Team Group: Senior Consultant

Beth E. Drees

Dr. Beth Drees is a results-driven and experienced professional with over ten years of experience in technology transfer and commercialization.  Her expertise is in life sciences, intellectual property, technology evaluation, licensing/ negotiation, and business development.

Dr. Drees has negotiated and executed 100+ technology-related agreements, including 70+ technology licenses. Past accomplishments include: FDA approval and marketing of products in diagnostics, laboratory automation, and heathcare IT; Clinical stage therapeutic programs in oncology, renal disease, ophthalmology, and pain; 22 startup companies based on technology spun out of the University of Utah.

Bernard D. Cambou

Dr. Bernard Cambou has more than 30 years of international (EU, Japan and US) experience in biopharma, initially in big pharma/biotech as a pre-clinical scientist and business developer with expertise in biologics, cell therapies and protein drug delivery. Dr. Cambou is the Founder and/or CEO of three biopharma companies with successful exits and contribution to novel drugs. He also has experience in venture capital and is the head of Arverne Bio, a consulting practice assisting biotech companies in their worldwide business development activities.

David Gross

Dr. David Gross is a 33-year veteran of the General Electric Renewable Energy and Materials (Silicone & Plastics) businesses where he led several global Sourcing, Product Management, and Product Development teams. Most recently, Dr. Gross was responsible for the global procurement of wind turbine composite blades and nacelles (’12 – ’17), wind turbine mechanical drives (’09 – ’12), and polycrystalline silicon, cells, and wafers for PV solar modules (’08 – ’09). Dr. Gross brings a wealth of product commercialization expertise from earlier leadership roles as GE Silicones Sealants, Fluids, and Coatings Marketing and Product Development Manager and as the European Technical Marketing Manager based in The Netherlands.   He began his career as a Product Development Chemist and Staff Scientist at GE Corporate research after earning a Ph.D. at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Gillian Isabelle

For over 15 years, Dr. Gillian Isabelle has focused her career at the intersection of science and business, leading multi-disciplinary teams and building collaborative partnerships to advance early-stage technologies towards commercialization.  She has worked in diverse fields, from telecommunications to biotechnology and clean technology, and in a wide range of job functions, including R&D, business development, venture creation and technology transfer.

 

Prior to joining Foresight, Dr. Isabelle spent five years at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, as Founding Director of the Broad’s Business Development Office.  While there, she developed and directed the Broad’s technology transfer function and managed a team of business, law, and science professionals.  She has also worked with PureTech Ventures (now PureTech Health), a venture creation firm in Boston, serving on the executive management team for three portfolio companies.  In addition, she spent 10 years with Corning, Inc, developing new products in the telecommunications and life sciences divisions.  She received her bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from MIT, and her master’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, all in Materials Science and Engineering.

Deborah Moorad-Watts

Deborah Moorad-Watts has over 10 years of experience commercializing global technologies for an extensive portfolio of solutions (e.g. medical, energy, tech based). As a global business development executive, Deborah has a proven track record of scaling pro​jects beyond the local markets. Her experience includes technology commercialization, including company formation and venture capital investment, global KOL engagement, and strategic partnerships.

Deborah’s Biotech and Pharmaceutical industry experience spans globally across various functions from bench through launch: including business development transactions (e.g. licensing, mergers & acquisitions), clinical research, regulatory, and medical affairs positions that range from early R&D through commercialization. She has a strong understanding of commercialization principles of drug discovery and development.

Peter Whiteside

Peter has over 30 years of engineering experience with successful manufacturing development from laboratory scale, to pilot-volume, to commercialization for a variety of products such as CD/DVD optical media, biological diagnostic test kits, toners and developers for mid volume digital copiers, holographic data storage media, and thin film photo-voltaic solar panels.

Peter has applied his core set of skills within Fortune 500 companies such as Eastman Kodak and General Electric as well as several start-up efforts.

Peter has also received 6-Sigma Green Belt Certification from the General Electric Company.

Kristin Norton

Dr. Kristin Norton is a healthcare industry veteran combining medical and business knowledge to optimize the role of both physicians and technology in response to changes in the healthcare ecosystem. She has developed and executed go-to-market strategies including late stage product development, regulatory compliance, clinical content, and high level product messaging for a variety of medical device and health information technology firms.

Kristin earned a doctorate in Biomedical Science from UNT Health Science Center followed by a joint post-doctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. She is on the board of Austin HIMSS and served on the THSA Health Information Exchange Task Force and FHIR standard development committees.

Yacine Dalichaouch

Dr. Yacine Dalichaouch is an experienced professional with a unique blend of scientific and business skills and a well-rounded perspective from a mix of academic, industry, and consulting experiences. He has over 20 years of combined experience in research and development, new product development, marketing and business development, strategic business planning, and assessment of emerging technologies in the physical sciences, life sciences, engineering, and nanotechnology. His areas of expertise span sensors and sensing systems, medical devices, instrumentation, and novel materials.Prior to joining Foresight, Yacine held a variety of leadership and management positions at high tech companies including GE, SAIC, and ViaSat where he led the design and development of sensor technologies and advanced detection systems for defense, security, medical, and tactical communications applications. His current professional activities also include supporting the CONNECT’s Springboard as a business advisor and the Center for Commercialization of Advanced Technologies at San Diego State University as a technical client manager. He has co-authored over 100 publications and presentations.

Wayne D. Hawthorne

Wayne emphasizes biomedical and biotech in his work for Foresight clients. He brings over 30 years of experience in various types of technologies, such medical devices and instrumentation, information applications and platforms, and environmental science and engineering. Wayne has taken a “hands on” approach, working directly with researchers, clinicians, engineers and other technicians during his career. Main career highlights includes a broad business development and technology commercialization background including intellectual protection strategies, partnerships and collaborations, license negotiations, and contract enforcement. He has worked with universities, various federal and state government agencies, and in the private sector. He is a member of AUTM and LES and has participated on discussion panels at their annual meetings.

Denise LaGasse

Dr. Denise LaGasse has done market analysis and licensing for clients in both the academic and commercial sectors. Her specialties include hardware and software applications and operating system technologies, bioinformatics, and medical devices. After a long tenure with Hewlett Packard in various technical, managerial, and business development roles, she provided strategic and business advice to Fortune 500 clients in her Massachusetts law practice. Most recently, Denise served as Associate Director of Research and Licensing at the Massachusetts General Hospital, the largest teaching hospital of the Harvard Medical School. She is an active member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Association of University Technology Managers, and holds the designation of Certified Licensing Professional from the Licensing Executive Society.