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Maryland Department of Commerce

Life Sciences Advisory Board (LSAB)

The LSAB was created by the legislature in 2007 to assist in maintaining Maryland’s preeminence in the life sciences industry. Comprised of 18 members, the Board includes the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce, a representative designated by the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) and 16 members appointed by the Governor.​

Members

  • Jay A. Perman - (Chair) Chancellor, University System of Maryland
  • Bob Storey - (Vice Chair) Managing Director, The MVR Company; Managing Director, The LaunchPort™
  • Trushar Agrawal – Sr. Director, Head of Manufacturing, Kite Pharma
  • Richard A. Bendis - President and CEO, BioHealth Innovation Inc.
  • Nawal Benmouna, PhD - Interim VP for STEM and Health Sciences, Montgomery College
  • Jesse Christopher, MBA - CEO, Longeviti Neuro Solutions
  • Harry Coker, Jr. - Secretary, Maryland Department of Commerce*
  • Rebecca Fisher, PhD - Deputy Director for Program Management, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, U.S. Defense Health Agency Research & Development
  • Renee Iacona, PhD - COO, Oncology Biometrics, AstraZeneca
  • Edward E. C. Margerrison, PhD - Director, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  • Mark G. Mortenson, JD - CSO, Clene Nanomedicine
  • Ruchika Nijhara, PhD, MBA - Executive Director, Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund*
  • Nikos Pavlidis - Worldwide President, BD Diagnostic Solutions
  • Deborah D. Ricker, PhD - President, Hood College
  • Matt Tremblay, PhD - CEO, Blackbird Laboratories
  • Michael Weingarten - Director, SBIR Development Center, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
  • Ellington West - CEO and Co-founder, Sonavi Labs, Inc.
  • Christy Wyskiel - Senior Advisor to the President and Head of Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, Johns Hopkins University

* Standing Member

Contact

Stefanie Trop
Director, Life Sciences
Maryland Department of Commerce
401 E. Pratt Street, 17th Floor 
Baltimore, MD 21202
443-610-7436

Meetings

  • Friday, October 30, 2026
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    4MLK
    4 N Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
    Baltimore, MD 21201

Meetings are open to members of the public. To attend, please e-mail Stefanie Trop. 

Meeting dates and times are subject to change. Please consult this website prior to the scheduled time to verify the current meeting details and agenda.

Meeting Archive