Mitogenetics, a biomedical technology firm headquartered in South Dakota, today announced the hiring of four scientists to help accelerate the innovation that will lead to major breakthroughs in therapeutic strategies for mitochondrial dysfunction.
The team will be led by Dr. George B. Stefano, whose scope of work in the field of mitochondria metabolism has made him a well-known pioneer in the scientific industry. He will be joined by Dr. Richard M. Kream, Dr. Kirk J. Mantione and Dr. Federico Casares. They will work from the Mitogenetics Laboratory at the Bioscience Park at the State University of New York Farmingdale Campus.
"I have dedicated myself to the field of mitochondria metabolism, and I look forward to continuing my work so one day we will be able to regulate its action in order to potentially cure many degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease," said Dr. Stefano. "Working at Mitogenetics and a leading team of scientists gives me great hope that we're moving in the right direction."
George B. Stefano, Ph.D., Dr. h.c., Vice President of Research, Director
Dr. George Stefano is a principal researcher at RFSUNY. He was the director and initiator of the Neuroscience Research Institute, an interdisciplinary research unit dedicated to revealing basic biological processes in neuroscience. He served as the vice chair of the Research Foundation of SUNY Board of Directors and was vice chair of its executive committee as well as chair of its research committee. Additionally, Dr. Stefano is the editor of Medical Science Monitor and other international journals and has published more than 425 peer reviewed reports. He has been funded by NIMH, NIDA, NSF and private corporations. He presently serves as Co-Director of the Cognitive Molecular Neuroscience Center at Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. He holds numerous patents and patent pending state-of-the-art technologies involved in biomedical disorders. Dr. Stefano earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in cell biology from Fordham University in New York.
Richard M. Kream, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for Research
Dr. Richard Kream's field of expertise involves non-addicting analgesics and novel opioid compounds. He served as professor of anesthesiology and pharmacology at Tufts University Medical School in Boston until 2000. He subsequently served as professor of biochemistry at SUNY Downstate before joining the Neuroscience Research Institute as a recipient of an Empire Innovation Program position. He was recently appointed as Chief Editor of Medical Science Monitor Basic Research and also serves on other editorial boards. He has published more than 140 papers in his field. He earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York.
Kirk Mantione, M.S., Ph.D., Head of Molecular Biology
Dr. Kirk Mantione specializes in gene expression analysis using DNA microarray and real-time polymerase chain reactions. His research interests include endogenous morphine production and signaling and metabolic disorders related to mitochondrial processes. Dr. Mantione is an editorial board member of the Medical Science Monitor Basic Research journal and has more than 50 publications in peer-reviewed journals. He also holds two international patents and has more than five licensed new technology disclosures, shared with Kream and Stefano. Dr. Mantione received his Ph.D. in public health from St. Elizabeth University in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Federico Casares, Ph.D., Head of Bioinformatics
Dr. Federico Casares specializes in the bio-detection of opiate alkaloids via HPLC coupled to electrochemical detection and radioimmune assays. Additionally, he works with invertebrate and human immune cells, examines their behavior via computer-assisted image analysis, and examines calcium transients and constitutive nitric oxide production. He also studies neuroimmune processes in marine invertebrates in response to different stressors, including common environmental contaminants. In the last 5 years he has come to develop an expertise in the evaluation of gene pattern expression and its computer-assisted analysis. Dr. Casares received his M.S. and his Ph.D. in marine and atmospheric sciences from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Mitogenetics licenses agreements for the technology developed in Dr. Stefano's lab. This allows the company to further evaluate the technology, develop commercialization strategies and approach a select group of investors for further funding while additional research is being conducted. It should be noted that current research topics/results are providing additional intellectual properties.
For information, go to http://mitogenetics.com/
About Mitogenetics
Mitogenetics, LLC was founded in 2010 by Dr. William P. Switzer, DVM, Ph.D., Dr. h.c. Dr. Switzer, elected to the Iowa Science Hall of Fame, now serves in the capacity of Chief Science Officer. The company's research projects are leading to major breakthroughs in therapeutic strategies for the treatment of human disorders that have been functionally linked to cellular mitochondrial dysfunction and pursuing research that will produce novel commercially viable products for human, plant and animal health.
Mitogenetics is operated by Val-Add Service Corp., a Sioux Falls, S.D., management firm that in the last several years has assisted in the development of many companies, including diagnostic products for diabetes monitoring.
Val-Add, and now Mitogenetics LLC, benefit from the extensive experience offered by its President and CEO, Ms. Marcia Hendrickson. Ms. Hendrickson represents an individual with both business and scientific experience, providing insights designed to insure the Success of Mitogenetics.
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