Cynata engages scientific advisors to provide advice and guidance on the Company’s research and development programs. Cynata seeks advice regularly from one of the Company’s founders, Professor Igor Slukvin. Additionally, Cynata has strong connections with numerous globally recognised experts and key opinion leaders in the fields of cell biology, regenerative medicine and biopharmaceutical development. Relevant experts are called upon to provide advice on an ad hoc basis, depending on the nature of the issues to be discussed.
Igor Slukvin is Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health. His research program focuses on development of hematopoietic, vascular and mesenchymal lineages from human pluripotent stem cells. His work identified several novel progenitors for blood, endothelial and mesenchymal stem cells, including mesenchymoangioblasts (MCAs), a common precursor for endothelial and mesenchymal stem cells. Professor Slukvin received his MD and PhD from Kiev Medical University, Ukraine, and completed postdoctoral and medical residency training at the University of Wisconsin. He has published over 70 peer reviewed research papers and serves on several editorial boards. Professor Slukvin holds key patents in the area of haematovascular cell production from human pluripotent stem cells, several of which form the core of the Company’s intellectual property portfolio, and is a co-founder of Cynata and also of Cellular Dynamics International, previously listed on Nasdaq but acquired by FUJIFILM in 2015 for US$307m.
Chrishan Samuel is Head of the Fibrosis Laboratory and Deputy Head (Research) of the Department of Pharmacology at Monash University, and is also the Deputy Head of the Cardiovascular Disease Program within the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute. His research program focuses on the development and evaluation of novel peptide, stem cell and combination therapies/strategies for treating organ fibrosis (scar tissue accumulation), which is a hallmark of organ failure. Professor Samuel received his PhD from the University of Melbourne, completed his post-doctoral training at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Molecular Medicine Research Institute (CA, USA) and then the Howard Florey Institute (University of Melbourne), before joining Monash University in 2012. He has authored over 160 publications and serves on several editorial boards and committees. Since 2016, Professor Samuel has consulted to and worked with Cynata Therapeutics to develop their CymerusTM-derived MSCs as a potential treatment for respiratory diseases associated with fibrosis, including asthma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.