, and from Harvard Business School with an MBA with Honors.
Dr. Matthew Waxman, Board Member. Dr. Waxman is Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and works clinically at the Olive View UCLA Medical Center as an attending emergency physician. He received a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene at the Gorgas Course for Tropical Medicine in Lima, Peru. Dr. Waxman has been a residency director, and over the past decade has worked internationally with several NGOs. Dr. Waxman worked clinically in an Ebola treatment center in Sierra Leone during the 2015 epidemic and subsequently published research in The Lancet determining outcomes patients co-infected with Malaria and Ebola virus.