Governance

Board of Directors

Chair: Dr. Maha Katabi, PhD, CFA, Partner Sofinnova

Maha joined Sofinnova as a Partner in 2019 and is a member of the board of directors for Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Northsea Therapeutics and Chair of the Board of Exactis Innovation. In 2020, she was promoted to General Partner. She is an experienced investor in the bio-pharma sector with over two decades venture capital investing and public equities portfolio management. Maha received her PhD in Pharmacology and BSc in Biology from McGill University and is a CFA charterholder.

Dr. Terry Sullivan, Past CEO of Cancer Care Ontario

Dr. Sullivan is Professor in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Faculty of Medicine), the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto and Adjunct Professor of Oncology at McGill University.

A behavioral scientist, Terry played lead roles in reshaping Cancer Care Ontario from 2001-2011. He has played senior roles with the Ontario government including serving two premiers of Ontario in the direction of the Premier’s Council on Health Strategy.  He is the Quality Lead for the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, chairs the respective Boards of the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health and Public Health Ontario and he is a trustee of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

He played a start-up role with the Rossy Cancer Network, advises the senior leadership of the network, and is chair of the International Advisory Committee for the Rossy Cancer Network.  

Dr. Gerald Batist, Exactis Innovation co-founder and scientific director, Director Segal Cancer Center / LDI / JGH

Dr. Batist is a medical oncologist and molecular pharmacologist. He is Director of the McGill Centre for Translational Research in Cancer, which was established to stimulate rapid translation of new discoveries in the research laboratory into clinical benefits for patients. A major award from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation led to the expansion of the Translational Research Centre into the Segal Cancer Centre at the Jewish General Hospital. Dr. Batist is a former Chairman of the McGill University Department of Oncology, and helped found and directs multiple local and global initiatives in Precision Medicine. His scientific focus is therapeutic resistance, and he has 200 publications. He is a member of several scholarly associations, and serves on editorial boards and on advisory committees.

Dr. Anne-Marie Mes-Masson, Director Réseau de recherche sur le cancer, Cancer theme leader at the CRCHUM

Dr. Anne-Marie Mes-Masson is the Scientific Director of the Institut du cancer de Montréal, the cancer research arm of the CHUM Research Institute, and the FRSQ cancer network. Dr. Mes-Masson’s research involves the identification of key markers of ovarian and prostate cancers and their therapeutic applications. Her research interests are the development of cancer models and the identification of molecular events that are involved in ovarian and prostate cancer. Biobanks and derivations of cell lines. Studies on the characterization of expression profiles and DNA mutations in ovarian cancer in women and their correlations with clinical parameters. Molecular markers for the progression and prognosis of prostate cancer. And New therapies for ovarian cancer and advanced prostate cancer.

Dr. Susan W. Pitman Lowenthal, Past Senior Director at Pfizer

DR. Raphael (Rafi) Hofstein, PhD, Life-Science Executive, Past CEO of TIAP (former MARS Innovation) :

Dr. Raphael (Rafi) Hofstein is Past-President and CEO of TIAP having joined in June 2009. He received his PhD and Master of Science degrees in Life Sciences and Chemistry from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. His Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Physics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Dr. Hofstein is currently member of the board of directors of Life Science Ontario, Clinical Trials Ontario and a member of the Organizing Committee of the Public Policy Forum on Venture Capital and Innovation (part of the Quebec City Conference). Rafi joined the Exactis Board of Directors in July, 2020.

Dr. Kelvin Kar-Wing Chan, MD, FRCPC, M.Sc., PhD, Medical Oncologist, Associate scientist at the Odette Cancer Centre of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Dr. Kelvin Chan is a medical oncologist at the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, an associate professor at the University of Toronto, and an associate scientist at the Sunnybrook Research Institute. He specializes in GI oncology and head and neck oncology. As a clinical epidemiologist and biostatistician, Dr. Chan’s research interests include health services research, health technology assessment, meta-analysis including network meta-analysis, cost-effectiveness analyses, and statistical methods research in health economics. He is co-director at the Canadian Centre for Applied Research in Cancer Control (ARCC), funded by the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS). Dr. Chan joined the Exactis Board of Directors in July, 2020.

Mr Barry D. Stein, B.COM., B.C.L., LL.B. CEO of Colorectal Cancer Canada

Barry D. Stein graduated from McGill University and has been a member of the Barreau du Quebec since 1981. An accomplished lawyer and president of the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada (CCAC), he actively represents the interests of cancer patients and speaks regularly to medical professionals, industry, government, and patient groups both in Canada and internationally covering various aspects of colorectal cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship. Under Barry’s stewardship, the CCAC has developed award winning national awareness and educational programs, support initiatives for patients and their families as well as advocacy on their behalf. Barry has been a key advocate for primary prevention, screening initiatives and equal and timely access to effective treatments to improve outcomes for cancer patients. His efforts have led to important changes in health care policy in Canada namely, the implementation of provincial colorectal cancer screening programs as well as improved access to drugs and treatments.

Mr Allan Mandelzys, PhD, MBA, Life Sciences Advisor & Mentor at CEIM (Centre d’enterprise et d’innovation de Montréal)

Dr. Allan Mandelzys is currently a member of the Board of Matrizyme. He is an accomplished biotechnology executive and Board member with more than twenty years of industry experience in both private and publicly-listed companies. For the past five years, Dr. Mandelzys has managed his own life sciences consulting business, assisting company management and venture capital firms to deliver high value to stakeholders. Dr. Mandelzys is also a member of the Board of Clementia Pharmaceuticals, a NASDAQ-listed biotechnology company dedicated to the development and commercialization of treatments for rare bone diseases and Chairman of the Board of Searchlight Pharma, a Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company focused on women’s health. Dr. Mandelzys earned his doctorate in physiology and master of business administration from McGill University. Dr. Mandelzys also holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Toronto and received his post-doctoral training at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology. Allan joined the Exactis Board of Directors in July, 2020.

Dr. Ma’n H. Zawati (LL.B., LL.M., Ph.D. (DCL)) Assistant Professor at McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine and Executive Director of the Centre of Genomics and Policy in the Department of Human Genetics

Dr. Ma’n H. Zawati is an Assistant Professor at McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine and the Executive Director of the Centre of Genomics and Policy in the Department of Human Genetics. He is also an Associate Member of McGill’s Biomedical Ethics Unit. His research concentrates on the legal, ethical and policy dimensions of health research and clinical care, with a special focus on biobanking, data sharing, professional liability, and the use of novel technologies (e.g. mhealth apps, WGS, WES) in both the clinical and research settings. In 2015, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship (stay at Oxford University) and was named a Royal Society of Canada Delegate for the IAP Young Scientists of the Year international symposium. In 2014, the Young Bar Association of Montreal named him as one of its Lawyers of the Year.

Dr. Alan Spatz, Director, Department of Pathology, JGH; Professor of Pathology and Oncology, McGill University; Program Director, McGill integrated Cancer Research Training Program

Dr. Alan Spatz is Director of the Pathology Department at the Jewish General Hospital, and Professor of Pathology and Oncology at McGill University and holds a Canada Research Chair in Molecular Pathology. Dr. Spatz presently directs the X chromosome and Cancer research lab at the Lady Davis Institute and leads an international research group on cutaneous melanoma. Dr. Spatz is also the Director of the McGill-JGH Dubrovsky Molecular Pathology Centre located at the Jewish General Hospital, which opened at the end of 2013. This new cutting-edge facility is leading the way to personalized medicine by using molecular analysis to identify tumour biomarkers to advance the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Dr. Spatz’s research is focused on the X chromosome and its role in cancer.

Dr. Yvonne Bombard, PhD, BSc, Associate Professor at University of Toronto in the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation

Dr. Bombard is a genomics health services researcher and Scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto in the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation.  Her research focuses on evaluating the adoption of new genomic technologies in clinical practice. She develops patient-facing digital tools for genomic medicine and evaluates their comparative effectiveness to inform translation in clinical practice. She also conducts public and patient engagement research to advance health technology assessment and health service delivery. Dr. Bombard is active in numerous international policy advisory committees; her research informs policy development in this area.  Dr. Bombard was the inaugural recipient of the Maurice McGregor Award for Demonstrated Excellence and Leadership Potential from the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) and also received a ‘Rising Star’ award from CIHR’s Institute of Health Services and Policy Research. She has been awarded a CIHR Foundation grant as an Early Career Investigator, and she holds a CIHR New Investigator Award.

 

Dr. Bombard holds a Fellowship from Yale University (Health Policy), a Fellowship from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (Cancer Genomics) and a Fellowship from the University of Toronto (Health Services Research).

Governance Committee

Chair: Dr. Terry Sullivan, Past CEO of Cancer Care Ontario

Dr. Sullivan is Professor in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Faculty of Medicine), the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto and Adjunct Professor of Oncology at McGill University.

A behavioral scientist, Terry played lead roles in reshaping Cancer Care Ontario from 2001-2011. He has played senior roles with the Ontario government including serving two premiers of Ontario in the direction of the Premier’s Council on Health Strategy.  He is the Quality Lead for the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, chairs the respective Boards of the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health and Public Health Ontario and he is a trustee of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

He played a start-up role with the Rossy Cancer Network, advises the senior leadership of the network, and is chair of the International Advisory Committee for the Rossy Cancer Network.  

Dr. Maha Katabi, PhD, CFA, Partner Sofinnova

Maha joined Sofinnova as a Partner in 2019 and is a member of the board of directors for Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Northsea Therapeutics and Chair of the Board of Exactis Innovation. In 2020, she was promoted to General Partner. She is an experienced investor in the bio-pharma sector with over two decades venture capital investing and public equities portfolio management. Maha received her PhD in Pharmacology and BSc in Biology from McGill University and is a CFA charterholder.

DR. Raphael (Rafi) Hofstein, PhD, Life-Science Executive, Past CEO of TIAP (former MARS Innovation) :

Dr. Raphael (Rafi) Hofstein is Past-President and CEO of TIAP having joined in June 2009. He received his PhD and Master of Science degrees in Life Sciences and Chemistry from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. His Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Physics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Dr. Hofstein is currently member of the board of directors of Life Science Ontario, Clinical Trials Ontario and a member of the Organizing Committee of the Public Policy Forum on Venture Capital and Innovation (part of the Quebec City Conference). Rafi joined the Exactis Board of Directors in July, 2020.

Executive Committee

Chair: Dr. Maha Katabi, PhD, CFA, Partner Sofinnova

Maha joined Sofinnova as a Partner in 2019 and is a member of the board of directors for Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Northsea Therapeutics and Chair of the Board of Exactis Innovation. In 2020, she was promoted to General Partner. She is an experienced investor in the bio-pharma sector with over two decades venture capital investing and public equities portfolio management. Maha received her PhD in Pharmacology and BSc in Biology from McGill University and is a CFA charterholder.

Dr. Anne-Marie Mes-Masson, Director Réseau de recherche sur le cancer, Cancer theme leader at the CRCHUM

Dr. Anne-Marie Mes-Masson is the Scientific Director of the Institut du cancer de Montréal, the cancer research arm of the CHUM Research Institute, and the FRSQ cancer network. Dr. Mes-Masson’s research involves the identification of key markers of ovarian and prostate cancers and their therapeutic applications. Her research interests are the development of cancer models and the identification of molecular events that are involved in ovarian and prostate cancer. Biobanks and derivations of cell lines. Studies on the characterization of expression profiles and DNA mutations in ovarian cancer in women and their correlations with clinical parameters. Molecular markers for the progression and prognosis of prostate cancer. And New therapies for ovarian cancer and advanced prostate cancer.

Dr. Gerald Batist, Exactis Innovation co-founder and scientific director, Director Segal Cancer Center / LDI / JGH

Dr. Batist is a medical oncologist and molecular pharmacologist. He is Director of the McGill Centre for Translational Research in Cancer, which was established to stimulate rapid translation of new discoveries in the research laboratory into clinical benefits for patients. A major award from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation led to the expansion of the Translational Research Centre into the Segal Cancer Centre at the Jewish General Hospital. Dr. Batist is a former Chairman of the McGill University Department of Oncology, and helped found and directs multiple local and global initiatives in Precision Medicine. His scientific focus is therapeutic resistance, and he has 200 publications. He is a member of several scholarly associations, and serves on editorial boards and on advisory committees.

Dr. Terry Sullivan, Past CEO of Cancer Care Ontario

Dr. Sullivan is Professor in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Faculty of Medicine), the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto and Adjunct Professor of Oncology at McGill University.

A behavioral scientist, Terry played lead roles in reshaping Cancer Care Ontario from 2001-2011. He has played senior roles with the Ontario government including serving two premiers of Ontario in the direction of the Premier’s Council on Health Strategy.  He is the Quality Lead for the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, chairs the respective Boards of the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health and Public Health Ontario and he is a trustee of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

He played a start-up role with the Rossy Cancer Network, advises the senior leadership of the network, and is chair of the International Advisory Committee for the Rossy Cancer Network.  

DR. Raphael (Rafi) Hofstein, PhD, Life-Science Executive, Past CEO of TIAP (former MARS Innovation) :

Dr. Raphael (Rafi) Hofstein is Past-President and CEO of TIAP having joined in June 2009. He received his PhD and Master of Science degrees in Life Sciences and Chemistry from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. His Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Physics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Dr. Hofstein is currently member of the board of directors of Life Science Ontario, Clinical Trials Ontario and a member of the Organizing Committee of the Public Policy Forum on Venture Capital and Innovation (part of the Quebec City Conference). Rafi joined the Exactis Board of Directors in July, 2020.

DR. Allan Mandelzys, PhD, MBA, Life Sciences Advisor & Mentor at CEIM (Centre d’enterprise et d’innovation de Montréal)

Dr. Allan Mandelzys is currently a member of the Board of Matrizyme. He is an accomplished biotechnology executive and Board member with more than twenty years of industry experience in both private and publicly-listed companies. For the past five years, Dr. Mandelzys has managed his own life sciences consulting business, assisting company management and venture capital firms to deliver high value to stakeholders. Dr. Mandelzys is also a member of the Board of Clementia Pharmaceuticals, a NASDAQ-listed biotechnology company dedicated to the development and commercialization of treatments for rare bone diseases and Chairman of the Board of Searchlight Pharma, a Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company focused on women’s health. Dr. Mandelzys earned his doctorate in physiology and master of business administration from McGill University. Dr. Mandelzys also holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Toronto and received his post-doctoral training at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology. Allan joined the Exactis Board of Directors in July, 2020.

Audit Committee

Chair: Dr. Allan Mandelzys, PhD, MBA, Life Sciences Advisor & Mentor at CEIM (Centre d’entreprise et d’innovation de Montréal)

Dr. Allan Mandelzys is currently a member of the Board of Matrizyme. He is an accomplished biotechnology executive and Board member with more than twenty years of industry experience in both private and publicly-listed companies. For the past five years, Dr. Mandelzys has managed his own life sciences consulting business, assisting company management and venture capital firms to deliver high value to stakeholders. Dr. Mandelzys is also a member of the Board of Clementia Pharmaceuticals, a NASDAQ-listed biotechnology company dedicated to the development and commercialization of treatments for rare bone diseases and Chairman of the Board of Searchlight Pharma, a Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company focused on women’s health. Dr. Mandelzys earned his doctorate in physiology and master of business administration from McGill University. Dr. Mandelzys also holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Toronto and received his post-doctoral training at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology. Allan joined the Exactis Board of Directors in July, 2020.

Mr Barry D. Stein, B.COM., B.C.L., LL.B. CEO of Colorectal Cancer Canada

Barry D. Stein graduated from McGill University and has been a member of the Barreau du Quebec since 1981. An accomplished lawyer and president of the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada (CCAC), he actively represents the interests of cancer patients and speaks regularly to medical professionals, industry, government, and patient groups both in Canada and internationally covering various aspects of colorectal cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship. Under Barry’s stewardship, the CCAC has developed award winning national awareness and educational programs, support initiatives for patients and their families as well as advocacy on their behalf. Barry has been a key advocate for primary prevention, screening initiatives and equal and timely access to effective treatments to improve outcomes for cancer patients. His efforts have led to important changes in health care policy in Canada namely, the implementation of provincial colorectal cancer screening programs as well as improved access to drugs and treatments.

DR. Raphael (Rafi) Hofstein, PhD, Life-Science Executive, Past CEO of TIAP (former MARS Innovation) :

Dr. Raphael (Rafi) Hofstein is Past-President and CEO of TIAP having joined in June 2009. He received his PhD and Master of Science degrees in Life Sciences and Chemistry from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. His Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Physics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Dr. Hofstein is currently member of the board of directors of Life Science Ontario, Clinical Trials Ontario and a member of the Organizing Committee of the Public Policy Forum on Venture Capital and Innovation (part of the Quebec City Conference). Rafi joined the Exactis Board of Directors in July, 2020.