FFMI Team Members
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Kristin Ball, Marketing & Communications Manager
Kristin has worked in marketing and promotions for the majority of her career, primarily in the technology and higher-ed fields, including a 10-year stint as a Promotions Manager at ProQuest where she specialized in copywriting and developing marketing campaigns.
She is a proud alumna who graduated from the University of Michigan with a double major in Spanish and Communications.
Charlotte Brayman, Senior Administrative Assistant
Charlotte comes to FFMI from Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation MedRehab, where she was an administrative assistant for the ACU manager.
Charlotte holds a master’s in health administration from Southern New Hampshire University, and an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University.
Corrine Din, Innovation Fellow – Business Development
Corrine Din is a Ph.D. candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences with previous working experience in the biotechnology manufacturing space. Her research focuses on polymer-based drug delivery of autoantigens to treat autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis. She is interested in potentially pursuing a career in business development after the completion of her graduate degree.
Kasia Glanowska, Ph.D., Michigan Biomedical Venture Fund Analyst
Kasia joins FFMI from U-M Innovation Partnerships where she worked in Technology Marketing. Before her adventure with Innovation Partnerships, she was a neuroscientist. She also has experience in market research and consulting for biomedical start-up companies.
Kasia holds a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and a Masters in Biotechnology from the Jagiellonian University in Kraków Poland.
Debra Grega, M.B.A., Ph.D., Business Development Director
Debra joined the team from Ohio where she led the Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (CSCRM, a joint Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic-led consortium) from 2004-2010. She brings over seventeen years of international, commercial biotechnology experience and has worked on both the scientific and business aspects of new biotechnology commercialization.
At Athersys, Inc., Debra managed strategic alliances with key pharmaceutical partners such as Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer, and she also has R&D and business development experience from Roche.
Debra received her M.B.A from Anderson University in Indiana, a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Kentucky, and completed her postdoctoral studies at the University of Michigan and Colorado State University.
Bradley Martin, Ph.D., Director
Brad comes to the FFMI team with 15-plus years of experience in the development of drugs and biologics, and particular expertise in preclinical development and translational research in the field of cardiovascular physiology and regenerative medicine. Much of his career has focused on the development of stem cell therapies for the treatment of myocardial infarction and heart failure.
He has considerable experience in leading cross-functional project teams, and has transitioned therapies from product concept through preclinical development, IND approval and eventual clinical trial. Prior to leading MTRAC, Brad served as a Mentor in Residence for the U-M Tech Transfer Office, was the Director of Product Development at Aastrom Biosciences, and the Director of Cardiac Research at Osiris Therapeutics Inc. He also spent several years as a Principal Scientist with Pfizer’s Esperion Division, studying the anti-atherosclerotic properties of ApoA-I Milano, and other novel peptides.
He received in Ph.D. in Physiology in 1993 from the University of Michigan, and completed post-doctoral fellowships in the departments of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Physiology at the University of Wisconsin.
Katherine Mercieca, M.A., Commercialization Education Program Coordinator
Katherine joins FFMI from the Center for Academic Innovation (CAI), where she served as a Learning Experience Design Student Resident and Online Student Services Fellow during her graduate program. Prior to her work at CAI, she worked at U-M’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions where she was involved in developing training opportunities and materials.
Katherine holds a bachelors, masters, and graduate certificate from the University of Michigan.
Emilija Mitrikeska, M.D., Associate Director, Business Development
Prior to joining FFMI, Emilija worked for the U-M Rogel Cancer Center since 2006. She brings over 10 years of experience working with oncology clinical trials.
Emilija received her M.D. from the Medical School at the University St. Cyril and Methodius in Macedonia.
Mike Ranella, M.B.A., M.P.H., Senior Director, Business Development
Mike obtained his bachelor’s degree in Human Biology from Michigan State University in 2004. He started his research career at the John D. Dingell VA Hospital in Detroit doing clinical research in aortic disease in the veteran population. Mike continued working on projects in cardiovascular research at the University of Michigan beginning in 2007. He took on the role of Aortic Program Manager at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center in 2010. During his tenure there, he led cross-disciplinary teams utilizing new implantable technologies as part of the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) program. After spending many years working with both industry and research, Mike decided to pursue master’s degrees in both Business Administration and Public Health in order to facilitate a deeper understanding of the epidemiology of disease processes, as well as healthcare business operations.
In 2015, Mike transitioned to FFMI as a Business Development Associate Director for projects in cancer and leveraged his experience to successfully build industry partnerships with faculty to further the mission of utilizing innovation to improve healthcare delivery. Mike now leads the Business Development team as its Director and continues to foster new partnerships. His background to date has primarily focused on cardiovascular health and malignancies, but he looks forward to working on all projects that transform health through bold and innovative discovery.
John Seamans, M.S.E., Michigan Biomedical Venture Fund Manager
John joins U-M after 17 years in the med tech industry. Most recently, he was the Director of Clinical Engineering at a breast cancer screening startup (Delphinus), leading the development of medical image review and analysis software. John started his career at GE Healthcare, with roles in advanced applications, clinical research, molecular imaging, and led the development of features for non-invasive coronary artery CT imaging.
John worked as a Venture Associate evaluating startups for the Zell-Lurie Fund, and is pursuing a part-time M.B.A. at U-M/Ross. HE holds a B.S.E. Electrical Engineering and M.S.E. Biomedical Engineering.
Jon Servoss, Ed.D., Director of Commercialization Education
Before joining the FFMI team, Jon was the Director of Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Education–Operations at the South East Area Health Education Center, part of the National AHEC Organization. While there, Jon developed, implemented, and evaluated Continuing Medical Education programs for physicians and other practicing healthcare professionals.
Prior to that role, Jon was a special project manager in Graduate Medical Education at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC, where he assisted with the management of four Resident Physician Training programs.
Jon completed his undergraduate degree at Adrian College, and his Masters in Education at East Carolina University.
Ashley Schork, M.N.M., Program Manager, FCVC Innovation Program
Ashley Schork joins FFMI after spending over six years working at the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute (LSI) administratively managing several research centers in the areas of structural biology, cryo-electron microscopy, drug discovery, and high-throughput screening. Prior to the position at LSI, Ashley worked at Arbor Research Collaborative for Health providing administrative support to NIH and PCORI funded nephrology studies.
Ashley has both her B.A. and a Masters in Non-Profit Management from DePaul University.
Shelby Unsworth, Ph.D., Industry Alliance Manager for the Rogel Cancer Center
Prior to joining FFMI, Shelby worked with both FFMI and the Cancer Center through her participation in the Research Administration Fellowship Program based in the Medical School Office of Research.
Shelby completed her Ph.D. and Postdoctoral research training in cancer research at the University of Michigan.
