Staff

Jake Headshot
CEO

Jake Reder, PhD

Joana Headshot
Executive Director of R&D

Joana Murad Mabaera, PhD

Karen Hermanson
Executive Director of Operations

Karen Hermanson

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Paul Headshot
VP for Research and Discovery

Paul Guyre, PhD

Colleen Headshot
Principal Scientist

Colleen Cooper, PhD

Julie Coleman
Director

Julie Coleman, PhD

Zach Parker
Scientist

Zachary Parker, PhD

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Charlotte Headshot
Lab Manager

Charlotte McCleery

Emily Headshots 2
Senior Scientist

Emily Weyburne, PhD

Viktor Headshots 1
Scientist

Viktor Martyanov, PhD

Roland Headshot 1
Organizational Consultant

Roland Silverio

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Lauren Brunswick
General Counsel

Lauren Brunswick, JD

Jonathan Heller
Entrepreneur in Residence

Jonathan Heller, PhD

Julie (4)
Scientist

Hannah Opalko, PhD

Stephanie Mack
Scientist

Stephanie Mack, PhD

Jake Headshot

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.

Joana Headshot

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.

Karen Hermanson

Executive Director of Operations

Karen Hermanson

Karen is the Executive Director of Operations and has been with Celdara Medical since 2012. With over 15 years of general management experience, she currently oversees the financial, human resources and administrative systems at Celdara. Previous roles include General Manager at Northern Stage in White River Junction, VT and Operations Manager at the Peterborough Players in Peterborough, NH. She has a BA in English and Theater from Middlebury College.

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Paul Headshot

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.

Colleen Headshot

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.

Julie Coleman

Director

Julie Coleman, PhD

Julie is a Director at Celdara Medical where she currently leads the DRIVEN Accelerator Hub and two R&D programs in antimicrobial resistance and autoimmune disease, respectively. Prior to Celdara, Julie was a consultant at Putnam Associates where she provided scientific and analytical insights to clients in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry. Julie consulted in therapeutic areas spanning gene therapy, molecular therapies, cell therapy, diagnostics, vaccines, and biosimilars; diseases included breast cancer, hematological malignancies, neurological disorders, infertility disorders, and meningitis. 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!

Zach Parker

Scientist

Zachary Parker, PhD

Zach is a 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.

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Charlotte Headshot

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.

Emily Headshots 2

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.

Viktor Headshots 1

Scientist

Viktor Martyanov, PhD

Viktor is a Bioinformaticist at Celdara Medical where he is working with academia and industry partners to analyze clinical trials using genomic data and bring Celdara’s pipeline to its full potential. Prior to Celdara, Viktor worked at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth to identify molecular biomarkers of clinical response in systemic sclerosis, a rare and deadly autoimmune disease. Viktor received his BS in Genetic Biology from Purdue University and his PhD in Biological Sciences from Dartmouth College. Viktor enjoys reading Wall Street Journal, exploring community gardens, ordering DoorDash and watching survival shows on Hulu.

Roland Headshot 1

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.

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Lauren Brunswick

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.

Jonathan Heller

Entrepreneur in Residence

Jonathan Heller, PhD

Jonathan serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Celdara Medical and is primarily responsible for building a new business around one of CM’s lead therapeutic platforms.  He also assists with sourcing and evaluating other technologies for the CM pipeline.

Jonathan has spent over 20 years building biotechnology company pipelines by leading drug and business development efforts at companies including BioMarin, Synageva, and Pfizer.  Among his accomplishments is leading the preclinical development of BioMarin’s Brineura and Vosoritide, the first ever approved treatments for late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis and achondroplasia.  He also led the initial development of Valoctocogene roxaparvovec, the first approved gene therapy for Hemophilia type A.  He has been a founder of three biotech startup companies.  Jonathan began his industry career by cofounding a company to develop the oncology drugs he discovered while a graduate student.  He has earned an MBA from The University of California at Berkeley, a PhD in biology from The Johns Hopkins University, and a BA in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Reed College.

Julie (4)

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.

Stephanie Mack

Scientist

Stephanie Mack, PhD

Steph is a Scientist 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 yoga.

Fellows

Xhoela Bame
Dartmouth College

Xhoela Bame

Matthew Dysthe
Baylor College of Medicine

Matthew Dysthe

Seth Lieberman
Cornell University

Seth Lieberman

John Molinski
Dartmouth College

John Molinski

Rachel Saxe
Dartmouth College

Rachel Saxe

Cemaliye Semmedi
Tulane University

Cemaliye Semmedi

Xhoela Bame

Dartmouth College

Xhoela Bame

Xhoela graduated with the highest distinction from Istanbul Technical University, Turkey where she majored in Molecular Biology and Genetics and minored in Economics. Her academic achievements were recognized with prestigious awards including the Albanian government Scholarship of Excellence and the Turkish government Success Scholarship. She also earned two consecutive Erasmus fellowships to receive research training in Spain and Germany. Xhoela is currently a PhD candidate at Dartmouth College and has won the American Heart Association predoctoral award and been recognized as an Albert J. Ryan Foundation fellow. She studies organellar and cellular dynamics in the live brain in Dr. Robert Hill’s lab. Her research holds broad implications in neurodevelopment, neurodegeneration, and age-related pathologies. She is committed to advancing her expertise in neurodegenerative diseases through her role as a Celdara Medical fellow.

Outside lab, Xhoela is a dedicated STEM advocate, recognized among the top 100 Leaders of Tomorrow from Global Biotech Revolution, and has recently joined the Homeward Bound leadership initiative as one of the 100+ global women leaders in STEMM. She enjoys hiking, traveling, and learning new languages.

Matthew Dysthe

Baylor College of Medicine

Matthew Dysthe

Matt is a graduate student in the Translational Biology & Molecular Medicine program at Baylor College of Medicine where his research aims to identify strategies to improve the efficacy of natural killer cell therapies for the treatment of solid tumors. Another aim of his research is to develop novel in vitro and in vivo models to better recapitulate extra-tumoral components of the tumor microenvironment. In his spare time, Matt enjoys spending time with his dog, playing golf, and trying all the great food the Houston area has to offer. He received his BS in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Seth Lieberman

Cornell University

Seth Lieberman

Seth is in the final year of a combined DVM/PhD program at Cornell University. He completed his PhD in 2021 at the Schaffer-Nishimura lab, pioneering a novel laser scalpel neurosurgical approach for treating focal neocortical epilepsy. Currently, he is completing his veterinary degree, gaining clinical experience across specialties at Cornell University Hospital for Animals.
With a passion for laboratory animal medicine, Seth pursued externships at prestigious institutions like Yale University, New York University – Regeneron, and the Tri-Institutional Training Program (Memorial Sloan Kettering, Weill Cornell, and Rockefeller University). He is also actively working with Dr. Yael Merbl, a veterinary neurologist, on a translational research fellowship. Their research focuses on studying deficits in blood flow and lymphatic drainage in dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction, a natural model for Alzheimer’s disease.

Seth’s ultimate goal is to become a laboratory animal veterinarian and establish a translational research facility dedicated to neurodegenerative research. In his leisure time, he enjoys traveling with his wife, indulging in photography, savoring new culinary experiences, or simply spending time outdoors with his four canine companions.

John Molinski

Dartmouth College

John Molinski

John is a PhD candidate at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College under the supervision of John XJ Zhang. His thesis research focuses on the development of microtechnologies for the isolation and engineering of exosomes for therapeutic applications. John is originally from Rhode Island and received a BS in Bioengineering at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. Outside of the lab, John enjoys trail running, rock climbing, and mountain biking.

Rachel Saxe

Dartmouth College

Rachel Saxe

Rachel is a 5th year PhD candidate in the department of Molecular and Systems Biology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College. Her current research focuses on engineering and applying CRISPR-based cellular lineage tracing technologies to understand treatment-mediated cancer evolution and the emergence of chemoresistance. Her scientific interests span drug development and the applications of next generation sequencing technology in advancing human health. Prior to graduate school, she received her BS in Biology from Tufts University, where she researched novel drug target candidates for parasitic nematode infections. Outside of lab, Rachel enjoys drawing, cooking new recipes, and being outdoors.

Cemaliye Semmedi

Tulane University

Cemaliye Semmedi

Cemo is a fifth-year Neuroscience PhD Candidate in Dr. Ricardo Mostany’s lab at Tulane University. She studies cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity deficits in rodent models of Alzheimer’s disease. Prior to graduate school, Cemo worked as a research apprentice in Drs. Susan and Joe Travers’ lab at Ohio State University, where she assisted in research on taste perception mechanisms in the rodent brainstem. Originally from Cyprus, Cemo received a B.A. in Neuroscience and a B.A. in Psychology at Ohio Wesleyan University. In her free time, Cemo enjoys hiking, cooking, and playing card games with her friends.

Board and Advisors

Eric Headshot
Director

Eric Achtmann

Ken Headshots 1
Chairman

Kennett F. Burnes

Wayne Frederick (2)
Advisor

Wayne Frederick, MD, MBA

Paul Headshot
VP for Research and Discovery

Paul Guyre, PhD

Lita Headshot 1
Director

Lita Nelsen

Lynne Parshall
Director

Lynne Parshall, JD

Steven Headshot
Director

Steven Potter

Jake Headshot
CEO

Jake Reder, PhD

Michael W Fanger
In Memoriam

Michael W. Fanger PhD

Eric Headshot

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.

Ken Headshots 1

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.

Wayne Frederick (2)

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.

Paul Headshot

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.

Lita Headshot 1

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.

Lynne Parshall

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.

Steven Headshot

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.

Jake Headshot

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.

Michael W Fanger

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.