WHO WE ARE Long Island BioMentor Initiative

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ABOUT

The Long Island BioMentor Initiative (LIBMI), brings highly qualified volunteer mentors together with motivated, early-stage bioentrepreneurs to provide actionable guidance and support as they advance their business strategy. The initiative was developed in an alliance with MIT’s successful Venture Mentor Service and employs a team mentoring approach which is guided by a statement of principles to ensure confidentiality and a conflict free environment.

The team format leverages shared expertise, provides multiple viewpoints, and builds in long-term consistency enabling entrepreneurs to make critical business decisions with as much information and foresight as possible. Mentors benefit from a shared load while getting the opportunity to interact among fellow mentors with similar passion.

The LIBMI is led by a partnership between the Center for Biotechnology and Accelerate Long Island in collaboration with Stony Brook University, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Hofstra University, and the Feinstein Institute at Northwell Health Systems with the goal of fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem that will ultimately contribute to a vibrant bioscience cluster in the region.

The LIBMI builds upon a suite of services and resources provided by the NIH-designated Research, Evaluation, and Commercialization Hub (LI Bioscience Hub), Accelerate Long Island and the Emerging Technology Fund and the New York State Center for Advanced Technology in Medical Biotechnology.

Click here to launch LIBMI dedicated site 

MENTORS

LIBMI mentors are carefully selected based on their expertise in business formation and operations, and for their skills as advisors as well as their desire and ability to give back. Mentors’ careers represent a wide range of experience, such as founders, CEOs, chief technical officers, or executives of companies. These mentors bring a wealth of entrepreneurial experience and contacts across a broad range of industries and markets.

FOUNDING MENTORS

  • “Linda
    Linda E. Amper, PhD

    President, Linda E Amper, LLC

  • “Gian
    Gian Luca Araldi, PhD

    Founder and Principal, US Pharma Services; Former Sr. Director, Forest Laboratories

  • “Kara
    Debbie Bailey, MS, MBA

    Principal, DEB Consulting; Former Head, Investor Relations, Applied DNA Science, Inc.

  • “Heather
    Heather Bielski-Lawler

    Innovation Project Manager, Dukal

  • “Kara
    Kara Cannon

    Global Head of Sales & Marketing, Enzo Life Sciences, Inc.

  • “Rich
    Richard Catalano

    Board Member & Past Treasurer, NewYorkBIO, Audit Partner, KPMG US (retired)

  • “Adrian
    Adrian Charbin, PhD

    Director, Payer Insights and Access, Pfizer

  • “Anil
    Anil Dhundale, PhD

    Former Executive Director of the Long Island High Tech Incubator (LIHTI), & Clean Energy Business Incubator Program (CEBIP) (Retired)

  • “Ray
    Raymond E. Farrell

    Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt LLP
    LIMBI Entrepreneur Liaison

  • “Merryl
    Merryl Thaler Gersten

    Former Director of Operations, Corwood Labs

  • “John
    John D. Haley, PhD

    Associate Professor of Research, Department of Pathology, Director, Developmental Therapeutics, Cancer Center and Director, Proteomics Center, Stony Brook University

  • “Alphonso
    Alphonso Higuera, PhD

    VP, Co-Founder, Aztech Sciences Inc.

  • “Nancy
    Nancy J Kelley, JD, MPP

    President & CEO, Nancy J Kelley + Associates

  • Sam
    Sam Kongsamut, PhD

    Co-Founder, VP Research & Development, BryoLogyx

  • “Wyane
    Wyane Koff, PhD

    President and CEO, Human Vaccines Project

  • Sam
    Kevin Lenane

    Former CEO and Founder, Veenome

  • “Jeff
    Jeff Peacock, MBA

    VP Global Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs, Henry Schein

  • “Carl
    Carl Pergola

    Strategic Advisor and Investor;
    President of Migara Ventures, LLC;
    Member, New York Angels;
    Retired BDO Partner and Former Executive Director of BDO Consulting

  • “Stacey
    Stacey Sikes, MA

    Executive Dean, Entrepreneurship & Business Development, Hofstra University

  • “Saied
    Saied Tousi, PhD

    Managing Director, NW Advisors
    LIBMI Mentor Liaison

  • “Edward
    Edward Travaglianti

    Market President of Long Island, TD Bank

  • Bob Williams
    Bob Williams, MS

    President, IV Matters

  • “Dan
    Daniel B. Yarosh, PhD

    Independent Advisor; Board of Directors, Aceto Corp.

  • “Peter
    Peter Young, MBA

    Executive-in-Residence, Pappas Capital

  • “Su
    Su Zhang, PharmD, MBA

    Executive Director, Strategy & Business Development, Protara Therapeutics

    “Leonard

    Leonard F. Zinnanti

    Operations and Management Consultant for Local Government in Suffolk County, NY

BIOENTREPRENEURS

LIBMI engages bioentrepreneurs who believe that they can benefit from collaboration with highly experienced volunteers, with great depth and range of experience. LIBMI bioentrepreneurs are expected to commit to a sustained relationship with LIBMI, and to be professional, open, and responsive to the volunteer mentors who work with them. Entrepreneurs can expect frank, un-biased, and in-depth consultations with a team of highly experienced mentors over an extended period.

NEWS

“Heavy-Hitting LI BioMentor Initiative Makes It Official” – Innovate Long Island, May 10, 2018

PRESS RELEASE: Long Island BioMentor Initiative (LIBMI) Established, Founding Mentor Training on November 18, 2016.

CONTACT

For further program information or to make an application, please contact Center for Biotechnology at 631-632- 8521 or center_for_biotechnology@stonybrook.edu.