Our Team

Inspired to achieve excellence

With decades of experience developing innovative therapies and building successful companies, we strive for excellence through collaboration with leading experts and family organizations. Our mission is to understand and address the everyday challenges faced by children and adults with serious neurological conditions, paving the way for groundbreaking solutions

Leadership

Sam

Sahil Velivelli, PhD

President & CEO

Nick

Nick Kwan, MD

Chief Medical Officer

Screenshot

Monica Russell, MD

Chief Scientific Officer

Julia

Julia Maschmann

Head of Regulatory

Shalini

Shalini Mishra

Head of CMC

Mark

Martin Doyle

Head of Clinical Operations

Scientific Advisors

William

William Damjanovic, MD, PhD (Scientific Founder)

Professor, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, San Francisco

• Stanford-trained board-certified neurologist, on Stanford faculty for 25 yrs – KOL
• Scientific Founder of Mentara Bio
• Developer/Patent Holder of zonesamide (Zonegran®)

Cindy

Cindy Perera, MD, PhD

Professor, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ

• Specialist in neurodevelopmental disorders, with expertise in conditions such as Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease

David

David Mackenzie, MD, PhD

Professor, Dell Medical School, Austin, Tx

• Specialist in Neurobiology with a focus on synaptic plasticity and Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis

Annette

Annette Norman, MD, PhD

Professor, UCF College of Medicine, Orlando, FL

• Specialist in paediatric psychopharmacology with a focus on ADHD and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Jeffrey

Jeffrey Gibson, MD

Professor, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

• Specialist in neurobiology and the study of Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease
• Expert in Pediatric Movement Disorders, specializing in dystonia and ataxia

Peter

Peter Wong, MD

Associate Professor, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY

• Specialist in neurobiology research and treatment of Parkinson’s disease
• Leads the Parkinson’s Institute at Albany Medical College, dedicated to advancing care and research

Sam Velivelli, PhD

President & CEO

Sahil is a seasoned entrepreneur with over a decade of
experience in cultivating life science enterprises. He previously served as
head of commercialization at UCB, a multinational biopharmaceutical company specializing in Epilepsy, Parkinson’s and Crohn’s disease. Sahil has held
pivotal roles in senior product management and strategy across prominent life
science firms Pfizer and Novo Nordisk. He takes pride in collaborating with
talented technical teams and spearheading the development of award-winning
platforms, recognized with accolades such as the Neurolife Innovation Award,
Technology Innovation Award, and The Research Excellence Award. Sahil earned
his PhD in Biochemistry from University of Pennsylvania and B.S. in
Biochemistry from Rutger’s University and an Executive MBA from The Wharton
School. Outside of work, he practices Kundalini Yoga as part of his morning
routine, opting for meditation and spending time with family.

Nick Kwan, MD

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Kwan brings over two decades of expertise as an industry physician, with a focus on biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. Before joining Mentara Bio, Dr. Kwan held key executive positions at several prominent companies. He served as Chief Medical Officer at Engage and at Pfizer, where he also held various senior roles across the US, Europe, and Australia. His extensive experience spans Epilepsy, Parkinsons, Tourette Syndrome among others, making him a valuable asset to our team. Dr Kwan holds an MD and a PhD in Neurophysiology.

Monica Russell, MD

Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Russell brings over three decades of industry experience to Mentara Bio. Previously, she served as Director of Research at GSK. Her career also includes key roles at Pfizer and Cambridge Labs, where she specialized in providing high-throughput chemistry services for both external and internal clients. Dr. Russell has a proven track record of leading large research teams and pioneering new technologies in the drug discovery process. Her extensive portfolio includes numerous patents and publications, particularly in the areas of composition of matter and technological innovations. Dr. Russell holds an MD and a PhD in Applied Chemistry.

Julia Maschmann

Head of Regulatory

Julia currently serves as Head of Regulatory. In this role, she leads teams responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance in clinical trials, pharmacovigilance, and supply/distribution across Mentara Bio’s network. Before joining Mentara Bio, Julia held various positions at Amgen, including roles in Regulatory, and R&D Quality in Australia, the Netherlands, Singapore, and California. She began her career at Opel Labs, working in QC and QA roles in Ireland and New York, and later served as Regulatory Head for a Biotechnology start-up in Singapore. Julia holds a BSc in Biochemistry and has served on the Board of Directors for several educational non-profit organisations.

Shalini Mishra

Head of CMC

Shalini joined Mentara Bio in July 2023 and serves as the Head of CMC. Before joining Mentara Bio, she was the Vice President of Supply Chain Management at Bayer, where she was instrumental in developing and implementing the vision and strategy for supply chain operations and establishing a high-performing Supply Chain & Procurement organization. Shalini also held various roles at Engage, including positions in procurement, supply chain, project management, S&OP, commercial operations & analytics, and portfolio management. Shalini graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry.

Mark

Mark O'Brien

Head of Clinical Operations

Martin is a dynamic leader with over 15 years of experience in scientific, supply, and operational leadership. At Mentara Bio, he oversees Clinical Operations Services, emphasizing patient-centric clinical strategies to expedite regulatory approvals. Martin excels in creating cohesive teams and leveraging technology to deliver exceptional customer service, ensure data integrity, and achieve timely project delivery. Martin has extensively worked in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, pharmaceutical service, and healthcare industries. His keen business acumen and strategic approach drive significant value for the organization.