Michael Rafii, M.D., Ph.D., joins leadership team as Senior Medical Advisor, Neurology
Company announces SAB with members’ deep expertise in neurological and cardio-metabolic diseases
ST. LOUIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Keystone Bio, a clinical-stage biotechnology company working to stop inflammatory-based disease at its source, announced today the appointment of Michael Rafii, M.D., Ph.D., as Senior Medical Advisor in Neurology. The company also announced a new scientific advisory board (SAB) with members bringing expertise in microbiology and downstream inflammatory processes, including cardio-metabolic and neuroinflammatory diseases.
Keystone Bio takes a novel approach to developing therapeutics and companion diagnostics targeting Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), which causes a highly prevalent, chronic infection in the mouth. Pg releases toxins into the bloodstream, triggering inflammation throughout the body and driving chronic diseases such as cardio-metabolic and vascular diseases as well as dementias such as Alzheimer’s Disease.
“We are thrilled to have Mike join Keystone’s scientific leadership team and share his extensive research experience in Alzheimer’s Disease and multi-center clinical trials,” said Daniel Sindelar, D.M.D., CEO of Keystone Bio. “With the addition of Mike, we are continuing to build upon the expertise of our world-class set of experts in chronic inflammatory diseases, with the ultimate goal of stopping disease at its source.”
Dr. Rafii is a board-certified Neurologist, Medical Director of the Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI) and Professor of Neurology at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal and on National Public Radio (NPR). Rafii received an M.D. and Ph.D. from Brown University and completed a Neurology residency at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a fellowship in Neurodegenerative Disease at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.
Dr. Rafii joins Daniel Sindelar, D.M.D., CEO; Marc Penn, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer; Peter Nara, D.V.M., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer; and Garth D. Ehrlich, Ph.D., FAAS, FAAM, Chair of the SAB; as a consultant on the leadership team of Keystone Bio.
Additionally, Keystone Bio announced the formation of a new scientific advisory board, with members including:
- Garth D. Ehrlich, Ph.D., FAAAS, FAAM, Executive Director of the Center for Genomic Sciences, Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Microbial Processing, and Executive Director of the Center for Surgical Infections and Biofilms within the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease at Drexel College of Medicine. In addition, Dr. Ehrlich serves as the Director of the Genomics Core Facility and the newly created Drexel Medicine Diagnostics Laboratory. To his role as Chair of the SAB, Dr. Ehrlich brings a lifetime of experience in molecular medicine, genomic science, and molecular diagnostics of infectious diseases.
- Rita Colwell, Ph.D., Member of the National Academy of Sciences, Distinguished University Professor of the University of Maryland College Park and at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Senior Advisor and Chairman Emeritus at Canon US Life Sciences, Inc., and President and Chairman of CosmosID, Inc. Dr. Colwell served as the eleventh director of the National Sciences Foundation and has received the 2006 National Medal of Science. She brings a wealth of experience in global infectious disease policy and research and deep scientific advisory acumen to her role.
- Robert Rissman, Ph.D., Professor of Neuroscience and Director of Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) neuropathology and biomarker cores at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Rissman is the biomarker unit lead for NIA’s Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials Consortium (ACTC) through the Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI) of University of Southern California (USC). He contributes significant experience in diagnostics for neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s Disease.
- Jan Potempa, Ph.D., D.Sc., Research professor at Jagiellonian University and Professor and Academic Scholar at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. Dr. Potempa brings expertise in Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) biology to his role.
- Shaun Lonergan, M.S., Chief Executive Officer at Precion LLC. Lonergan shares his extensive knowledge on diagnostics for disease detection.
- W. Sue T. Griffin, Ph.D., Alexa and William T. Dillard Professor and Vice Chairman of Research in the Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Director of Research, Geriatric Research Education, and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System; and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neuroinflammation. In her role, Dr. Griffin provides deep expertise in neuroinflammation and its impact on Alzheimer’s Disease.
- Edward J. Zuckerberg, D.D.S., FAGD, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Painless Social Media LLC and Venture Partner at Revere Partners. Dr. Zuckerberg shares experience in dentistry, periodontal disease and social media.
“Keystone’s leadership team and Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) collectively include experts in inflammation, Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases, cardio-metabolic diseases, infectious diseases, large-scale genomics and dentistry,” said Daniel Sindelar, D.M.D., CEO of Keystone Bio. “With the creation of our new SAB, we are bringing a wealth of perspectives and experience to our unique approach for early intervention in devastating inflammatory diseases.”
About Keystone Bio
Keystone Bio is advancing novel therapeutics and a companion diagnostic to shut down a primary driver of systemic inflammation, the root cause of many neurodegenerative and vascular diseases affecting hundreds of millions of people.
Our lead monoclonal antibody has been shown to eradicate Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) at its source, stopping the daily flow of its highly virulent and disease-causing toxins throughout the body. Our team of entrepreneurs and scientists, including the world’s experts in Pg, Alzheimer’s, cardio-metabolic disease, and dentistry is working to stop disease at its source.
Contacts
Media:
Megan McGrath or Chelsea Rule
MacDougall Advisors
(781) 235-3060
mmcgrath@macdougall.bio or crule@macdougall.bio