WHO WE ARE Advisory Board & Management Team

Advisory Board



Management Team

Clinton T. Rubin, PhD

Distinguished Professor and Director

Clint is a fellow of the American Institute of Biological and Medical Engineers, and a recipient of the Presidential Young Investigator Award from the National Science Foundation, two Kappa Delta Awards from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the John Charnley Award from the Hip Society, the Fuller Albright Award from the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research, and the Giovanni Borelli Award from the American Society of Biomechanics.

Clint’s work is targeted towards understanding the cellular mechanisms responsible for the growth, healing, and homeostasis of bone. This work focuses on how biophysical stimuli (i.e., mechanical, electrical, temperature, magnetic, pressure) mediate these responses through the control of mesenchymal stem cell differentiation and proliferation.

Clint is currently funded by NIH, NASA, the Whitaker Foundation, private industry and the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation. He holds twenty-two patents, with fourteen pending, in the area of wound repair, stem cell regulation, and treatment of bone disease. Clint is a founder of Exogen, Inc., now a subsidiary of Smith + Nephew, Inc., Juvent, Inc., a start-up focusing on osteoporosis treatment and Marodyne Medical, a medical device company utilizing biophysical stimuli to treat human injury and disease.

Clint earned his BA in Physiology from Harvard University and his PhD in Anatomy from the University of Bristol, England. He held positions at Tufts University and Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston before coming to Stony Brook University in 1987.

Diane Fabel, PhD

Chief Operating Officer

Diane has primary responsibility for the financing and management of daily operations, and has played a critical role in shaping the strategic direction of the CFB. She serves as a liaison between the bioscience industry, the CFB and the academic community in the establishment of research collaborations, new product development, company formations, and other forms of economic impact.

Diane’s extensive experience in the development of programs to support company start-ups is vital to the CAT’s Technology Development Initiative. She played a strategic role in the development of the New York Biotechnology Association and the Long Island High Technology Incubator program. Diane received her M.S. degree in technology management and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Stony Brook University.

Kate Hutchinson, MA

Assistant Director, Outreach & Programs

Kate is responsible for the strategic management and implementation of the CFB’s events, programs and communications. She leads the planning, development and execution of major CFB initiatives including the annual Life Sciences Summit as well as the CFB’s cornerstone workforce development program, the Fundamentals of the Bioscience Industry program.

In addition to her program and event roles, Kate also leads the communication efforts for the CFB. In this role, she develops, maintains and executes the varied communication mediums employed by the CFB. She has also developed and designed many of the CFB’s promotional pieces.

Kate received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication from the University of Delaware and her Master’s Degree from Stony Brook University. She holds certifications in Graphic Design from Hofstra University and Website Design from Stony Brook University.

Annette DePietri, CRA

Senior Finance and Grants Manager

Anne joined the Center for Biotechnology as the Senior Finance and Grants Manager in 2018. She will be responsible for the daily financial administration of the Center and its various programs and activities.

Prior to joining the Center for Biotechnology, Anne worked in the Office of Sponsored Program at Stony Brook University as a Contracts Administrator responsible for the overall ‘cradle to grave’ administration of sponsored agreements from various funding sources. Her portfolio included managing New York State and industry projects, including the Center’s contract with NYSTAR and our industry partners under the ARAD program.

Anne received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from SUNY Empire State College. She also received a certification as a Certified Research Administrator from the Research Administrators Certification Council.

Louis A Peña, PhD, MBA

Director, Program in Life Sciences Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Louis is responsible for academic programs that bridge the University and the CFB, particularly the Program in Life Sciences Innovation & Entrepreneurship. The LiSIE program supports graduate and undergraduate STEM students in developing business knowledge and skills to become the next generation of managers, leaders, or founders of life science companies. The academic program of classroom and experiential learning can lead to an Advanced Graduate Certificate in LiSIE. He also participates in CFB’s internship efforts for students.

Earlier in his career Louis mentored students and postdocs in the Medical Department of Brookhaven National Lab and later directed its nationally competitive Nuclear Chemistry Summer School program. Based on his research, he authored eight patents and co-formed a startup that developed his compositions through the preclinical stage to Phase 3 clinical trials before exiting by acquisition. Louis subsequently joined a biopharma contract research organization in a business development role but later took over company operations as managing partner. In addition, he advised inventors and early stage companies in technology assessment, markets, raising capital, and business strategy. In 2023, he joined the CFB and SBU’s College of Business and College of Engineering & Applied Sciences jointly as Associate Professor of Practice.

Louis earned his BA in Evolutionary Biology from Harvard, his PhD in Cell Biology from UCLA, and his MBA from Stony Brook University.

Dee Dao, PhD

Associate Director for Business Development and Investment

Dee Dao began her career as a scientist with a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics, conducting research in developmental biology, cancer, immunity, and microbiology. She transitioned to venture development and life sciences investing, focusing on accelerating the translation of breakthrough discoveries into impactful solutions—a mission she continues to pursue as an Associate Director at the Center for Biotechnology. Dee builds ecosystems that enable startups to commercialize technologies addressing critical challenges and driving innovation in New York State.

As Associate Director, Dee drives strategic and entrepreneurial initiatives that attract, develop, and scale life sciences companies, directly contributing to the expansion of biotech hubs on Long Island and across New York State. These initiatives give startups access to critical resources, advisors, and funding, enabling them to achieve inflection points and scalable growth. Her work, informed by her experience evaluating, investing in, and coaching early-stage companies, is rooted in systems thinking and purpose-built programs designed to deliver sustainable growth and long-term impact.

Previously, Dee was an investor at the NYU Innovation Venture Fund, where she led pre-seed to series A investments, designed accelerator programs, and built founder networks. Her work centers on investing in founders and technologies shaping the future of life sciences and deep tech. Earlier, at Ludwig Cancer Research, she worked on evaluating and developing IP strategies for next-generation checkpoint inhibitors in development.

Dee completed her postdoctoral research in an HHMI laboratory at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and earned her Ph.D. at Columbia University.