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The Team
Management
David Zigdon
President
David Zigdon, is a senior-level executive with a strong background in the High-Tech, Biomed, Biotech, and Pharma startup industry. coordinate this activity. Mr. Zigdon was CEO and President of Rad BioMed, an Israel-based evergreen family fund that invests in early-stage BioMed startups. Rad BioMed is part of the RAD Group that been named "the most fertile ground" for developing Israeli entrepreneurs. Before that David had a two-decade career as CEO/CFO of successful high tech firms, including Bynet, Bynet Electronics, Radcom (Nasdaq: RDCM), Magic Software (Nasdaq: MGIC) and Time To Know.
Mr. Zigdon is a CPA and holds a BA degree (Economics) and an LLM degree from Bar Ilan University.
Prof. Itamar Shalit
SAB Clinical
Prof Itamar Shalit is an expert in infectious diseases, actively involved in various national committees of the Israeli Ministry of Health. He was awarded Certificate of Appreciation Declaration by the World Health Organization for his role in eradicating poliomyelitis in Israel. In the past, Prof Shalit also served as the Director General of Schneider Children’s Hospital and of Carmel Hospital, and was the Chairman of the Israeli Society for Infectious Diseases. Prof Shalit serves as a Member of the Scientific Advisory Board at BioLineRx, Ltd., NasVax, and Therapix Biosciences Ltd. Prof Shalit served as a Member of the Scientific Advisory Board at Teva Innovative Ventures until 2011. Currently, he serves as CEO of the Galilee Biomedical Research Administration. Prof Shalit holds an MD from Tel Aviv University and an MPA from Harvard University.
Sigal Kremer-Tal, MD
Chief Clinical and Regulatory Officer
Dr. Sigal Kremer-Tal is a physician entrepreneur with a track record in early-stage development. She is a Co-founder of Spirify Pharma, developing new generation drugs for depression and pain. Sigal also serves as Chief Medical Officer at T-syte, a fresh accelerator focusing on Digital Health. She is also an 8400 fellow in cohort #3.
Sigal is a Co-founder at Cordio Medical, a digital-health voice analysis start-up. She has served as CEO of Xerem Medical, Chief Medical Officer at RAD BioMed, and a Management Committee Member volunteer at the BioExecutive Forum. Dr. Kremer-Tal has engaged in clinical research at Novartis USA and cancer genetics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York. She earned her medical degree from the Hebrew University.
Ofira Carmi,
VP R&D
Ofira Carmi has over 12 years of experience in the Pharmaceutical industry, Prior to MigVax Ofira worked as Project Manager at Cellect Biotherapeutics Ltd, which has developed a breakthrough technology for the selection of stem cells from any given tissue that aims to improve a variety of cell-based therapies. Before Ofira worked as a Project Manager at few BioPharma companies .such as BARcure, Valin Technologies Inc, and NanoDoc Biotechnology Inc.
Ronald Ellis Ph.D.
CTO
35 years of line and senior management of R&D in companies of all sizes (large, medium, small, startup and incubators). R&D Champion and/or Project Leader/co-Leader through phases from preclinical R&D and entry to Phase 1 to licensure, including vaccines that became commercialized in US, EU & developed countries (current annual sales >$4.0B), in particular human papilloma virus (Gardasil®), rotavirus (RotaTeq®), hepatitis B (Recombivax HB®), Haemophilus influenzae type b (PedvaxHIB®) and varicella (VARIVAX®) vaccines. Led R&D of other candidate vaccines, including Pneumococcal, Meningococcal, Influenza, MMRV, H. pylori, Group A & Group B Streptococcus, Cholera, S. typhi, and Enterotoxigenic E. coli. Led development of therapeutic biologic products (fibroblast growth factor; toxin fusion protein for cancer; monoclonal antibodies for anti-adhesin, HIV, autoimmunity, and Alzheimer’s disease). Brought 8 product candidates from preclinical into clinical studies as Project Leader. Therapeutic fields of experience for biologics and SMCs include infectious diseases, immunology, inflammation, autoimmunity, oncology, metabolism, Alzheimer’s disease, CNS. Responsible for Merck’s vaccine research, and co-chaired development collaborations for pediatric combination vaccines with Pasteur-Merieux-Connaught (Sanofi Pasteur) and CSL. Directed vaccine R&D programs at Astra Research and Avant. Designed and directed set up of vaccine development subsidiary at BioChem Pharma that continued into Shire & ID Biomedical, and led development programs. Served as Site General Manager. Set up GMP Pilot Plant and produced product for clinical studies. Developed and secured $9.5M NIH-NIAID grant for cell-culture Influenza vaccine. Line management experience for groups up to 100 staff members. Technical expertise and line management responsibility in all areas of research & development production & evaluation of biologic products and evaluation of SMCs – including preclinical, process, analytical, production, quality, regulatory, clinical, project management and strategy. Extensive experience at strategic and technical levels in evaluating new project opportunities for biologics & SMCs and developing project plans.
Galina Rodionov MSc
Quality Director
Galina has a M.Sc in biology and chemistry. Prior to MigVax Galina worked as R&D Senior Director at
Cellect Biotherapeutics Ltd, which has developed a breakthrough technology for the selection of stem cells from any given tissue that aims to improve a variety of cell-based therapies. Galina worked as Senior Project Leader for QC & Development at Curtech LTD, Controlled by Clal Biotechnology, which has been involved in the development of immunotherapy innovative and life-saving drugs designed to treat various types of cancer..
Einav Ratzon Ashkenazi
Project Manager
Einav is a senior project manager in the MIGAL institute, specialized in protein science and drugs discovery. Ms. Ashkenazi is holding BSc and MSc in Biotechnology.
