The Celdara Team

CEO

Jake Reder, PhD

Jake cofounded Celdara Medical with Prof. Michael Fanger as a way to bridge academic innovation and the marketplace, and currently serves as Director and CEO. Jake guided CM from a concept to the fastest growing company (across all sectors) in the state three years in a row, and is now applying these learnings to the Pandemic Security Initiative. He serves on the Boards of the New Hampshire Academy of Science, Virtici, and MBV, and is Chairman of CairnSurgical, and Javelin Oncology. Jake has lived, studied and worked in Canada, Germany, and the USA, with experiences in research, venture investing, corporate alliances and internal startups, academia, and startups. In 2017 Jake was selected by the US SBA as NH Small Business Person of the Year. Jake earned a B.Sc. with First Class Honors from the University of Waterloo, and a PhD in Chemistry as a Brown-Wetherill Fellow at Purdue University and Ludwig Maximilians Universität. Jake enjoys skiing, hiking, and sailing with his children.

Executive Director of R&D

Joana Murad Mabaera, PhD

Joana is an Executive Director of R&D at Celdara Medical where she acts as the operational lead of the company’s R&D effort in addition to developing and managing multiple projects. Joana has over 10 years of research and managerial experience in multiple scientific fields at Celdara, primarily in the area of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-based cell therapies for oncology and auto-immune diseases. Prior to Celdara, she was a research scientist at Norris Cotton Cancer Center where she led multiple projects in the field of metabolic disorders. Joana received her PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. She enjoys reading, running and getting together with friends.

VP for Research and Discovery

Paul Guyre, PhD

Paul is VP for Research and Discovery and is currently Principal Investigator for R&D programs to develop antibacterial, antiviral and immune enhancing small molecules and antibodies. He is also an Active Emeritus Professor of Microbiology and Immunology in the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Prior to Celdara, Paul was co-founder of Medarex, the company that produced many FDA approved antibodies including the cancer checkpoint antibodies ipilimumab and nivolumab. Paul received his BA in Biology from Montclair State College and his MS and PhD degrees in Microbiology at the University of New Hampshire. In addition to kayaking, hiking, and cross-country skiing, he enjoys working with the great team at Celdara Medical.

Principal Scientist

Colleen Cooper, PhD

Colleen has been a member of the Celdara Medical team for over four years where she has led or participated in R&D programs ranging from fibrosis, CAR-T development, and infectious disease. Colleen is trained in immunology with specific interests in autoimmunity and infectious disease. She enjoys hiking, skiing, and chasing her chickens and children around the yard.

Executive Director

Julie Coleman, PhD

Julie is an Executive Director at Celdara Medical where she currently manages the diligence pipeline and multiple R&D programs. Prior to Celdara, Julie was a consultant at Putnam Associates. Julie received her BA in Biology and English from Bowdoin College and her PhD in Neuroscience from Tufts University. She enjoys reading, hiking, and cross-country skiing, but most of all, she loves dancing with friends!

Senior Scientist

Zachary Parker, PhD

Zach is a Senior Scientist at Celdara Medical where he currently drives the hands-on science for programs on autoimmune disease. Before Celdara, Zach was a postdoc at the University of Chicago where he studied the innate immune response to RNA viruses, work that has become particularly relevant during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Zach has research experience in labs working on DNA viruses in vivo, as well as studying the bacterium Vibrio Cholerae, giving him a breadth of microbiology experience. Zach received his BS and MS in Biology from Appalachian State University and his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from Dartmouth College. He enjoys cycling, hiking, cross country skiing, brewing, and spending time with his two cattle dogs.

Lab Manager

Charlotte McCleery

Charlotte is the lab manager at Celdara Medical. Her responsibilities include machine maintenance, daily tasks to keep the lab running smoothly, ordering, and putting out any fires that come her way. Charlotte is also directly involved in the lab operations of Celdara’s diagnostic service. After graduating from Keene State College, Charlotte’s passion for science allowed her to explore the world of marine biology which brought her to several islands to conduct underwater research. Following these experiences, she was a research assistant in a breast cancer research lab at Dartmouth College for two years prior to joining Celdara. She enjoys her dogs, the great outdoors, and the oceans.

Senior Scientist

Emily Weyburne, PhD

Emily is a Senior Scientist at Celdara Medical. Prior to Celdara, Emily was a postdoc at Dartmouth College where she used human cell lines to research the effects of mutations in a protein complex necessary for cell division. She was also President of the Dartmouth College Postdoc Association (DCPDA) for two years. Emily received her BA in Biochemistry from Colgate University and her PhD in Molecular Cancer Biology from Dartmouth College. She enjoys rock climbing, yoga, and cooking.

Organizational Consultant

Roland Silverio

Roland is a trusted advisor to the leadership team at Celdara Medical. Prior to Celdara, Roland led Human Resources globally in multiple sectors and has successfully coached CEOs, Presidents, General Managers, and other business leaders. Roland’s several international assignments in China, France, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Indonesia have given him a unique perspective on leadership in the global market place. Roland is a graduate of Northeastern University and has received both an MS and CAGS in Education from the University of Massachusetts. He enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren.

General Counsel

Lauren Brunswick, JD

Lauren Brunswick serves as General Counsel to Celdara Medical.  Lauren has over fifteen years of experience counseling clients in a broad range of transactional and litigation matters.  She previously served as Senior Director, Corporate Counsel with The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.  She began her career as an attorney with the international law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP.  She earned her Juris Doctor degree from The University of Pennsylvania School of Law (magna cum laude) and her undergraduate degree from Brown University.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, teaching, and coaching sports.  Lauren is based in Miami and has served as a Director of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Miami-Dade Chapter, and an Adjunct Professor at the Florida International University School of Law.

Scientist

Hannah Opalko, PhD

Hannah is a Scientist at Celdara Medical. Hannah got her start in research as an undergraduate at Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania. She then earned her PhD and subsequently worked as a Postdoc at Dartmouth College in the department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology. There, she was interested in how cells sense and regulate cell size using fission yeast as a model organism. Outside of the lab, Hannah enjoys gardening, climbing and baking.

Project Lead

Stephanie Mack, PhD

Steph is a Project Lead at Celdara Medical. Prior to Celdara, Steph was a postdoc at the University of Cambridge where she specialized in CRISPR gene editing of complex models and RNA chemistry. There, she co-developed biotechnology that enables predictable and precise genome editing. This work was spun out into Zygosity Ltd where she worked as the Director of Platform. Steph received her BS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Lehigh University and PhD in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University. In her spare time, she enjoys going to concerts, reading, and running.

Grants Finance Manager

Gaudencja Opach

Project Lead

Haiyan Liu

Haiyan is a Project Lead at Celdara Medical, where she drives innovative programs in oncology and immunotherapy. Prior to joining Celdara, she led independent research programs as a principal investigator in academia for nearly two decades, focusing on tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy. Her work has resulted in over 100 peer-reviewed publications and multiple patented technologies now in preclinical development. In addition to her research expertise, Haiyan is deeply committed to medical education and has mentored numerous young physicians and scientists. She received her medical training from Nankai University and earned her Ph.D. in Pathology from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital). Outside of work, Haiyan enjoys yoga, reading, cooking, and hiking. She is also a certified yoga instructor and a life and career coach.

Dartmouth College

Stuti Agrawal

I am currently a 4th year Cognitive Neuroscience Ph.D. student at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. Following graduation from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Neurobiology and a minor in Business Management, I joined Dr. Kyle Smith’s lab at Dartmouth, where I also earned my en-route Master’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience. My research focuses on the Nucleus Accumbens to Ventral Pallidum pathway and its role in regulating food- and socially-motivated behaviors in rodent models. I utilize techniques such as fiber photometry, large-scale behavioral experiments, and neural network-based behavior classification to investigate the neurochemical and circuit-level mechanisms underlying motivation, decision-making, and reward processing. This work not only advances our understanding of fundamental brain function but also informs potential therapeutic strategies for addiction, eating disorders, and other neuropsychiatric conditions. 

Indiana University

Soumilee Chaudhuri

I am a 5th year PhD Candidate in Medical Neuroscience and Bioinformatics at Indiana University School of Medicine/Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Broadly, my doctoral research aims to understand how cardiovascular risk factors influence Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in communities disproportionately impacted by dementia, with the goal of advancing therapeutics and precision medicine tailored to these populations. My work utilizes human neuroimaging, high-throughput proteomics, plasma biomarkers, clinical and demographic data to investigate how cardiovascular risk and other comorbidities such as high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. contribute to memory loss in dementia. My thesis specifically examines whether amyloid—one of the central proteins associated with AD—acts in concert with these cardiovascular risk factors to exacerbate cognitive decline, or if these factors contribute independently to the progression of cognitive impairment in dementia. As such, each of the research projects that I have contributed to emphasizes actionable insights, such as (1) identifying miRNA-based early AD biomarkers through novel blood tests, (2) mitigating cardiovascular risk early-on to prevent cognitive decline in heterogeneous populations, and (3) employing AI-driven multiomic approaches to visualize the cells in the AD brain for therapeutic targeting.  

Harvard University

Hanna Doh

I am a PhD candidate at Harvard Medical School in Dr. Taru Muranen’s lab, where I am studying molecular mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance in pancreatic cancer. My research focuses on NDRG1, a novel DNA repair protein, and examines how its interactions with binding partners influence DNA replication and repair. Currently, I am characterizing a protein-protein interaction that enhances DNA replication efficiency. This work uncovers novel nuclear functions for these proteins and supports their potential as therapeutic targets in cancers with high replication stress signatures.  

Dartmouth College

Neeti Mittal

My fascination for understanding disease mechanisms led me to graduate with a Bachelors and Master of Technology in Biotechnology from Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, India and a Master of Science in Regulatory Sciences of Biopharmaceuticals from Northeastern University, Boston. Subsequently, I worked at various start-ups and mid-sized biotech companies in Boston and Cambridge with a focus on preclinical oncology research. There, I gained monumental experience in drug discovery and target validation studies and contributed to moving lead drug candidates from proof of concepts to first in human clinical trials. As my love for developing novel therapeutics deepened, I decided to pursue doctoral studies in cancer immunology at Dartmouth College in Dr. Mary Jo Turk’s laboratory. I am currently a 4th-year PhD candidate conducting translational research on the development of a novel lymph node based resident memory T cell (Trm) therapy in cancer which has also culminated into a patent submission. Parallelly, utilizing mouse melanoma models and spatial transcriptomics, I am also investigating maintenance requirements of lymph node and skin Trm in the setting of melanoma associated vitiligo. My long-term goal is to bring paradigm changing therapies to clinic and foster impactful collaborations to achieve this vision. 

UT Health San Antonio

Francine Nihozeko

My path into cancer biology began with an unexpected teacher: planaria, the tiny flatworms famous for regenerating their entire bodies from a sliver of tissue. After earning my undergraduate degree in Biophysics from St. Lawrence University in 2018, I spent over two years at Yale University studying the stem cells and molecular pathways that give these animals their remarkable regenerative powers. That work sparked my fascination with how cells can be reprogrammed, sometimes toward healing, and sometimes, as in cancer, toward disease. In 2021, I began my PhD training in the Cancer Biology discipline at UT Health San Antonio. Now in my fifth year, my dissertation focuses on unraveling how specific epigenetic mechanisms drive leukemia development, and how these pathways can be targeted to improve therapy. Outside the lab, I lead student organizations to strengthen my leadership skills and volunteer at a local clinic, where I have seen firsthand how physicians diagnose and treat leukemia. I aim to bring together my seven years of research experience, clinical exposure, and passion for translational science to help develop innovative biotech solutions for cancer and other diseases. 

Brandeis University

Pranav Ojha

I am a PhD candidate in Molecular and Cell Biology at Brandeis University. My doctoral research investigates transcriptional regulation within Drosophila circadian neurons, specifically the role of chromatin organization in regulating time-of-day and cell-type specific gene expression patterns. Using novel protocols, sequencing-based approaches, molecular biology, and bioinformatics, I have identified unique regulatory features of different core circadian genes and am further investigating the transcription factors that govern them. I am eager to explore entrepreneurial science and biotech innovation through the Celdara Fellowship.  

Baylor College of Medicine

Ozlem Sert

I am a translational researcher with expertise in neuroscience, oncology, and life-science consulting, passionate about turning scientific discoveries into solutions that improve lives. My Ph.D. in Matthew Rasband’s neuroscience lab at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) focused on how excitable domains such as the axon initial segment and neuromuscular junction are maintained, leading to published findings that certain spectrinopathies causing muscular myotonia may have a neuronal origin. As a postdoctoral researcher, I contributed to studies on the cognitive effects of androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer through manuscript editing, scientific storytelling, and collaborative research in clinical oncology. Beyond the lab, I founded the International Students Association at BCM and led career development programs to equip scientists and their science with the resources and networks they need to thrive. 

Director

Eric Achtmann

Eric is a Managing Director at Global Capital Group, Director at Javelin Oncology, Founding Member of Meggitt plc’s Technology Advisory Board, as well as a Senior Advisor to McKinsey and the European Commission. Eric was previously Managing Partner at PolyTechnos Venture-Partners, a pan-European Life Science and Tech venture fund; Co-founder & Executive Chairman of V-Nova, a world leader in video compression; and Architect of Costa Coffee’s “Project Marlow”, which led to the $5.1b acquisition by Coca-Cola. He holds multiple degrees in engineering and finance, including from MIT and the MIT Sloan School of Management. He is a Professor of Practice at the MIT-founded Skoltech and former Senior Lecturer at the TU Munich and ETH Zurich. Eric enjoys flying and making great food, from German breads to kimchi.

Chairman

Kennett F. Burnes

Ken is retired Chairman, President, and CEO of Cabot Corporation and was previously a partner at Choate, Hall & Stewart. He was Director of State Street Corporation for 10 years and was a member of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s Board of Trustees. Ken is currently Chairman of the Board of the New England Conservatory, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Schepens Eye Research Institute, and board member and treasurer of the Epiphany School. Ken holds both an LL.B. and B.A. degree from Harvard University.

Advisor

Wayne Frederick, MD, MBA

Wayne is President Emeritus of Howard University and the Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery at the Howard University College of Medicine. He is an active board member and advisor to multiple national and international organizations and is also a cancer surgeon and researcher at Howard University Hospital, where he continues to consult with patients and perform surgeries.

VP for Research and Discovery

Paul Guyre, PhD

Paul is VP for Research and Discovery and is currently Principal Investigator for R&D programs to develop antibacterial, antiviral and immune enhancing small molecules and antibodies. He is also an Active Emeritus Professor of Microbiology and Immunology in the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Prior to Celdara, Paul was co-founder of Medarex, the company that produced many FDA approved antibodies including the cancer checkpoint antibodies ipilimumab and nivolumab. Paul received his BA in Biology from Montclair State College and his MS and PhD degrees in Microbiology at the University of New Hampshire. In addition to kayaking, hiking, and cross-country skiing, he enjoys working with the great team at Celdara Medical.

Director

Lita Nelsen

Lita is the retired Director of MIT’s Technology Licensing Officer, where she was for 30 years. She is widely published in the field, and has advised a number of international governments on technology transfer policies. She is a founder of PraxisAuril in the UK, and was awarded a Member of the British Empire for her aid to UK universities in technology transfer. Lita is currently a consultant in technology transfer policies and licensing agreements, primarily in the biotechnology sphere, and serves on a number of non-profit boards. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from MIT, and an MBA as a Sloan Fellow from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Director

Lynne Parshall, JD

Lynne has over 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and served as both chief operations officer and chief financial officer at Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. before becoming a board member in 2011. She is currently an active and dedicated board member at multiple public and private companies including Cytokinetics, Repertoire Immune Medicines, Ring Therapeutics, Alltrna and Foghorn Therapeutics. Prior to her tenure at Ionis, Ms. Parshall was a partner at Cooley LLP, overseeing the biotechnology practice group. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and JD from Stanford University. She also holds a director certification from the NACD.

Director

Steven Potter

Steve is currently the Managing Partner of the US business of Odgers Berndtson and Founder and CEO of Allyon Solutions, LLC. He was previously the cofounder, CEO, and Chairman of both Sextant Search Partners and Axiom Consulting; the CEO of TMP Worldwide Executive Search; the CEO of Highland Search Group; and a Managing Director, Head of Global Banking and Merchant Banking, at Russell Reynolds Associates, Inc. Steve has a BA in History and English from Yale University.

CEO

Jake Reder, PhD

Jake cofounded Celdara Medical with Prof. Michael Fanger as a way to bridge academic innovation and the marketplace, and currently serves as Director and CEO. Jake guided CM from a concept to the fastest growing company (across all sectors) in the state three years in a row, and is now applying these learnings to the Pandemic Security Initiative. He serves on the Boards of the New Hampshire Academy of Science, Virtici, and MBV, and is Chairman of CairnSurgical, and Javelin Oncology. Jake has lived, studied and worked in Canada, Germany, and the USA, with experiences in research, venture investing, corporate alliances and internal startups, academia, and startups. In 2017 Jake was selected by the US SBA as NH Small Business Person of the Year. Jake earned a B.Sc. with First Class Honors from the University of Waterloo, and a PhD in Chemistry as a Brown-Wetherill Fellow at Purdue University and Ludwig Maximilians Universität. Jake enjoys skiing, hiking, and sailing with his children.

In Memoriam

Michael W. Fanger PhD

Cofounder, CSO, and Chairman Emeritus

Dr. Fanger, Cofounder of Medarex, Celldex Therapeutics, and Celdara Medical, Professor Emeritus in the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and former Chairman of Celdara Medical and of Dartmouth’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology was a visionary, a pioneer, and, quietly, a hero to many.

As co-founder and director of Medarex, Dr. Fanger’s vision and dedication led to the development of the first checkpoint inhibitors ever approved and hence the field of immune oncology, characterized as “what may be Dartmouth’s most outstanding contribution to science and medicine of the last century”. Per the New England Journal of Medicine, therapies created and developed by Medarex have increased three-year survival for advanced melanoma from 8% to 68%, garnering accolades like Science Magazine’s “Breakthrough of the Year”. With 40 FDA approvals for Medarex drugs and counting, and several hundred clinical trials completed and ongoing, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Indeed, Medarex’s platform has delivered nearly half of all human antibodies ever approved by FDA.

Dr. Fanger’s contributions extend far beyond the entrepreneurial; his teaching and leadership in academia included building Dartmouth’s Immunology program from an idea to what is now a top department in the country. He mentored some of the greatest leaders in science and industry, and yet always found the time to help anyone who needed it, whether a medical student or one of his Celdara colleagues.

Dr. Fanger’s life’s work has inspired, and continues to inspire, young scientists, doctors, and entrepreneurs here at Celdara, at Dartmouth, and around the world. We are grateful and honored to have known Mike and aspire to uphold his tremendous legacy.