Our Team

Leadership

Dr. Joseph Wu

Co-Founder

Dr. Joseph Wu

Co-Founder

Dr. Joseph Wu is a co-founder of Aerys Biosciences and Director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute. A global leader in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) biology, he pioneered many of the patient-specific disease models that underpin Aerys’ translational platform. His lab has produced over 500 peer-reviewed publications defining the molecular drivers of fibro-inflammatory disease and enabling human-relevant preclinical testing. At Aerys, Dr. Wu drives the strategy of converting foundational iPSC discoveries into clinical candidates for IPF and PAH, ensuring that innovative science is translated efficiently and rigorously into therapies for patients with limited options.

Jade Chao

Co-Founder

Jade Chao

Co-Founder

Jade Chao is a co-founder of Aerys Biosciences and leads strategic operations across the company’s IPF and PAH programs. With training in public health, law, and data-driven health policy, she builds the operational infrastructure that enables Aerys to move innovative science into the clinic. Her background in biostatistics and health systems design supports the execution of patient-centered studies and cross-institutional partnerships. Jade’s focus on health equity and responsible translation ensures that Aerys’ iPSC-driven discoveries advance efficiently toward therapeutic impact for patients with varied fibro-inflammatory disease.

Amit Parikh

CFO/Outforce

Amit Parikh

CFO/Outforce

Amit Parikh brings over 25 years of financial leadership across early-stage biotechnology, deep-tech, and venture-backed companies. As CFO of OutForce LLP, he has guided multiple start-ups through successful acquisitions and has managed two long-standing venture funds, supporting more than 80 companies from formation through scale. His expertise in financial strategy, capital allocation, and operational infrastructure supports Aerys Biosciences as it advances its iPSC-driven programs for IPF and PAH from discovery toward the clinic.

Scientific Team

Rabindra Shivnaraine

Director, Clinical Pharmacology

Rabindra Shivnaraine

Director, Clinical Pharmacology

Dr. Rabindra Shivnaraine is the Director of Clinical Pharmacology at Aerys Biosciences, leading the translation of iPSC-based discoveries into first-in-human therapies for IPF and PAH. Trained in pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences, and biophysics at the University of Toronto and Stanford University, his work spans GPCR signaling, toll-like receptor biology, and translational fibrosis mechanisms. He has developed computational and machine-learning tools to optimize drug properties and accelerate development. At Aerys, he integrates advanced modeling, receptor pharmacology, and human-relevant iPSC systems to drive candidate selection, PK/PD strategy, and early clinical design for fibro-inflammatory lung diseases.

David Dolivo, PhD

Project Scientist

David Dolivo, PhD

Project Scientist

David Dolivo is a research scientist with expertise in fibro-inflammatory biology, tissue remodeling, and regenerative responses relevant to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in surgery, where his work focused on wound repair, fibrosis, and dysregulated healing pathways. At Aerys Biosciences, his research centers on mechanisms of fibroblast activation, extracellular matrix deposition, and inflammatory signaling that drive progressive lung and vascular disease, supporting translational development of anti-fibrotic therapeutics.

Angelos Oikonomopoulos, PhD

Senior Scientist

Angelos Oikonomopoulos, PhD

Senior Scientist

Angelos Oikonomopoulos is a translational scientist with industry and academic experience spanning Bristol Myers Squibb, MyoKardia, and Stanford University. His work focuses on human iPSC-based disease models and assay platforms to interrogate cardiopulmonary dysfunction relevant to PAH and fibro-inflammatory lung disease. At AerysBiosciences, he supportrs cell systems to support mechanism-driven drug discovery, bridging stem-cell technologies with translational programs aimed at de-risking development in IPF and PAH.

Clinical and Regulatory Consultants

Toby Maher

Scientific Advisor, IPF

Toby Maher

Scientific Advisor, IPF

Dr. Toby Maher is Professor of Medicine and Director of Interstitial Lung Disease at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. A global leader in pulmonary fibrosis, he has led more than 100 clinical trials across IPF, PAH-associated ILD, sarcoidosis, scleroderma, and rheumatoid lung disease. His research spans biomarker discovery, cellular senescence, and early-phase translational studies that validate therapeutic targets for fibrotic lung disorders. With over 400 publications, Dr. Maher’s expertise in ILD pathobiology and trial design informs Aerys Biosciences’ strategy to advance iPSC-driven candidates into rigorous clinical testing for fibro-inflammatory lung diseases.

Roham Zamanian

Scientific Advisor, PAH

Roham Zamanian

Scientific Advisor, PAH

Dr. Roham Zamanian is a Professor of Medicine at Stanford University and one of the leading international experts in pulmonary hypertension. With more than two decades of subspecialty experience, he directs the Adult Pulmonary Hypertension Service at the Vera Moulton Wall Center and has led numerous clinical trials advancing therapies for PAH and right heart failure. His work spans trial design, biomarker development, and the clinical translation of mechanistic discoveries into patient care. With Aerys Biosciences, Dr. Zamanian brings deep expertise in pulmonary vascular disease and early-phase clinical development to guide the advancement of iPSC-driven therapies for PAH.

Joe’ Skip’Garcia MD

Scientific Advisor, Pulmonary Diseases

Joe’ Skip’Garcia MD

Scientific Advisor, Pulmonary Diseases

Joe G. N. “Skip” Garcia is a nationally recognized pulmonary physician-scientist and member of the National Academy of Medicine. He is an endowed professor, Director of the Center for Inflammation Sciences and Systems Medicine at the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, and Associate Vice President of Research at the University of Florida. His research focuses on the genetic and inflammatory drivers of lung injury and disease, including biomarker and therapeutic development for acute and chronic pulmonary disorders. Dr. Garcia has published over 575 peer-reviewed articles and has led multiple large, federally funded research programs

Audrey Jia, MD, PhD

Consultant

Audrey Jia, MD, PhD

Consultant

CMC Regulatory and GMP Professional; ex-FDA Drug Quality Reviewer

Yong Wang

Regulatory Advisor

Yong Wang

Regulatory Advisor

Yong Wang brings over 25 years of experience in regulatory affairs and CMC across FDA, industry, and consultancy roles. He spent 11 years at the U.S. FDA (Office of New Drug Products), leading CMC reviews for INDs, NDAs, ANDAs, and DMFs and supporting regulatory strategy through key milestone interactions. Dr. Wang also held senior roles at Roche, Novartis, and Johnson & Johnson, and later advised companies including Gilead and Cambrex on late-stage development and global regulatory pathways. His expertise supports efficient, risk-aware advancement of complex drug programs.

Keith Zhang, MD, PHD

Consultant

Keith Zhang, MD, PHD

Consultant

Dr. Zhang devoted nearly 30 years at the US Food and Drug Administration as a senior nonclinical reviewer, where he reviewed pharmacology, pharmacokinetic, and toxicity studies for numerous INDs and BLAs/NDAs. He is passionate about supporting drug development and bringing safe and effective medicines to patients.

Human Resource and Finanace

Audra Soltis

Human Resource

Sanjay Vrajlal

Finance, Senior Manager

Sanjay Vrajlal

Finance, Senior Manager

Sanjay Vrajlal is a Senior Manager with more than a decade of experience across public accounting and industry finance. He previously worked at Ernst & Young and has deep expertise in financial management, corporate finance, regulatory reporting, and cost accounting. At Aerys Biosciences, he supports financial operations and strategic planning across the company’s IPF and PAH programs. Sanjay holds a BA in Accounting from San Jose State University and is a licensed CPA.

Our Team

Our Team

Leadership

Dr. Joseph Wu

Jade Chao

Amit Parikh

Scientific Team

Rabindra Shivnaraine

David Dolivo, PhD

Angelos Oikonomopoulos, PhD

Clinical and Regulatory Consultants

Toby Maher

Roham Zamanian

Joe’ Skip’Garcia MD

Audrey Jia, MD, PhD

Yong Wang

Keith Zhang, MD, PHD

Human Resource and Finanace

Audra Soltis

Sanjay Vrajlal

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