Laura Wertz - CEO

Laura is a senior in Columbia University's Biomedical Engineering department, with a focus on cell and tissue engineering.  She will also receive a BS in Physics from Sewanee: The University of the South in May 2011.  She has worked on tissue engineering applications of decellularized cardiac tissue and the mechanical stimulation of human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Dr. Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic's lab, and has also contributed to a variety of other research projects at the University of Pennsylvania and Vanderbilt University.   Laura is currently an Engineer in the Plastic Surgery R&D division at Ethicon-Mentor (a Johnson & Johnson Co.).  

Nicholas Palmaro - CRO

Nicholas is a senior in Columbia University's Biomedical Engineering department, with a focus on cell and tissue engineering. His interests lie in the area of improving animal research models for medical studies. Nicholas has completed internships at KittyKind cat adoption clinic, the New York City Aquarium, and the Research Animal Resource Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Nicholas has plans to apply to veterinary school, and is currently interviewing for a position at Columbia University Medical Center's substance abuse laboratory.  

Ashwin Ramachandran - CFO

Ashwin is currently a senior in the Biomedical Engineering departmentat Columbia University with a focus in Biomedical Imaging. His interests are in signal and image processing, and the application of biomedical signal processing to consumer devices. After graduation from Columbia, he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering.

Christopher Bonafide - CMO

Chris was born and raised in the modest suburbs of Albany, NY and has risen great heights to become a senior in the Biomedical Engineering Department at Columbia University, with a focus in cell and tissue engineering.  He has received a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Providence College.  After working as a temporary construction inspector for the New York State Dept. of Transportation, Chris decided civil engineering was not in his future and took a new interest in biomedical engineering.  He plans on entering the industry after graduating from Columbia in May of 2011.