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Maryland Department of Commerce

Life Sciences Advisory Board (LSAB)

The Life Sciences Advisory Board (LSAB) brings together leaders from industry, research, higher education and government to help strengthen Maryland's life sciences sector.

Created by the Maryland General Assembly in 2007, the 18-member Board includes representatives from state government and Maryland's life sciences community.

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

Ulyana Desiderio
Maryland Department of Commerce
401 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
[email protected]
443-835-9038

Upcoming 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 [email protected].

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