Latest edition, USA’s 10 VIP Women in Healthcare 2023, fostering an inclusive environment that nurtures talent, provides equal opportunities, and celebrates diversity.

1. April
|
Issue
05
|
2023
Creating A World Where
Healthcare Has No Limits
Karley
Yoder
Advancements
and Discoveries
Women at the Forefront
of Healthcare Innovation
The Power of Mentorship
Women Supporting
Women in Healthcare
Karley Yoder
GM & Chief Digital Officer
GE HealthCare
in Healthcare
Women
Women
Women
USA’s 10 VIP
2023

2. Helping Technology
Technology
Technology
Work With You &
For You
For You
For You

4. Note

5. n today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape,
Iwomen emerge as powerful catalysts for change,
redefining the industry with their unwavering
commitment and groundbreaking achievements. From
pioneering medical advancements to driving patient-
centered care, women in healthcare are leaving an indelible
mark on society. Their contributions, both on the front lines
and behind the scenes, transform how we approach
wellness, promote inclusivity, and inspire future
generations.
Throughout history, women have defied societal norms and
shattered glass ceilings to establish themselves as
formidable leaders in healthcare. They have tirelessly
dedicated their expertise to various disciplines, be it
medical research, clinical practice, administration, or
policy-making. Their unique perspectives and empathetic
approach have led to breakthroughs in women's health,
maternal care, and mental well-being, ensuring that crucial
issues receive the attention they deserve.
Moreover, women in healthcare are revolutionizing the
doctor-patient relationship. They prioritize holistic care and
foster an environment of trust and compassion where
patients feel heard, understood and empowered. By
championing patient advocacy, women are paving the way
for patient-centric healthcare systems that prioritize
individual needs and improve overall outcomes.
As we celebrate the accomplishments of women in
healthcare, we must also acknowledge the challenges they
face. Gender disparities persist in terms of representation,
pay equity, and career advancement opportunities.
However, women continue to persevere, breaking barriers
and inspiring change through their resilience and
determination. Their unwavering commitment to excellence
is a testament to their unwavering dedication to the well-
being of their patients and the advancement of healthcare as
a whole.
Unlocking the full potential of women in healthcare,
Insights Care has come up with its latest edition, USA's 10
VIP Women in Healthcare 2023, fostering an inclusive
environment that nurtures talent, provides equal
opportunities, and celebrates diversity. As we forge ahead
into a new era of healthcare, let us applaud and support the
remarkable women who shape the industry's future.
Hope you have an inspiring read!
-Pooja Shah
Pja Sh
Empowering Excellence,
Transforming Lives

6. Karley Yoder
08
Crea ng A World Where
Healthcare Has No Limits
Women at the Forefront of
Healthcare Innova on
Advancements
and Discoveries
20
Aicl
Women Suppor ng
Women in Healthcare
The Power of
Mentorship
32
Cov
Sty

7. 24
28
36
16 Cha-Mei Tang
An Exemplary Chief with
Profound Exper se
Xiaokui Zhang
Nurturing Healthcare Through
Innova ve Leadership
Ctts
Diane Tang-Liu
Achieving Pa ent Compliance by
Shi ing Medical Paradigms
Shari Medendorp
A Global Development Expert in
the Field of Biotech and MedTech

8. Copyright © 2023 Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd., All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Insights success.
Reprint rights remain solely with Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. Insights Care is powered by Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd.
April, 2023
sales@insightscare.com
Contact Us:
Follow us on : www.facebook.com/InsightsCare/ https://twitter.com/Insightscare
Insights Success Media Tech LLC
555 Metro Place North, Suite 100,
Dublin, OH 43017, United States
Phone - +1614-602-4132
Email: info@insightscare.com
For Subscription: www.insightscare.com
Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd.
Survey No.133/134, Brand Square, Office No. 512,
Kunjir Chowk, Pimple Saudagar, Pune,
Maharashtra 411027.
Phone - India: 7410033802, 8956487823
Email: info@insightscare.com
For Subscription: www.insightscare.com
We are also available on :
Editor-in-Chief
Chidiebere Moses Ogbodo
Managing Editor
Pooja Shah
Executive Editor
Saloni Agrawal
Visualiser
David King
Art & Design Head
Mrunalinee Deshmukh
Co-designer
Paul Belin
Art & Picture Editor
Sonia Raizada
Business Development
Manager
Emily Jones
Marketing Manager
Bill Thompson
Business Development
Executives
Anna Smith, Jack Miller
Sales Executives
Mike, Carl, John
Technical Head
Jacob Smile
Assistant Technical Head
Prashanth Hiremath
Technical Consultants
David, Robert
Digital Marketing
Manager
Alina Sege
Assistant Digital
Marketing Manager
Sagar Lahigade
SME-SMO Executives
Gemson
Research Analyst
Eric Smith
Circulation Manager
Tanaji Fartade

9. Description
Company
Featuring Person
Cha-Mei Tang
Founder, President,
and CEO
Creatv MicroTech
creatvmicrotech.com
Cha-Mei Tang has made early cancer detection
possible through her significant and intensive
research.
Karley Yoder
GM & Chief
Digital Officer
GE HealthCare
gehealthcare.in
Karley Yoder is a leader with track record of
business success with excellent persuasion skills.
Diane Tang-Liu
CEO and President
AiViva BioPharma
aiviva.com
Diane’s career in the pharmaceutical industry
spans over 35 years where she’s held leadership
roles in various industries.
Laurie Myer
COO
Cingulate
Therapeutics
cingulate.com
Dr. Myers is a seasoned pharmaceutical
executive who has worked in key leadership
positions of increasing responsibility across a
broad range of areas.
Maxine
Carrington
CPO
Northwell Health
northwell.edu
Maxine Carrington has served in progressively
responsible leadership roles and is a champion
of diversity, equity and burnout prevention.
Robin Leahy
Vice President
PaceMate
pacemate.com
Robin Leahy is a registered nurse and effective
healthcare leader with expertise in cardiology,
electrophysiology and cardiac implantable
electronic device management.
Nancy Wallent
Senior Vice President
of Operations
VITAS Healthcare
vitas.com
Nancy is a skilled leader and operations
coordinator with more than 35 years of experience
in healthcare program management and clinical
leadership.
Shari Medendorp
President
Premier Research
premier-research.com
Shari Medendorp is a global strategic and
operational leader of multiple technical divisions,
successfully delivering solutions
Vindya Dayananda
SVP Corporate
Development &
Strategy
Reveleer
reveleer.com
Vindya Dayananda has worked in healthcare
technology and services for over ten years
focused on mergers and acquisitions, strategy
development and financial planning.
Xiaokui Zhang
CSO
Aspen
Neuroscience
aspenneuroscience.com
Xiaokui has an impeccable record of creating a
strong impact by taking the lead and driving
transformation in the research and
development of the care delivery segment.
USA’s 10 VIP Women in Healthcare 2023

10. Karley Yoder
GM & Chief Digital
Officer
GE HealthCare
C
o
v
e
r
S
t
o
r
y

11. Karley
Yoder
Creating A World Where Healthcare Has No Limits
I will spend my entire career
trying to leverage the best
technology has to offer
to move the needle in
healthcare innovation.

12. small idea can impact millions of lives at any
Agiven moment. However, to transform that idea
into innovation, into an actual product, requires
leaders with years of dedication and a clear vision for a
better future. The executives who have it all can efficiently
build and lead a strong, diverse team, focused on converting
ideas into actual products that solve the most pressing
problems of the current time.
Finding such leaders and getting to know them motivates
everyone to support their missions while lauding their
success stories. In our quest to find such dedicated and
visionary leaders, we came across Karley Yoder, GM &
Chief Digital Officer, Ultrasound, at GE HealthCare,
who has every trait mentioned above, but more than that,
the real trait is that she stands out for her consistent
enthusiasm to transform healthcare with technology.
In the following story, we will get to know more about
Karley, her career mission, and the revolutionary medical
device and technology company, GE HealthCare.
At the Intersection of HealthCare and Technology
Recalling her career journey in the industry, Karley tells us,
“I'm getting close to 15 years, but certainly over a decade of
being at the intersection of healthcare and technology, and I
will spend my entire career trying to leverage the best
technology has to offer to move the needle in healthcare
innovation. I can't imagine anything better to be fighting for
than better healthcare on a global scale. And it’s what’s
brought me to GE HealthCare.”
If one looks at Karley’s professional background, they’re all
roles and projects that meet at that intersection point of
technology and healthcare. Even back when she was
pursuing an undergraduate degree in biomedical
engineering, she worked on projects at Duke and Stanford
with drug delivery and imaging technology advancements.
Karley spent four years working with state governments on
their programs in the Medicaid and healthcare exchange
spaces, addressing how healthcare needs could be better
served within those programs. Prior to this, she spent some
time at Doctor On Demand, at the time an early stage
startup, and now one of the leading providers in the U.S.
She also spent some time at Apple, working to position and
improve their products to better address problems within
the healthcare space.
On her experience at GE HealthCare, Karley shares, “I
came to GE HealthCare in 2016 because I saw this brilliant
healthcare company with not just decades (I think we
launched our x-ray product over a century ago) but decades
upon decades of excellence when it comes to meeting our
customers where they are to solve healthcare problems that
matter. We’re now coupling that with digital and AI
excellence to meet the provider problems they face today
and in the foreseeable future.”
“And so, there was an opportunity to bring a skillset I had
developed over a decade, plus being at this intersection, and
combine it with the deep product excellence and deep
customer awareness that GE HealthCare had, and really
bring those two pieces together to try to take our products
to the next level,” describes Karley.
GE HealthCare: Developing Intelligent Medical Devices
GE HealthCare innovates to meet the needs of healthcare
providers, to help solve problems in the diagnostic,
therapeutic, and monitoring spaces of the precision health
journey.
“Creating a world where healthcare has no limits is an
awesome thing to get up and fight for every morning,” says
Karley. And when one thinks about GE HealthCare’s vision
of precision health, which is doing the right thing at the
right time for every patient on a global scale, it requires
digital DNA flowing through every product that GE
HealthCare creates.
“With the growth of artificial intelligence, that means we
must be moving toward intelligent products for every
solution we bring to market. And specifically, within this
role I have today within our ultrasound business, we have to
have the best of AI embedded in every product we bring to
market, but then also a digital ecosystem that wraps around
our devices, that allows our customers to operate at the very
top of their licenses to deliver those insights,” explains
Karley.
And so, it really comes full circle in how the company
thinks about that in the ultrasound world. Karley’s team
works with some of the most experienced clinicians in
the healthcare sector who have been ultrasound users
for decades and helps them do their jobs faster and
better with the AI and digital products the company
brings to market. “So that's a super experienced
USA’s 10 VIP Women in Healthcare 2023

13. Creating a world
where healthcare has
no limits is an awesome
thing to get up and fight
for every morning.

14. user. But also, ultrasound is starting to move into the hands
of folks that are brand new to using ultrasound as care
teams start to expand what they are doing at the point of
care and with handheld,” mentions Karley.
According to her, it is almost a completely digital story in
how GE HealthCare equips these brand new users to be
highly effective with the technologies put in their hands.
“We get to use digital and AI to not just equip these deep
domain experts and have them operate at the top of their
license and do the most good they can for their patients, but
also these brand new users, which brings new opportunities
to the table that we have a chance to be at the forefront of.
And that’s a really exciting duality that we get to live
within,” highlights Karley.
Driving Precision Care Forward
GE HealthCare is looking to drive precision medicine
forward across diagnostics, therapeutics, and monitoring.
According to Karley, “GE HealthCare solutions touch the
patient’s lives at every step in their healthcare journey, from
the diagnostic space, where we’re trying to really
understand what is going on with that patient and how to
diagnose the right path forward for them, to the therapy
side, where we’re continuing to grow and understand how
we take the right steps within the healthcare system to
address the problem a patient has; to monitoring, which
spans all the way from the bedside all the way into the
home.”
Views on Technology
Sharing her views on the ongoing technology adoption
trend in the healthcare industry, Karley says, “We should
never do anything for just technology’s sake.” She explains
it further, stating, “So, AI and digital, if we are pursuing
them because we want to be at the forefront of technology,
we’re approaching this problem the wrong way. I’ve said
many times, AI is a technology, but how we need to be
thinking about it is as a tool to move us forward in
addressing the provider problems that we are trying to
solve.”
She adds, “It’s not important for GE HealthCare to be a
technology leader for the sake of being a technology leader,
but it’s important for us to be a technology leader because
harnessing these advances allows us to work toward solving
the healthcare problems that are most pressing today.”
Karley believes it is the responsibility of any healthcare
company to begin with the provider problem that they’re
trying to solve for and then to become deeply proficient in
the tools and solutions they can bring to the table to best
address those problems. But she notes that, “If we’re ever
doing it for the sake of being a technology leader as
opposed to technology being one of many tools that we use
to solve the problem, we’re approaching that problem
backwards.”
Rising Above Challenges
The challenges in the healthcare sector are numerous. From
Karley’s point of view, “Being able to solve healthcare
problems requires seeing healthcare from multiple different
lenses.” And that is part of why, if you look at her career,
she says, “I’ve seen healthcare from a research lens in my
time working at both Duke and Stanford. I’ve seen
healthcare from a payer lens and even how governments
interact with healthcare patients. I’ve seen healthcare from
a telemedicine lens and from a technology-first company
lens from my time at Apple.”
From that experience, Karley says one of the lessons she
learned early in her career is that “the more angles you can
see a healthcare challenge from, the better equipped you are
to be able to think creatively about the types of solutions
and products required to not just incrementally move us
forward in healthcare, but move us forward in leaps.”
According to her, no one person is going to have that
tapestry of experiences, and so she looks to bring diverse
experience sets to the table while building her teams as well
as connecting with a broader ecosystem of partners.
Because, she explains, “it is going to take a multitude of
voices and experience sets to really understand a healthcare
problem and move it forward. And, not just one industry
will be able to do that on their own.”
She continues, “No one company or player, no matter how
talented, will be able to go at it alone. Our providers won’t
be able to do it on their own. Startups won’t be able to do
it on their own. But when you get all these folks threaded
together, deep industry knowledge and experience, the
voice of clinicians living this on the frontline, and
innovators who are pushing the boundaries of what’s
possible, that’s when I’ve seen magic happen.”

15. Being able to solve
healthcare problems
requires seeing healthcare
from multiple different
lenses.

16. Furthermore, Karley tells us that she is not perfect at this
yet and that it will be a career-long journey to keep on
improving. But one thing she deeply believes about the
healthcare space is that “we need to be constantly
challenging assumptions and bringing a broad set of voices
to the table to move us forward.”
Practicing the same in her current role, Karley focuses on
bringing people together with different experience sets
across healthcare, but also different skillsets from just a
pure product and technology perspective. She emphasizes
that, “Building teams with the right experience and the right
combination of skills to solve the problems that our
providers are bringing to us is a key focus.”
Sharing Guidance with MedTech Aspirants
Offering insights from her career journey as guidance to
aspiring young professionals, Karley advises, “I would say
be humble and curious. Because the problems we are trying
to solve are vast, it’s important to take the time to learn and
really understand the voice of the healthcare provider and
the voice of the patient. Be humble about the need to
constantly hear that voice more clearly, and never think you
have your arms fully wrapped around the entirety of the
problem. That’s just one aspect of humility and curiosity.”
For anyone considering a future career in healthcare, Karley
says, “One, you’re looking at the right place. Healthcare is
20% of the U.S. GDP and something that touches all of our
lives. Everyone is a patient. Everyone has a family member
who is a patient. So, if you want to be in a space that is
going to continue growing rapidly and also has a mission
that matters on a personal level, look at healthcare.”
But to equip yourself to be transformative in this space, she
recommends that “you be willing to constantly be learning
new skills, constantly be learning about new technologies,
and constantly be building teams and personal advisory
boards who can challenge you on your learning journey.”
Envisioning a Bright Future
When asked what the future of healthcare looks like, Karley
says, “It is a virtual one, where as a healthcare provider you
are not constrained by just where you are. For example,
you are able to take a handheld ultrasound into a primary
care setting and be equipped with the insights and
knowledge you need at the point of care, but you’re also
connected to your colleagues and experts across your
domain to help drive the best possible care and practice for
patients possible.”
And so, Karley thinks, “it’s this intelligent and connected
future that GE HealthCare driving, setting the bar for what
this looks like for the rest of the industry.”
When asked about her career mission, Karley responds,
saying, “Personally, I plan on spending my career at the
intersection of healthcare and technology, and I would
always like to be in roles where I believe strongly in the
mission and where I have the opportunity to be at the
forefront of technological advances, and then pull them
back to solve problems that matter.”
Karley believes she has this opportunity right now in her
current role. It enables her to work with a brilliant team of
innovators, harnessing important advances in AI and digital
technologies to solve the problems that most matter to
ultrasound providers on a global scale. This is the type of
role Karley says she would like to have for the rest of her
career. Elaborating further on this, she states, “I think at GE
HealthCare, with the scope of problems we’re trying to
solve across diagnostics, therapeutics, and monitoring
across the entire patient journey, one of the reasons I am
here is because we have a never-ending list of those
opportunities and challenges ahead of us to meet the
changing and evolving needs of providers.”
So, she tells us, “as long as I get to lead a team that’s bound
around a mission of advancing patient care by harnessing
technology innovation, I’m going to be a very happy
camper and be inspired to get up and move the ball forward
every day.”
“I think it’s going to take personal humility and curiosity
combined with a team of folks with these traits in common
to drive the change we need to see in the healthcare space.
I’m excited to be at GE HealthCare, because that is what, as
a leadership team, we’re striving for, and the best that we
are taking as a company, as we step into our future as a
standalone company as well,” she concludes.

18. 16 April 2023
Cha-Mei Tang
Founder, President
& CEO
Creatv MicroTech

19. ost of the severe health concerns related to
Mchronic conditions, especially cancer, can be
lifted if measures for early detection are
improved with significant enhancements. When this
happens, the insurgence of cancer can be predicted early,
and thus, it enables convenient ways to allow meticulous
treatments.
Cha-Mei Tang, the Founder, President, and CEO of
Creatv MicroTech, has made early cancer detection
possible through her significant and intensive research. The
company, Creatv MicroTech—through its accurately
designed blood tests—manages to detect cancer early and
determine the optimal treatment, monitor treatment
response, and predict prognosis. This, in turn, helps in
surmounting the challenges of treating severe health
conditions.
Creatv, through its expertise in diagnosis and
microfabrication, is able to isolate cancer-associated cells
from the blood and make use of its scientifically
discovered—Associated Macrophage-Like cell
(CAML)—in the early detection and diagnosis of cancer.
The Tale of Inception
Cha-Mei Tang founded Creatv MicroTech (Creatv) in 1996,
intending to focus on developing novel x-ray anti-scatter
grids and nuclear collimators to improve image quality. In
the year 2000, she re-incorporated in Delaware and led the
company into the field of medical diagnostics, sensitive
detection instruments, and assays. Creatv commercialized a
very sensitive fluorescence instrument for biological and
chemical detection applications that is about a hundred
times more sensitive than a 96-well plate reader.
TM
From 2010 to 2011, Creatv developed CellSieve
microfilters intending to capture circulating tumor cells
(CTCs) from the blood of cancer patients. The company
developed assays using cell lines spiked into the blood.
But when Cha-Mei Tang and her team processed the first
patient sample, they captured CTCs and found many funny-
looking giant cells. Upon research, there were no
publications about them, neither as a research subject nor as
clinical applications. These cells were eventually identified
by scientists in J&J who confirmed that they have seen
them. However, they stated that these cells were not CTCs.
Creatv’s pathologists advised the team to ensure to identify
these cells accurately.
Upon further investigation, Cha-Mei Tang’s team identified
these cells to be macrophages that are in the process of
engulfing or have engulfed tumor material or tumor cells.
They called these tumor-macrophage hybrid cells Cancer-
Associated Macrophage-like cells (CAMLs), which were
published in the PNAS publication in 2014, showing the
fluorescent analysis of these cells.
Since then, they have found CAMLs in the blood of cancer
patients from more than 20 types of solid tumors. Upon
testing more than 5000 patient samples, it was detected that
the CAMLs could be found in all types of solid tumors.
Moreover, they are present in all stages of cancer. For major
cancers like—breast, prostate, lung, and kidney cancers,
these cells can be found in stage one itself, 80% of the time.
Cha-Mei Tang
An Exemplary Chief with Profound Exper se
Cha-Mei Tang’s research into
cancer led to the innova on of a
blood test, LifeTracDxâ that can
screen for cancer, detect residual
disease at end of therapy, and
detect recurrence much faster than
imaging.
USA’s 10 VIP Women in Healthcare 2023
17
April 2023

20. The core value of the company is a blood test called
LifeTracDxâ liquid biopsy with a wide spectrum of
applications that can save and improve lives.
A Plethora of Definitive Treatments
The present estimates of cancer in the United States suggest
1,918,030 new cases with 609,360 deaths in 2022. The
disease approaches approximately 39.9% of men and
women at some point during their lifetime. In this case,
people would take early measures if there was a pathway to
early detection and diagnosis.
Cha-Mei Tang’s research into cancer led to the innovation
of a blood test, LifeTracDxâ that can screen for cancer,
detect residual disease at end of therapy, and detect
recurrence much faster than imaging. This blood test is
suitable for screening single cancer, group of cancers, and
at-risk groups simultaneously. Through its accuracy, it can
also determine the presence of residual disease after the
termination of therapy just in case cancer has not been
eradicated.
The blood test is also an effective solution for cancer
survivors. Currently, there are over 18 million cancer
survivors. Often, they are recommended to take at least two
to three Computed Tomography (CT) X-Ray Imaging per
year.
This helps in monitoring disease status as cancer replaces
when the tumor grows by three to five millimeters in
diameter. While CT imaging causes exposure to damaging
radiation, LifeTracDxâ is a relatively safe measure that can
detect cancer’s recurrence before the tumor gets bigger,
without any exposure to radiation.
The market size for cancer screening, determining residual
disease, and detection of cancer recurrence are very large.
LifeTracDxâ blood tests can provide a spectrum of
diagnostics for patients with cancer. Some examples of
diagnostics are:
Ÿ Provides more than 20 companion diagnostics – simpler
and cheaper than tissue biopsy; an example is an
immunotherapy
Ÿ Provides prognosis at any time
Ÿ Predicts treatment response to new therapy after just one
treatment
Ÿ Monitors therapy identification of drug resistance
Ÿ Provides copious unfragmented tumor DNA for
sequencing
LifeTracDxâ blood test is also ideally suited for cancer
drug development and clinical trials.
Surmounting the Imperative Challenges
Currently, Cha-Mei Tang and her team are providing
Creatv’s services to cancer drug companies. They are in the
process of setting up a CLIA lab that would allow access to
cancer screening and cancer diagnosis to the public.
However, since they are the first to publish about CAMLs
and their clinical application, it is difficult to convince the
venture capitalists of Creatv’s product potential. Cha-Mei
Tang being a female founder adds up to such a challenge.
Scaling 2023 and Beyond
Besides the technical goals, Cha-Mei Tang is focused on
reducing morbidity and improving patient outcomes. One
important aspect is to commercialize the LifeTracDxâ
blood test so that the company can provide cancer screening
and cancer diagnostics. To further enable this—besides
establishing a CLIA lab—is to get FDA approval for a
spectrum of diagnostics.
Sharing Profound Experiences
Cha-Mei Tang shares an experience that had a profound
impact on where she is today. She says, “I left a
government job to start a company. I made the decision
that my business will have nothing to do with my past
scientific experience, where many men thought that I barely
had contributed to my achievement as a physicist. But
instead, these men were the ones who greatly benefitted
from my scientific research.”
“At Creatv, it was scary but exciting diving into many
fields I knew very little about but learned quickly. What my
company has accomplished now is attributed mostly to my
employees,” she adds. Reflecting on her journey, she has
realized that there should be no fear of trying out new
things. “I find it exciting to learn about new fields, have
new experiences, and solve new problems,” she concludes.
18 April 2023

21. Stay in touch.
Subscribe to Insightscare Get Insightssuccess
Magazine in print, & digital on www.insightscare.com
Never Miss An Issue
Subscribe
Today
Corporate Office
Insights Success Media Tech LLC
555 Metro Place North, Suite 100,
Dublin,OH 43017, United States
Phone - (614)-602 - 1754,(302)-319-9947
Email: info@insightscare.com
For Subscription : www.insightscare.com
Check should be drawn in favor of :
INSIGHTS SUCCESS MEDIA TECH LLC
www.insightscare.com

22. Transforming Medical Research
ne area where women have made significant
Ostrides is in medical research. Through tireless
dedication and scientific rigor, female researchers
have been instrumental in expanding our understanding of
diseases and developing innovative treatments.
Let's delve deeper and understand the contributions of
women in advancing the medical industry!
Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn, a prominent figure in medical
research, made groundbreaking discoveries about
telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes.
Her research on telomeres and their role in aging and
diseases like cancer opened up new avenues for developing
targeted therapies and interventions. Dr. Blackburn's work
deepened our understanding of cellular aging and offered
potential strategies to combat age-related diseases.
Revolutionizing Patient Care
In addition to medical research, women have been at the
forefront of technological innovations that have
revolutionized patient care. These innovations, from digital
health solutions to medical devices, have transformed
healthcare delivery and improved patient outcomes.
Advancements and Discoveries
Women
at the Forefront of
Healthcare
Innova on
20 April 2023

23. 21
April 2023

24. Dr. Patricia Bath, an ophthalmologist and inventor, is
renowned for inventing the Laserphaco Probe, a device that
revolutionized cataract surgery. Her groundbreaking
invention allowed for more precise and less invasive
procedures, improving outcomes and faster patient
recovery. Dr. Bath's innovation paved the way for
advancements in laser surgery techniques and inspired a
new wave of medical device development.
Innovations in Telemedicine and Digital Health
Women have also played a pivotal role in redefining
healthcare delivery through telemedicine and digital health
solutions. These advancements have brought healthcare
closer to patients, particularly those in remote or
underserved areas, and have transformed how healthcare is
accessed and delivered.
Dr. Shafi Ahmed, a colorectal surgeon, gained international
recognition for performing the world's first live-streamed
virtual reality surgery. By utilizing virtual reality and live
streaming technology, Dr. Ahmed demonstrated the
potential of telemedicine in surgical education and training.
His innovative approach opened up new possibilities for
remote learning, collaboration, and mentorship in the
surgical field.
Tailoring Treatment to Individual Patients
Precision medicine, an approach that customizes medical
treatment based on an individual's genetic makeup, has the
potential to revolutionize patient care. Women have
significantly contributed to this field, advancing our
understanding of personalized medicine and its application
in various diseases.
Dr. Mary-Claire King, a geneticist, made a groundbreaking
discovery when she identified the BRCA1 gene associated
with an increased risk of hereditary breast and ovarian
cancer. Her research paved the way for genetic testing and
personalized treatment options for individuals with a high
risk of these cancers. Dr. King's work transformed cancer
care and laid the foundation for precision medicine
approaches in other diseases.
Women Leading the Way
Women have made advancements in specific medical fields
and taken a leadership role in addressing global health
challenges. Women have spearheaded initiatives and
research to improve health outcomes worldwide, from
infectious diseases to maternal and child health.
Dr. Catherine Hamlin, an obstetrician and gynaecologist,
dedicated her life to treating and preventing obstetric
fistulas, a devastating childbirth injury affecting millions of
women in developing countries. Through her work in
Ethiopia, Dr. Hamlin established specialized fistula
treatment centers, providing life-changing surgeries and
comprehensive care to affected women. Her compassionate
approach and tireless efforts have restored countless
women's dignity and health and raised awareness about
maternal health issues globally.
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion
Women at the forefront of healthcare innovation are making
advancements in research, technology, and global health
and championing diversity and inclusion within the field.
Recognizing the importance of diverse perspectives and
experiences, these women advocate for equity and breaking
down barriers to ensure equal opportunities.
Prominent figures like Dr. Joycelyn Elders, the first African
American Surgeon General of the United States, have been
vocal advocates for healthcare equity and access. Dr. Elders
focused on adolescent health, HIV prevention, and
reproductive health, particularly on reaching underserved
communities. Her commitment to promoting inclusivity and
addressing healthcare disparities has inspired countless
women to fight for equitable healthcare systems.
Through their leadership and advocacy, women in
healthcare innovation drive systemic change, pushing for
greater representation of women, minorities, and
underrepresented groups in research, clinical trials,
leadership positions, and decision-making processes. Their
efforts are enhancing healthcare outcomes for diverse
populations and creating a more inclusive and equitable
healthcare landscape for future generations.
In conclusion, women have made remarkable contributions
to healthcare innovation, driving advancements and
discoveries that have transformed patient care and
improved health outcomes. Their pioneering research,
technological innovations, and dedication to addressing
global health challenges have impacted the field indelibly.
As we move forward, it is crucial to recognize and support
the pivotal role women play in healthcare innovation,
ensuring their continued leadership and contributions to
shaping the future of healthcare.
-Pja Shah
22 April 2023

26. Our goal is to
provide effective and
convenient solutions
to diseases for
patients and
physicians.
ou were at the doctor's clinic, being prescribed a
Ydrug for the next four weeks. Feeling satisfied with
consulting the medico, you agreed to comply with
the doctor's instructions. However, it's now been four
weeks, and you're still unwell. It turns out you have not
taken the medication daily as the doctor instructed you to.
Skipping or taking medications at incorrect intervals often
interferes with the expected benefits of the prescribed
treatment. Patient's motivation to begin and continue with a
recommended drug is often determined by their
expectations of the time taken to seek relief from their
symptoms, unwanted side effects and/or attitudes toward
treatment. The lack of patient compliance often results in
unsatisfactory treatment outcomes and additional
unnecessary doctor's visits.
Consequently, patients suffer as the disease progresses, and
ultimately the quality of life declines; and doctors' office is
overbooked as they strive to provide effective patient care.
Reflecting upon the patient-doctor struggles in prescription
compliance, Diane Tang-Liu, the CEO and President of
AiViva BioPharma, addresses the existing treatment burden
for both patients and physicians. She believes that effective
treatments could be made possible by completely shifting
the treatment paradigm from the patient to the doctor.
For this reason, AiViva BioPharma, by addressing the
disease fully and delivering drugs using innovative
technology, has managed to seek optimal clinical outcomes.
We at Insights Care crossed paths with Diane Tang-Liu and
did a deeper dive into her journey toward transforming
treatment paradigms, further comprehending her approach
to developing therapies that serve unmet medical needs.
Journey So Far
Diane Tang-Liu was born and raised in Taiwan. After she
graduated from Pharmacy School, she came to the US to
pursue her Ph.D. training in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at
the prestigious University of California, San Francisco.
Since then, she has dedicated her career to pharmaceutical
drug development and bringing products through regulatory
approval to patients and physicians. Diane's career started
as an entry-scientist level and as her responsibilities grew,
she reached an executive leadership position overseeing
global drug development teams.
Dedicating to the Pharmaceutical Industry
Mid-career, Diane took early retirement due to a family
illness that required her dedicated attention. It was only
when the situation was under control that she was
encouraged to combine her extensive experience in the
pharmaceutical industry, along with three of her
professional colleagues, to make a difference and formed
AiViva.
Diane emphasized, “We believe one challenge associated
with significant unmet medical needs and worthy of our
research effort would be the diseases manifested by
abnormal blood vessel growth, inflammation, and fibrotic
(scarring) formation.”
Because these diseases span widely across ophthalmology,
dermatology, urology, and cancer— Diane's know-how
could be leveraged by AiViva to help patients globally.
Diane Tang-Liu
Achieving Patient Compliance by Shifting Medical Paradigms
USA’s 10 VIP Women in Healthcare 2023
24 April 2023

27. 25
April 2023
Diane Tang-Liu
CEO & President

28. 26 April 2023
Providing Convenient Solutions to Patients and
Physicians
AiViva is a clinical-stage company with strong momentum.
Since its founding in 2015, AiViva has moved quickly from
inception, preclinical studies, through FDA's Investigational
New Drug Application, into its current phase: clinical trials.
Its lead programs focus on wet age-related macular
degeneration, prostate disorders, and non-melanoma skin
cancers.
Diane states, “Our goal is to provide effective and
convenient solutions to diseases for patients and
physicians.” For example, where current treatments for wet
AMD require frequent and painful eye injections without
treating the underlying mechanism of the disease. AiViva's
solution has a prolonged treatment duration and has the
potential added benefit of resolving the underlying scarring,
thus addressing the age-related irreversible vision loss. “We
want the patients to improve their quality of life,” adds
Diane.
Offering an insight into the severity of wet AMD, Diane
points out that it is a disease of the eye associated with
aging, which is the leading cause of vision loss. At present,
AMD is considered an incurable eye disease. As people
grow older, there will be abnormal blood vessel growth in
the back of the eye, leaking fluid and blood, eventually
causing scarring of the macula (the center of the retina
where visual signals are collected) and resulting in vision
loss.
“There are 11 million patients in the US, with a global
prevalence of 170 million, suffering from some form of
AMD. This represents a huge unmet medical need for good
treatments,” states Diane. She explains that if wet AMD is
not treated, patients may lose their eyesight very rapidly.
Patients may lose an average of 3 lines or 15 letters over
one to two years. Currently, AiViva has completed one
clinical trial with preliminary positive results and plans to
start another clinical trial on wet AMD patients in 2023.
AiViva is also preparing to start a clinical trial for prostate
disease. Considering the aging aspect: enlargement (leading
to hyperplasia) of men's prostates begins around age 25 and
never stops. Symptoms of benign prostate hyperplasia may
start to present as early as age 40. These symptoms may
include frequent urination throughout the day and night,
dribbling at the end of urination, and an inability to fully
empty the bladder. Benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate
cancer may happen at the same time. Addressing the
concern, “AiViva plans to file with the FDA an IND in 2023
to start clinical trials to address prostate disorders,” states
Diane.

29. Easier Treatments, Better Outcomes
AiViva's treatments make it easier for doctors to deliver
effective treatments – and for patients to keep up with the
treatment program – with innovative technological support
by using a proprietary, patent-pending JEL™ technology
that enables the direct and targeted placement of drugs
exactly where needed, without the patient having to
administer it.
One advantage that it brings is that it acts as a long-term
depot rather than having to treat the patients frequently.
Such a depot stores drugs and gradually releases targeted
treatment over a long duration. This eliminates the need for
frequent treatments while prolonging the effects of drugs
plus reducing side effects.
The technological growth and development of AiViva have
been attributed to its veteran BioPharma team, who have
managed to raise $30M in the capital, including $9.3M this
year, which is a noticeably remarkable momentum,
especially in a challenged VC environment. They are also
given credit for having a stellar track record of multiple
FDA-approved drugs and successful exits, which has led
them to diversify their product pipeline. These products in
development are well-positioned to transform the treatment
of several ailments while potentially delivering a solid
revenue stream. At present, the team has 63 worldwide
patent applications to ensure a long market exclusivity, of
which 22 have been successfully issued so far.
Comprehending the JEL™ tech's potential within the fields
of urology, oncology, dermatology, and ophthalmology,
AiViva is looking forward to seeking a multi-billion dollar
in annual revenue potential.
Comprehending the Value of Knowledge and
Highlighting Achievements
Diane understands the value of education, opportunity, and
the importance of applying her know-how to lift others.
These fundamental principles have guided her in her
professional career and community service. With respect to
the latter, she has received a Vision in America award for
her community leadership in building a $10M South Coast
Chinese Cultural Center in Irvine, CA, alongside being
recognized with professional awards.
According to Diane, “AiViva believes in giving back to the
community. We offer an industry internship program to
Pharm D candidates.” The company's position in
community giveback is well reflected in the following
testimonials from USC Pharm D candidates:
“My time at AiViva has been great. It exceeded any
expectations I had. There are many different projects to
work on, and thus many different opportunities to grow.”
- Mariam Geysimonyan
“Understanding the role of an industry pharmacist better.
For me, I didn't have any prior experience, but I understand,
at least more, what the different functional roles would be
for a company. In addition, I think Dr. Tang-Liu's
mentorship definitely helped with understanding the
industry environment as well as workplace manners.”
- Royal Siu
“Everyone at the company was always friendly and nice,
and I couldn't have asked for a better rotation! It was great
to see how a smaller pharmaceutical company operates.”
- Sarah Choi
“Outcomes gained from my internship: a) Competitor
market research, b) Clinical development considerations, c)
Engaging with experienced professionals. Internship
prepared me for: Strategy position in pharma/consulting.”
- Doreen Nilo
27
April 2023

30. 28 April 2023
Shi
Meddp
A Global Development Expert in the
Field of Biotech and MedTech
successful technocrat of global standing, Shari
AMedendorp oversees Premier Consulting, a
business unit of Premier Research, where she leads
the team that provides developing biotech and specialty
pharma companies with strategic product development and
global regulatory consulting. There, Ms. Medendorp is a
global strategic and operational leader of multiple technical
divisions, successfully delivering solutions and results for
its biotech customers and value for the company.
After graduating with a master's degree in biostatistics from
the University of Michigan, Ms. Medendorp began her
career as a biostatistician at the Cleveland Clinic
Foundation, where she collaborated with the medical team
on the planning and evaluation of clinical research. Her
career led her to the clinical research service industry,
where she's held roles leading biometrics teams at a number
of clinical research organizations, including SCIREX
Corporation, Reliance Clinical Research Services, CliniRX,
and Premier Research. Achieving 20 years of experience in
the field, Ms. Medendorp joined the executive leadership
team at Premier Research in spring of 2022 as President of
Premier Consulting.
In a thorough interview with Insights Care, Mrs.
Medendorp shares how is she is successfully delivering
clinical research for her biotech clients and value for the
company:
Kindly brief us about yourself and your professional
journey so far.
Early in my career, I worked as a biostatistician in a large
research hospital, helping physicians and scientists with
their research while surrounded by patients and their
families who needed top-of-the-line therapies to treat their
diseases. This connected the data I worked with to real
people and brought home the perspective that clinical
research, at its core, is about bringing hope to patients who
need it. Ever since, this has been my driving force.
Premier Research is a strategic
product development company
SM
that is Built for Biotech . We help
the most innova ve companies
transform life-changing ideas and
breakthrough science into new
medical treatments and solu ons.

31. 29
April 2023
Shari Medendorp
President
Premier Research
USA’s 10 VIP Women in Healthcare 2023

32. 30 April 2023
I subsequently broadened my clinical development
experience through a series of positions at several clinical
research organizations, building global teams to deliver
conclusive results for clients and, ultimately, patients.
Today I have the privilege of leading Premier Consulting, a
business unit of Premier Research, which affords me the
broadest reach yet—helping customers navigate the
complex pathway from the very early stages of
development all the way through the product life cycle.
Please tell us about Premier Research and how your role
is shaping the organization.
Premier Research is a strategic product development
SM
company that is Built for Biotech . We help the most
innovative companies transform life-changing ideas and
breakthrough science into new medical treatments and
solutions. Premier Research has a vision of being the end-
to-end product development partner for biotech and
MedTech.
Many of our customers are pioneers working in spaces that
have yet to be defined. This creates a need for highly
tailored strategic and regulatory support early in the
development process. The Premier Consulting team
provides that early support and has the flexibility to engage
at any point in the development life cycle. We guide our
customers in developing and executing strategic roadmaps
that support fundraising, regulatory strategy, drug
development, and commercialization. We support them
from the start of the development journey to the end of the
process.
What are the key products and services of Premier
Research and how is it impacting the demographic
concerned?
Our work spans disease areas that are life-altering and, in
many cases, underserved—rare diseases, overlooked
women's health conditions, cancer. Patients and their
families desperately seek new solutions to address their
health challenges. We shape the research that delivers
amazing science to patients in need, working quickly to
deliver end-to-end strategy, regulatory, nonclinical, clinical
pharmacology, CMC, submission, quality, and commercial
solutions that are best in class.
Drug and device development is complex and highly
regulated. Our goal is to simplify the process with a
customer-centric culture that pairs efficiency with quality to
guide sponsors every step of the way. We tailor
development plans to meet the most rigorous global
regulatory requirements, address the diversity of each
patient population, and deliver results for sponsors— with a
dedication to understanding and addressing the challenges
of the patient journey.
What are the core values of the organization? How are
you leading it to achieve its vision and mission
statement?
We are driven by the knowledge that what we do every day
has a profound effect on the well-being of the patients we
support and the sponsors we work with. It's this impact that
inspires us. We are invested in offering seamless solutions
that sponsors can grow with, progressing from an idea all
the way to market entry and beyond. Doing so requires a
collaborative team with distinct skill sets and diverse
perspectives. As a global business, we bring together people
from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and educational
focus areas to form the strongest team. Together we can do
more than any one of us can alone.
We have also made ownership and empowerment mainstays
of our culture, and we are deeply engaged in the
development and growth of our team. Continuous learning
is essential to address the constantly evolving needs of the
Clit's Thoughts
“I recently commented to our Premier Consul ng
lead that all virtual biopharma companies should
engage Premier as a strategic partner. It is not
only the depth of regulatory experience —
mee ng with the FDA five to six mes a month —
and the breadth of func onal exper se, but also
their responsiveness. Premier Consul ng is a key
strategic partner that will help us succeed and
bring our life-saving products to market."
-Biotech President and CEO,
Opioid Abuse Deterrent Technology
research industry and the sponsors we support. By creating
a positive work environment where staff are inspired to
grow, we can have an extraordinary impact.
How has your expertise on biostatistics helped you
ensure an upward sloping growth curve for the
company? How is it revolutionizing the current
industry?
At a high level, biostatistics focuses on understanding the
question(s) at hand, defining objectives, designing and

33. implementing methods to best address those objectives, and
interpreting results to gain understanding. It is analytical at
its core, enabling data to eventually lead to insights and
discoveries. It's collaborative by nature, requiring the ability
to build strong relationships across key stakeholders to
work as a team. In clinical development, data drives what
we do. The core skill sets for biostatistics translate well to
the broader clinical development environment, where clean,
conclusive data and insights are our key deliverables.
Clinical development and research continue to grow more
complex as new study designs, computational methods, and
study strategies are developed and implemented. In
addition, the industry is increasingly focusing on the patient
journey and incorporating real-world data into the research
process. Biostatistics is critical in designing solutions to
simplify how we approach more complex problems and
study designs to optimize insights.
As an experienced leader, what advice would you like to
give to aspiring entrepreneurs and enthusiasts who wish
to venture into the competitive industry that you are
serving?
The clinical development and healthcare space is
continuously changing, even more so given the lessons we
have learned from COVID. To make the most of this, my
advice is to never stop learning and exploring. Understand
your unique gifts and continuously explore how best to use
them to make an impact. Seek out trusted advisors along the
way. Care about and respect those around you and help
them find their gifts and put them to use. Find others from
diverse backgrounds who share your vision and motivation,
build trust, and seek ways to help each other become better.
What are the future goals of the company? How does it
envision scaling its operations in 2023 and beyond?
We will continue to evolve as biotech, specialty pharma,
and MedTech companies change their approach to product
development, expanding how they use technology to
simplify processes and deliver insights quickly. With our
ability to engage clients early in development and support
them throughout the product life cycle, we believe we can
eliminate roadblocks, improving how clinical research is
delivered to patients and the speed at which new health
solutions become available in the marketplace.
31
April 2023

34. W
Women
Supporting Women in
Healthcare
n the realm of healthcare, women have made
Isignificant strides in breaking barriers and excelling in
various fields. From doctors and nurses to researchers
and administrators, women have played a pivotal role in
shaping the healthcare landscape. However, despite their
accomplishments, women in healthcare still face unique
challenges and obstacles. In such a dynamic and demanding
field, the power of mentorship has emerged as a crucial tool
for women to navigate their careers, overcome hurdles, and
excel in their chosen paths.
Let's delve deeper to understand the power of mentorship
and its advantages!
Mentorship, at its core, is a relationship built on trust,
guidance, and mutual respect. It provides a platform for
experienced individuals to share their wisdom and
knowledge with aspiring professionals. For women in
healthcare, mentorship offers a safe space where they can
32 April 2023

35. 33
April 2023
The Power of Mentorship

36. 34 April 2023
seek advice, discuss challenges, and receive support from
those who have walked similar paths. It is a powerful tool
that not only facilitates personal growth but also fosters a
sense of community and solidarity among women in the
field.
Advantages of Mentorship
One of the primary advantages of mentorship is the
opportunity for networking. Women often find themselves
in situations where they are underrepresented or face
gender-based biases. By connecting with mentors who have
successfully navigated these challenges, women in
healthcare gain access to valuable networks and
connections that can open doors to new opportunities.
These connections can lead to collaborations, research
opportunities, career advancements, and even influential
positions within the healthcare system. Mentorship,
therefore, becomes a catalyst for professional growth and
development.
Furthermore, mentorship provides a platform for women to
develop their skills and knowledge. In the ever-evolving
landscape of healthcare, staying abreast of the latest
research, technologies, and advancements is crucial.
Mentors, with their years of experience, can offer valuable
insights and guide their mentees towards relevant resources
and learning opportunities. They can provide feedback, help
identify areas for improvement, and encourage women to
pursue additional training or education. By investing in
their mentees' development, mentors empower women to
become leaders and innovators in healthcare.
Mentorship is not solely limited to professional
development; it also plays a vital role in personal growth.
The healthcare field can be emotionally and physically
demanding, and women often face unique challenges
related to work-life balance, gender bias, and imposter
syndrome. Mentors, who have likely encountered similar
challenges, can provide emotional support, advice, and
encouragement. By sharing their own experiences and
vulnerabilities, mentors create a safe and empathetic space
where women can openly discuss their concerns and fears.
This support is invaluable in boosting confidence,
resilience, and overall well-being.
In addition to individual benefits, mentorship also has a
broader impact on the healthcare system as a whole.
Women mentors serve as role models, inspiring the next
generation of female healthcare professionals. By
witnessing successful women in leadership positions, young
women are encouraged to pursue careers in healthcare,
challenging gender stereotypes and breaking barriers. This
ripple effect creates a more diverse and inclusive healthcare
workforce, which is essential for addressing the unique
healthcare needs of diverse patient populations. Moreover,
mentorship fosters collaboration and knowledge-sharing,
leading to innovation and improved patient care.
To harness the power of mentorship effectively, it is
essential to establish formal mentorship programs within
healthcare organizations and institutions. These programs
can pair experienced mentors with mentees based on their
areas of interest, expertise, and career goals. Structured
mentorship programs provide a framework for setting goals,
monitoring progress, and maintaining regular
communication between mentors and mentees. They also
offer opportunities for networking, workshops, and
educational events, further enhancing the mentorship
experience. By institutionalizing mentorship, healthcare
organizations can ensure that all women have access to
mentorship opportunities, irrespective of their background
or position.
In conclusion, mentorship plays a vital role in supporting
women in healthcare. It provides a platform for networking,
skill development, and personal growth. Mentorship
empowers women to navigate the challenges they face and
excel in their chosen paths. It fosters a sense of community
and solidarity among women in the field, creating a more
diverse and inclusive healthcare workforce. By investing in
mentorship programs, healthcare organizations can unlock
the full potential of their female workforce and contribute
to a brighter and more equitable future for women in
healthcare. The power of mentorship is undeniable, and it is
time to harness it for the benefit of all women in the field.

38. Surround yourself
with people who have
interests that align
with your own and
proactively seek out
mentor-mentee
relationships.
36 April 2023
Xiaokui Zhang, Ph.D.
Chief Scien fic Officer (CSO)

39. 37
April 2023
nside the sphere of scientific technology innovation, it
Iis not enough to be driven by science and technology.
To step ahead of the crowd and steer the wheel of
transformation, it is important to be innovative,
empathetic, and lead the change one believes in.
Matching these qualities and transforming the sector for
more than two decades is Xiaokui Zhang, Ph.D. She has
brought incredible development through her skills. She is
known for her leadership acumen and her strong eye for
detail. Under her leadership, several healthcare
organizations had witnessed immense growth.
She has a rich 20 years of experience, acquired through
her Ph.D in molecular cell biology and later with her
research and development acumen gained through
multiple C-suite positions like Executive Vice President
and Chief Scientific Officer. Today, Xiaokui has an
impeccable record of creating a strong impact by taking
the lead and driving transformation in the research and
development of the care delivery segment.
Currently, as the Chief Scientific Officer of Aspen
Neuroscience Inc., Xiaokui is working on Parkinson’s
Disease and envisions turning the noncurable
Parkinsons’s into a manageable chronic condition along
with facilitating efficient cell replacement therapy. At
Aspen, she is motivated by the company motto—“Our
patients are waiting!” and leaves no stone unturned to
search for new solutions for the betterment of the
healthcare community.
Below are the highlights of the interview where Xiaokui
shares her wisdom and provides insights about her
journey at Aspen.
Xiaokui, please brief us about your journey as the Chief
Scientific Officer of Aspen Neuroscience.
After receiving my Ph.D. in Molecular Cell Biology at
Rockefeller University in New York, I am very grateful
to have spent the last twenty years building experience in
leading discovery and research and development in the
biopharmaceutical industry to advance research stage
programs into early clinical development for immuno-
oncology, hematology, and regeneration applications.
Prior to joining Aspen Neuroscience, I served as
Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at
Celularity, Inc., which was spun out of Celgene, where I
was Senior Director of Research and Development.
Please tell us about Aspen Neuroscience and the
inspiration behind it.
Aspen Neuroscience is the culmination of decades of
innovative work in stem cell research, powered by an
artificial intelligence (AI)-based bioinformatics platform.
The project began in Dr. Jeanne Loring’s laboratory at the
Scripps Research Institute, where Dr. Loring and Dr.
Andres Bratt-Leal worked to develop the first autologous
dopamine neuron replacement therapy, fueled by a
mission to address the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.
Summit for Stem Cell, a small non- profit primarily
Xiaokui Zhang
Nurturing Healthcare Through Innovative Leadership
USA’s 10 VIP Women in Healthcare 2023

40. 38 April 2023
comprising individuals advocating for people with
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in search of potential
regenerative medicine treatments, found Dr. Loring’s lab
and began raising funds to support the effort to spin the
team out of the research world and into a development
company, which eventually became the company Aspen
Neuroscience.
Can you highlight the products and services that
Aspen Neuroscience offers under your leadership?
Aspen Neuroscience is a San Diego-based development
stage private biotechnology company focused on
personalized cell therapies. We are developing autologous
(the patient’s own) induced pluripotent stem cells, called
iPSCs, to address diseases with a high unmet medical need,
beginning with autologous neuron replacement for both
sporadic and genetic forms of Parkinson’s disease (PD).
As a leading iPSC platform company, we combine stem cell
biology with the latest artificial intelligence and genomic
approaches to investigate patient-specific, restorative
treatments. We have developed and continue to grow a best-
in-class platform to create and characterize iPSCs- derived
cell medicines, including in-house bioinformatics,
manufacturing, and quality management systems.
Briefly discuss your role in addressing patients who have
Parkinson’s disease and provision of cell replacement
therapies.
At this moment, there are no disease-modifying treatments
for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The most common treatment
options are medications that may control the disease
symptoms and side effects, and, in some cases, surgery.
While effective, current options are often not satisfactory
for patients with PD. What Aspen is developing may not be
a cure. We won’t know until we study the treatment in
clinical trials. However, we believe it has the opportunity to
reverse motor symptoms, potentially converting PD to a
more manageable chronic condition and significantly
improving a patient’s quality of life. One of our mottos at
Aspen Neuroscience is “Our patients are waiting,” and we
feel this every day. I am so proud to be a part of this
company, working with such talented people.
With your expertise in biotechnology, immunotherapy,
and adoptive cellular therapy, how do you wish to utilize
upcoming opportunities and technologies in this field to
chart the company’s upward growth?
Through our AI-based bioinformatics tools, we consistently
produce high-quality iPSCs, as well as autologous
dopaminergic neuron precursors, developed from a simple

41. patient skin biopsy. In addition, we are immersed in
building and scaling out an in-house autologous cell therapy
manufacturing operation, which includes quality control
metrics and bioinformatics for process and product
characterization. This proprietary process is reproducible,
flexible, and leverages bioinformatics with a high success
rate. We consistently create high purity, viability, and cell
yield with our current GMP manufacturing process. And
now, we are evaluating multiple manufacturing
technologies and solutions to enable the development of
a scalable, closed, and automated end-to-end process.
That’s something that also excites us here at Aspen: our
cell development technologyis a platform with broad
potential and multiple opportunities to expand the current
pipeline into other cell types and indications.
How do you envision further strengthening Aspen
Neuroscience’s position in 2023 and beyond?
Over the last few years, the team has done an incredible job
of raising more than $220 million in Seed, Series A, and
Series B funding, which has put us in a position of real
financial strength to operate through our key value
inflection points. We have completed all our preclinical
milestones and are preparing to submit our first IND
(Investigational New Drug) application to the Food & Drug
Administration for our first product. We are on the verge of
becoming a clinical stage company, and I look forward to
all the steps moving forward into the next stages of this
process.
How would you desire to upscale your successful
journey within the healthcare industry?
I would like to continue mentoring the leaders of the future.
There is a real gap in workforce development in this
industry. At Aspen Neuroscience, we are a part of solving
that by helping develop rising leaders. It has been such a
gratifying experience to be a part of scientific technology
innovation, contributing to transforming this field while
also helping scientists and bioengineers through mentorship
in a collaborative way to advance their careers. The greatest
marker of success for me is when I can help accelerate my
colleagues’ individual development.
Having 20 years of work experience in the research and
development of biopharmaceuticals in the healthcare
industry, please share your words of advice for young
scientists who wish to explore the industry.
My words of advice would be to spend the time to build a
network of colleagues that support and empower you.
Increase your visibility and put yourself out there. Surround
yourself with people who have interests that align with your
own, and proactively seek out mentor-mentee relationships.
If you can identify the skills that need to be improved on,
work with a mentor, and learn to develop those skills.
Building these networks opens opportunities to strengthen
your skills, career opportunities, and potential.
39
April 2023

42. Be er Health and
a better way of life.