Erik Schwiebert, Ph.D., CEO and Chief Scientific Officer
As Founder and Director, Erik focuses on overall leadership of DiscoveryBioMed, Inc. As CSO, he serves as the principal science consultant in client work and in managing the company’s research and development. He brings several years of experience as a researcher in cell physiology and pathophysiology. He has focused on receptors and ion channels in human epithelial cells that regulate ion transport and that are pertinent to therapeutics for cystic fibrosis, polycystic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus. He currently focuses his scientific efforts as an applied discovery scientist, applying his cell physiology and pathophysiology training to DBM programs. He was previously an Associate Professor with tenure at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Prior to that, Erik was a postdoctoral fellow at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His education includes a Ph.D. in Physiology from Dartmouth College and a B.A. in Biology from Grinnell College. Erik is originally from Princeton, NJ.
John H. Streiff, Ph.D., Chief Chemoinformatics Officer
As Chief Chemoinformatics Officer, John serves as the company’s specialist in pharmacology, molecular structure modeling, pharmacophore analysis, life science modeling, bioinformatics and cheminformatics. Not only is Dr. Streiff adept at finding ‘commonality in structure’ among DBM’s validated hit compounds but he is also facile at conversion of HTS bioassays into automated and robotic formats. His previous experience includes research on molecular pharmacology of anesthetic drugs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and at Mayo Clinic where John was an Assistant Professor. Dr. Streiff’s education includes a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Northern Iowa and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Idaho. John is originally from Rochester, MN.
Deborah Mai, Ph.D., Chief Biological Officer
As principal scientist, Deborah engages in both internal R&D and ongoing service contract programs at DBM. She received her Ph.D. and postdoctoral training under Dr. Adrie Steyn at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she studied Mycobacterium tuberculosis and developed a novel HTS system to identify small molecule inhibitors of protein-protein interactions in mycobacterial cells. Dr. Mai utilizes her training to develop, optimize, and perform cell-based drug screening platforms at DBM. Her expertise and knowledge in bacterial pathogenesis enables DBM to expand in its R&D and drug discovery services to include anti-infective programs. Deborah received her BS in Microbiology from Auburn University. She is originally from Tuscaloosa, AL.
Lawrence W. Greer, Jr., J.D., LLM, Chief Financial Officer
As Chief Financial Officer, Lawrence oversees all financial and legal functions for Discovery BioMed. He prepares and maintains DBM’s financial statements and works closely with the CEO to create and execute the financial goals of the company. He serves as the interface with DBM’s outside accountants and legal counsel. Previously, Lawrence served as Managing Partner/Chief Compliance Officer for Greer Capital Advisors in Birmingham where he was involved in the creation, investment, and execution of numerous start-up companies. His education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Managerial Economics from Hampden-Sydney College, and a Juris Doctor and LLM in Business Transactions from the University of Alabama School of Law.
Hai Vo, Ph.D., Senior Scientist & Business Development Specialist
As a senior scientist, Hai aids in designing and executing CRO service contracts as well as engaging in internal R&D. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He performed his graduate work under the mentorship of Dr. Gwendalyn King where he studied the role of an age-regulating protein called Klotho in neuronal communication and its implications on cognitive function. His training has provided him expertise in primary culture and cellular and molecular biology. He received his B.S. in Biology at Georgia State University. Hai is originally from Atlanta, Georgia.
Grace Salzer, Ph.D., Senior Scientist & Business Development Specialist
Grace performs a dual role at DiscoveryBiomed, developing cellular assays and protocols for various projects and assisting with a variety of CRO services. Dr. Salzer’s previous research involved employment of in vivo studies and ex vivo perfusion systems to understand the critical involvement of paracrine signaling mechanisms in sudden cardiac death. Dr. Salzer received her Ph.D. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where her dissertation work focused on pharmacological interventions of cardiac arrhythmogenesis in inherited forms of heart failure. Grace received her B.A. in violin performance and B.S. in Biology from Furman University. She is originally from Beaufort, South Carolina.
Dr. John Dixon, Ph.D.
John has over 30 years of experience in medicinal chemistry, recently retired from AstraZeneca. He lives and works from England. He is currently principal of JD Consulting International as a medicinal chemistry consultant. Prior to that, John was VP of the medicinal chemistry division for AstraZeneca in the UK. Dr. Dixon evaluates lead chemical classes for DBM that emerge from the many ongoing disease-driven and intact human cell-based drug discovery efforts.
Dr. Matthew A. Gonda, Ph.D.
Matt has over 30 years of experience in biotechnology leadership. He is an independent DBM Board member and key advisor to Dr. Schwiebert. Matt is a serial entrepreneur that has led multiple biotechnology companies and who serves on the boards of several companies and entrepreneurship committees across the US and worldwide. Matt may take an expanded role with DBM in the near future.