Taris

Pioneering the field of drug-device convergence for targeted therapies.

About Us: Board of Directors

	Dennis A. Ausiello, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital Dennis A. Ausiello, MD is the Jackson Professor of Clinical Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Physician-in-Chief of the Department of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Previously, Dr. Ausiello served as Chief of the MGH Renal Unit from 1983-1996 and oversaw its development into one of the most sought after research and training programs in the world. He has made a substantial contribution to knowledge of epithelial biology in the areas of membrane protein trafficking, ion channel regulation and signal transduction, and has published over 100 papers, chapters and textbooks. Dr. Ausiello currently serves as the co-editor of Cecil's Textbook of Medicine (Elsevier), now in its 23rd edition. A nationally recognized leader in academic medicine, Dr. Ausiello was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences in 1999 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2003. back to top
	Kevin J. Bitterman, Ph.D., Polaris Venture Partners Kevin J. Bitterman, Ph.D. is a Principal at Polaris Venture Partners. Kevin joined Polaris in 2004 and focuses on investments in the life sciences. Prior to joining Polaris, Kevin completed his Ph.D. in genetics at Harvard Medical School. His doctoral research focused on small molecule regulation of the sirtuin class of protein deacetylases. Kevin has authored papers in the journals Nature, Science and Molecular Cell and is a co-founder of Genocea Biosciences, Parasol Therapeutics and Sirtris Pharmaceuticals. Kevin currently represents Polaris as a Director of Biolex Therapeutics, TARIS Inc., Follica Inc., Genocea Biosciences, Parasol Therapeutics and Solace Pharmaceuticals. Additionally, Kevin is a Board Observer to Pulmatrix Inc. back to top
	Michael J. Cima, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology Michael J. Cima, Ph.D., is a co-founder and consultant to the TARIS Biomedical management team. Dr. Cima is a Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and an investigator at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT. Professor Cima is author or co-author of over 190 peer reviewed scientific publications, 45 patents, and is a recognized expert in the field of materials processing. Professor Cima is actively involved in materials and engineered systems aimed at improving human health; such as treatments for cancer, metabolic diseases, trauma, and urological disorders. Professor Cima and collaborators are developing implantable devices for unprecedented control in the delivery of pharmaceuticals. Professor Cima is co-founder and a director of MicroChips Inc. and T2 Biosystems. Most recently, Professor Cima co-founded Entra Pharmaceuticals and TARIS Biomedical. Professor Cima earned a B.S. in chemistry (Phi Beta Kappa) and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering, both from the University of California at Berkeley. Professor joined the MIT faculty in 1986 and was promoted to full Professor in 1995. back to top
	Sarma Duddu, TARIS Biomedical Sarma Duddu serves as President and Chief Executive Officer at TARIS Biomedical. Dr. Duddu comes to TARIS with more than 15 years of pharmaceutical experience and has been involved in all aspects of the drug delivery business. Most recently, he held the position of General Manager and Vice President of Worldwide Drug Delivery Technologies of CIMA LABS, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cephalon, Inc (NASDAQ:CEPH). Prior to Cephalon, Dr. Duddu served as Vice President of Pharmaceutical Development at Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) (formerly Inhale Therapeutic Systems), a leading drug delivery company based in San Carlos, CA. Prior to Nektar, he worked at SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, where he focused in the areas of pharmaceutical technology, formulation sciences and product development. Dr. Duddu earned a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelors degree in Pharmacy from Andhra University in Waltair, India. back to top
	Michael A. Greeley, Flybridge Capital Partners Michael A. Greeley is a General Partner at Flybridge Capital Partners. Michael currently represents the firm on the boards of BlueTarp Financial, TARIS Biomedical, MicroCHIPs, inc., PolyRemedy, Predictive Biosciences, Protein Forest, T2 Biosystems and VidSys and led the firm’s investment in Magen BioSciences. Prior to Flybridge, Michael held senior positions with Polaris Venture Partners, GCC Investments, Wasserstein Perella & Co., Morgan Stanley & Co. and Credit Suisse First Boston. Michael currently serves as Chairman of the New England Venture Capital Association where he served as President from 2005 to 2008. He is also on the investment committee of the Partners Innovation Healthcare Fund, a member of the Executive Business Advisory Council for Mass General Hospital for Children, and a trustee and on the investment committee of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Michael received a B.A. with honors in Chemistry from Williams College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. back to top
	Ed Kania, Flagship Ventures Mr. Kania is the Managing Partner and Chairman of Flagship Ventures. Prior to co-founding Flagship Ventures in 2000, he spent 15 years as Managing General Partner of One Liberty Ventures and as General Partner at its predecessor firm, Morgan Holland Ventures. His direct investment experience covers over 100 companies. In addition, he has been intimately involved in the launch and development of more than a dozen companies as the founding and lead investor. Mr. Kania is currently a director of Acceleron Pharma, Aspect Medical Systems (Nasdaq: ASPM), EXACT Sciences (Nasdaq: EXAS), Interactive Supercomputing, INTIO, Parasol Therapeutics, Pervasis Therapeutics, TransMedics, and VisEn Medical. He is also a member of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, a not-for-profit organization that provides services and support for the Massachusetts biotechnology industry, and a member of The Johhs Hopkins Medicine Alliance for Science and Technology Development Industry. He holds a degree in physics from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. back to top
	Robert S. Langer, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology Robert S. Langer, Ph.D., is a co-founder of TARIS Biomedical. Professor Langer is a David H. Koch Institute Professor (highest honor awarded to faculty) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the most cited engineer in history. Professor Langer has authored over 1,050 research articles and 750 issued or pending patents. Dr. Langer's awards include the U.S. National Medal of Science; Charles Stark Draper Prize; the Millennium Prize; the Max Planck Research Award; the Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research; Gairdner Prize; Dickson Prize for Science; Heinz Award for Technology, Economy and Employment; Harvey Prize; John Fritz Award; GM Kettering Prize for Cancer Research; Dan David Prize; Albany Medical Center Prize and the Lemelson-MIT prize, for being “one of history’s most prolific inventors in medicine.” Professor Langer is one of the few individuals ever elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the National Academy of Sciences. He received his B.S. from Cornell University and his Sc.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, both in Chemical Engineering. back to top
	Ernest Mario, Ph.D., PPD, Inc Ernest Mario, Ph.D., is chairman of PPD, Inc. a pharmaceutical contract research organization, and chairman and CEO of Capnia, developer of a proprietary medical gas delivery system targeted at rhinitis and migraine. After working as a pharmacist and researcher, Dr. Mario served at a number of drug companies before being named CEO of Glaxo in 1989. During Dr. Mario’s tenure, Glaxo brought five major new products to market and saw sales and profits increase by 15% annually. Later Dr. Mario led drug delivery technology company Alza until selling it to Johnson & Johnson in 2001. Most recently he served as chairman and CEO of Reliant Pharmaceuticals, now part of Glaxo SmithKline. Dr. Mario earned a B.S. in pharmacy at Rutgers, where the pharmacy school now bears his name, and his Ph.D. in physical sciences at the University of Rhode Island. In 2007 he was awarded the Remington Medal, pharmacy’s highest honor. Dr. Mario has a longstanding record of educational philanthropy, having served as chairman of the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education and trustee of Duke University, during which time he was chairman of the Duke University Health System. back to top