Benjamin Cooper

Medtech/Pharma Innovation & Product Development || Head of R&D at Ortholevo

Greater Boston

About

Biomaterials scientist with experience in product development, business development, and go-to-market strategy. Head of R&D at Ortholevo, a Boston-based pharmaceutical startup, developing treatments for fibrotic diseases targeting joints, muscles, lungs, and connective tissues || www.ortholevo.com || Co-founder of Articulate Biosciences, a preclinical stage medical device startup developing ABX Viscoelastics: More effective injectable gels for treating arthritis and other soft tissue diseases || www.articulatebio.com || Experience: **Polymer chemistry, biomaterials synthesis, physicochemical characterization; polymeric hydrogel musculoskeletal devices and pharmaceutical formulations **Cartilage friction, compression, and wear testing; rheometry, viscometry **Animal protocols, handling, injection, imaging, ex vivo tissue prep and analysis **Six Sigma & Lean operations: Continuous improvement, root cause analysis, contingency planning / failure mode and effects analysis, Quality Management Systems, communication / teamwork / effective policy deployment **Medical device translation: Idea validation, intellectual property, market research, financial research, competitive intelligence, due diligence, cGMP manufacturing, preclinical studies, regulatory processes, grant proposal development and post-award management (NIH, NSF, DOD) **New venture accelerators: Coulter Foundation translation seminars 2015, Boston University Startup Accelerator 2016, Brandeis University Lean LaunchPad Program 2016, NSF I-Corps Site Program 2017

Experience

  • Ortholevo (Greater Boston)
    • CEO
      2024 - Present · 2 yrs 6 mos

    • Co-Founder and Head of R&D
      2020 - Present · 6 yrs 6 mos

      Developing treatments for fibrotic diseases targeting joints, muscles, and connective tissues. Sustained-release relaxin: A single joint injection with lasting efficacy to treat joint stiffness and restore full motion

  • Articulate Biosciences (Greater Boston)
    • Co-Founder
      2016 - Present · 10 yrs 6 mos

    • CEO and Director of R&D
      2016 - 2020 · 4 yrs

      Commercializing injectable medical device gel for treating osteoarthritis, developed during doctoral studies at Boston University. Leading product and business development; seeking strategic partnerships.

  • Medical device development at Various companies, teams, and projects
    2017 - Present · 9 yrs 6 mos

    Advising, consulting, & contracting

  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Grinstaff & Snyder labs
    2017 - 2020 · 3 yrs

  • Graduate Research Assistant (Cartilage biomechanics) at Lab of Dr. Brian D. Snyder
    2013 - 2016 · 3 yrs

    **Applied and evaluated innovative polymer synthetic techniques in treatment of damaged and deteriorated cartilage **Engaged in cross-disciplinary research: orthopedics, engineering, and animal work (in vivo rat; ex vivo rabbit, cow)