Madison, Wisconsin, United States
I am a biomedical innovator and strategic leader with a proven track record of translating scientific discoveries into real-world impact. Over the past three decades, I have built and led multidisciplinary research and development programs that bridge academia, medicine, and industry, turning visionary ideas into practical technologies, translational platforms, and strategic partnerships that advance human health. At the University of Wisconsin–Madison, I founded and co-directed the Center for Biomedical Swine Research & Innovation (CBSRI), the first interdisciplinary U.S. center dedicated to gene-edited porcine models and translational biomedicine. Under my leadership, CBSRI secured multi-million-dollar funding and forged strategic partnerships with industry leaders, contributing to the world’s first successful pig-to-human kidney transplant in 2024 by eGenesis. These efforts helped establish UW–Madison as a nationally recognized hub for translational biomedical swine research and medical innovation. Throughout my career, I have secured and led, or co-led, over $30 million in funding from the NIH, DoD, USDA, FDA, industry, and philanthropy, while building a collaborative network across numerous research groups, organizations, and countries. have delivered advances in next-generation porcine cloning, precision gene-editing, and clinically validated disease models that have informed human trials and accelerated technology translation. I combine deep technical expertise with strategic foresight. With extensive surgical and anesthesia experience in large-animal models, I have overseen programs that integrate scientific discovery with regulatory and operational excellence, from digital QMS systems and biosafety frameworks to preclinical and clinical alignment. I also have a proven record of developing novel technologies that have led to patents and commercial ventures, including AmebaGone Inc. I have co-authored landmark publications, including in Nature and Nature Aging, and my work has shaped national research funding priorities and policy through advisory roles with federal agencies. My research has been featured in The Atlantic and The Wall Street Journal, illustrating its broad public reach. I am passionate about developing organizations and people. My mentorship philosophy has shaped over 100 young scientists who now lead in academia, medicine, and industry. I believe meaningful innovation happens where scientific rigor meets entrepreneurial execution, and where a shared sense of purpose transforms discovery into real-world impact.
Consulting practice providing scientific and strategic advisory services in biomedical research, translational model development, and scientific communication to academic and industry partners.
Biotechnology startup advancing technologies to manage pain and improve quality of life.
Providing scientific and strategic guidance for R&D programs developing anti-biofilm therapeutics originating from proprietary technology discovered in my UW–Madison laboratory.
Conceived, launched, and led the nation’s first comprehensive translational hub for biomedical swine research, bridging academia, medicine, and industry to accelerate the discovery, validation, and commercialization of new medical technologies. Led the center’s creation from concept to full operation, integrating governance, funding, compliance, infrastructure, and multi-college partnerships that established UW–Madison as a nationally recognized leader in translational biomedicine. • Strategic Leadership & Vision: Developed CBSRI’s charter, governance, and roadmap to align agricultural, biomedical, veterinary, and biotech assets into a single enterprise that advances swine genome-engineering, human disease modeling, biomedical discoveries, and translational research to translate technologies into clinical use. • Funding & Partnerships: Secured $3M in seed funding and ~$2M in partnerships; forged major industry alliances leading to preclinical xenotransplantation milestones and plans for clinical trials. • Innovation & Impact: Directed breakthroughs in swine cloning and xenotransplantation; established GLP-level compliance and biosafety systems trusted by partners. • Operational Excellence: Led 20–40 cross-disciplinary team members across facilities; co-developed the CBSRI business plan and financial framework; established portfolio review and project selection criteria to promote accountability and ensure alignment with strategic goals. • Institutional Influence: Served on six executive and advisory committees; shaped policy to centralize biomedical swine research under CBSRI for greater efficiency and compliance; championed the Innovation in Biomanufacturing Initiative with Congressional and industry support. • Culture & Visibility: Fostered a culture of collaboration, balancing academic rigor with industry-level execution; elevated UW’s profile through media coverage and strategic public-private partnerships. See attached document for expanded overview.
Held concurrent assistant professorships – Animal & Dairy Sciences (2014–2025) and Surgery, School of Medicine & Public Health (2019–2025) – while directing multiple research programs and an animal research facility. Built a nationally and internationally recognized translational enterprise uniting animal sciences, biotechnology, and medicine. Led multi-program portfolios spanning xenotransplantation, oncology, neuroscience, metabolic and infectious disease, advancing UW–Madison’s leadership in biomedical swine research and cross-disciplinary innovation. • Architected the strategic, operational, and cultural foundations of the Biomedical & Genomic Research Group, integrating discovery, preclinical, and clinical programs with GLP-level rigor and digital infrastructure. • Founded cross-college initiatives and research programs, including the Center for Biomedical Swine Research & Innovation (CBSRI). • Secured/co-led >$20M in multi-sponsor funding (NIH, DoD, USDA, FDA, industry, philanthropy), translating novel biotechnologies toward human applications. • Directed a high-performing team of 20+ staff, students, and collaborators across laboratory, surgical, and animal facilities; implemented SOP/QMS frameworks that elevated compliance, reproducibility, and partner confidence. • Developed and validated next-generation porcine cloning and genome-engineering platforms, enabling scalable model generation for translational and xenotransplantation research. • Built a robust IP engine: 7 disclosures/patents (2 licensed), with assets progressing toward commercialization and clinical impact. • Mentored 70+ undergraduates and 6 graduate/postdoctoral trainees, catalyzed co-authorships, patent co-inventorships, and venture formation. • Co-authored landmark papers in Nature and Nature Aging, chaired international conferences, and advised FDA and NIH initiatives on genome-editing and translational research policy. See attached document for expanded overview.
Recruited to revitalize and expand a legacy cardiovascular program into a multidisciplinary, industry-engaged biomedical research enterprise. Transformed operations, structure, and culture to position the Reed Research Group (RRG; led by Dr. Jess D. Reed) as the department’s most productive and externally funded program. • Led the full-scale transformation of the lab, rebranding it as the “Reed Research Group,” establishing three research cores (Cardiovascular, Mucosal Immunity, Polyphenolics), and implementing modern governance and performance frameworks. • Directed a 15-member cross-functional team across laboratory, surgical, and animal research facilities with an annual funding portfolio of $250K–$500K. • Drove exponential growth in research output, boosting proposal submissions, publications, and generating multiple IP disclosures and patents, several licensed for commercialization. • Spearheaded creation of the Wisconsin Miniature Swine™, a novel biomedical model now a WARF-licensed technology and foundation for future translational pig research. • Introduced integrated digital infrastructure – networked systems, relational databases, and automated data management tools – achieving near-GLP operational rigor and compliance. • Secured diverse funding streams from federal agencies, industry partners, and philanthropic foundations, creating a balanced, risk-resilient portfolio. • Built a high-performance culture emphasizing accountability, collaboration, and innovation through structured mentorship, weekly strategy sessions, and quarterly reviews. • Recognized for departmental impact, with RRG becoming the top-funded and most published lab by 2012; invited to serve on strategic planning and facilities committees, driving modernization and long-range growth.