Enrique Lin Shiao is a Principal in Mission Related Investments at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation investing in new technologies towards novel treatments and cures for cystic fibrosis. Before joining CFF, he worked in asset acquisitions at BridgeBio Pharma, where he focused on sourcing and investing in novel therapies for rare diseases. Prior to that, Enrique trained as a biomedical scientist completing his PhD in Genetics at the University of Pennsylvania and a postdoc in Gene Editing in the laboratory of Nobel Laureate Jennifer Doudna at UC Berkeley.
Rusty Kelley is the Managing Director of the Retinal Degeneration Fund (RD Fund), the venture arm of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Kelley is responsible for external investment opportunities that strategically aligns with the Foundation’s therapeutic mission. Prior to FFB, Kelley directed several translational programs at the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and prior to BWF was the head of preclinical at Tengion, a tissue engineering biotech out of Boston Children’s Hospital and Wake Forest University. Earlier in his career Kelley served in clinical development at PPD, and in the pharmaceutics and analytical chemistry divisions for AAIPharma. Kelley received a BA in Chemistry from UNC Chapel Hill, and a PhD in Pharmacology at LSU’s Health Sciences Center. Kelley was then awarded an American Heart Association postdoctoral fellowship at the School of Medicine at UNC Chapel Hill, and recently earned an MBA from Duke University. Kelley currently serves as a co-founding Director of Opus Genetics, a Director at SparingVision and Nacuity Pharmaceuticals, and a Board Observer for Atsena Therapeutics and Amber Bio.
Bernice Martin Lee serves as the President and CEO of Epilepsy Foundation. She has over 25 years of philanthropic development experience. Prior to joining the Epilepsy Foundation she was Senior Philanthropy Advisor at OhioHealth, the largest healthcare system serving Central Ohio. Her priorities included leading fundraising efforts for the historic $400 million Grant Medical Center Transformation Project in downtown Columbus. Lee was also responsible for leading a team of philanthropy advisors supporting care sites and service lines throughout the OhioHealth footprint.
Prior to OhioHealth, Lee supported the Department of Internal Medicine and its divisions at the Ohio State University (OSU) Wexner Medical Center as their senior director of Development. A highlight was her ability to secure a $3.4 million cash gift from an individual donor that helped to sustain lupus research during the pandemic.She has also served as Major Gifts Officer for the Red Cross.
Michael Kelly, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, CureDuchenne
Dr. Michael Kelly joined CureDuchenne in December 2011 as chief scientific officer. Kelly, a senior pharmaceutical executive, brings more than 25 years experience in drug discovery and development to the organization. He is responsible for advancing drug development programs and identifying new drug targets that exhibit potential to transform the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Before joining CureDuchenne, Kelly served as president and U.S. site head of Renovis, Inc. and has held senior positions at Amgen, Inc., Wyeth (Pfizer) and Wellcome (GlaxoSmithKline).
Kelly holds a Ph.D. from the University of Southampton (U.K.), held research positions at the University of Michigan and University of Nottingham, is an inventor on more than 100 patents and is widely published in peer reviewed journals.
Mike’s expertise includes patent strategy, patent prosecution, and patent diligence (both buy and sell side) for venture financings, public offerings, and mergers and acquisitions. He has provided patent counseling in support of pharmaceutical and biotechnology products in all stages of development, from proof of concept to regulatory approval to product launch. Mike has also counseled well over 100 venture capital firms in their investments in biotech and pharmaceutical companies.