OUR TEAM
neurosurgeon, CEO, FOUNDER, DIRECTOR
Marc R. Mayberg, M.D., is Clinical Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington, with a specialty practice in pituitary and skull base tumors. He is a graduate of Harvard University and the Mayo Medical School, and completed his residency in neurosurgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. After completing a Van Wagenen fellowship at the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases in London in 1985, Dr. Mayberg joined the faculty of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington, where he was Professor and Chief of the UWMC hospital neurosurgical service. In 1998, he was appointed Chairman Neurological Surgery at The Cleveland Clinic, before returning to Seattle in 2004 to co-found the Swedish Neuroscience Institute.
The author of more than 250 scientific papers and book chapters and three textbooks, Dr. Mayberg has served on the editorial boards for numerous peer-reviewed journals including Journal of Neurosurgery (Chairman), Stroke, Neurosurgery, Journal of Surgical Research, and was Co-Editor of Neurosurgery Clinics of North America. He has held numerous national leadership positions, including President of the Congress of Neurological Surgery, Vice-Chair of the American Board of Neurological Surgery and Chair of the Stroke Council of the American Heart Association.
Dr. Marc Mayberg M.D.
Neurosurgeon, Chief Medical officer
Dr. Hofstetter is a Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington. He specializes in complex spine surgery with a focus on minimally invasive techniques and spine trauma. Dr. Hofstetter earned his M.D. from the University of Vienna, Austria, and his Ph.D. from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, where he focused on experimental treatment strategies for traumatic spinal cord injuries. He completed his neurosurgery residency at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center and clinical fellowship training at the Mayo Clinic and the University of Miami.
Dr. Hofstetter is an internationally recognized expert in minimally invasive spine surgery. In particular his contributions to full-endoscopic spine surgery have played a crucial role in shaping contemporary surgical techniques. Through collaboration with national and international spine societies, he has facilitated the widespread adoption of these procedures, setting new standards for precision and efficacy in spinal interventions. Notably, he established the first spine fellowship in the USA focused on endoscopic spine surgery at the University, further enhancing education and innovation in the field alongside his colleagues in the Endoscopic Spine Research Group.
In addition to his clinical leadership, Dr. Hofstetter heads a federally funded translational science laboratory dedicated to investigating both acute and chronic traumatic spinal cord injuries. At the forefront of his research agenda is the development of advanced ultrasound imaging techniques aimed at serving as a biomarker for acute spinal cord injury. Furthermore, his lab actively explores novel treatments for chronic spinal cord injury patients, utilizing innovative strategies such as transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation to enhance functional recovery. Dr. Hofstetter has authored over 150 scientific peer-reviewed journal articles, showcasing his profound commitment to scholarly inquiry and evidence-based practice.
Dr. Christoph Hofstetter, M.D., Ph.D.
IP Counsel, FoundeR, DIRECTOR
As a biotechnology patent attorney, Gary drafts and prosecutes patent applications for a broad range of life sciences inventions and develops intellectual property strategies for university, non-profit, start-up, and mid- and large-cap bio/pharma clients in the life sciences and agricultural industries. Gary also formulates freedom-to-operate, non-infringement and invalidity opinions and performs intellectual property due diligence reviews. His areas of technological expertise include molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, virology, cell biology, immunology, nanotechnology, and personalized medicine.
Gary's scientific experience includes post-doctoral research on the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle and graduate research at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. His Ph.D. in biochemistry and biophysics was awarded for his research on "Structure-Function Studies on Uvra: An Escherichia coli DNA Repair Protein," which was performed in the laboratory of Aziz Sancar, recipient of 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Prior to attending graduate school, Dr. Myles worked in the Hepatitis/HIV division at Abbott Laboratories, took graduate coursework in chemical engineering at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and obtained a B.S. in biochemistry from the University of Illinois in Urbana/Champaign.
Gary is an adjunct professor of law at Seattle University, where he teaches Biotechnology and the Law, and is an adjunct professor and Law, Technology, and Arts Fellow at the University of Washington, where he teaches Advanced Patent Law. Gary obtained his J.D. from the University of Washington and is admitted to the Washington State Bar, District Court for the Western District of Washington, and United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Dr. Gary M. Myles, Ph.D.
CFO, Founder, DIRECTOR
Hans has over 20 years of experience in entrepreneurial and venture capital financial management. Hans is currently the CFO for Specifica. His experience includes financial operations, forecasting, deal negotiation, M&A, interim CFO consulting, and board participation. Hans has worked with biotechnology, healthcare IT, and healthcare service companies that are private equity and venture capital-backed.
Hans LundiN
Executive Chairman, Founder, DIRECTOR
President, IBH, INC. Joe has been involved in healthcare new company formation for the past 45 years as corporate counsel for a public Healthcare company, founder of a healthcare services company and he has been a corporate VC and a VC. He has over $1.0BB of VC and finance-related experience. Joe retired on 12/31/2020 from Point B Capital ( a Corporate Venture Capital fund) and is still Active with IBH, Inc. (a venture services management company). He is on the board of the Technology Alliance, Chairman of the PNW Chapter of Breakthrough T1D (JDRF), and he is Executive Chair of PatchClamp MedTech, Inc.
Joe Piper
Corporate Counsel
Daren Nitz has over 30 years experience representing entrepreneurs, public and private companies, underwriters, and venture investors in private and public equity, debt and convertible securities offerings in emerging and established businesses. Mr. Nitz assists clients on a wide variety of corporate matters, including venture formation, equity and debt financing, corporate governance and planning, strategic alliances, and mergers and acquisitions, as well as acting as outside general counsel.
Daren Nitz
Chief technical officer, DIRECTOR
Adam Smith is a managing engineer at Product Creation Studio (PCS), an award-wining design firm based in Seattle, Washington. Adam has vast experience in the development of Minimally Invasive Devices and will serve as PatchClamp’s CTO. PCS designs a wide range of Consumer and Medical products for clients around the world. From graphic design to mechanical engineering, the company offers complete, turnkey development solutions, supported by market research, user testing and focus groups.
Adam SMITH
Chief operating officer
Bob McPherson brings 20 years of product development experience focusing on design for manufacturing, reliability engineering and failure analysis. Bob managed reliability and failure analysis labs for a diverse product base, including medical devices. He implements data-driven risk mitigation in all phases of product development through launch, with special focus on material selection, mfg process design, qualification test strategies and sustaining supply chain logistics. Bob has led risk assessment and test strategies for electronic hardware, satellite vehicles, and FAA regulated devices.
bob mcpherson
Regulatory / fda liaison
Carol Danielson has over 30 years of experience as a senior consultant and strategic thinker with an in-depth understanding of the FDA product development process and regulations for drugs, biologics, medical devices, and combination products. She brings extensive experience with FDA field operations and review centers with numerous successful preapproval inspections and has had pivotal roles in the approval and commercialization of several regulated products. Carol has served as a member of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)’s Scientific and Medical Grants Working Group for the review of stem cell-related therapies from pre-clinical through clinical development. Carol was honored in 2011 by the Drug Information Association (DIA), a 37,000-member pharma industry non-profit to receive their Outstanding Award for Contributions in Science and Medicine. Carol is experienced instructor having prepared and taught over 150 training courses in regulatory affairs, clinical affairs, safety, compliance, biologics, biosimilars, generics, medical devices, and combination products.
carol danielson
research scientist / biomaterials & polymers
Trey Pichon is a polymer and biomaterials scientist with over a decade of experience spanning polymer synthesis, drug/device formulation, medical device fabrication, and in vivo evaluation. His doctoral work at the University of Washington focused on the design, synthesis, and characterization of polymer-based biologics for drug delivery, with emphasis on structure–property relationships that drive therapeutic performance. This included extensive preclinical evaluation of polymer-peptide conjugates in rodent and large-animal models. At W.L. Gore & Associates, Trey built expertise in medical device development, leading fabrication of polymer-based class II/III devices, including fluoropolymer composites, coatings, and elastomeric systems for combination products (medical device and drug combined in a single device). Trey guided projects from laboratory-scale methods into manufacturable, scalable solutions, and was a part of two products that were commercialized. Trey brings broad experience at the intersection of polymer chemistry, biomaterials engineering, and translational medicine, with a focus on advancing drug delivery systems, implantable devices, and polymer formulations for neurological, trauma, and cancer applications. Since receiving his PhD in 2023, Trey has been working 50% at the University of Washington continuing his research in Dr. Suzie Pun's drug delivery group, and the other 50% time has been devoted to helping local Seattle startups as a freelance biomaterial consultant. He has assisted local startups with coating neurovascular shunts to improve biocompatibility, designing polymers to improve the stability of biologics, and designing protein-based therapeutics. Trey brings a unique combination of industry and academic expertise and thrives at the intersection of them..