Contributors
Fred D. Ledley, MD
is the director of the Center for Integration of Science and Industry and a Professor in the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences and Department of Management and at Bentley University in Waltham, Mass. A recognized opinion leader in the integration of basic biological science with medicine, business, society, and education, he has written more than 170 papers and patent applications in fields ranging from molecular and human genetics and gene therapy to bioethics, biopharmaceutical development, and biotechnology. Ledley has served on the faculties of the Baylor College of Medicine and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and was involved in founding several biotechnology companies including GeneMedicine, Inc. and Variagenics Inc. in the area of gene therapy and personalized medicine, serving in roles ranging from VP R&D and CSO, to President & CEO. At Bentley, Ledley spearheaded strategic initiatives to reorganize and reorient the school’s science programs and better prepare business students for leadership roles in technology-driven enterprise. He serves as Chair of the National Biomedical Research Foundation and has served on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, the Board of Overseers of Boston Children’s Hospital, and as a consultant to industry, academia, and government. His research focuses on strategies for accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries for public benefit. He has a BS from the University of Maryland, an MD from Georgetown University, trained in Pediatrics and Genetics at the Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, and was a post-doctoral fellow with Dr. David Baltimore at the Center for Cancer Research at MIT.
Laura McNamee, PhD
is a Research Associate in the Center for Integration of Science and Industry and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Natural and Applied Science. McNamee has a BS from Merrimack College and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester where her work focused on experimental models of cancer cell death. As a post-doctoral fellow with Fred Ledley, she led projects looking at patterns of sustaining and disruptive innovation in biotechnology and examined technology metrics that contribute to effective business models within the biotech industry. McNamee is a member of Women Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (WEST) and is active in the Science Club for Girls, an organization dedicated to promoting STEM education and careers for women. At Bentley, she teaches Human Biology.
Michael Boss, PhD, MBA
is an Executive in Residence at the Center for Integration of Science and Industry at Bentley University. Michael has been a leader in the biotechnology industry for more than 30 years as a scientist and senior executive. As a group leader at Celltech, he was lead inventor of the landmark “Boss patent,” which enabled genetic engineering and manufacture of recombinant, monoclonal antibodies and generated >$1 billion in revenues. Dr. Boss co-founded Oros Instruments, a successful developer of protein purification equipment that was acquired by Biotage. He subsequently joined Genica Pharmaceuticals as Vice President of Research and Development and later Vice President of Operations, where he had a central role in building Genica (renamed Athena Diagnostics) into the leading developer of neurological and genetic tests. Most recently, Boss held the position of Vice President, Corporate Office of Technology, at Elan Corporation and Chief Operating Officer of Xanthus Pharmaceuticals Inc., leading its acquisition by Antisoma, where he continued in senior executive positions. He has a BSc and PhD from London University and an MBA from London Business School, trained in immunology at ICRF London with Dr. Mel Greaves and Dr. Martin Raff, and was a post-doctoral fellow with Dr. David Baltimore at the Center for Cancer Research at MIT.
Nancy Hsiung, PhD
is an Executive in Residence at the Center for Integration of Science and Industry at Bentley University. She has more than 30 years of experience in the biotechnology industry, in both scientific and managerial positions as well as in the investment community. For the past 11 years, Nancy worked with GeneChem Management Inc, a venture fund headquartered in Montreal, where her responsibilities included sourcing, assessing and managing investment opportunities. Prior to GeneChem, Nancy was a consultant whose activities range from strategic planning, business development, technology assessment, market research and financing for biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies. She started her career on the operational side as a scientist with Integrated Genetics (now part of Genzyme, now Sanofi) where she established the company's gene expression and tissue culture capabilities, as a member of the management team at Applied Biotechnology, whose focus was on vaccines and oncology and as the U.S. head of Corporate Development for Toyobo Corporation's (a large Japanese multinational) biopharmaceutical division. Nancy received a BA degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a PhD degree in chemistry from Columbia University; she completed her post-doctoral studies in molecular biology at Yale University and Princeton University. She holds more than 15 patents and patent applications worldwide and has written 12 publications/abstracts.
Andrea Ballabeni, PhD, MPH
is a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Center for Integration of Science and Industry and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Natural and Applied Science. Ballabeni grew up in Reggio Emilia, Italy and received a MS in biology from the University of Parma, and worked on an epidemiological study in collaboration with the National Eye Institute to assess the role of vitamins in the prevention of cataract. Ballabeni has a MPH with a concentration in policy from the Harvard School of Public Health and a PhD in Molecular Oncology from The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK. He was previously a post-doctoral fellow in the Systems Biology Department at Harvard Medical School where his work focused on the cell cycle of embryonic stem cells and pluripotency. His graduate research was conducted at the European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy and focused on mechanisms regulating human DNA replication and Myc in drug-induced apoptosis. Ballabeni's work at the Center will focus on policies regulating basic-translational biomedical research and industry R&D to maximize health benefits to the society.
Michael Jay Walsh, PhD
is a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Center for Integration of Science and Industry. Walsh holds a BA in Chemistry from Colby College where he researched lake water eutrophication and the marine chemistry of iron and superoxide. He obtained a PhD in the field of Environmental Engineering from Cornell University where his work focused on the effect of thiols on the bioavailability of copper to marine algae. While at Cornell, Walsh served as a member of the President’s Climate Commitment Implementation and Sustainable Campus Committees and was elected by the student body to serve on the University’s Board of Trustees. He has received awards from the New York State Water Environment Association and the American Institute of Biological Sciences for his work at the science & policy interface. At the Center, Walsh will research the development of energy and sustainable technologies
Donna Connor
is the Program Assistant for the Center for Integration of Science and Industry. Prior to joining the Center she worked as an Associate Environmental Scientist for one of Boston’s top environmental consulting firms researching, writing, managing, coordinating, budgeting, and developing environmental projects include Environmental Assessments, Environmental Impact Statements, environmental compliance monitoring projects, and as Logistics Coordinator for environmental training courses in conjunction with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Donna also served as a Community Relations Specialist managing, writing, planning and budgeting fact sheets, public meetings, and public notices while working with the Environmental Protection Agency. She has a BS in Biology from Boston University, and attended graduate school at Tufts University studying Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hazardous Materials Management and Policy.