Program Instructors

Jonathan Stokes, PhD, HBSc (MBI 704)

Dr. Stokes is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, carrying a prestigious Banting Fellowship from 2018-2020.

Stokes established his laboratory back at McMaster in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences in August 2021. The Stokes lab leverages a balance of experimental and computational approaches to discover the next generation of life-saving antibiotics with novel structures and functions that expand the capabilities of these medicines beyond the current state of the art.

One of the lab’s primary interests, quite broadly, is in the application of deep learning approaches to help predict the antibacterial properties of structurally novel small molecules. Stokes also co-founded a non-profit organization, Phare Bio, which aims to de-risk promising antibiotic candidates and position these molecules for more rapid advancement through the clinical trial process.

 

Jesse Mastrangelo, MA, HBSc (MBI 705)

Jesse Mastrangelo is a scientist, entrepreneur, and investor with skills and expertise in innovation design, business strategy, venture capital investment, and accelerator management. He is passionate about innovation and value creation, with specific interest in health systems and the longevity sector.

Currently the Program Manager, Investments and Venture Services at the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation, Mastrangelo is also a founding member of the Hamilton Health Sciences Patient Advisory Council.

 

 

 

Carmen Carrasquilla PhD, MA, BMSc (MBI 706)

Dr. Carrasquilla has experience in both technology transfer and biomedical research. Her involvement with academia-to-industry technology transfer has allowed her to develop a unique blend of expertise (science, business, and law). Carrasquilla has experience managing academic research through the entire commercialization process: from assessing promising scientific breakthroughs for both patentability and commercial potential to identifying and connecting with industry partners for both research funding and market development.

 

 

 

 

Lianna Genovese, BEngBME (MBI 707)

Lianna Genovese is the CEO & Founder of ImaginAble Solutions, a social impact company headquartered in Hamilton, Ontario that specializes in creating assistive technology to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.

At the age of 19, Lianna invented Guided Hands ®, the company’s international award-winning assistive device that enables people with limited hand mobility to write, paint, draw and access technology.

Lianna has received over 28 awards for her innovation, including the James Dyson Engineering Award, Arthritis Society People’s Choice Award, and YWCA Women of Distinction Young Trailblazer among others.

 

 

Fran Lasowski, PhD, BEng BioSciences (MBI 708)

Dr. Lasowksi is a Chemical Engineer with expertise in biomaterials and drug delivery and training in commercialization. As Executive Director of the C20/20 Innovation Hub, she has an extensive network of ophthalmic contacts.  A former Vanier scholar, Lasowski completed her PhD at McMaster University within the NSERC 20/20 Network and has been involved in the ophthalmic space for over 12 years.

Lasowski has entrepreneurial experience with the commercialization of the micelles for ocular applications.  As a co-founder and CEO of 20|20 OptimEyes Technologies, she brings an entrepreneurial understanding to the team. Lasowski is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology and an Innovation Coach in The Clinic health innovation hub at McMaster University.

 

 

 

Michael Hartmann, PhD, MBA, C.Dir. (MBI 709)

Dr. Hartmann is a jointly appointed Professor of Medicine and Management at McMaster University, Co-Director of the University’s Health Leadership Academy, and Principal of The Directors College. He also serves as the founding Executive Director of the EMBA program in Digital Transformation in the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University teaching courses on Corporate Innovation and Digital Entrepreneurship.

Hartmann has held senior leadership roles with universities in the UK and Canada. He is the Founder and Principal of the educational consultancy, The Leadership Portfolio. He has over 25 years of experience as an educational consultant, facilitator, and trainer to organizations around the world. His work on corporate governance and executive and directors education has been published in academic journals as well as the professional press.

 

 

Randy Peterson, PhD, MBA, MSc (MBI 710)

Dr. Peterson’s background includes extensive experience with Life Science/Biotech companies directly involved with therapeutic and technological innovations. He has over 10 years of experience within the pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic sectors primarily focused on commercialization of life science innovations. Peterson brings a depth of hands-on experience which includes expertise of regulatory environments for new therapeutics, to company creation and intellectual property protection.

 

 

 

 

Renaud Jacquemart, PhD, MBA (MBI 711)

Dr. Jacquemart is a purpose-driven, visionary leader with a worldwide network and over 20 years of global experience heading multicultural, multi-functional teams in the biopharmaceutical industry. Jacquemart loves dedicating energy to people and projects that create a positive impact on our world. He is the CEO of OMNIUM Global Consulting where he advises executive teams and boards of directors. He represents some of the most innovative, purposeful Biotechs involved in development, manufacturing, and commercialization of vaccines, immunotherapies, and technologies dedicated to protecting Low- and Middle-income Countries against SARS-CoV2 and neglected tropical diseases.