Scientific Advisory Board

Hideyuki Okano, M.D., Ph.D., Founding Scientist

Professor, Department of Physiology at Keio University School of Medicine. Dr. Okano is a world-recognized expert in regulatory mechanisms of neuronal development and stem cell biology.

Krys Bankiewicz, M.D., Ph.D

Professor, Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Bankiewicz directs translational research at the Brain Tumor Research Center and the Movement Disorders Research Program at University of California, San Francisco focusing on drug delivery and gene transfer therapies in models of Parkinson's disease and brain tumors.

Martha C. Bohn, Ph.D

Medical Research Institute Council Professor, Director of the Neurobiology Program, Children's Memorial Research Center, Northwestern University. Dr. Bohn's research concentrates on gene delivery and cellular therapy mechanisms to increase expression of neurotrophic factors and genes that interfere with neuronal cell death in Parkinson's disease.

Arnold Caplan, Ph.D

Professor of Biology, Professor of General Medical Sciences and Director of Cellular and Molecular Basis for Aging Training Program at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Caplan is a pioneer in research on mesenchymal stem cells. His research focuses on understanding the development, maturation and aging of cartilage, bone, skin and other mesenchymal tissues.

George R. Martin, Ph.D

Former Scientific Director, National Institute on Aging (NIH) and Senior VP Fibrogen. Dr. Martin is a world-recognized leader in biochemical and developmental research.

Yoichi Nabeshima, MD, Ph.D

Professor, Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine. Dr. Nabeshima directs a laboratory studying the molecular mechanisms of aging and cell differentiation.