Our Leadership

Adrienne Watson, Ph.D.


Founder and Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Watson completed her Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics at the University of Minnesota where she utilized the Sleeping Beauty transposon system to conduct forward genetic screens in mice to uncover novel cancer genes and generated several mouse models of cancer, elucidating novel genetic pathways, and candidates for targeted cancer therapy. After completing her postdoctoral studies at the University of Minnesota, she joined Recombinetics in 2013, where she has led the development of swine models for preclinical drug and device studies and regenerative therapeutics. Her research focuses on applying gene-editing technology to develop swine models of human diseases, with a focus on cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as applying this technology for regenerative medicine applications.

 
 

David Nelson, Ph.D.
CEO

Dr. Nelson is currently the CEO of Splash Pharmaceuticals as well as the President of Life Science Group and a visiting investigator at the Scripps Research Institute. He has over 30 years of scientific and management experience in the biopharmaceutical and diagnostic industries. His previous positions include CSO of Provista Diagnostics, President and CEO of Santech (sold to American Specialty Health), Founder and CEO of Epic Sciences, Chairman of the Board of Clarity Foundation, and VP of BD within Amalyte Pharmaceuticals (sold to Kemin Pharma). He has had numerous SBIR grants, peer-reviewed publications, book chapters patent applications, and speaker invitations (BD, investor relations, science).

 
 

Daniel Carlson, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer, Recombinetics

Dr. Dan Carlson is the Chief Scientific Officer at Recombinetics, overseeing animal gene editing and research and development with a focus on strategic planning, and launching spinout opportunities. Dr. Carlson has nearly 20 years of experience in the genetic engineering field and is a leader in large animal genome engineering for both biomedicine and agriculture. Dr. Carlson is an inventor on most of Recombinetics’ >200 patent applications and has risen through several technical and operational roles at Recombinetics since joining as a foundational team member in 2011. Dr. Carlson received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota with a focus on genome engineering in large animals.

 

John Burtis, J.D.
Vice President of Legal, Recombinetics

Burtis has more than 20 years of experience representing clients in complex transactional, corporate, litigation and intellectual property legal matters. Prior to joining Recombinetics, Burtis held senior in-house legal positions with Medtronic, 3M, Ecolab, and Imation, and practiced with the law firms of Faegre Baker Daniels, LLP and Fish & Richardson P.C. Burtis received a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

David Aberle, MBA
Chief Financial Officer, Recombinetics

Aberle comes to Recombinetics with 20 years of experience in financial and strategic management including six years in the medical device industry at AGA Medical Corporation (now part of St. Jude Medical) where he served as Interim Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Controller, Treasurer and other key financial leadership roles. His expertise includes leading implementation of financial, operational and human capital systems during times critical to a company’s success. He earned a Master of Business Administration and a Mini Master of Medical Technology from the University of St. Thomas and has obtained his CPA and CTP credentials.

 

David Largaespada, Ph.D.
Scientific Advisor, Recombinetics and Therillume

Dr. Largaespada is an authority on mouse genetics, functional genomics, cancer genes, and disease models. He is currently a Full Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota and holds the Hedberg Family/Children’s Cancer Research Fund Endowed Chair in Brain Tumor Research. Dr. Largaespada was awarded the American Cancer Society Research Professor Award in 2013. He has co-founded four biotechnology companies and serves as a scientific advisor to Recombinetics and Therillume.

Perry Hackett, Ph.D
Scientific Advisor, Recombinetics and Therillume

Perry Hackett is a professor and co-founder of the Center for Genome Engineering and Director of the Innovation, Collaboration and Entrepreneurship Initiative at the University of Minnesota. He is a co-founder of three genome engineering companies: Discovery Genomics (gene therapy, acquired by Immusoft, Seattle WA), Recombinetics (large animals), and NovoClade (pest control).

 

 Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) – World-Renowned Experts

Fully Integrated into Scientific, Clinical, Commercial, and Regulatory Processes at Therillume

Eric Holland, MD, Ph.D.
World-Renowned GBM Physician/Scientist

  • Senior VP/Director of Human Biology Division, Director of Solid Tumor Translational Research - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

  • Neurosurgeon and physician-scientist focused on addressing the molecular basis of brain tumors to develop new, more precise approaches to their treatment

  • Discoveries have led to clinical trials for new drugs and drug combinations

  • Received American Brain Tumor Association Research Award

  • Member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies

  • Postdoctoral training with 2 Nobel laureates- Paul Berg, recombinant DNA technology; Harold Varmus, Director of NCI

 

Graeme Woodworth, MD


Leading Brain Tumor Expert and Neurosurgeon

  • Professor and Chair, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland

  • Director of Brain Tumor Treatment and Research Center, University of Maryland

  • Leads multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, radiologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and pathologists to treat brain cancer patients

  • Vast experience with animal models of brain tumors

  • Leading first-in-human clinical trials of MRI-guided focused ultrasound-mediated blood brain barrier disruption in US

Michael Berens, Ph.D.
Leading GBM Researcher

  • Deputy Director - Research Resources at TGen/City of Hope

  • Professor/Director, Cancer and Cell Biology

  • Head, Glioma Research Lab

  • Research on accelerating drug discovery & development for the treatment of brain tumor patients and biomarkers of tumor response to therapy

  • 4 patents, launched 2 biotech companies, active in entrepreneurial and BD space

 

Sheila Singh, MD, Ph.D.

Groundbreaking Researcher in Tumor Neurobiology

  • Professor of Surgery and Biochemistry, McMaster University

  • Chief Pediatric Neurosurgeon at McMaster Children’s Hospital

  • Division Head of Neurosurgery at Hamilton Health Sciences

  • Inaugural Director of McMaster's new Cancer Research Centre: Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research.

  • Holds a Tier 1/ Senior Canada Research Chair in Human Brain Cancer Stem Cell Biology

  • Director of the McMaster Surgeon Scientist Program