Our Mission: Perform cutting edge basic and translational research enabling medical innovation
- Fueling cures.
The Applied Biomedical Science Institute (ABS Institute) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization taking a leading role in basic research and its rapid clinical translation by performing cutting-edge basic and translational research. Importantly, we are developing the infrastructure for early stage biologic drug development and manufacturing. We promote therapeutic and diagnostic translation through our own internal research, collaborations, or licensing activities. The Institute also trains early stage researchers in biomedical research through post-doctoral fellow and internship programs.
Advisory Council
Michael Gilman, Ph.D.
Michael Gilman, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Arrakis Therapeutics. Mike currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Novartis Venture Fund, Obsidian Therapeutics, and Scholar Rock and on the Scientific Advisory Board of FutuRx. Previously, Mike was Chief Executive Officer of Obsidian Therapeutics, a venture-funded company focused on applying synthetic biology to gene and cell therapies. Prior to Obsidian, Mike was Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Padlock Therapeutics, a venture-funded company focused on autoimmune disease, acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2016. From 2012-2013, Mike served as Senior Vice President, Early-Stage Pipeline, at Biogen Idec, with responsibility for managing the company’s development programs through clinical proof-of-concept. He joined Biogen Idec in March 2012 following its acquisition of Stromedix, a venture-funded company focused on fibrosis and organ failure, where he was Founder and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to founding Stromedix in 2006, Mike served as Executive Vice President, Research at Biogen Idec, with responsibility for the company’s discovery research activities in Cambridge and San Diego. From 1994 to 1999, Mike was at ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, where he was Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. From 1986 to 1994, Mike was on the scientific staff of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York, where his research focused on mechanisms of signal transduction and gene regulation. Mike was a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Robert Weinberg at the Whitehead Institute. He holds a PhD in Biochemistry from University of California, Berkeley, and a SB in Life Sciences from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Kent Iverson. CMC Consultant.
Kent Iverson. CMC Consultant. Kent Iverson has more than 30 years of experience in biopharmaceutical analytical development, process development, and manufacturing, leading these efforts at Elevian. Prior to becoming a biologics CMC consultant in 2001, Mr. Iverson was vice president of process development at Corixa Corporation and vice president of manufacturing at Coulter Pharmaceutical, Inc., while supporting the commercialization of Bexxar™. Earlier in his career he participated in the development of Genentech’s Protropin™ and Activase™, and Immunex’s Leukine™ and Enbrel™. As an independent consultant Mr. Iverson has supported CMC development from preclinical stage to post-registration stage for clients in the North America, the EU, and the Asia/Pacific regions, including for ten FDA approved products.
Geoff Duyk, M.D., Ph.D.
Geoff Duyk, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Duyk is a partner of Circularis Partners, an investment firm focused on supporting technology-enabled companies that advance the circular economy, promote sustainability and enhance resource efficiency. Previously, he was managing director and partner of TPG Alternative & Renewable Technologies (ART)/TPG Biotechnology. Among Dr. Duyk’s prior work affiliations are Harvard Medical School assistant professor, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute assistant investigator. Dr. Duyk serves on the Board of Directors of Amyris (Nasdaq: AMRS), Concentric and Regen. He is a trustee of Case Western Reserve University and a member of the Institute Board of Directors for the Moffitt Cancer Center. Dr. Duyk holds a Ph.D. and M.D. from Case Western Reserve University. He completed his medical and fellowship training at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Robert Sikorski, M.D., Ph.D.
Robert Sikorski, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Sikorski is an independent drug developer and Managing Director of Woodside Way Ventures. Dr. Sikorski currently focuses on advancing next-generation therapies for serious diseases. Previously, as the Chief Medical Officer of FivePrime Therapeutics, he built a development organization, led clinical programs that advanced oncology drugs to Phase III, and led a steering committee managing a $350 million partnership agreement before the company was acquired by Amgen for $1.9 billion. As a Senior Director of Global Oncology Research and Development at MedImmune, he managed an early development portfolio of ten cancer therapeutics. Here, he led the initial development of tremelimumab (anti-CTLA4) and oleclumab (anti-CD73) with both drugs now in Phase III trials in lung cancer. As a Director of Global Oncology Research and Development at Amgen, he was instrumental in advancing a successful pivotal Phase III trial for Vectibix that gained European Marketing Authorization based on the first gene mutation companion diagnostic in colorectal cancer. He has been board-certified in both oncology and internal medicine and has served as an editor for Science magazine and the Journal of the American Medical Association.
