New Members Continue BHI’s Commitment and Mission in the BioHealth Capital Region
ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, October 20, 2020 – The Board of Directors of BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) unanimously approved the appointments of three new board members, Sally Allain, Head of JLABS @ Washington, DC, Joseph F. Sanchez, PhD, Director, Science Engagement, R&D North America, AstraZeneca, and Robert Silverman, Chief Business Officer, Alloy Therapeutics, Inc. BHI’s leadership also thanked outgoing Board of Director member Tracey Vetterick, formally of AstraZeneca for her contributions to the organization and support of many years.
“I am privileged to welcome Sally, Joe, and Bob to our Board of Directors,” said Richard Bendis, BHI President and CEO. “They all bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our already strong collection of leaders. We are excited to incorporate their unique skillsets to continue in our mission in growing the BioHealth Capital Region industry.”
SALLY ALLAIN as Head of JLABS @ Washington, DC, sets the strategic direction and oversees all operational activities for JLABS in the greater Washington metro region, including Maryland and Virginia. In this role, Sally is responsible for the process of evaluating and selecting a strong portfolio of innovators for JLABS @ Washington, DC, and building strategic partnerships with corporate, academic, government and industry organizations that aim to strengthen the region’s life sciences innovation network.
Sally joined JLABS after serving as Senior Director, Strategy & Operations on the Global External Innovation team at Johnson & Johnson, where she supported portfolio management and reporting and strategic business development efforts across the organization. Prior, Sally was with Janssen R&D, Immunology, where she managed a team in research operations and alliance management for the early discovery to early development portfolio. Sally understands well the needs of healthcare entrepreneurs, having launched her research career at a San-Diego based biotech startup and then working internationally for a UK-based governmental economic development agency creating early-stage biotech and academic collaborative programs aimed at accelerating the development of products to address the needs of patients and consumers.
Sally received her MBA from the University of California Berkeley, Haas School of Business, where she was recognized by ‘Poets and Quants’ as one of the ‘Top 50’ EMBA students across US & International Programs in 2016; a Master of Science Degree in Microbiology / Immunology from Virginia Tech; and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Virginia Tech.
Joseph F. Sanchez, PhD, joined AstraZeneca in November 2015 as a Learning & Talent Development Business Partner supporting their commercial biomanufacturing site in Frederick, MD. There, he led the strategic business unit through the successful global regulatory defense in support of (3) commercial product launches and multiple clinical entities. As a career research scientist and educator, Joe has a long history of building productive partnerships between academia, government and industry peers to address the challenges of strategic workforce preparedness for the biopharmaceutical industry as a whole. To this end, he serves on multiple boards and advisory committees to grow and strengthen the talent pipeline in each of AstraZeneca’s R&D hubs, nationally. Joe holds a PhD in Genetics from the University of Rochester (NY) and an MBA from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.
Robert Silverman, Since June 2020 Bob is the Chief Business Officer of Alloy Therapeutics. Prior to joining Alloy, Bob was a long time business developer at Roche in many roles over the years. Starting in 2018 Bob was in a uniquely established BD role in the Roche Diagnostics division, with dual responsibilities at both a divisional (strategy) and business area (operational) level, focusing on Companion Diagnostics. From 2013 until 2018, Bob led the “External Drug Discovery Partnering” team of Roche Pharma Partnering. Among other matters, Bob was responsible for delivering a structured and systematic approach to venture capital that translated to reach into drug discovery stage innovation via deals originating from venture capital interactions. From 2010 – 2012, Bob was a project leader for Merger & Acquisitions, in the Strategic Partnering Group of Roche Pharma Partnering.
From 2003 – 2010 Bob was a Global Licensing Director for Roche Pharma Partnering, responsible for negotiating intellectual property based licensing agreements across the full value chain of the Pharma business, ranging from enabling technologies and early phase opportunities to clinical stage assets to promoting and divesting marketed products. From 2001 – 2003 Bob was a Global Licensing Attorney. Bob joined Roche in 1993. Early in his career at Roche Bob was Senior Counsel for the US Affiliate patent department. Bob holds a degree in Chemistry from Franklin & Marshall College and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law, and is a registered patent attorney.
About BioHealth Innovation, Inc.
BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) is a public-private nonprofit organization focused on accelerating biohealth (therapeutic, diagnostic, medtech, and health IT) commercialization in the BioHealth Capital Region (Maryland, DC and Virginia). BHI’s team of expert Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, in-house venture analysts, and other professional staff work in the region to:
- Facilitate technology commercialization,
- Raise the profile of the industry cluster and individual organizations,
- Increase access to capital for early stage and growing companies, and
- Expand the pool of talent with commercially relevant experience.
BHI’s early stage company support includes market research and commercialization plan development; non-dilutive funding application assistance; a jobs board; event calendar; and introductions to investors, strategic partners, business advisors, and potential clients. BHI also manages wet lab space and provides referrals to other space for early stage companies, offers soft-landing support for international companies, and works with partners to co-host the annual BioHealth Capital Region Forum and an annual BioHealth Capital Region investor partnering conference. For more information: www.BioHealthInnovation.org
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Media contacts:
Rich Bendis
Phone: 301-637-6439, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.