Caralynn V. Nowinski, M.D./MBA – Co-Founder, President & Interim CEO
With experience in clinical trials, research operations management and seed-stage venture capital, Dr. Nowinski brings talent and dedication to SanoGene’s management team and has positioned the Company to effectively carry out its initial operations. Under her leadership, SanoGene spun out from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, raised a strategic equity investment, was recognized as the winner of eight business plan competitions and has been featured in Business Week Chicago, the Chicago Tribune and the New York Times. As an Associate with venture capital firms Midwest Venture Partners and ARCH Development Partners, Dr. Nowinski plays an active role in sourcing, due diligence and monitoring of early-stage, technology-focused portfolio companies. Prior to medical school, she managed two NIH-funded clinical research programs, authoring several published journal articles and book chapters in cognitive neuroscience. Among her honors, Dr. Nowinski was recently named to Crain’s Chicago Business 2008 “Forty Under Forty” List. She received M.D. and MBA degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago and graduated with honors (B.S.) from Northwestern University. Dr. Nowinski is an Active Member of the Society for Neuro-Oncology.

Joel Eisner, Ph.D. – Operations & Business Development Liaison
Dr. Eisner is a Principal of Cato BioVentures focusing on early-stage life science companies. In this role, he led Cato’s investment in SanoGene, and since 2007, he has taken an active role in facilitating SanoGene’s strategic partnership with Cato. Dr. Eisner applies his 14 years of research experience to supervising SanoGene’s nonclinical operations and works closely with Dr. Nowinski to manage business development relationships and execute SanoGene’s operational plan. He also serves as an Integrated Drug Development Scientist of Cato Research. Previously, Dr. Eisner was Vice President, Corporate Development of Durham Pharmaceuticals Ltd. until its merger into Echo Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCBB: ECTE). He is an Affiliate Scientist at the National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to joining Cato BioVentures, he was a Clinical Operations Manager at Northwestern University Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Prior to that he served as a Clinical Research Scientist for Insmed, Inc. (NASDAQ: INSM).

SanoGene actively utilizes its broad network of contacts within the biopharmaceutical industry to recruit additional management with domain experience, as appropriate. In addition to Drs. Nowinski and Eisner, SanoGene is guided by a growing team of highly qualified advisors with expertise in business development, operations, entrepreneurship and corporate strategy in the life sciences industry.