Dr. George Schreiner, Chairman of the Board
Dr. Schreiner brings wide-ranging experience to PROOF as Chairman of the Board. Dr. Schreiner is currently the CEO of Cardero Therapeutics Inc., and was formerly the CEO and Director of Raven Biotechnologies Inc. – a US company focusing on the discovery of new targets in oncology and inflammation and generating monoclonal antibodies directed against those targets for therapeutic and diagnostic uses. Prior to working in industry, Dr. Schreiner held faculty positions at leading US medical academic institutions, including Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pathology at Harvard Medical School and Associate Professor of Medicine and Pathology at Washington University School of Medicine, where he received tenure. Dr. Schreiner has published extensively in the area of cardiovascular and renal disease, inflammation and oncology. He received his BA, PhD (immunology) and MD degrees from Harvard University and Harvard Medical School, respectively. Dr. Schreiner trained in internal medicine and nephrology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Dr. Schreiner is experienced in all phases of drug and Biomarker development, from discovery through clinical development to commercial launch. Prior to joining Raven, Dr. Schreiner was with Scios Inc., a Johnson & Johnson (J&J) company, where he served as President of Research and Development (R&D), leading discovery and development projects targeting heart and lung disease, inflammation and cancer. Dr. Schreiner served on the committee of senior managers that reviewed and approved all drugs entering full development at J&J, and chaired the committee of discovery research heads of the J&J subsidiaries to coordinate key areas of collaboration and strategic development. Prior to his position as President of R&D, Dr. Schreiner served as Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Officer at Scios. Dr. Schreiner is a board member of both the Preeclampsia Foundation and Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc.. Dr. Schreiner was one of the founding scientists at CV Therapeutics where he served as Vice President of Medical Science and Preclinical Research.
Dr. Bruce McManus, Director
As Director of the PROOF Centre, Dr. Bruce McManus brings broad skills and leadership qualities to the Centre’s mission. Dr. McManus is Professor in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at the University of British Columbia. He serves as Director of the UBC James Hogg iCAPTURE Centre for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research located at St. Paul’s Hospital. He served as the inaugural Director of the Providence Heart + Lung Institute at St. Paul’s Hospital from 2007 to 2010, and since then is serving as Co-Director of the community-wide Institute for Heart + Lung Health.
From 2000 until 2006, Dr. McManus served as inaugural Scientific Director of the Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health, Canadian Institutes of Health Research. He joined the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia in July 1993 as the Department Head of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, bringing 11 years of experience as a clinician-scientist at the University of Nebraska Medical Centre, including sabbatical time as John F. Fogarty Senior International Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Martinsried, Germany. Dr. McManus received an MD degree from the University of Saskatchewan, completed his residency in medicine and pathology at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, the PhD at the University of Toledo, and post‐doctoral fellowships at the University of California – Santa Barbara and the National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, NIH.
Dr. McManus’ basic and clinical investigative program is focused on mechanisms, consequences, detection and prevention of injury and aberrant repair involved in inflammatory diseases of the heart and blood vessels, with particular emphasis on enteroviral infections of the heart and transplant vascular disease. He works in a cross-disciplinary setting on translational research questions for which answers are critically enabled by computational sciences including biomarker discovery and validation, information acquisition, annotation, and use, and registry development to support heart and lung research. Dr. McManus has co-authored 350 peer-reviewed publications, as well as many chapters. He has edited four books. He is co-holder of several patents. He has served as Councilor for the International Society for Heart Research and for the American Society for Investigative Pathology. He is past-president of the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology. He currently serves on editorial boards of several professional and scientific journals, and on many advisory committees and boards. Dr. McManus has long been committed to training and mentoring scientist trainees across a range of disciplines. He has convened many public and private sector partnerships in research.
Dr. McManus has been recognized for his scientific contributions by numerous institutions and organizations through visiting professorships and lectureships. He was co-recipient of the prestigious Max Planck Research Award in 1991. He was elected to the Royal Society of Canada as a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences in 2002. He received a UBC Killam Research Prize – Senior Scientist Category in 2003. In 2005, he was elected as an inaugural Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and was honoured with the Research Achievement Award of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society. In 2006 Dr. McManus received the BC Innovation Council’s Lieutenant Governor’s Technology Innovation Award. He has been honored with the 2007 UBC Distinguished Medical Lecturer Award and 2008 David F. Hardwick Lifetime Achievement Award. He was awarded the 2009 CSATVB Scientific Excellence Award, Canadian Society for Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. Dr. McManus has been recognized by the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology with the 2010 Distinguished Achievement Award and by Providence Health Care with the 2010 Research & Mission Award. Recently, he received the 2011 Sarrazin Award Lecture from the Canadian Physiological Society.
Dr. Donald Brooks
Dr. Brooks is the Associate Vice President Research and International at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and a Physical Biochemist and Professor in the Departments of Chemistry and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine. He is also the Director of Support Programs to Advance Research Capacity (SPARC) at UBC.
Dr. Brooks plays a leadership role in promoting research, both federally and provincially, building research excellence, capacity and competitiveness at UBC, in developing institutional strategies for new initiatives and in encouraging and enhancing international research collaborations and partnerships with highly ranked research groups and institutions. His activities have particular emphasis on new funding initiatives from CIHR, MSFHR, SSHRC, NSERC, CFI and Genome BC. The CFI/BCKDF Resource Office, the Health Research Resource Office and the four Coordinators for SSHRC, CIHR/MSFHR, NSERC and CFI report directly to him. Dr. Brooks assists faculty to take full advantage of new funding initiatives and also promotes and coordinates interdisciplinary research. Dr. Brooks represents the University as a member of the Boards of Directors of TRIUMF (committees: Finance & Audit (chair); Technology Transfer and CFO Search Committee (chair)), the Canadian Light Source Inc. (Finance and Audit Committee), the Child & Family Research Institute of the BC Children’s Hospital (chair), and RES’EAU – WaterNet, an NSERC Network. He is Chair of the Institutional Council of the Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy and a member of the Coalition for Astronomy that represents the needs of this community to government. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and a Faculty Member of Green College.
Dr. Brooks’ major current research interests are in surface and polymer chemistry, particularly in developing polymer constructs for biomedical applications in which his group is a world leader. He is currently active in developing new biomaterials for blood contacting applications and developing nano-scale hyper-branched polymers as synthetic blood elements, drug delivery vehicles and for manipulation of cardiac metabolism, He has published over 150 research scientific papers, has edited four books and holds four US patents, two of which form the scientific basis for and are licensed by a successful point-of-care diagnostic company in Vancouver. He received the 2002 Golden Jubilee Medal, the 2000 UBC Alumni Award for Research, and has received recognition from NASA and the American Chemical Society for his research.
Ms. Katherine Gibson
Ms. Gibson is currently the Founding and Managing Director of Helio Consulting, Inc., a company focused on life sciences and technology. She was formerly the Vice President for Business Innovation at Pfizer Incorporated. Ms. Gibson has over 23 years of progressive experience spanning the pharmaceutical, financial services and information technology industries. She has focused the past 12 years of her career at Pfizer on tackling some of research and development’s toughest challenges in the areas of productivity, business efficiency, change management and innovation by applying industry knowledge through her solid background in technology. Ms. Gibson’s role also includes forging partnerships, collaborations, equity interest and acquisitions. Prior to assuming the role of Vice President for Business Innovation, Ms. Gibson was the Vice President of Research Information, leading a 250+ colleague global informatics organization supporting Pfizer’s Research organization.
A seasoned leader, Ms. Gibson has demonstrated skill in developing and leading large, diverse global teams of both business and technical talent. She is also particularly adept at building coalitions of support in complex matrix-oriented organizations. Ms. Gibson is a practiced communicator who establishes stable relationships at all levels and operates as a trusted partner to senior executives. In 2006, Ms. Gibson accepted a position in Worldwide Pharmaceuticals in the Office of the Vice Chairman to develop external collaborations to advance research and commercial opportunities in translational research, Biomarker discovery and evidence-based medicine. This particular expertise and perspective will be essential in her role on the PROOF Board of Directors.
Mr. Frank Holler
Mr. Holler is an active investor and successful entrepreneur. He is currently the CEO and partner of Lions Capital Corp., and the fund manager for BC Advantage Funds and the Lions Funds. He previously served as President & CEO of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., a private genomics-based drug development company from 1999 to 2003; as President & CEO of ID Biomedical Corporation, a vaccine development company sold to GlaxoSmithKline plc in 2005 from 1991 to 1998; and as the founding director of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, a TSX/ NASDAQ listed medical device company from 1992 to 1997.
Prior to working in biotechnology and healthcare, Mr. Holler was an Investment Banker with Merrill Lynch Canada and Wood Gundy Inc. (now CIBC World Markets).
Mr. Holler presently serves on the board of directors of Protox Therapeutics Inc. (Chairman), Allon Therapeutics Inc., Aquinox Pharmaceuticals Inc., Genome British Columbia, Providence Healthcare and Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. He was previously Director of the British Columbia Biotechnology Association from 1992 to 1998. In 2003, Mr. Holler received the BC Biotech Award for Vision and Leadership.
Mr. Holler holds a Masters of Business Administration degree and Bachelor of Arts (Economics) degree from the University of British Columbia.
Dr. Seigo Izumo
Dr. Izumo was most recently the Senior Vice President, Cardiovascular Therapeutics for Gilead. In this role, Dr. Izumo oversaw Gilead’s growing cardiovascular business unit. Dr. Izumo previously served as Vice President & Global Head of Cardiovascular Research at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research. Prior to joining Novartis in July 2003, he was a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston and at Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. In addition to his academic position at Harvard, Dr. Izumo was the Director of Cardiovascular Research and Physician, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, Boston and Director of the CardioGenomics Program, a National, Heart Lung and Blood Institute-sponsored initiative. Previously, he was Chief of the Cardiology Division and Professor of Internal Medicine and Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor.
Dr. Izumo received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Tokyo.
Dr. Heather Manson
In a career that spans the individual to the population, Dr Manson’s professional roles include a decade of clinical practice as an internist and hematologist in Richmond BC, medical health officer and senior medical director with Richmond Health Services, and Vice-President Health Services Integration and Population Continuums at Vancouver Coastal Health. Currently in her role as Director of Health Promotion, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention at the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion, Dr Manson directs the planning and policy development, evaluation and research activities of the Health Promotion, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention (HPCDIP) portfolio. Dr Manson promotes Ontario-wide system-level changes including providing evidence and best practices to public health partners to meet their needs and obligations regarding health promotion, chronic disease and injury prevention. Throughout her career, Dr Manson has focused on bringing evidence to inform best practices to achieve improvements in health – whether at the individual patient or population level. Dr Manson obtained her BSc, MD and MHSc degrees from the University of British Columbia, trained in internal medicine at the University of Toronto, and completed her Hematology training at McMaster University.
Mr. Bruce Milley
Mr. Bruce Milley was a general practice partner (1971 – 2002) and former managing partner (1984 – 1987) of the Vancouver office of Grant Thornton, Chartered Accountants, and its predecessor firms. His major clients included public companies, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations.
Since he obtained his degrees as a Charted Accountant and an MBA, Mr. Milley has contributed widely to his professions. Of particular note, he has been a Member of Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of B.C. for four years and has chaired and served on numerous committees of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of B.C.
Mr. Milley’s involvement in the community includes: Director of the Hamber Foundation (2008 – current), Executive Member of the Spirit of B.C., North Shore Committee and Chair of its Cultural sub-committee (2006 – 2008), Chair of the West Vancouver Community Foundation (2004-2008), Director of the West Vancouver Community Foundation (1999-2008), Director of the Jack Bell Foundation (2002-2009), and Director and Treasurer of the Arts Club Theatre Foundation (2006 – current).
As President of the Stanley Theatre Society, Mr. Milley was heavily involved in raising over $7 million to acquire and renovate the heritage building and convert it to a live theatre venue.
Dr. Volker Pfahlert
Dr. Volker Pfahlert is currently an independent consultant. In 1996 he joined Roche. From 2000 – 2003 he served as Head of Marketing & Sales Germany followed by an appointment as Head of Roche Applied Science in 2003. In 2005, Dr. Pfahlert was appointed as Head of Roche Centralized Diagnostics. From 1999 to 2006 Pfahlert also had a commitment at the University of Mannheim, where he regularly gave lectures on business administration. Pfahlert studied pharmacology and began his career as a laboratory manager in the pharmaceuticals industry, later working as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, where he worked on a wide variety of projects across many industries in Germany and abroad. Dr. Pfahlert was born in 1958 in Germany and holds a Ph.D. in pharmacology.
Dr. Bernard Prigent
Dr. Prigent is Vice-President and Medical Director of Pfizer Canada, the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc., the world’s leading research based pharmaceutical company. Under his leadership, Pfizer Canada has become one of the top R&D investors within the Canadian Life Science Sector. These investments cover most aspects of pharmaceutical R&D from discovery to clinical trials as well as alliances with the biotech sector and partnerships with academic institutions, federal and provincial funding agencies.
His current activities within the Life Science Sector include:
- Member of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Governing Council
- Chair of the Scientific Committee of the Research Foundation of Rx&D
- Member of the Strategic Advisory Committee of the Center of Excellence in Personalized Medicine (CEPMed)
- Board Member of the Center of Excellence in the Prevention of Organ Failure (PROOF)
- Chairman of the Strategic Orientation Committee of The Quebec Consortium for Drug Discovery (CQDM)
- Board Member of the Alberta Institute of Health Economics
- Board Member of the Canadian Dementia Knowledge Translation Network (CDKTN)
- Co-President of The Research Working Group of Montreal In Vivo
Dr. Prigent joined Pfizer in 1995 and occupied positions of increasing responsibility before becoming Vice-President and Medical director in January 2001. Bernard Prigent started his career as a family physician in France. He subsequently completed his MD in the field of Tropical medicine and Public Health and worked in various challenging clinical and hospital settings in France, Asia and Australasia for five years. He joined the pharmaceutical industry in 1984, working for the international medical and clinical research operations of three major European based pharmaceutical companies before coming to Pfizer Canada in 1995. His broad experience in pharmaceutical medicine was acquired while working on the clinical development and commercialization of numerous new medicines in a variety of therapeutic areas.
His interest in the management of R&D organizations led him to complete his MBA at Henley Management College in 1992.
Mr. Richard Rees
Mr. Rees is the CEO of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia. Mr. Rees holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics (Honours) from the London School of Economics. He received his Chartered Accountant (CA) designation in the UK in 1981, and joined the BC Institute in 1983. Mr. Rees earned his Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation in 1985, and his Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in 1993. He was elected a Fellow (FCA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC in 2000.
Mr. Rees has always advocated high regulatory standards and appropriate powers for the Institute in fulfilling its mandate, which led to the new CA Act, passed in October 2003. He continues to advocate for fiscal responsibility and a competitive regulatory environment for investment. He has also represented the profession on the Board of the Canadian Public Accountability Board.
As Executive Director of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon (1990-1999), Mr. Rees led the Foundation through a period of significant growth, raising over $100 million for research and health promotion. He spearheaded the development of successful advocacy and marketing programs in BC, and also led the development of national programs, including the “Health Check” seal of approval program. He has also served as the Director of the BC Health Research Foundation. In 1996, Mr. Rees was recognized for his achievements by being named one of Canada’s “Top 40 under 40″ by The Financial Post.
Within the CA profession, Richard has filled numerous roles, most notably as Chair of the Council of Senior Executives (2003 – 2010), which acts as the management committee for the Canadian profession. The profession has over 72,000 members and consists of 14 Institutes, each established and empowered by separate legislation.
Mr. Carl Roy
Carl Roy is currently the Senior VP at PHSA and Executive Officer of the Emergency Health Services Commission and the BC Ambulance Service . Carl brings more than 30 years of health-care leadership to the board. With experience in both the public and private sector, Carl served as President and CEO of Providence Health Care from 2001-2006. Most recently, he has been providing consulting services to Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health Authorities, among other corporate contracts.
Mr. Roy also served two short term appointments as President and CEO of bioLyticalTM Laboratories as well as Perceptronix Medical Inc. Under Mr. Roy’s leadership, Perceptronix successfully shifted its strategic focus from research and development to product commercialization.
Mr. Roy has also served as the President of Caritas Health Group in Edmonton and previously, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sudbury General Hospital and St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Sudbury, Ontario. Mr. Roy has a Master of Health Science, Administration from the University of Toronto and is a Certified Health Executive (Canadian College of Health Service Executives).
