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Kathryn joined CND Life Sciences in early 2024 and has over a decade of experience in life sciences and healthcare. Based in CND’s Atlanta, GA office, she plays two core roles for the company as a member of the Executive Leadership Team. The first is serving as CND’s general counsel, overseeing legal affairs and compliance activities of the company. The second is leading key business growth functions focused on market access strategies with payers, CND’s biomarker services offerings for pharmaceutical clients, and expansion opportunities with business partners in the neurology sector.
Prior to joining CND, Kathryn worked at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, a global biotechnology company headquartered in Boston. During that time, Kathryn worked as Corporate Counsel and subsequently held roles in Marketing and as Chief of Staff in Commercial Strategy & Operations. Kathryn received her Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of North Carolina and BAs in Spanish and Public Relations from Auburn University.
Dr. Murphy joined CND Life Sciences in October 2023 as a Senior Dermatopathologist with over 20 years of experience in the field of dermatopathology. In her role at CND, Dr. Murphy focuses primarily on interpreting skin biopsy assays associated with CND’s groundbreaking Syn-One Test® to help clinicians diagnose Parkinson’s disease and related disorders. Her core pathology activities include reading slides to detect phosphorylated alpha-synuclein in cutaneous nerves, H&E evaluation, and analyzing Congo Red portions of the Syn-One Test. Dr. Murphy’s career includes notable roles as a staff pathologist with Cockerell Dermatopathology in Texas and as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Departments of Dermatology and Pathology at UTSW. Recognized as Physician of the Year with Ameripath in 2002, she transitioned to private practice in Florida, where the lab was later acquired by Aurora Diagnostics. During her time with Aurora Diagnostics, she served as a dermatopathologist in both full-time and locum positions across various locations.
Her interest in neurodegenerative diseases led Dr. Murphy to actively participate in Alzheimer’s disease trials as a Clinical Trials Sub-Investigator in Southern California. Following Aurora Diagnostics’ acquisition by Sonic Healthcare USA, she contributed her expertise to Arizona Dermatopathology Labs, a division of Sonic, where she served as Medical Director for approximately two years.
Dr. Murphy is a graduate of the University of Florida College of Medicine and completed her AP/CP residency and Cytopathology fellowship at Wake Forest University/Baptist Medical Center, where she served as Co-Chief Resident. Subsequently, she pursued a Dermatopathology fellowship at Cockerell and Associates/University of Texas Southwestern Medical School (UTSW) in Dallas. Excited about CND’s work and mission, Dr. Murphy is eager to explore additional opportunities within the organization where her diagnostic, interpersonal, and humanistic skills can make a meaningful impact.
Terri Rosov serves as Quality Director and joined CND Life Sciences in 2022. Her laboratory background in diagnostic assay development shows a relentless desire to elevate patient care with a focus on quality processes and continuous improvement in a laboratory setting. Before joining CND, Terri worked at the intersection of research and industry for 10 years on large, grant-funded research projects from BARDA, DARPA, DOE, NIH, AzDHS and others in areas of molecular biology and immunology. In 2020, Terri validated Arizona’s first saliva-based COVID-19 lab-developed test at the ASU Biodesign Clinical Testing Laboratory (ABCTL), using laboratory automation and quality management principles to scale the process to provide test results for up to 2,000 people in 24 hours. As Quality Manager of ABCTL, Terri championed the lab’s initial accreditation with the College of American Pathologists (CAP), and most recently helped CND achieve CAP accreditation in 2023. Terri holds degrees in both Biology and Japan Studies from Earlham College in Indiana and spent a year abroad at Waseda University in Japan.
Bryan joined CND Life Sciences as VP of Information Technology in April 2024. With over 25 years of experience across diverse industries including healthcare, distribution, supply chain, and contract manufacturing, Bryan brings a proven track record of driving digital transformation, optimizing IT infrastructure, and implementing solutions to enhance operational efficiency and strategic growth. In his role at CND, Bryan is responsible for all IT functions including strategy, architecture, security, engineering, and operations. Prior to joining CND, Bryan worked at Atara Biotherapeutics where he supported infrastructure and cloud services across 3 sites. Before that, he served as the Sr. Director of Infrastructure Services and Cloud Engineering at McKesson for 15 years. Bryan holds an MS in Information Systems from Boston University and a BA from the University of Kentucky.
Hernan Lopez joined CND Life Sciences as Chief Operating Officer in June 2024 to provide strategic leadership and drive operational excellence across a range of functional areas within the company. Hernan brings nearly 20 years of experience in medical device and life sciences companies having served in operating roles including manufacturing, supply chain, quality, regulatory, customer operations, service and repair, corporate strategy development, engineering, and R&D.
Before joining CND, Hernan was the Executive Vice President of Operations of GT Medical Technologies, where he successfully brought an innovative medical device for the treatment of brain cancer to market, built the supply chain, and grew the business. Prior to GT Medical Technologies, Hernan successfully managed explosive growth venture-backed company operations with successful exits, supported post-merger integrations, and worked in several operations roles in contract manufacturing organizations as well as multinational medical device companies such as Boston Scientific.
Hernan holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and serves as a mentor in various entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Annemarie joined CND Life Sciences as Vice President, Market Access in June 2024, bringing over 17 years of experience in the life sciences and advanced diagnostic laboratory industry. In her role, she oversees the development and execution of CND’s payer engagement and contracting strategies, aimed at fostering affordable access to CND’s neurodiagnostic products. Annemarie’s professional journey began as a molecular scientist, encompassing roles in academic research and laboratory operations. Before joining CND, she held the position of Head of Managed Care at Bionano, where she managed coverage and contracting for the laboratory while supporting reimbursement initiatives for their proprietary optical genome mapping technology. Before that, during her 12-year tenure at Caris Life Sciences, she advanced through roles in research and development, product development and validations, and eventually established and led the payer relations and managed care department. Annemarie earned a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Mount Holyoke College and completed graduate coursework with a focus in Molecular Biology at the State University of New York at Albany.
Dr. Ty Abel joined CND Life Sciences as Senior Neuropathologist in August 2024 as a member of a multidisciplinary pathology team. He is responsible for the interpretation and reporting of the microscopic findings associated with the Syn-One Test® and other advanced neurodiagnostic assays provided by CND Life Sciences and also collaborates with CND’s research team on various initiatives. Board-certified in Anatomic Pathology and Neuropathology, Dr. Abel has 20 years of experience in academic pathology, including diagnostic neuropathology, research, and teaching.
A physician-scientist, Dr. Abel is a graduate of the University of Arizona’s MD/PhD program. This was followed by postgraduate training in Anatomic and Neuropathology at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, where he received comprehensive training in the neuropathologic diagnosis of all forms of neurodegenerative disease, including the various forms of synucleinopathy, such as Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Abel has published broadly in neuropathology, including contributions to the literature in neurodegenerative disease.
Dr. Abel previously served as Director of Neuropathology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee and at Banner University Medical Center (BUMC) in Tucson, Arizona. In addition, as Professor of Pathology at BUMC, Dr. Abel held the roles of Director of the Autopsy Service and Director of the Residency Training Program. Dr. Abel has served on the editorial board for the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology and as an ad hoc reviewer for many scientific journals. He is a member of the American Association of Neuropathologists and the recipient of several teaching awards.
Brandy Maschhaupt joined CND Life Sciences as Director, Clinical Study Operations in July 2024 to help lead and conduct clinical study and evidence generation programs for the company through an expanding department of clinical research professionals. Brandy brings 20 years of experience with health and life sciences companies, having served in leadership roles in both the medical device and pharmaceutical industries.
Before joining CND, Brandy was part of the Clinical Project Leadership Team at IQVIA, one the largest clinical research organizations in the world. In her project management roles, she oversaw clinical trial initiatives for innovative Class III medical device companies and other clients.
Brandy began her career in clinical coordination and took on increasing responsibilities by serving as a clinical research associate (CRA), clinical manager, and project leader, with a special interest in contributing to technology-driven, customer-focused product innovation. Brandy holds an MBA from Marylhurst University and graduated from the Ohio State University with a BS in biology.
Sowmya Arunkumar joined CND Life Sciences as SVP, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance in early 2025, bringing over 20 years of experience in diagnostics, medical devices, and digital health. Prior to this role, she served as Vice President at Tandem Diabetes Inc. in San Diego and spent 17 years at Cepheid, a Danaher company, where she built a global regulatory team and played a key role in registering diagnostic products worldwide. Sowmya has a proven track record of securing global approvals and developing compliant quality and regulatory strategies to expedite time to market. She holds a Master’s degree in Microbiology and has completed the Executive Development Program at the Kellogg School of Management. Sowmya Arunkumar is passionate about team building and organizational structure, striving to help businesses achieve their full potential.
Sowmya loves traveling, reading, and mentoring college students to help build the next generation of regulatory and quality experts.
Dr. Gheyara is a board-certified neuropathologist and anatomic pathologist with 25 years of postgraduate experience. She joined CND Life Sciences as a contract pathologist in 2024 and supports work associated with the Company’s Syn-One Test. For the past 10 years, Dr. Gheyara has headed her own pathology consulting firm, Satori Biomedics, Inc., working on research and clinical projects with various leading biotechnology firms. Dr. Gheyara previously led translational research on Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and other neuropathologic conditions at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease and the University of California, San Francisco, where she previously completed her residency and fellowship training. She has been awarded multiple research grants from the NIH and has published several first author papers. Dr. Gheyara obtained her combined MD and PhD degrees in molecular biology from UCLA Medical School, where she was part of the distinguished Medical Scientist Training Program.
Dr. Maloku joined CND Life Sciences in February 2025 as one of the company’s experienced neuropathologists and is based at CND’s Boston office. Prior to CND, he served as a clinical assistant professor and attending physician of pathology in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences at University at Buffalo, where he taught medical students and pathology residents and received the 2024 Annual Resident Teaching Award. He is also a lecturer of pathology and neuropathology at German-Kosovo Heimerer College of Health Sciences in Kosovo, where he was selected as a teacher of the year in 2021.
After graduating from the University of Prishtina Medical School in Kosovo, Dr. Maloku served as an academic staff member and completed his master’s degree in neurosciences and neuropsychopharmacology. Dr. Maloku served as postdoctoral fellow at the University of Illinois Chicago as a member of the scientific group at the Neuroscience Institute. He has authored several scientific publications in the field of neuroscience and neuropathology and published them in prestigious journals such as PNAS and Nature-Neuropsychopharmacology, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in these disciplines.
Dr. Maloku completed his residency in anatomic pathology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire, followed by a two-year clinical fellowship in neuropathology at New York University Langone Medical Center. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Pathology.
Jeannie joined CND Life Sciences in 2025 as Senior Director, Clinical Research and Biomarker Services, bringing over 25 years of clinical research experience with a strong focus on drug development trials in hematology/oncology, endocrinology, and neurology.
Prior to joining CND, Jeannie served in key clinical research roles at ICON, one of the world’s largest contract research organizations, including as a mentor for clinical development professionals and as a clinical quality manager on global trials. She also spent time at Banner Health and the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix in site management and clinical research associate roles. At CND, Jeannie leads the Clinical Research team in Scottsdale that focuses on large grant-funded studies including those sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) as well as clinical utility studies related to the Syn-One Test. Additionally, Jeannie plays a significant role in helping to secure and deliver on contracts with pharmaceutical companies for CND’s growing Biomarker Services business.
She holds an MS in Clinical Investigations from the MGH Institute of Health Professions in association with Harvard Medical School and has maintained SOCRA certification since 2003.
Dr. Lauren Allen joined the CND Life Sciences pathology services group in 2025 as a board-certified anatomic and clinical pathologist with over 14 years of general clinical pathology service in large university hospitals, health network systems, and community hospitals. Her experience includes time as CLIA medical director for a community hospital, laboratory inspection team leader for College of American Pathologists, and an active participant on multiple hospital committees, including chair of the Infection Control Committee and pathologist presenter on a Multi-Disciplinary Cancer Committee.
In her role at CND, Dr. Allen is responsible for reading, interpreting, and reporting on CND’s innovative suite of cutaneous neurodiagnostic tests. Dr. Allen is committed to providing the most optimal outcome for each patient by practicing personalized medicine and merging precision diagnostic advancements in pathology with advancements in digital pathology.
Dr. Allen completed medical school at Jefferson Medical College, residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at Duke University Medical Center, and a fellowship in Surgical Pathology at the University of North Carolina Hospital and School of Medicine.
Dr. Bernardino joined CND Life Sciences in March 2025 as a staff pathologist, with over two decades of experience spanning academic medicine, digital pathology, research, and laboratory leadership. Based in CND’s Boston office, she is a board-certified anatomic and molecular genetic pathologist. Her main role at CND is to evaluate skin biopsies for the presence or absence of phosphorylated alpha-synuclein in dermal nerve fibers and measuring intra-epidermal nerve fiber density. She also provides pathology support for other company initiatives such as research and development.
Dr. Bernardino has held clinical and leadership positions at Roche Tissue Diagnostics, Aureon Biosciences, and the Cell Genetics Lab at North Shore–LIJ. She served as the Associate Medical Laboratory Director at Roche Tissue Diagnostics for over two years in addition to her responsibilities as a staff pathologist there. She was the lead pathologist for several emerging biomarkers being developed at Roche in partnership with other pharmaceutical companies.
Her diverse career includes faculty roles such as Associate Professor of Clinical Sciences at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, where she also served as the director of several courses, a student mentor, the vice chair of the admissions committee, and the faculty advisor of the student pathology club.
Dr. Bernardino completed fellowships in surgical pathology at Augusta University and molecular genetic pathology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, following her residency in anatomic pathology at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City. She earned her medical degree from University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center in the Philippines.
Richard Goozh is a serial entrepreneur and investor with a passion for building, financing, and selling technology companies. His career includes founding companies, investment banking, and Fortune 500 leadership roles. Richard is the founder of Cambrian Growth Partners, a private investment and advisory firm focused on high-growth life sciences and high-tech companies. Cambrian has led dozens of successful financing and M&A initiatives.
At heart, Richard is a technologist. Beyond his academic focuses in electrical and industrial engineering, he has an ongoing thirst for new technologies. This passion has led to deep dives into fields as diverse as biotechnology, software, wireless technologies, semiconductors, thin film technologies, and more.
Richard has been an investor in private tech companies for more than 20 years. He holds board and advisory roles with several portfolio companies including the Cambrian-led financings of Payzaar (SaaS) and CND Life Sciences.
Dr. Brian Caveney has served as Executive Vice President and President, Early Development Research Laboratories and Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at Labcorp since 2023. In his current role, Brian leads all early development research laboratories globally and oversees all medical and scientific affairs, oncology, cell and gene therapy, and quality for Labcorp.
Since joining Labcorp in 2017, Brian has been instrumental in accelerating growth in the company’s diagnostics business, as well as advancing its medical and scientific strategy. Under his leadership, the company has advanced diagnostic testing services, introduced new products across key therapeutic areas, and expanded its hospital strategy. Brian led efforts to expand the accessibility of COVID-19 PCR testing, used his expertise to help bring understanding about testing and treatment options to the public, and advanced the way the company works with the broader healthcare industry.
He is a nationally recognized health policy expert, and before joining Labcorp, was Chief Medical Officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. In addition to various roles in the healthcare division of the core health plan, Brian also served as Chief Clinical Officer of Mosaic Health Solutions, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Blue Cross NC, for strategic investments in diversified health solutions businesses. Before that, he was a practicing physician and assistant professor at Duke University Medical Center and also provided consulting services for several companies in the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, region.
Brian serves on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Healthcare Quality Alliance. He holds an MD from the West Virginia University School of Medicine, a JD from the West Virginia University College of Law, and an MPH in health policy and administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He completed his residency at Duke University Medical Center and is board certified in preventive medicine, with a specialty in occupational and environmental medicine.
Jack is a Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Tanis Venture Management, an early-stage venture capital firm with a focus on early-stage healthcare and defense companies. At Tanis, Jack leads day-to-day operations and works with portfolio companies to help them fulfill their strategic, operating, and financial needs. In addition to his role as a director at CND, he currently serves on the boards of Rampart Communications and Photonics657 and as a board observer at Bounce Imaging. Jack was also on the board of Dive Technologies prior to its acquisition by Anduril Industries.
Prior to his work at Tanis, Jack held several operating roles at Bay Area startup companies. Earlier in his career he worked at DCI Group managing issue advocacy campaigns for Fortune 25 companies and as a staffer on a US presidential campaign. Jack has a BA in History and Classics from Amherst College and an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
Sarah Winter joined CND Life Sciences in early 2023 and currently serves as the Director, Patient Engagement & Advocacy on a national basis. Sarah is a licensed social worker (LICSW) and has spent her career serving thousands of patients and their families in neurological disease non-profits and clinical settings, including movement disorder and oncology clinics. Sarah has a personal connection to Parkinson’s, fueling her appreciation for how CND Life Sciences is improving individual diagnostic journeys and accelerating research gains, both easing patient burden and generating hope for the community. Working closely with CND’s Medical Affairs team, Sarah co-led the launch of CND’s Patient Engagement & Advocacy Department, which seeks to educate the patient community about, and improve access to, precision neurodiagnostics. She is passionate about supporting the growing prodromal cohort and promoting earlier detection of neurodegenerative disorders so patients have the best chance to impact their health outcomes.
Jessica joined CND Life Sciences in July 2025, bringing more than 20 years of progressive experience in optimizing financial performance across healthcare organizations.
In her role, Jessica heads the revenue cycle department with a strategic focus on driving operational efficiencies, leveraging data analytics, and maximizing technology—all while fostering staff development and engagement.
Before joining CND, she held leadership positions at several medical device companies, molecular and genetic laboratories, and a top laboratory software vendor. Her diverse background equips her with a deep understanding of both the technical and human aspects of revenue cycle operations.
Beyond her leadership responsibilities, Jessica is passionate about enhancing the patient experience. She is committed to creating systems and processes that allow patients to focus on their health journey without the burden of administrative complexities.
Alex Bradley joined CND Life Sciences in 2025, bringing extensive experience across the diagnostics, life sciences, and pharmaceutical services ecosystems. Alex brings a particular passion to his work at CND, as his family has seen firsthand the devastating impacts of Parkinson’s disease. As Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, Alex supports CND’s continued growth and excellence in bringing precision diagnostics to neurologists, augmenting its value proposition through thoughtful expansion and scalable data strategies.
Before joining CND, Alex worked in L.E.K. Consulting’s Life Sciences Enablers practice, specializing in corporate / growth / M&A strategy and opportunity assessments in high-growth, complex technology spaces, with a focus on precision medicine and diagnostics. Alex received his PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he also independently developed and managed consulting engagements with incubating startups like Octant and founded the Los Angeles “March for Science.”
Melanie Thistle joined CND Life Sciences as Senior Vice President, Commercial in early 2026 and brings 30 years of U.S. and international commercial strategy and leadership experience across biotechnology, precision medicine, diagnostics, and other high-growth innovation companies.
Melanie’s career has centered on building and leading commercial organizations at key inflection points in healthcare innovation. She began her professional career in entrepreneurial technology companies, spending nearly a decade helping Fortune 200 executives prepare for the early digital transformation era and later supporting physicians through the adoption of electronic prescribing technologies.
She then spent nearly a decade at Genzyme Corporation, where she built and led multiple commercial functions including sales, marketing, training and development, U.S. and international product launches, and integration of acquired businesses into scaled commercial models.
Over the past decade, Melanie held leadership roles at Genomic Health and Exact Sciences, contributing to the growth of precision oncology and cancer screening businesses during a period in which the organization advanced multi-cancer early detection and minimal residual disease strategies. Her experience spans enterprise commercial strategy and execution, health policy and government affairs, reimbursement strategy, and building high performing teams in complex and evolving markets.
At CND Life Sciences, Melanie leads the company’s commercial organization with direct oversight of Sales, Marketing, Clinical Services, Customer Call Center, Field Training, and elements of Patient Access. She is focused on strengthening commercial execution and advancing timely and more precise diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease.
A former collegiate athlete, Melanie earned her bachelor’s degree from Regis College and her MBA with honors from Suffolk University. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active and spending time with her husband, son, and golden retriever.
Andy is currently an active entrepreneur and Angel Investor with portfolio holdings in life sciences, software, e-learning, advanced manufacturing, AI, and real estate tech. He is currently an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at IESE Business School in Barcelona, where he mentors and advises a variety of entrepreneurs and start-ups. He is the founder of Component Sourcing International LLC (CSI), a Strategic Sourcing™ company that manufactures custom-engineered metal components in a variety of product categories. The company was acquired by a private equity firm in 2014.
Prior to founding CSI, Andy was a Partner in Osage Investments, a private equity firm based in Philadelphia, with funds dedicated to leveraged buyouts of middle-market manufacturers and early-stage venture investing. Andy held various board and management positions in Osage’s portfolio, and his venture investments include Inphonic (NASDAQ: INPC), Internet Capital Group (NASDAQ: ICGE), and GHR Systems (acquired by Metavante). He also served as CEO of Farmington Engineering, an Osage portfolio company later acquired by Swiss conglomerate KVT Group.
Andy holds a BS in Biology from Tufts University and an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. His current passion is social impact investing, and he just recently returned from two years in in Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain to reside in Connecticut with his family.
Rick Morello joined CND Life Sciences as CEO in early 2020 and brings over 25 years of experience with health and life sciences companies, having served in senior executive roles for medical device, digital health, and diagnostics firms. Before joining CND, Rick was the Global President of Life Sciences at Aptus Health, a former subsidiary of Merck, Inc. (acquired by WebMD) and CEO of Plasma Surgical, an innovative medical device company with technology used around the world for complex, tissue-sparing procedures. Rick began his career in strategy consulting, rising to Partner at Mercer Management Consulting (now part of Oliver Wyman), where he helped build the Health & Life Sciences Practice and managed large biopharma and diagnostics clients. A Kellogg MBA and graduate of the University of Virginia, Rick also founded and helped grow three nonprofit organizations that have raised nearly $100 million in the last decade to fulfill health and social impact missions, including Family Reach Foundation, which is working with the Biden Administration’s Cancer Moonshot Initiative to address the financial burden of cancer on patients and families.
Bailey joined CND Life Sciences in 2018 as one of the first full-time employees of the organization. In his current role as Director, Digital Pathology Operations & Process Engineering, Bailey focuses on conducting laboratory process improvement, test optimization, exploratory research, and new product development. His team also supports the execution of Syn-One testing protocols as part of company- and grant-funded clinical studies and industry-sponsored trials involving drug candidates that target alpha-synuclein or related mechanisms of action. As a biomedical engineering graduate of the University of Arizona, Bailey brings foundational science and research capabilities to CND along with an understanding of pharmaceutical, organic chemistry, and personalized medicine disciplines.
Karina serves as CND Life Sciences’ Director of Billing Services and Operations, playing an integral role in establishing the company’s billing and reimbursement protocols, policies, and infrastructure in support of commercializing the Syn-One Test™. In addition to overseeing CND’s revenue cycle management processes, which include daily interactions with public and private payers, Karina conducts important prior-authorization and patient support services critical to offering the Syn-One Test as a new diagnostic tool in clinical practice. Karina joined CND Life Sciences in 2019 and helped implement the company’s laboratory infrastructure, quality standards, day-to-day processes, and CLIA certification. Prior to joining CND, Karina spent over a decade with other prominent laboratory companies, including Genzyme Genetics, LabCorp, and Agendia, where she successfully managed a large staff and assisted in laboratory set up, accreditation, and optimization. Karina received her bachelor’s degree in Public Health and Bio-Education from the University of California at Long Beach.
Dr. Christopher Gibbons, one of CND Life Sciences’ three founders, joined CND formally as the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) in July 2024 where he continues to play an integral role in translating key science in the field to help develop the company’s core diagnostic technology. As CND’s first CSO, Dr. Gibbons collaborates with CND leaders to define the company’s scientific strategy and oversees a range of essential R&D activities including exploratory research, clinical development, and digital pathology innovation. Dr. Gibbons also works closely with CND’s pathology team on training, application, and continuous quality of the company’s cutaneous neurodiagnostic tests. A clinician-scientist involved in the investigation, evaluation, and treatment of patients with autonomic and peripheral nerve disorders, Dr. Gibbons’ clinical expertise extends to the investigation and treatment of autonomic and peripheral neuropathies. He has served as Chair of the Clinical Affairs Committee for the American Autonomic Society, Chair of the Autonomic Section of the American Academy of Neurology, President of the American Autonomic Society and Chair of the International Diabetes Neuropathy Consortium. Dr. Gibbons has established the neurocutaneous skin biopsy lab at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), where he oversees all clinical testing and served as the director of the Joslin Diabetes Center Neuropathy Clinic for 20 years. He has received several NIH and foundation grants to study cutaneous α-synuclein expression in nerves within the skin. Dr. Gibbons completed his medical training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and his residency in Neurology at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Gibbons completed a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology and autonomic disorders at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He also received a Master in Medical Science degree through a combined Harvard and MIT training program. Dr. Gibbons is a Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Roy Freeman, one of CND Life Sciences’ three founders and a senior scientific advisor, is a Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and director of the Center for Autonomic and Peripheral Nerve Disorders in the Department of Neurology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Freeman is former chairman of the World Federation of Neurology research group on the autonomic nervous system, former president of the American Autonomic Society, and former chairman of the Autonomic Section of the American Academy of Neurology. Currently, he serves on the Executive Committee and the Steering Committee of the Analgesic, Anesthetic, and Addiction Clinical Trial Translations, Innovations, Opportunities, and Networks (ACTTION), a public-private partnership with the FDA. With research and clinical interests in the physiology and pathophysiology of the small nerve fibers and the autonomic nervous system, Dr. Freeman has a special interest in biomarker development in neurodegenerative disease. He is the principal investigator on National Institutes of Health-funded studies on the neurological complications of diabetes, the neurobiology of stress, and biomarker development in alpha-synucleinopathies and neuropathic pain. He is Editor-in-Chief of Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical and on the editorial boards of the Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System and Clinical Autonomic Research.
Dr. Feng joined CND Life Sciences in November 2021 as a Senior Pathologist and Laboratory Medical Director, responsible for performing slide interpretation in support of the Syn-One Test™ and other cutaneous neurodiagnostic tools and ensuring CND meets and exceeds all laboratory quality standards. Dr. Feng is also a key contributor to CND’s research and development projects, continuous improvement initiatives, and future collaborations with the biopharma industry. An anatomic and clinical board-certified pathologist, she attended NYU School of Medicine and performed residency training at the University of Arizona. She has practiced pathology in both private and academic settings. Prior to starting at CND, she worked as a pathologist at Roche Tissue Diagnostics (formerly Ventana Medical Systems) for 17 years. Her accomplishments include developing a companion immune-oncology biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma and developing biomarkers for HER2 in new tumor indications with high unmet medical needs such as biliary tract carcinomas, colorectal cancer, and NSCLC. For the past three years, she also served as the medical director for the CAP/CLIA Laboratory at Roche, overseeing more than 200 clinical trials sponsored by a variety of pharmaceutical companies. During her tenure as medical director, the laboratory maintained its accreditation by the College of American Pathologists and acquired accreditation by ISO 15189 and the New York State Department of Health.
Dr. Haydel joined CND Life Sciences in November 2021 as a Senior Pathologist in the company’s pathology services group. In her role with CND, Dr. Haydel performs histologic interpretation of bright field and fluorescent slides and images for patient diagnosis and categorization in support of the Syn-One Test™ and other cutaneous neurodiagnostic tools offered by CND. In addition, Dr. Haydel is a key contributor to CND’s pathology optimization efforts, ongoing scientific and innovation programs, and a range of research initiatives. She is a board-certified pathologist with both anatomic and clinical specialty training from UC Irvine and has dual subspecialty fellowship training in pediatric pathology from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and in dermatopathology from UCLA. She has a special interest in genetics as it relates to inherited and epigenetic mechanisms of acquiring disease, including disease identification and pharmacologic intervention. She earned a Master’s of Science in Human Genetics from Tulane University and has worked in both academic and private practice settings.
Dave joined CND Life Sciences as SVP, Finance & Strategy in early 2022, and brings 15 years of healthcare, finance, and consulting experience. In his role at CND, Dave leads a range of finance and accounting activities, corporate development efforts, and strategic initiatives, including the evolution and management of the company’s Clinical Trials Services solutions for biopharma clients. Prior to joining CND, Dave worked on commercial assessments of neuroscience business development opportunities as well as various strategic initiatives at AbbVie. Dave also worked at J.P. Morgan in the Healthcare Investment Banking Group, where he provided financial and strategic advisory services for M&A and equity and debt transactions for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare services, and healthcare IT companies. Dave received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and his BA from the University of Michigan. Dave and his wife like to sail, ski, and hike with their dog in their free time.
Jimmie joined CND Life Sciences in 2021 as the Laboratory Director, where he is responsible for managing, enhancing, and monitoring operational systems for the laboratory’s production, quality, staff development, and day-to-day specimen processing functions. In this important leadership role, Jimmie utilizes his training as a laboratory inspector to develop the Quality Assurance Plan for daily operations to ensure the highest quality test results. He has over 20 years of experience managing College of American Pathologist (CAP)-accredited laboratories and has worked for several large healthcare systems. Jimmie became a certified CAP inspector in 2017 and has conducted on-site laboratory inspections as a team member and as a team lead. Prior to joining CND, Jimmie spent decades working with prominent healthcare organizations including the American Red Cross, Sutter Health, Emory Healthcare, and United Blood Services. Jimmie attended the University of Arizona and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Laboratory Sciences from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Mackenzie joined CND Life Sciences as Senior Manager, Clinical Services in March 2021. In her role, Mackenzie provides personalized support to both clinicians and patients, drives the development of new programs and processes to ensure customer satisfaction, and works closely with the laboratory and other departments to establish cross functional success. Mackenzie studied Biomedical Engineering at the University of Arizona and received her Master of Engineering in Bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining the team, Mackenzie managed over 100 neuroscience clinical research trials at HonorHealth Research Institute and was a key player in the development and management of their COVID-19 clinical research program. Mackenzie has also spent time in academic research studying Alzheimer’s disease at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Personally impacted by the devastating reality of neurodegenerative diseases, Mackenzie has a passion for patient care and support.
Peter has over 25 years of experience in the life sciences industry as an entrepreneur, business owner-operator, and investor. Prior to his involvement with CND Life Sciences, Peter was owner and CEO of B&V Testing, Inc., an industry-leading life sciences engineering services firm focused on contamination control technologies and serving the east coast’s premiere pharmaceutical, medical device, and biomedical research institutions. While at B&V, Peter pioneered the commercial application of hydrogen peroxide vapor technology for large-scale decontamination of cGMP pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. A graduate of Duke University, Peter was a regular presenter at the annual biosafety conference of the American Biological Safety Association and the annual technical conference of the Controlled Environment Testing Association. His tenure at B&V culminated with a strategic sale to Stericycle, Inc. (NASDAQ: SRCL) in 2013. Since that time, he has been an active investor in mission-driven businesses. He lives in Brookline, MA with his wife and three children where he can be found coaching youth sports and serving as a volunteer mentor to aspiring business owners.
Dr. Enrique Carrazana has over 25 years of experience in drug development and the pharmaceutical industry. In addition to CND Life Sciences, Dr. Carrazana is on the board of directors of Hawaii Biotech and the American Society for Experimental Neurotherapeutics. He currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Neurelis, Inc., where he is responsible for the management of the drug development and safety programs. Previously, he was the Chief Medical Officer of Acorda Therapeutics. Dr. Carrazana also held various medical leadership roles at Novartis, where his last role was Vice President, Global Head Development Established Medicines Franchise, based in Basel, Switzerland. He was Director of the Epilepsy Center of Excellence at the Miami Veterans Administration Hospital and Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He has presented and published a wide range of research on various neurology topics. Dr. Carrazana received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his residency in neurology and fellowship in neurophysiology at the Harvard Longwood Neurology Program. He is a board-certified neurologist and Fellow of the American Epilepsy Society.
Dr. Todd Levine is one of the three founders of CND Life Sciences and serves as its Chief Medical Officer, playing a key role in the delivery of diagnostic services and ongoing technology development. Dr. Levine also serves as the Director of Neuroscience Research at HonorHealth Research Institute and has over 25 years of experience as a clinical neurologist with a sub-specialty in disorders of the peripheral nervous system. In 2010, he founded his first medical diagnostics company called Corinthian Reference Lab (CRL). Based in Fort Worth, Texas, CRL has processed over 50,000 skin biopsies, receiving specimens from over 4,000 different neurologists across the US and Canada. He received his medical degree from Duke University and did his residency and fellowship at Washington University in St Louis. He has served as the Chairman of the Neuromuscular Division of the American Academy of Neurology and has served as the Medical Director of Neurology for HonorHealth in Phoenix, Arizona.
Dr. Paler joined CND Life Sciences in July 2022 as Chief Pathologist and Laboratory Medical Director, responsible for leading the Pathology department, performing slide interpretation in support of the Syn-One Test® and other cutaneous neurodiagnostic tools, and ensuring CND meets and exceeds all laboratory quality standards. Dr. Paler is also a key contributor to CND’s research and development projects, continuous improvement initiatives, and collaborations with the biopharma industry. An anatomic and cytopathology board-certified pathologist, he attended Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, MI and performed residency training at Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center in Los Angeles. He has practiced pathology in the commercial reference laboratory setting for 22 years. Prior to starting at CND, he worked as Medical Director and Surgical Pathologist at Labcorp Oncology (formerly Impath and Genzyme Genetics) for 21 years, the last eight years as Medical Director in Phoenix, AZ. His accomplishments include verification and implementation of PD-L1 companion diagnostic testing, HPV mRNA ISH testing, digital pathology, novel IHC markers, EGFR, KRAS, and NRAS molecular testing, and the launch of new LIS systems. He has served on various committees within the College of American Pathologists, including the 15189 Committee and the CAP Personalized Healthcare Committee. He is a member of the College of American Pathologists, American Society for Clinical Pathology, United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, and the American Medical Association. Dr. Paler is an ardent champion of laboratory quality and ISO 15189 principles, and he advocates as a leader in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
Jade joined CND Life Sciences in November 2020 and brings a decade of experience in clinical research, predominantly in the neuroscience field. In her role, she oversees NIH-sponsored clinical studies by supporting the principal investigators, recruiting and enrolling subjects, and onboarding sites for participation. She is currently focusing on two NIH-SBIR-awarded grants, one of which is a validation study involving 500 subjects at 28 sites around the US. Prior to joining CND, Jade worked at Barrow Neurological Institute and Honor Health, with a focus on neurological research.
Dee joined CND Life Sciences as an HR contractor in March of 2022 and came on permanently as Director of HR in June. She brings 15 years of experience across a variety of industries, with a focus on small- to medium-sized businesses. In her role at CND, Dee leads the HR department in all its functions, ranging from administrative responsibilities to strategic business partnerships with the organization’s senior leaders. Prior to joining CND, Dee worked as an HR professional at a start-up cloud-based accounting firm. Dee received her Master of Science in Management with a concentration in Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness from the University of South Florida and her BA in Communications from Jacksonville University.
Cherry joined CND Life Sciences as VP, Revenue Cycle Management in April of 2023 reporting into the Finance and Strategy function of the company. She brings over 30 years of revenue cycle management experience across multiple specialties within the healthcare industry. Her focus has centered around employee development and establishing best-in-class billing practices. Prior to joining CND, Cherry worked for several large organizations spearheading expansion, centralizing billing operations, and establishing high performing teams focused on exceeding financial and operational expectations.
Cherry holds a Master of Science in Leadership and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Health Care Administration from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from Argosy University in Phoenix.
Sara joined CND Life Sciences as Financial Controller in June 2022 and brings over a decade of diverse accounting experience, ranging from external assurance services to internal accounting at both privately held and publicly traded entities. In addition to leading the accounting team, Sara supports strategic financial initiatives throughout the organization and enjoys working with functional leaders on establishing processes and creating efficiencies.
Prior to joining CND, Sara provided client accounting services at a start-up cloud-based accounting firm, where she led multiple industry vertical service teams and mentored team members through an internal coaching program. Sara is a CPA and received both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Accountancy from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
Jennifer started working with CND Life Sciences in early 2020 as Creative Director and Principal of a boutique branding and creative design firm, Juniper Hill Creative, before officially joining CND in early 2023 as Director of Brand Marketing. Jennifer brings decades of experience and expertise in marketing experiences, brand identity, and web design in the life science industry.
Prior to Juniper Hill, Jennifer was SVP of Creative and Production Services at Aptus Health, a former subsidiary of Merck, Inc. (acquired by WebMD) and Creative Director at RxCentric, an innovative digital marketing company focused on interactive programs for healthcare professionals. Before turning her focus to healthcare, Jennifer spent several years in the entertainment industry creating immersive user experiences, interactive sports and television applications, and 3D entertainment software for top ecommerce retailers. Jennifer is a recipient of multiple industry awards, including Hermes, Webby, Davey, WebAwards, and an Interactive Academy Award for a documentary on the Titanic.
Jennifer graduated from California State University Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications.
Alex joined CND Life Sciences as the Director of IT in late 2022 to lead a range of technology areas and initiatives for the company, including cybersecurity, digital pathology infrastructure, and employee enablement. He has been a part of large IT organizations for more than a decade and brings a health sciences background from a collaboration between the University of Utah Department of Pathology and Associated Regional and University Pathologists (ARUP). Alex’s experience in previous positions has allowed him to develop a hybrid technical- and leadership-driven approach to his work.
Dr. Thompson joined CND Life Sciences as Senior Dermatopathologist in March 2023 and brings 23 years of post-graduate medical experience, including residency training in anatomical and clinical pathology; a chief residency; and fellowships in surgical pathology, cytopathology, and dermatopathology at UCLA. Dr. Thompson is responsible for interpretation of phosphorylated alpha-synuclein slides, assisting in the optimization of the H&E portion of the Syn-One Test®, and collaborative efforts to develop additional cutaneous neurodiagnostic assays.
Dr. Thompson was a private practice dermatopathologist and then joined Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, MI as an Assistant Professor of Pathology. During his tenure at Wayne State University, authored numerous articles, including two review articles of molecular studies in malignant melanoma, and won the Excellence in Teaching Award in Anatomic Pathology in 2017. In 2019, Dr. Thompson joined West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, WV as an Associate Professor of Pathology. There he continued to sign-out a diverse array of dermatopathology cases, including specimens from the dermatology department, skin immunofluorescence, and larger surgical resections of cutaneous malignancies, including metastases to lymph nodes and other anatomic sites.
His undergraduate degree is from Stanford University, where he was chosen for Phi Beta Kappa. He then attended UCLA Medical School and earned a combined MD and PhD in molecular biology via the Medical Scientist Training Program. He is a fellow of the American Society of Dermatopathology, the College of American Pathologists, and the American Society for Clinical Pathology.
Dr. Padma Mahant joined CND Life Sciences as the part-time Director, Medical Affairs. As an experienced neurologist, she also continues to provide direct patient care in private practice specializing in movement disorders. At CND, Dr. Mahant plays a key role in many areas including education and guidance on CND’s diagnostic technologies for Parkinson’s disease and related disorders, physician case reviews and discussions regarding results of the Syn-One Test® and CND’s support services for clinicians and patients.
Outside of CND, Dr. Mahant is a board-certified neurologist specializing in movement disorders at Foothills Neurology in Phoenix, Arizona, where she is active in the clinical education of future physicians, as Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology with the University of Arizona Medical School in Phoenix, Arizona. Her clinical interests include blepharospasm, exercise in Parkinson’s disease, and deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Mahant has contributed to research throughout her career, in former roles with the Parkinson’s Study Group, the Arizona Parkinson’s Disease Consortium, and the Center for Adaptive Neural Systems at the Biodesign Institute of Arizona State University.
Dr. Mahant’s presence in the movement disorders community in Arizona was established early in her career through leadership positions including Medical Director of the multidisciplinary Movement Disorders Clinic at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center and Co-Medical Director of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA) Southwest Chapter’s Information and Referral Center.
Dr. Mahant graduated from the Medical College of Pennsylvania of Drexel University, with multiple honors including induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. She completed her neurology residency at the University of Rochester, where she was active in supporting the interests of the neurology community as resident representative on several committees for the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Mahant completed her fellowship in movement disorders at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center at Barrow Neurological Institute and continued to work as a part-time faculty member at BNI for several years prior to her transition to her current role in medical affairs at CND Life Sciences.
Steve Mastrian joined CND Life Sciences as Director, Research Operations in the fall of 2023 and brings 25 years of experience in technology, operations, and commercial leadership roles at translational research and diagnostics companies. In his role at CND, Steve leads key project management initiatives for R&D, clinical trials, and scientific affairs, including alliance management for CND’s biopharma clients.
Steve began his career in DNA sequencing at the NIH, where he helped map the first human genome. This led to a career in research and diagnostic testing operations, partnership management, and strategy in startup environments. He built and managed the first technology lab at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) in Phoenix, AZ, as well as their cancer testing unit, Ashion Analytics, where he led business and commercial operations. Prior to joining CND, Steve was the Director of Biopharma and Healthcare Partnerships at Exact Sciences, a worldwide leader for cancer testing, where he implemented and led partnerships with healthcare, academic, and commercial partners, including two multicenter Cancer Moonshot collaborations. Steve holds a master’s in biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Sarah Jelliffe joined CND Life Sciences Pathology Services Group in 2023 as a board-certified Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist. In her role, Dr. Jelliffe is responsible for reading, interpreting, and reporting on CND’s innovative suite of cutaneous neurodiagnostic tests ordered by neurologists and other clinicians nationally. Dr. Jelliffe applies traditional and digital pathology methods in her work at CND, leveraging 15 years of experience in surgical pathology and her time as medical director for several clinical laboratories across the world. Her previous position was on staff at a large, community-based hospital, where she chaired a multidisciplinary cancer committee and led the surgical pathology team through thousands of diagnoses. Prior to that, as the Chief of Anatomic Pathology, she launched whole-slide scanning and digital pathology programs in the Air Force. She has published and presented on a diverse range of topics within the field of pathology. Dr. Jelliffe is passionate about leading patients to a better understanding of their pathology findings so they can make meaningful and informed decisions.
Dr. Jelliffe completed medical school at Pikeville College of Osteopathic Medicine, followed by residency training at Duke University Medical Center, where she was chief resident. She served on active duty in the United States Air Force for seven years and is currently a Reservist.
