Advisory Board

Ajikumar “Aji” Parayil is an entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in technological innovation and commercialization. He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Manus, the proven BioAlternatives scale-up platform. He invented Manus’ core technology platform at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), launched Manus in 2011, and led the successful commercialization of multiple products – BioAlternatives – made through precision fermentation. Notably, Aji has pioneered several novel methods for engineering chemistry using biology to biomanufacture complex natural chemicals. His contributions are reflected in more than 200 U.S. and international granted and pending patents, as well as more than 60 publications in biotechnology and chemical biology. He is an elected fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Bioengineering (AIMBE) and received the Society of Industrial Microbiology’s (SIMB) Raphael Katzen Award in 2021 for enabling the deployment and commercialization of biotechnology to produce fuels and chemicals from renewable resources.

After obtaining undergraduate (1990) and graduate degrees (1996) from Simon Fraser University, Dr. Sidhu worked at Genentech, first as a postdoctoral fellow (1996-1998) and subsequently as a principal investigator. At Genentech, he led the development of synthetic antibody libraries that have proven to be a valuable source of potential therapeutics. Dr. Sidhu is an expert in phage display technology and structure-based combinatorial protein engineering. His research has been instrumental in establishing greatly improved technologies for therapeutic antibody development and engineering of alternative scaffolds.

From 2008 to the present, Dr. Sidhu has led research groups at the interface of industry and academia, through affiliations with the Universities of Toronto and Waterloo. These efforts have led to the engineering of thousands of drug-grade antibodies targeting hundreds of proteins associated with numerous diseases. Many of these have been successfully translated into therapeutic candidates through collaborations with industry partners. Others have enabled the foundation of startup companies, including Dextera, Northern Biologics, Pionyr, Antlera, Aarvik, EPOK, and Axoiya. Most recently, Dr. Sidhu has further strengthened the scope of his industrial efforts through the formation of Simisco Biosciences, a unique platform company that houses a large portfolio of synthetic antibodies and cutting-edge technologies to develop these as therapeutics. Simisco is working with partners across the globe to apply advanced antibody engineering technology to diverse areas of unmet medical needs.  

Dr. Sidhu holds nearly 50 patents and has over 300 peer-reviewed publications. He won the University of Toronto’s Inventor of the Year Award in 2012 and the Protein Society’s Christian B. Anfinsen Award in 2015. He became a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2020.

Dr. Jame Abraham, MD, FACP, is a distinguished medical professional who currently is Chair of Hematology/Medical Oncology at Cleveland Clinic. In this pivotal role, Dr. Abraham is dedicated to recruiting and developing staff while guiding the department's focus on patient access and multidisciplinary care. Alongside these responsibilities, he continues to serve as a Professor of Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Prior to assuming his current position, Dr. Abraham made significant contributions as the Director of the Breast Oncology Program at Cleveland Clinic's Taussig Cancer Institute and Co-Director of the Cleveland Clinic Comprehensive Breast Cancer Program. His leadership in these roles paved the way for his current appointment.

Dr. Abraham's journey in medicine began at Calicut Medical College in Kerala, India, where he earned his medical degree. He then furthered his education and training in the United States, completing a residency at the University of Connecticut. His specialized expertise was honed through fellowships in hematology at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and in medical oncology at the National Cancer Institute.

Before joining Cleveland Clinic in 2013, Dr. Abraham held several prestigious positions at West Virginia University. There, he served as the Chief of Hematology/Oncology, Professor of Medicine, and was honored as the Bonnie Wells Wilson Distinguished Professor of Breast Cancer Research. As a researcher, Dr. Abraham has made substantial contributions to the understanding and treatment of breast cancer. He has served as the national principal investigator for multiple breast cancer clinical trials, pushing the boundaries of medical knowledge in this critical area. His expertise is further evidenced by his prolific academic output, having published and presented over 200 papers throughout his career. Additionally, Dr. Abraham's influence extends to medical literature as the Founding Editor of The Bethesda Handbook of Clinical Oncology, a valuable resource for oncology professionals.

Dr. Abraham's expertise and leadership are recognized nationally through his involvement in several key committees. He serves as a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Breast Cancer Committee, contributing to the development of guidelines that shape breast cancer care across the country. His role as Vice Chair of NRG Oncology's Research Strategy Committee allows him to influence the direction of oncology research on a broad scale. Furthermore, his membership in NRG Oncology's Breast Cancer Working Committee and his position as Vice Chair of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) Research Review Committee demonstrate his deep involvement in shaping the future of breast cancer research and treatment.

Throughout his career, Dr. Jame Abraham has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing breast cancer research and treatment. His combination of clinical expertise, research acumen, and leadership skills makes him an invaluable asset to the field of oncology and a respected figure in the broader oncology community. 

Vinod A. Pullarkat, MD, MRCP is Professor of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation at City of Hope.  After graduating from Calicut Medical College India, he did his training in Hematology at the University of Southern California. Dr Pullarkat is an internationally recognized expert in the field of acute leukemia and bone marrow transplantation. Dr. Pullarkat’s clinical research interests include treatment of acute leukemia, stem cell transplantation, bone marrow failure and autoimmune hematologic disorders. His basic research focusses on new drug development for acute leukemia. Dr. Pullarkat has authored over 200 scientific articles in various peer reviewed journals and he serves as principal investigator for multiple clinical trials at City of Hope.

Mr. Subramonian underwent his basic medical training and general surgical training in India. Subsequently he underwent higher training in Urology in the UK. He holds Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) in Urology and pursued Higher Surgical Training in London, with a particular focus on endoscopic surgery for stone disease and laparoscopic procedures. His formative years included tenures at King's College, London, and St. George's Hospital. Notably, he earned a coveted traveling scholarship from the British Urological Foundation, honing his skills at the vanguards of innovation in the USA, namely Cleveland Clinic and John Hopkins Hospital.

Mr. Subramonian has served as a Consultant Urological Surgeon at University Hospital Birmingham for the last 20 years. He's made significant contributions to the department as the Clinical Director of Urology and Stone Lead. His expertise extends to spearheading the management of intricate kidney stone cases, establishing the Queen Elizabeth Hospital as the preeminent referral centre for the West Midlands region. Recognized for pioneering endourological procedures and introducing revolutionary healthcare management practices, he adeptly harnesses the power of new technology and IT.

With a track record comprising over 1200 PCNL procedures for stones and 3000 Flexible Ureteroscopies, Mr. Subramonian is committed to the mentorship of consultant colleagues. His research contributions include over 42 scholarly articles, including 2 paradigm-shifting pieces, with a substantial citation count. Additionally, he has penned 3 authoritative textbook chapters. Notably, Mr. Subramonian founded the esteemed Stone fellowship program, cultivating a cadre of urologists now leading the charge in stone specialization in the UK and beyond.

As an elected member of the national executive committee of the British Association of Urological Surgeons (Stones & Endourology subsection), Mr. Subramonian currently holds the esteemed position of Chair of the British Association of Urology, Endourology subsection. As an experienced Academic Urologist, he is frequently invited as faculty and Guest Lecturer at national and international meetings.