Science and entrepreneurship with patients first

Niklas has extensive experience from the global biotech and pharma industry and has held leadership positions in researchfocused pharmaceutical companies such as Merck/MSD and Pfizer, both in Sweden and the US. He has also been CEO and board member/chairperson of several medtech and biotech companies such as Medivir and CellaVision, and has experience from both private and public ownership. Niklas holds an MSc in Economics and Business Administration from Stockholm School of Economics, including studies at the University of Michigan.

Ann has extensive experience of senior HR and management positions from fast growing international businesses within Medtech, Biotech, IT and Software, companies such as Vironova AB and Jeeves Information Systems AB. She is a business-oriented HR professional with a sales & marketing background and has broad experience of working with organizations in change. Ann has held leadership positions at a strategic and operational level for more than 20 years and her competence covers the entire HR area with an emphasis on development and change management.

Kylie is a neuroscientist by training with a strong background in translational stem cell research. She holds a PhD in Neuroscience from Karolinska Institutet and was a research fellow at Columbia University, focusing on diabetes. Her discovery at Karolinska Institutet on cardiac stem cell therapy for treatment of heart disease formed the scientific foundation of ProCella. She was an Assistant Professor at Karolinska Institutet prior to joining SmartCella.

Nina has over 25 years of experience in the global financial industry, specifically in private equity and investment banking, with a focus on strategic communication, branding, and investor relations. She spent 15 years at the private equity firm EQT, leading their global communication, media, and branding efforts. Prior to that, Nina held communication specialist roles at SEB Asset Management and the investment bank Alfred Berg. She studied Business Administration (Marketing and Communication) at Stockholm University.

Oskar is a seasoned financial professional with extensive expertise in the Healthcare field stemming from his background in Private Equity and Investment Banking, focusing on Healthcare investments. He holds a MSc in Business and Economics from Stockholm School of Economics and HEC Paris, with a focus on Accounting and Finance. Oskar’s prior experiences includes roles at Morgan Stanley Healthcare. Altor Private Equity, Novo Holdings and Impilo Private Equity.

Ricardo is a biotech engineer bringing extensive global experience in Cell and Gene Therapy. He has managed technical teams at CCRM, Cell Gene Therapy Catapult, Cellectis, ProCella, and Alder, focusing on scalable bioprocess and analytical solutions. He was involved in the generation of induced pluripotent stem cell lines in GMP, and on the design of GMP facilities for the largescale manufacturing of cell and gene therapies. Ricardo has a PhD in Bioengineering from Instituto Superior Técnico and postdoctoral training at Peter Zandstra’s Stem Cell Bioengineering Lab.

Sabine is an experienced commercialization executive bringing more than 20 years of Cell and Gene (CGT) and Oncology business development and licensing experience to SmartCella. During her career, she has delivered numerous strategic partnerships and license deals encompassing technology and collaboration deals with both biotechs and pharmaceutical companies. Recently, she built and spearheaded Sirion Biotech’s licensing division and managed, following the acquisition by Revvity, the commercialization of broader Revvity’s CGT technology assets. Prior to this, Sabine held various BD and commercial positions at biotech companies specializing in oncology, regeneration, and molecular diagnostics. Sabine holds a PhD in molecular genetics from the University Konstanz and a Diploma in molecular biology from the University Konstanz and Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich.

Staffan is one of the founders of SmartCella and Professor in Clinical Neuroimaging at the department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet. He is also Senior physician/Consultant in endovascular neurointerventional procedures in the department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital, as well as research group leader who has published widely on novel neuroimaging and interventional techniques. In 2016, he gave the Seldinger Honorary Lecture at the European Congress of Radiology. In 2020, he received the Hans Wigzell Foundation Science Prize and in 2022 he received the Karolinska Institutet prize for Innovation and Utilization.

Veena is an experienced commercial and technical leader with over 25 years of experience in the areas of drug development, med tech, medical devices, and digital health having held a number of roles in both large and small company environments. She has a background in technology innovation, market strategy, licensing, and corporate business development in addition to having led launch and go-to-market teams for novel drug and medical device products. She comes most recently from a role as President and Chief Business Officer of Portal Instruments, a clinical-stage, needle-free drug delivery company. Prior to Portal, Veena served as the Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Corporate Development & Strategy at Beta Bionics. Before Beta Bionics, she spent over a decade at Eli Lilly and Company with various commercial and technical roles including Vice President of External Innovation for the Lilly Device and Drug Delivery teams. Veena currently serves on the Board of Directors of Predictive Oncology (Nasdaq; POAI), and as an advisor to Digbi Health PharmStars digital health accelerator. Veena has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.