About Us
Leadership
Dr. Andranik Andrew Aprikyan
Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Aprikyan is a Co-Founder and the inventor of the Stemgenics multi-specific non-integrating multi-functionalized activated nanoparticle (NIMFA-NP) platform technologies for cell reprogramming and control of cell fate. Dr. Aprikyan serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer at Stemgenics. Formerly, he was on the faculty at the School of Medicine Hematology/Oncology, University of Washington for nearly 20 years. Dr. Aprikyan’s 30+ years of research and teaching experience mostly at the University of Washington School of Medicine first as a Senior Postdoctoral Fellow, and then as Research Assistant Professor of Medicine and an Ambassador for the American Cancer Society set the stage for his recent discoveries. Prior to the University of Washington, Dr. Aprikyan was a Lead Investigator in the Department of Neurochemistry of Aging at the Institute of Biochemistry, Yerevan, Armenia. Dr. Aprikyan’s research was focused on molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying development of inherited and acquired diseases associated with severe neutropenia and leukemia, correction of pathological conditions triggered by various gene mutations, and therapeutic potential of small molecule inhibitors, bioactive proteins, human pluripotent stem cells, bone marrow stem/progenitor cells and more specialized cell types.
Dr. Aprikyan’ research was funded by a number of private and federal grants awarded by the American Cancer Society, Amgen, NCI, NHLBI, NIAID and NIDDK. He served as an ad hoc member of the NIH study sections on Translational Medicine and Stem Cells. He also served as a member of Review Boards and Moderator of scientific sessions at several major national and international biomedical forums. Dr. Aprikyan has more than 80 scientific publications, and he served as Associate Editor and reviewer for several prestigious peer-reviewed journals. His research and recent scientific discoveries led to the development of the Stemgenics multi-functionalized cell-penetrant nanoparticle reprogramming platform technologies for targeted control of cell fate and functions. Dr. Aprikyan is an inventor on 14 issued and pending patents. In his spare time, Dr. Aprikyan likes swimming, hiking, and skiing with his family and friends. He is a competitive table tennis player and a recipient of several national and international prizes.
Scientific Advisors/Consultants
H. Joachim Deeg, MD
Dr. Deeg is a Professor of Medicine, University of Washington and a Member of Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC). He has treated many cancer patients with stem cell therapy and successfully prosecuted a number of clinical protocols through FDA approval.
Carol Ware, Ph.D.
Dr. Ware is Professor of Comparative Medicine and Director of the Tom and Sue Ellison Stem Cell Core and Associate Director of the Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington. Her research has focused on pluripotent stem cells for over 30 years and currently focuses on induction of pluripotency and the factors that control the maintenance of pluripotency.
Aravind Ramakrishnan, MD
Dr. Ramakrishnan is Assistant Member of the FHCR and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington. Dr. Ramakrishnan is an expert on mature cell reprogramming into stem cells using lenti-viruses and episomal vectors.
Zaza Khuchua, Ph.D.
Dr. Khuchua is Associate Professor of Pediatrics/Molecular Cardiology, University of Cincinnati, OH. Dr. Khuchua is an established expert in cardiovascular biology and cardiac physiology.