Founder & CEO

CPO

Dr. Teresa Mitchell is a developmental psychologist with 20+ years training and studies the development of perception and cognition in a variety of special populations, including individuals with congenital deafness and autism using a wide variety of techniques such as EEG, eye tracking, and behavior. Dr. Mitchell has served on numerous national and international leadership committees including NIH, guiding research on cognitive neuroscience, human behavior, and human health. Dr. Mitchell has a strong understanding of human behavior and health.

Fractional CTO

Thomas Baker has 10+ years of technical expertise in AI, systems engineering, hardware development, and healthcare with leading roles at several companies. He has a multidisciplinary background in experimental aerospace, robotics, and generative AI development. He has led the creation of advanced AI solutions and integrated them into complex hardware systems across industries such as aerospace, autonomous vehicles, and IoT. With a focus on optimizing machine learning algorithms, automation, and real-time data processing, Thomas has spearheaded several high-impact projects by leveraging AI to solve complex, large-scale challenges to drive innovation at leading companies. He has led the development of groundbreaking AI agents that achieved top rankings in global benchmarks.

Science Director

Monica Akula is a research scientist with 10+ years of experience in translational research, with a background in genetics and large data analysis. She received her PhD in Neuroscience from McMaster University, where she investigated glaucoma pathophysiology. Dr. Akula led the team that worked on preclinical studies to advance gene therapy strategies for diseases including AMD, Stargardt disease, and retinitis pigmentosa. She has contributed to early-stage clinical research and is adept at integrating genetic and large data insights for whole health analysis. She has an understanding of NGS, microbiome sequencing, and EMR patient records through statistical approaches, and AI modeling including machine learning, and deep learning.

Full Stack/ML/AI Engineer

Madhura Patil is a computer scientist with an M.S. from UC Riverside with a focus on AI, big data management, and advanced systems design. She brings strong industry experience from her role at Fetch.ai, where she built and deployed intelligent agents for enterprise automation. Her technical expertise spans Python, React, Flask, TypeScript, and cloud platforms, complemented by experience in Deep Learning. With a track record of impactful projects, ranging from AI-powered addiction recovery tools to geospatial analysis, she combines technical depth with expertise in building intelligent, scalable systems.

Full stack/ML/AI Engineer

Sreekar Sarvepalli is a full stack developer specializing in AI, Web3, and blockchain solutions. He holds a master’s degree in computer science from UC Riverside, where he worked on LLM-powered systems for geospatial data visualization and AI-driven learning assistants. He has a strong background in full-stack development, smart contract engineering, and AI applications. Sreekar works with React, Next.js, Django, FastAPI, Solidity, and PostgreSQL to deliver interactive web applications, blockchain solutions, and AI-powered tools.

Director of Global Public Relations

Laura Carabello is an entrepreneur and strategy consultant with 30+ years of experience in domestic and international businesses across healthcare, managed care, benefits, and life sciences. Her expertise is key for global public relations for Shifa Precision. She has played a key role in the growth and development of multiple companies and organizations worldwide. She also leads the Fellows group of the Thought Leadership & Innovation Foundation and authors monthly articles for The Self Insurer, the official magazine of the Self Insurance Institute of America. As the founder and principal owner of CPR Strategic Marketing and Communications, she brings expertise in corporate strategy, business development, marketing, and industry positioning for thousands of public and private companies as well as not-for-profit organizations.

Scientific Advisor

Dr. Arne Nystuen has 20+ years of leadership experience in cell and gene therapy development, with expertise in human genetics, neuroscience, biomarker and genomic assay development, and FDA regulation. Dr. Nystuen is the Director of Cellular Biology at Neurotech Pharmaceuticals, where he leads the development of cell and gene therapies for neurodegenerative and ophthalmic diseases. He has guided teams from early research through FDA approval, contributing to products such as ENCELTO™ for Macular Telangiectasia Type 2. He made seminal contributions to the Human Genome Project, where his work led to the identification of several genes linked to diseases of neurodegeneration, vision, and hearing.

Scientific Advisor

Dr. Margaret DeAngelis is an endowed chair and professor at the University at Buffalo with 20+ years of experience in epidemiology and ophthalmology. She has expertise in large data analysis, human genetics, and molecular neuroscience. Dr. DeAngelis has led research initiatives combining genetics, epidemiology, and clinical data to understand mechanisms of human aging. She has held leadership positions on national and international committees, informing public health strategies and driving rigorous science, and is globally recognized for her contributions in advancing our understanding of aging.

Informatics Advisor

Dr. Kristina Holton is a bioinformatician with 15+ years of experience in sequencing data analysis, machine learning, and big data, advising teams at top institutions like Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, and the Broad Institute. Dr. Holton has expertise in big data analyses to high performance compute scales, analyzing samples from GWAS, Exome, RNA-seq, microbiome, ATAC-seq and single-cell RNA and ATAC-seq through traditional statistical approaches, machine learning, and deep learning. Dr. Holton has experience working with patient data and protected health information from mining electronic health records, and with large scale architecture considerations and sustainability practices.

Strategic Advisor

Kent Barkouras is a seasoned senior executive and strategic advisor with 20+ years of experience in healthcare, marketing, and technology. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Whittier College School of Law. He has a proven track record in strategic planning, corporate governance, contracting, and revenue generation, and has served as CEO, board member, and advisor for multiple healthcare and technology ventures, driving innovation in AI, patient safety, and personalized medicine. He is skilled in strategic planning, contracting, supply chain management, corporate governance and revenue generation. Kent combines legal expertise, business acumen, and a deep commitment to advancing patient-centered healthcare through cutting-edge technologies.

Strategic Advisor

Marc Kirschbaum is a strategic advisor, board member, and business leader with a 20+ year track record transforming companies at critical inflection points from scaling to turnaround. He holds a JD from the University of Chicago Law School. He has advised investors, founders, and CEOs across industries including healthcare, software, data analytics, and drug/device development, including key roles at CoreLogic, LB Pharmaceuticals, Allegro Ophthalmics, and Experian. He has expertise in driving business growth, strategic partnerships, and successful exits, and is a thought leader in strategy, leadership, and execution.