Management Staff

Tim Miller, Ph.D.Chairman and Co-Founder

Dr.Miller holds a B.S. in Biology and M.S in Molecular Biology from John Carroll University (Cleveland, OH). He earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology with a focus on gene therapy/Cystic Fibrosis from Case Western University. Dr. Miller has spent his career in Ohio biotechnology startups and has 16 years of product development, scientific research and clinical operations expertise. Dr. Miller has led cross-functional teams at multiple startup companies comprised of research, clinical, and regulatory personnel focused on designing and implementing clinical trials. During his career, he has contributed to multiple patent applications, managed intellectual property, and published research in several internationally recognized journals.

Anthony Berdis, Ph.D.Chief Scientific Officer, Co-Founder

Dr. Berdis received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of North Texas. After receiving his doctoral degree, Dr.Berdis received an NIH sponsored postdoctoral fellowship to pursue research under the direction of Professor Stephen J. Benkovic, a world renowned enzymologist and bio-organic chemist at The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Berdis is a tenured faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and the Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease at Cleveland State University. He is an internationally recognized expert in the field of the synthesis and biological testing of novel nucleoside and nucleotide analogs as both therapeutic and diagnostic agents target DNA polymerase activity, publishing over 70 research papers and book chapters. His research has been funded by numerous agencies including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, and the American Cancer Society.

Michael Gilkey, MS, MBAVice President, Business Development

Michael has been responsible for commercial and economic development for the National Center for Regenerative Medicine with the end result of identifying new strategic partners, creating joint projects, starting sponsored research agreements and building closer relationships with current corporate partners. He has been responsible for the development and execution of organizational strategy, planning and completion of both external and internal marketing efforts, commercializing member technology through institutional technology transfer offices, and providing administrative and operational support for its members. He has coordinated the various oversight committees and interacted with partner institutions to create multi-institutional grants and training programs, aid clinical research endeavors, and interface with government relations groups to positively influence new policy. He has also helped create and grow many start-up companies; Antria, LLC, Cleveland Cord Blood Center, Gilkey Biotechnology Consulting, GTCbio, Invenio Therapeutics and Trailhead Biosystems, and provided business planning and strategy, proforma creation, raising financial capital, grant writing, marketing strategy, and creative design.

Steve GodenDirector of Finance

Steve Goden has over 30 years of financial and administrative management expertise in a wide range of organizations in all stages of development, from start-up through rapid growth and maturity. After completing his undergraduate studies at John Carroll University, Steve began his business career at Progressive Insurance, where he spent ten years in a variety of finance and accounting roles. Following Progressive, Steve served as CFO for Premier Travel Partners, then one of the largest travel management companies in the U.S., which served many of Northeastern Ohio’s largest businesses, including the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, American Greetings and Progressive. He next served as Vice President of Finance and Administration for NewMedia, an information technology and interactive marketing firm (now known as Rosetta), before leaving to co-found Dotcommery, Northeastern Ohio’s first technology incubator/accelerator. At the Dotcommery, Steve helped launch, fund and eventually sell several internet technology companies, most notably 1-800-Homecare. He then spent four years at Cole National, which was best known for operating Things Remembered, Sears Optical, Target Optical and Pearle Vision, serving as a division controller and also directing corporate financial planning. Steve next joined Cohesant Inc., an investment company that acquired, operated and divested interests in a variety of companies focused on constructing and/or repairing water distribution, collection and purification systems. As Senior Vice President of Administration, Steve helped Cohesant acquire, manage and/or divest of its interests in a variety of companies, including CuraFlo, GlasCraft and Raven Lining Systems. Steve also helped take Cohesant private following its successful run as a NASDAQ-listed company which had been named one of Forbes’ magazine’s best managed small public companies. After Cohesant divested of many of many of their holdings, Steve joined SironRX Therapeutics as their part-time Director of Finance, where he was responsible for all financial areas, including accounting, cash and short-term investment management, financial forecasting, planning and annual budgeting.