BioBlast Scheer Partners

Kathie Callahan Brady works with some of highly gifted, emerging Biotech and Technology companies as President and CEO of Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI). Since stepping into her role at the incubator/accelerator in 2016, FITCI has seen their client base grow 276%. Currently they serve 51 companies, and in total have served over 163 companies. She herself is an entrepreneur with more than 30 years of executive-level experience in IT, real estate, and business development. She’s led entrepreneurs and corporations in strategies to achieve high-level success. Kathie has founded and helped grow four successful companies in various industries including real estate, telecommunications, healthy lifestyles, and consulting.
Kathie continues to pursue her passion for real estate and was a partner in Quantum Realty Capital specializing in commercial real estate and financing. She founded future CEO to empower entrepreneurs to start and operate their own businesses and leads with that same passion at FITCI. She served as Executive Director at the National Academy of Sciences & taught for University of Maryland. She is an avid networker & passionate about helping others succeed. Her business model, leadership & innovation strategies have guided clients towards productivity resulting in improved profits. Kathie has helped 100’s Companies raise funding & grow significantly. One client with steady losses over 5 years was turned around to achieve profits of $20m. Her passion is to help owners turned around, increase profits & achieve a better quality life. Kathie practices what she preaches & has been a member of Vistage for the past several years helping to further develop her own leadership while taking her company to $72m.
 
She believes that success is a conscious choice & the role of a leader is to lead change along with drive growth. She feels privileged to work with the top 5% who actually step up, assumes leadership, & makes a tangible difference. To achieve this, leader’s need fresh ideas & feedback from others who have similar experience. She accomplishes this through her work as a CEO Group Chair with Vistage, CEO Space & 212 Business Mastery which was the impetus for the SGAB "Strategic Growth and Advisory Boards" she created at FITCI.

Carsten Brunn, Ph.D. serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Cartesian Therapeutics. Prior to Cartesian’s merger with Selecta in November 2023, Carsten served in this role at Selecta. Before joining Selecta, he was the President of Pharmaceuticals for the Americas Region at Bayer and a member of the Global Pharmaceutical Executive Committee. Before being appointed to that role in 2017, he was the President of Bayer Pharmaceuticals in Japan, a role he had held since 2013. Carsten also served as the Chairman of the European federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) Japan, an organization representing innovative pharmaceutical companies in Japan.
Over the last 25 years, Carsten has held a number of senior leadership positions in Europe, Asia, and the United States at leading companies such as Eli Lilly, Novartis, Basilea, and Bausch & Lomb. Carsten graduated from the University of Freiburg in Germany with a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences. In addition, he studied at the University of Washington under a research scholarship. He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Hamburg, Germany, and completed his executive education at London Business School. Carsten serves as a director on the board of Surface Oncology.

Kelly Schulz is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history of working within government administrations. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Government, Team Building, Coalitions, and Proposal Writing.
She is a strong administrative professional with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) focused in Political Science and Government from Hood College.

Ruth Cheng, PhD, is a distinguished leader in healthcare and life science innovation, boasting extensive experience in product development, strategic planning, corporate venturing, mergers and acquisitions, portfolio management, marketing, business operations, and regulatory and clinical affairs. Her technical expertise spans multiple major therapeutic areas, Class II and III medical devices, drug delivery systems, and combination products.
 
Dr. Cheng is renowned for her proven ability to shape and manage high-performing teams, demonstrating exceptional skill in de-risking and accelerating the market introduction of innovative products. Her strategic insights and comprehensive knowledge make her a pivotal figure in advancing medical and technological advancements in the healthcare industry.

John Mumm brings over 20 years of experience in academia and the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry, having held positions of increasing responsibility. His primary focus has been on discovery research at the interface between cancer biology and the adaptive immune response. John has significant expertise in understanding what tumors secrete that negatively impacts the immune response and developing therapeutic strategies to overcome these barriers.
 
He has accumulated substantial experience in translational research, particularly in rendering cytokines into therapeutic entities. Recently, John has directed his efforts toward the manufacturing of biologics for Phase 1 and 2 immuno-oncology clinical trials. His specialties include Discovery Research, Biologics Manufacturing, Oncology: Immune Interface, Cytokine Biology, and Translational Research.

Astek Diagnostics was founded by Mustafa Al-Adhami, PhD, inspired by his grandfather's experience with a urinary tract infection (UTI). Al-Adhami saw the pressing need for a more efficient and accurate diagnostic solution, leading him to create the Jiddu Analyzer, designed to deliver rapid antibiotic sensitivity testing within one hour.
The company began its journey in 2021, when Al-Adhami outlined his vision for a one-hour antibiotic sensitivity test. Over the next year, Astek Diagnostics focused on developing its first prototype, recognizing that the issue was widespread and affected many beyond Al-Adhami’s personal experience. The high incidence of UTIs, especially among vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and post-menopausal individuals, highlighted the urgent necessity for innovation in this field.
www.astekdx.com