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Principals and Co-Chairs


	Brian Taylor Ph.D. Brian Taylor combines a strong technical background with extensive experience in life science product marketing and strategy development. In 2004 he founded Growing Company Solutions, Inc. a consulting firm assisting companies with commercialization of life science products and services. The firm works with laboratory products, molecular diagnostics, and other bioscience companies to identify and accelerate product commercialization and market penetration strategies. Dr. Taylor is also a Principal Advisor with Larta Institute, helping NIH-funded companies achieve their commercialization goals through the NIH Commercialization Assistance Program. Previously, he was Director of Strategic Marketing with QIAGEN N.V., a worldwide leader of products for nucleic acid and protein purification. In this position, he analyzed global research products markets, worked with senior management to formulate corporate strategy, and served on the QIAGEN Technology Council, overseeing technology development for QIAGEN R&D. He also managed a North American tactical marketing group for QIAGEN for seven years, launching numerous products and achieving a >40% organic CAGR. Dr. Taylor has an MBA from the University of Maryland, a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Washington and fifteen years of molecular biology research experience, including postdoctoral work with the CSIRO in Canberra, Australia and a faculty appointment at Texas A&M University.

	Louis M. Scarmoutzos, Ph.D. Dr. Scarmoutzos has over 20 years of industrial experience in the biotech, chemistry, healthcare, medical device, pharmaceutical, homeland security, environmental, energy and related industries. His hands-on industrial experience ranges from Bench Top Scientist to Vice President of R&D to President and CEO. He has founded several companies and is currently a Board Member of several small and emerging companies. Dr. Scarmoutzos has worked extensively with startups and established companies in the areas of entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, business development, technology development, business strategy and planning, marketing, intellectual property development and funding. He is an author of numerous peer-reviewed technical and non-technical articles and holds several issued and pending U.S. and International Patents. Dr. Scarmoutzos continues to serve in an advisory capacity to both the private sector and government. Dr. Scarmoutzos is also a columnist for BioExecutive International, the monthly periodical geared to biotech executives and senior business managers. Dr. Scarmoutzos received his B.S. cum laude in Chemistry from Boston College, a Ph.D. summa cum laude in Organic Chemistry from the Pennsylvania State University and was a Post Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University. Dr. Scarmoutzos is currently an adjunct faculty member at the University of Phoenix.

	Carlos N. Velez, Ph.D., MBA Carlos N. Velez has been involved in life science research, technology assessment, consulting, and valuation since 1990. He has substantial expertise in the assessment and valuation of life science technologies such as pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical devices. In 2005, Carlos leveraged this experience to form The Erie Hudson Group, a boutique firm focused on life science strategy consulting, business development and financial advisory. Erie Hudson provides an array of strategic and financial services to life science companies all over the World. Services include technical and financial due diligence, market opportunity assessments, and advisory for mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. Carlos earned his MBA in Finance and Technology Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Carlos also holds a Ph.D. degree in Pharmacy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While earning his doctorate, Carlos practiced as a licensed pharmacist in North Carolina. Carlos’ undergraduate degree is a B.S. in Pharmacy from the Albany College of Pharmacy.

	Tapas Saha, Ph.D., Tapas Saha is a distinguished scientist with over 20 years of experience in Molecular Techniques and Cellular Methods. He was a visiting research fellow at the NIH (NICHD) where he also completed pos-doctoral training. He has authored over 25 papers in leading journals and has served as a scientific consultant for numerous organizations and companies. He is currently a research professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine and the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.