Management
Since 2014, iCell has been a leader in the development of novel cellular immunotherapies to treat unmet medical needs in autoimmune diseases and cancer. iCell has established capabilities in research and development, technical operations, manufacturing, clinical development as well as medical affairs with teams based in the United States and China.
-
Dr. Yupo Ma M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer
Chairman of the Board and Founder
-
Greg Deener
Chief Executive Officer
-
Neil S. Levinbook, Esq.
General Counsel
-
Lisa Ma
Corporate Treasurer and Managing Director of partner company, iCAR Bio Therapeutics Ltd.
-
Mithlesh Kush
Business Development
-
Dr. Nabil Hagag, Ph.D.
VP, Regulatory Affairs and Manufacturing Manager
-
Kevin Pinz
Company Manager
-
Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Razek M.D.
Medical Director
-
Dr. Byeong-Hyeok Choi, Ph.D.
Director of Research & Development
Dr. Yupo Ma M.D. Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer
Chairman of the Board and Founder
Dr. Ma is a physician, scientist, and professor board-certified in both Pathology and Hematopathology, and an expert in the field of leukemia and lymphoma. He earned his Medical Degree from Jinan University (P.R. China), College of Medicine and a Ph.D. from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. He completed a residency in Pathology at Brown University, a clinical fellowship in Hematopathology at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and has conducted Post Doctoral Training in Pathology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Ma currently serves as Professor of Pathology, Medical Director of the Flow Cytometry Laboratory and Scientific Director of Stem Cell Center at Stony Brook University. As a diagnostic expert, Dr. Ma has received numerous awards including being named one of the "Best Doctors in America" for the past four years consecutively by Best Doctors, Inc. The highly regarded Best Doctors in America List is compiled by a rigorously impartial and staunchly independent methodology, with only the top 5% of physicians in each field earning a place on the list. The experts who are a part of the Best Doctors in America database provide the most advanced medical expertise and knowledge to patients with serious conditions – often saving lives in the process by finding the right diagnosis and right treatment. As a physician and scientist, Dr. Ma is dedicated to finding the cures that can make a difference in the lives of patients and their families.
Mr. Greg Deener
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Deener has over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry serving in a variety of vital senior leadership positions at GSK, GTx, Sucampo, Indivior and was in Brand Management at Procter & Gamble. He has led successful global launches with leadership roles both in the US and in Europe. Mr. Deener has proficiency for early-stage commercialization/development strategy and had led teams for numerous products including extensive experience in oncology, orphan diseases and autoimmune conditions. Mr. Deener has expertise in business development and licensing having had a leadership role in delivering several agreements with leading companies. At GTx, Mr. Deener was an SEC registered officer at the time GTx went public and had an integral role in investor relations.
Mr. Neil S. Levinbook, Esq.
General Counsel
Mr. Levinbook is a licensed attorney in both New York and New Jersey and is an active member of the Health Financial Management Association as well as on the organization committee for the Health & Hospital Law Committee of the Suffolk County Bar Association. Formerly, he was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nationwide Health Solutions, a leading healthcare revenue cycle company providing a full range of outsourcing solutions for billing and receivables management needs, specializing in physician practices, hospital systems, medical centers, and free standing clinics. Before starting Nationwide, Mr. Levinbook was the Chief Operating Officer/Compliance Officer at one of the largest medical billing companies on the East Coast.
Ms. Lisa Ma
Corporate Treasurer and Managing Director of Partner Company, iCar Bio Therapeutics Ltd.
Ms. Ma is an Entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of two Asian manufacturing businesses. She is responsible for operations of iCar Bio Therapeutics Ltd., a partner company of iCell in China, strategic partnerships with Chinese companies, and management of Asian investment opportunities.
Mr. Mithlesh Kush
Business Development Officer
Mithlesh has extensive knowledge of global markets, having served as Senior Director of Operations and Business Development for many Fortune 500 companies on Wall Street as an integral member of the Compliance and Global Risk Management Group. As such, he will be responsible for developing iCell Gene Therapeutics' strategic partnerships and aligning the organization's short and long term goals. In addition, he will be maintaining key business relationships with stakeholders and partners for core regulatory functions, licensing, and development throughout the global region.
Dr. Nabil Hagag, Ph.D.
VP, Regulatory Affairs and Manufacturing Manager
Dr. Hagag is an expert in the field hematopoietic and immune effector cell therapies for Leukemia and Lymphoma. He has conducted clinical trials in Hematopoietic Cell Therapies including CAR T-cells.
As director of cells therapies he is an expert in all FDA’s CFR and GMP Guidance of the cell therapy industry and securing licensure and accreditation by NYSDOH, FDA and FACT. He collaborated with sponsors for drug studies with CellGene, Osiris, Amgen, Taigen, and CardioCell. He received numerous awards and certificates in the area of expertise from AABB, SKMCC, NMDP, Collaborative Institutional Training (CITI) as well as Comprehensive Training in Bioethics.
Mr. Kevin Pinz, MS
Company Manager
Kevin Pinz has been managing iCell Gene Therapeutics Inc. since the company’s founding in 2014. Mr. Pinz has expertise in molecular biology research, immunology, US and international intellectual property affairs, FDA and international regulatory affairs, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) development and manufacture, as well as implementation of CAR technology. Mr. Pinz has extensive experience in conducting GMP facility affairs. Mr. Pinz is dedicated to innovating treatments for patients suffering from malignancies and autoimmune disorders.
Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Razek, M.D.
Medical Director
As the Head of the Medical Department at Oncology, Rare Diseases, CNS, Allergy Biotechnology, Dr. Abdel-Razek has over 15 years of experience in building and directing the headquarters clinical development, pharmacovigilance and medical for new innovative therapies. He has a Doctor of Medicine degree from Cairo University and a strong background in oncology, immunology, rare diseases, COVID-19, infectious diseases, and neurology.
Dr. Abdel-Razek is passionate about advancing the science and improving the lives of patients with unmet medical needs. He has extensive experience in designing, authoring, and monitoring clinical trials, ensuring patient safety and regulatory compliance, managing drug safety and risk assessment, and collaborating with key opinion and thought leaders. He has also contributed to multiple publications, grants, and advisory boards, demonstrating expertise and leadership in the field.
Dr. Byeong-Hyeok (Ben) Choi
Director of Research and Development
Dr. Byeong-Hyeok (Ben) Choi is a Director of Research and Development (R&D) with an expertise in Molecular and Cell Biology, Immunology, and Oncology. Holding a doctoral degree from Hanyang University, South Korea, Dr. Choi has accumulated extensive experience through his post-doctoral training at Korea University and New York University School of Medicine. Prior to his current role, Dr. Choi served as an Assistant Professor at NYU School of Medicine.
As the Director of Research & Development at iCell Gene Therapeutics, Dr. Choi leads the projects in advancing state-of-the-art technologies in Cancer Immunotherapy. His primary focus lies in the development of CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapies, where he oversees the intricate process of experimental design, viral vector production, in vivo study, and quality control.
