David Humes, MD is an internationally recognized nephrologist and physician scientist. He received his B.A. in mathematics/physics from University of California, Berkeley and his M.D. from University of California, San Francisco as a Regent Scholar. He completed further training at UCSF, University of Pennsylvania and Harvard. He has been appointed to the faculty at Harvard Medical School and University of Michigan. Currently he is Professor of Internal Medicine at University of Michigan after serving as Chairman of the Department. He is considered a world-renowned scholar in the areas of nephrology, acute renal failure, cell therapy, biomaterials, device formulation, tissue engineering, and extracorporeal therapy. He has published over 250 scientific articles and book chapters, edited 6 medical textbooks, and has over 70 issued or applied patents. He has served on numerous editorial boards of scientific and medical journals. He has founded 4 spinout biomedical companies raising over $100 million of private equity. His research has been funded with over $40 million of grants from federal agencies and foundations. His accomplishments have been recognized as an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association, President’s Award of National Kidney Foundation, A.N. Richards Distinguished Achievement Award in Nephrology, Special Recognition Award from Association of Professors of Medicine, and Kolff Award in Regenerative Medicine. He is an elected member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation and the American Association of Physicians and a Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science and American Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering.

Dr. Yevzlin graduated mangna cum laude from Dartmouth College. He did his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan and fellowship in Nephrology at Northwestern. Dr. Yevzlin is currently Professor of Medicine and director of Interventional Nephrology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Yevzlin has presented and published over 150 abstracts, invited lectures, and manuscripts. He is an internationally recognized leader in the field of Interventional Nephrology, having edited the first three textbooks on the subject, and is a past President of the American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology. In addition to his academic contributions, Dr. Yevzlin has been involved the invention, design, and reduction to practice of multiple medical devices in his role as chief medical officer, chief science officer, and founder of multiple start-up biotech companies.

Ajay Verma is a neurologist, neuroscientist, drug developer, inventor and biotech science advisor. Ajay most recently headed R&D efforts at Yumanity Therapeutics, developing drugs against novel targets for treating neurodegenerative diseases. Prior to that he was the EVP of Research and Experimental Medicine at Codiak Biosciences. He has also served as CMO at United Neuroscience (now called Vaxxinity), VP of Neurology at Biogen and Novartis, and Director of Neuroscience Experimental Medicine at Merck. His drug development experience spans small molecule, peptide/protein, antibody, oligonucleotide, vaccine and exosome drug platforms. He has largely focused on translational and early clinical development in neurology indications using precision drug development approaches that leverage biomarkers and experimental medicine paradigms. Ajay is interested in developing drugs for established as well as novel targets in Neurology. Prior to his Biopharma career, Ajay was s Professor of Neurology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He also worked as a staff neurologist at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center for 11 years after completing his neurology residency there. Ajay received his M.D. and Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University, where he trained in the laboratory of Dr. Solomon Snyder. Ajay received his B.S. in Zoology from the University of Maryland. 

Dr. Hillebrand is the Associate Medical Director of Liver Transplantation at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC).  Dr. Hillebrand has authored more that 20 Papers (published or in press/preparation) as well as 7 books (and/or book chapters). He is a recognized leader in the field of Hepatology and Liver Transplantation. In addition to his academic and clinical contributions, Dr. Hillebrand has served as a Principal Investigator in various clinical studies to evaluate extracorporeal treatments for liver disorders. Previously, he served on the Editorial Board of ASAIO Journal, was a Section Editor for the ASAIO Journal-Liver Transplantation, and a Reviewer for the European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology.  Dr. Hillebrand graduated with distinction in Microbiology from Iowa State University.  He did his residency in Internal Medicine at Iowa State University Hospitals and Clinics and fellowships in Gastroenterology, ­Hepatology and Liver Transplantation at Iowa State University Hospitals and Clinics.

Eric Stroup has nearly 30 years of experience in the medical device field.  He spent 26 years with Fresenius Medical Care, in various research and development leadership roles, most recently as the Senior Vice President of the Dialyzers, Membranes and Adsorbers Product Engineering Center.  During his career, Eric has made significant contributions as a member of Senior Management in R&D. Eric collaborated with regional and global stakeholders to develop innovative product pipelines, drive key product development, technical design, and engineering milestones with a fiscally disciplined, business-oriented approach in his execution.

 Among many notable accomplishments, he has a demonstrated history of product delivery.  During his leadership, the Dialyzer R&D team was responsible for eight 510(k) decisions from the FDA for submissions in the last ten years (16 cleared 510(k)’s since 2000).  These submissions supported a product family that sold greater than 55 million units annually in North America, representing a >70% market share and providing >$375Million in revenue annually.

 Eric built the Fresenius Medical Care Dialyzer Global R&D team in North America from scratch (including the completion of the Ogden Design Center) and established a wining culture across its locations in the EMEA, NA, and AP regions. Eric has an extraordinary commitment to deliver results and an innovative approach to driving outcomes.