Jeff has over 28 years of leadership experiences in the biotech industry. After earning his MBA from the Boston University Questrom School of Business, he worked at Alnylam, Alexion, Eli Lilly, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Merck Serono.
He has held leadership roles at the global, regional, and country levels as a program general manager, head of international strategy, regional manager, and head of marketing, among others. Jeff is the Co-founder of TSP Therapeutics, Chairman at Arcato Laboratories, serves as an advisor to Dreavent Investments and Nami Therapeutics, and is a former Board member of BIOTECanada.
Toshi is a leader in RNA biology with pioneering research at the University of Alberta. He is a Professor at the Department of Medical Genetics holding the titles of the Friends of Garrett Cumming Research & Muscular Dystrophy Canada HM Toupin Neurological Science Endowed Research Chair. Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo and postdoctoral training from Imperial College London (UK).
Toshi demonstrated that targeted therapy for the mutated dystrophin gene can restore the gene function and improve muscle strength in a severe animal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This led to a collaboration with Nippon-Shinyaku and development of viltolarsen, an ASO to treat DMD, approved in 2022 in Japan and the US after clinical trials demonstrated restored dystrophin and improved muscle function.
Rika is a Research Associate at the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine. She received a doctorate in genetics from the University of Tokyo before working as a Postdoctoral Fellow at both Rutgers and Johns Hopkins.
Rika is an expert in ASOs and genome engineering and has played critical roles in developing genetic therapies for neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders. She has filed several patent applications on ASO technologies, published over 40 scientific papers, serves as a scientific editor for several journals, and co-edited two books: “Exon Skipping and Inclusion Therapies” and “Gapmers”.
Lawrence is a neuromuscular neurologist specializing in muscle and nerve diseases, with extensive experience in clinical development program design and the design and conduct of clinical trials for muscle and nerve diseases. He has over 60 publications in peer-reviewed journals and has advised many pharmaceutical companies in the clinical development process.
Lawrence is the Director of the Calgary Neuromuscular Program and the Calgary ALS and Motor Neuron Disease Clinic. He serves as Director, Innovation and Commercialization, at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary and as Scientist at Creative Destruction Labs – Rockies.
Christian has over 20 years in finance, operations, and marketing. He was COO of KASTx Ventures leading portfolio operations for pharma and digital startups, including fundraising, IP development, and corporate governance.
Prior to KASTx, worked at PwC Consulting, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services, UBS Investment Bank, and Critical Mass. He holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business and BSc from the University of Alberta.
Mark is a 25 year veteran of the finance industry, holding a number of leadership roles within major financial firms. For over 12 years, he served as Director, Wealth Management, and Portfolio Manager with Richardson GMP Ltd, over 10 years as First Vice President with a major bank-owned brokerage firm, and led a single-family office based in Alberta for two years while also building KASTx Ventures as Founding and Managing Partner.
Mark is also on the Dean’s Advisory Board at the Cumming School of Medicine.
Mark and his wife Jennifer formed The Starratt Family Foundation to advance neuromuscular disease education and research, and help improve accessibility for those with disabilities. Mark is also a passionate Rotarian serves as the co-chair of the Host Organizing Committee for the 2025 Rotary International Convention.
Gord has over 30 years financial services experience with his last role as President of Cidel Trust Company, a national trust company and asset management firm. Other senior positions with CIBC and RBC included senior leadership, corporate strategy, governance, investment management, cross border structuring, and risk management. At RBC, Gord was Joint Head of the Caribbean (Barbados, Cayman and the Bahamas) for RBC International Wealth Management responsible for discretionary asset management, RBC Dominion Securities, and fund administration.
Gord is the Founder and CEO of Anchor Wealth Advisory, a consulting firm that focuses on governance and strategy for successful families. He is also a Founding Partner of KASTx Ventures.
Gord serves on several for profit and not for profit boards and is currently Chapter Chair for YPO Gold Alberta.