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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.

Sean Cortis

Co-Chief Executive Officer & Chief Financial Officer

  • As a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand and a Chartered Tax Advisor, Sean has served in a multiple of CFO and corporate advisory roles
  • Sean serves in board and advisory roles to a diverse range of businesses globally ranging from professional services to healthcare.
  • Sean is a founding director of Miskawaan Health Group operating medical clinics across Europe and Asia and founded and served as CEO of United Dental Corporation, a Dental Partnership Organisation partnering with leading dentists in the USA.
  • Sean is also a Director of Meizon Innovation.

Liz Ferentinos

Co-Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer

  • Liz brings over 30 years of experience in commercial operations, successfully leading start-up SMEs in the life sciences sector.
  • Liz is a Co-Founder of Esfam Biotech and Meizon Innovation. She excels in corporate governance, capital allocation, and portfolio management, with a strong background in project management.
  • Liz is skilled in human resources and M&A, adept at managing organizational change and fostering positive workplace culture. Her fundraising expertise has been crucial in securing capital, driving business growth, and innovation.
  • Additionally, Liz offers external business consulting, providing strategic insights to help organizations achieve their goals. Her versatile leadership has consistently led to successful outcomes.

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.

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).

Alex Zacharopoulos

Head of Business Development – Europe

  • Alex is an accomplished leader with over 25 years of experience in project management, and business development and engineering across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
  • He has been partner and owner of consulting and construction businesses in UK, the Middle East and China and is well-connected in the UK, Middle East and Greek business industry.
  • Currently his focus is on integrating advanced technologies into practical applications and he is passionate for translating cutting-edge research into impactful, real-world solutions.
  • Alex holds advanced degrees in Civil Engineering (Imperial College London, MEng), Geology (University of Athens MSci), and Business as well as Public Administration (Athens University of Economics and Business, MBA and MPA), along with numerous professional certifications/qualifications.