Entrepreneur & Start-up Development - Ananda-Labs - Israel
(2019-01)
Company founded in collaboration with Prof. Yossi Buganim. Also evaluating venture Osteop Pharma in collaboration with Prof. Yankel Gabet and Prof. Illana Gozes.
- Worked with academic researchers and external stakeholders to advance initiatives in cellular rejuvenation and osteolysis, assessing scientific, commercial, and operational feasibility for founding technology-based companies.
- Conducted market research and competitive landscape analysis, indication selection, differentiation definition, milestone-driven roadmap development, and preparation of business plans, one-pagers, and investor presentations.
Product Development Manager → R&D Director → VP R&D - Innocan Pharma Ltd - Israel
(2022-01 - 2026-01)
Pharma company developing LPT-CBDTM, a long-acting liposomal CBD drug, and CBD wellness products.
- Led the R&D team and full strategic and scientific program for LPT-CBD™ drug development with accountability for budget, timelines, prioritization, milestone-driven roadmaps, clinical strategy, intellectual properties, and technical documentation (COAs, SOPs, analytical methods, reports, tech transfer, presentations). Worked in collaboration with Prof. Y. Barenholz, Hebrew University.
- Built, managed, and collaborated with key opinion leaders in hospital and academic settings across pain and veterinary medicine to advance drug-development strategy and enhance technology positioning through conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and media coverage.
- Led CMC development of LPT-CBDTM drug including liposomal formulation and optimization, lyophilization, stability studies, analytical/physicochemical method development and qualification, aseptic process development, drug characterization for COA, scale-up planning and transfer for GMP manufacturing, worked close with CDMO.
- Designed and oversaw in-house and CRO-based animal studies across mice, rats, rabbits, Göttingen minipigs, and companion dogs, evaluating efficacy (pain, OA), PK/PD, metabolism, and safety (clinical pathology, vital signs, local reactions, adverse events). Full accountability for protocol design, timelines, logistics, bioanalytical testing, CRO monitoring, and report authorship.
- Drove pre-IND submission strategy by leading cross-functional KOLs in toxicology, pharmacology, regulatory affairs, and clinical development; prepared and submitted briefing package for FDA review and prepared a full IND-enabling plan and authored Phase 1 SAD/MAD clinical synopsis. Led INAD planning and submission strategy to the FDA's CVM, obtaining "barrier to innovation" fee waiver for three consecutive years.
- Development of topical formulations for pain and dermal conditions including lab scale formulation (O/W, W/O micro and nano emulsions, hydrogels, ointments and bi-phase compartments), formula scaleup, commercial production, stability, safety and regulatory registration (Worked in-house and with CDMO in Portugal).
Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - Esense-Lab Ltd - Israel
(2017-01 - 2022-12)
Cannabis-derived/customized terpene blends for medical and wellness markets.
- Led the R&D team and full strategic and scientific program for the development of Cannabis derived/customized terpene blends with accountability for budget, timelines, prioritization, milestone-driven roadmaps, product strategy, intellectual properties, and technical documentation (COAs, SOPs, analytical methods, reports, tech transfer, presentations).
- Led development, production, and B2B commercialization of terpene blends including cannabis extraction, GC/MS analysis of terpenes, reverse engineering, terpene formulation, scale-up, production/CCP determination, method development for QC and COA development; executed with in-house team and CDMO partners.
- Designed and executed in-vitro cellular models to evaluate novel terpene/cannabinoid/natural-active combinations across inflammation, wound healing, women's health, oxidative stress, and antiviral activity. Designed cellular models and DOE frameworks, executed studies, analyzed results, and translated findings into product development candidates. Translated biological findings into market-facing scientific claims through conferences and technical brochures, supporting product positioning.
- Developed lab-scale cannabinoid and terpene-based formulations for edible and topical applications, including ointments, emulsions, water-soluble hydrogels, sublingual oils and cyclodextrin encapsulations for consumption.
- Obtained and maintained Ministry of Health approval for medical cannabis research, managed academic and industry collaborations.
Technical Leader - Beckman Coulter Ltd, Israel R&D Site - Israel
(2016-01 - 2017-12)
Developed automated diagnostic technology for pathogen detection in blood.
- Led development of an automated, multiplex real-time PCR platform for clinical detection and quantification of HIV-1 viral load in blood, designed under FDA requirements.
- Owned multi-year master plan, action plan, critical path, budget, risk assessments, and day-to-day execution to ensure on-time delivery. Accountability on weekly meetings with U.S.-based heads of functions in QC, IP, regulatory, supply chain, engineer and clinical to set priorities, oversee operations, identify barriers, provide solutions to meet deadlines.
- Authored development strategies for specificity, reactivity, verification and validation for ropotic diagnostic system along with SOPs and tech-transfer packages.
R&D Project Manager - IBR, Israel Biotechnology Research Ltd (now Lucas Mayer) - Israel
(2013-01 - 2016-12)
Develop natural active ingredients for cosmetic and wellness.
- Managed end-to-end development of food additives and natural active ingredients for dermal B2B markets from concept through lab scale, pilot, scale-up, and commercialization, with full accountability for timelines, budget, and cross-functional coordination across QC, production, regulatory, IP, marketing and CRO/CDMO management.
- Developed aqueous and oil-based extraction methods for dermal actives including invitro testing for efficacy, marker development for QC and process development for production; led drying/milling process development (freeze-drying, spray drying, fluid bed, superfine milling) to improve product yield, quality, and cost.
Senior Scientist / Project Manager - Proteologics Ltd - Israel
(2010-01 - 2013-12)
Developed E3 inhibitors for drug candidates.
- Developed cell-based assays for target discovery in oncology and metabolic disorders.
- Supported GSK partnership through bioassay development, deep literature review, SOPs, technical presentations, and scientific program materials.
Postdoctoral Fellow - Weizmann Institute of Science - Israel
(2009-01 - 2010-12)
