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Corporate information

Transforming life through groundbreaking research and development

Experienced Executive Team

Dr Steven Petratos

Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer

  • Dr Steven Petratos is a Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Regenerative Neuroscience and Development Laboratory at Monash University’s Department of Neuroscience. He holds a PhD in Pathology from the University of Melbourne, where he received a prestigious Commonwealth AIDS Research Scholarship.
  • After completing postdoctoral training at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and the Howard Florey Institute, both at the University of Melbourne, he joined Monash University as a Senior Research Fellow.
  • Steven’s work in the field of demyelination has earned him recognition and more than $4 million in competitive grant funding and over $3.5 million in commercial contracts.
  • His recent research into the therapeutic potential of Dioprotectrome™ in neurodegenerative conditions has led to a global patent, the Bethlehem Griffiths Prize in Medical Research, and a large preclinical trial for MS treatment.

Sam Nastas

Co-Founder & Director

  • Sam Nastas is the Director and Founder of NeuOrphan. With a proven track record of transforming start-ups into successful enterprises and significant achievements in property development and in the Hospitality industry, Nastas brings a wealth of experience to his role.
  • Under his leadership, NeuOrphan has made significant strides in the field of biotechnology. Working closely with Dr Steven Petratos, Nastas has been instrumental in propelling the company to its current position, making impactful progress in the fight against multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions.
  • Guided by a strong commitment to improving the quality of life for individuals with neurological disorders, Nastas’s core values drive his work. His dedication to patient-centred care and innovative solutions shapes the company’s mission and vision.

Theo Rigopoulos

Director

  • As a Registered Tax Agent and member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand, Theo brings a wealth of business and financial acumen to NeuOrphan in his role as a Director.

  • Beginning his career at PwC, he has built decades of knowledge and business experience, and is currently a Partner at Melbourne-based boutique accounting & wealth management firm, Johnson Partners.

  • He predominantly advises SMEs, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals who typically hold senior management positions and directorships of publicly listed groups, and possesses significant expertise in relation to the property and entertainment industries. Theo has also established himself as a knowledgeable and trusted advisor on business acquisitions, as well as negotiating exit events in excess of $100m with private equity and international buyers.

Dr Stamatiki Kritas

Director

  • Stamatiki Kritas is the Managing Director of CEBR and the Cluster Manager of the Hellenic Biocluster.
  • Over the past few years, she has been working in non-research settings in the areas of business development, innovation support and cluster management.
  • Stamatiki has a strong history of driving innovation success, creating and fostering connections and identifying new opportunities for collaborations and growth.
  • She excels at connecting with key decision-makers and quickly building lasting partnerships that sustain growth and support innovation in Life Sciences.
  • Stamatiki has recently accepted an appointment with NeuOrphan to accelerate the clinical trials of DioprotectomeTM in the European Biopharma sector.

Scientific Advisory Board

Prof. Nikolaos Grigoriadis

Scientific Advisor

  • Professor Nikolaos Grigoriadis graduated from the Department of Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
  • He completed his PhD thesis and completed his specialization in Neurology at the same University. He specialized in Neuroimmunology and Central Nervous System Immunopathology at Hadassah University in Jerusalem and at the Brain Research Institute in Vienna.
  • He is Professor of Neurology at the Medical Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Director of the 2nd University Neurological Clinic of the AHEPA Hospital of Thessaloniki. The Multiple Sclerosis Centre and the Laboratory of Experimental Neurology and Neuroimmunology are part of the same clinic, for which he has been scientifically responsible for about 20 years.

Dr Paschalis Theotokis

Scientific Advisor

  • Dr Paschalis Theotokis is a researcher at The Laboratory of Experimental Neurology and Neuroimmunology, AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloniki. He also lectures at the Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
  • He holds an MSc degree in “Applied Molecular Biology-Molecular Genetics and Diagnostic Biomarkers” and a PhD title with honor distinction in Neuroscience from Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Dr Theotokis has extensive expertise in the microscopy field, including light, immunofluorescent, confocal and transmission electron microscopy. He has conducted research at Yale School of Medicine in the United States of America, INSERM in Paris France, and Monash University in Melbourne Australia, supported by various research grants.
  • Dr Theotokis has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications and has been an invited speaker at major international neuroscience conferences in Montreal, Canada, Honolulu Hawai’i and others.

Dr. Jae Young Lee

Scientific Advisor

  • Dr. Jae Young Lee completed his PhD in Medicine specialising in neuroscience, neuroimmunology and stem cells from Monash University. His research focused on targeting the molecular mechanisms of axonal degeneration, demyelination and remyelination in multiple sclerosis.
  • Dr Lee is a Director at Toolgen, Seoul, South Korea developing R&D strategies and programs, leading partner activities and facilities technology licensing transactions.
  • Dr Lee has led discovery to pre-clinical stage in various therapeutic areas including neurology, inflammatory diseases, oncology, rare diseases. Managed international CRO, CDMOs for AAV-based gene therapy. Built strategies for business development, internal/external planning, and licensing.
  • Dr Lee has authored over 40 publications. Dr Lee has also contributed to 16 patents filed.

Head of Business Development – Europe

Executive Advisory Board

Michael Rossbach

Advisor

  • A seasoned life & health sciences professional with expertise in immunology, diagnostics, cell-based therapeutics, neuroscience & genomics.
  • The founder and Managing Partner of Ikxinta – Advisers in Health and Life Sciences (USA, Portugal, Germany, Singapore, China)
  • Holds academic appointments at the National University of Singapore (NUS), at the Technical University of Munich (TUM Asia) in Singapore, at INSEAD Management School (Entrepreneur-in-Residence) and he is Professor and a member of the Faculty of the Witten School of Management (Witten Group, Germany).
  • An elected member of the Scientific Council of the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, a research centre of the Helmholtz Association (Germany’s largest accelerator and research centre).

Dr Bernard Combou

Biopharma and VC Advisor

  • Biotechnology and pharmaceutical Executive with broad international experience –EU, Japan & US — primarily in research, business development, venture capital, venture-backed private company Founder/CEO positions and more recently strategic & transactional consulting. A diverse experience focused on complex biomedical innovation and its business integration.
  • Co-founded spin-off of Aventis: Principia Pharmaceutical Corp – acquired by Human Genome Sciences in 2001 (a 12+x return to the investors over 18 months).
  • Three drugs approved and four in advanced clinical stage based on Principia’s platform,
  • VC: secured 5+x returns in two of four life sciences equity investments, Co-founded and led a molecular diagnostics university-originated start-up – Cellatope Inc. – acquired by Exagen in 2009.
  • As CEO, led successful turnaround of a French VC-backed, university-originated oncology company, Raised a total of $45M+ in equity and grants for these ventures,
  • Led M&A and various in & out-licensing transactions on a global scale.