Introducing our Team

David held several senior leadership positions at Merck Research Laboratories (2007-2017) in drug discovery and early clinical development in the areas of diabetes and obesity. At MRL, the range of drug targets he prosecuted included GPCR for glucose-dependent insulin and incretin hormone secretion, novel approaches toward insulin sensitization with a focus upon reversing lipotoxicity, creation of safer insulins including glucose-responsive insulins and insulin partial agonists, and multi-valent incretin analogs. He led the effort that first reported an effect of GPR119 to bolster glucagon counter-regulation to hypoglycemia. In recent years, he has published more than 25 manuscripts concerning these projects. Prior to joining MRL, from 1987 to 2007, Dr. Kelley was a physician-scientist and Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. A focus of his academic research was identifying mechanisms of insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, and he helped to pioneer concepts of metabolic inflexibility, tissue lipotoxicity, and mitochondrial dysfunction. He has more than 230 publications based on his academic research. David received his endocrinology training at the Mayo Clinic; it was his research mentor, Dr. John Gerich, who made the seminal observation of impaired glucagon counter-regulation in T1D.

Over 25 years of global pharmaceutical experience spanning research, development, manufacturing, technical operations, portfolio management, and commercial. Senior executive positions at GlaxoSmithKline, Shire Pharmaceuticals.Most recently Susan held the position of Global head of Manufacturing, Science and Technology at AstraZeneca.

David founded BRI (Biopharmaceutical Research Inc) in 1991, which was recently acquired by Frontage Laboratories Inc. Prior to this, Dr. Kwok served in a variety of senior scientific and management roles at Health Canada from 1991 to 1998. David has led over 100 IND enabling programs with deep expertise in microbiomes. Dr. Kwok received his education at the University of British Columbia, a B.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, an M.Sc. in Medicinal Chemistry, and a Ph.D. Pharm in Bioanalysis & DM/PK.

Dr. Tom Elliott obtained his medical degree (MBBS) in 1982 from the University of Queensland, Australia. In 1985, he moved to Canada, where he completed his core specialist internal medicine training at the University of British Columbia (UBC). From 1989 to 1991, Dr. Elliott took advanced training in diabetes at the University of London, UK. In 1991, he obtained sub specialist certification in Endocrinology & Metabolism (including diabetes) from the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC). Since 1992, Dr. Elliott has been a faculty member at UBC, where his current rank is Clinical Associate Professor. He was Co-Director of Undergraduate Medical Education for the UBC Division of Endocrinology from 1992 to 2012, and chaired the Endocrinology & Metabolism Society of BC, the professional body representing all BC endocrinologists and diabetes specialists, from 2008 to 2012.Since 1992, Dr. Elliott has been on the active medical staff at Vancouver General Hospital. BC Diabetes was founded by Dr. Elliott in 2007, its mission to optimize control and improve outcomes for the 300,000+ British Columbians living with diabetes. Dr. Elliott is Medical Director of BCDiabetes between braces a case management model & overseeing a staff of 18. He is passionate about everything diabetes-related but most of all technology & advocacy. He has authored 73 scientific papers and is actively engaged in 15 ongoing research projects targeting early intervention in Type 1 diabetes, DIY artificial pancreas systems, smart systems in diabetes management, continuous quality improvement and investigational new drugs for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Over 35 years of experience in management of pre-clinical research projects in the field of toxicology, pharmacology and drug metabolism Since 2007, Jean Pierre has acted as a private consultant to support IND enabling programs for numerous start-ups and  emerging biopharmaceuticals including recently acquired Inversago Pharma, Bellus Health and Locemia Solutions (Baqsimi).  He has contributed to pharmaceutical asset valorization in Canada, US and Europe.

25+ years of Drug development and regulatory counsel expertise within the pharmaceutical industry.  Phillip most recently served as staff counsel at the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). Phillip held senior regulatory counsel positions at global multinationals, AstraZeneca, JNJ and Shire.  Phillip provides legal expertise through the regulatory complexities during all stages of product development including the marketing application process through to commercialization and lifecycle management.

Over 25 years of senior Investment advisory and capital markets experience. Consistent Chairman's Club member achieving highest transaction status participating or leading over $250 million in financing. Serial entrepreneur.

Over 25 years senior investment advisory and capital market specialist. Led or co lead over $250 million in financing at Canaccord Genuity and PI Financial. Serial Entrepreneur.

Over 20+ years at Eli Lilly & Co where he served as researcher and Chief Scientific Officer of Obesity Drug Discovery. He is currently CSO of Scioto Biosciences and an Adjunct Professor at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.  Mark is a Fellow of the Obesity Society and has served on the SAB of Helmholtz Alliance for Imaging and Curing Environmental Metabolic Diseases (ICEMED) in Munich, Germany. He has served on the editorial boards of Endocrinology, Molecular Metabolism, and J of Hepatology & Gastroenterology. Dr. Heiman received his Ph.D. in Physiology from Louisiana State University School of Medicine. His postdoctoral training in neuroendocrinology was at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He joined the faculty of Medicine at Tulane University where he co-discovered the drug Lanreotide before joining Lilly. Mark has authored over 100 scientific papers and is best known for his seminal work performed at Lilly, which defined the key roles for both leptin and ghrelin in regulating energy balance.