Leadership
Management
Vinny Jindal
Co-Founder, Board Member, President & CEO
Vinny Jindal leads Secretome Therapeutics and has a deep healthcare finance, strategy, and entrepreneurship background. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer at Reneo Pharmaceuticals, successfully guiding the company through its IPO in 2021. As Vice President of Strategy at Reata Pharmaceuticals, Vinny contributed to the commercialization and growth of its therapeutic portfolio. He also served as Entrepreneur-In-Residence at the University of Texas Southwestern, fostering biotech innovation. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles in equity research at ThinkEquity Partners and Wedbush Morgan Securities, specializing in the life sciences sector. Vinny has an M.S. in Pharmacology from Weill Medical College of Cornell University, an M.S. in Endocrinology, and a B.A. in Integrative Biology from the University of California, Berkeley.
Dr Karen Smith MD, PhD, MBA, LLM
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Karen Smith is an accomplished executive with over 20 years of experience in global clinical development, regulatory strategy, and leadership in the pharmaceutical industry. She has overseen over 100 clinical trials and achieved over 20 regulatory approvals across significant regions, including the FDA, EMA, and PMDA. Dr. Smith’s leadership roles have spanned companies such as Merck, Allergan, AstraZeneca, and Bristol Myers Squibb. Her expertise includes oncology, cardiology, rare diseases, and neuroscience, contributing to the successful launch of multiple therapies. Dr. Smith also serves on the boards of Sangamo Therapeutics and Aurinia Pharmaceuticals. In addition to her professional accomplishments, she is a competitive triathlete and Ironman finisher.
Jeff Masten, MBA
Senior Vice President, CMC Operations
Jeff Masten oversees GMP manufacturing and regulatory operations at Secretome Therapeutics. Previously, he was Chief Operating Officer at Theragent Inc., designing and launching a state-of-the-art GMP facility. At JUNO Therapeutics/Bristol Myers Squibb, he was pivotal in securing Breyanzi’s commercial approval. Jeff also contributed to CMC development at Atara Bio, helping advance cell therapies through late-stage development. He holds an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Business Administration.
Dr. Salman Bhai, MD
Vice President, Clinical Development
Dr. Salman Bhai brings clinical and research expertise to his role at Secretome Therapeutics. He has held leadership positions at Taysha Gene Therapies, Relay Therapeutics, and Epirium Bio, where he advanced novel therapeutics through preclinical and clinical stages. As Director of the Neuromuscular Center at the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Dr. Bhai led care and research for complex neuromuscular conditions. He earned his MD from Harvard Medical School and completed his residency and fellowship at Mass General Brigham.
Malika Pasha, MBA
Vice President, Clinical Operations
Malika Pasha leads clinical trial operations at Secretome Therapeutics and has over 20 years of experience managing oncology, cardiology, and neurology trials. She has guided multiple startups through clinical phases to IPO, contributing to critical regulatory filings and approvals. Previously at Genentech, she was vital in advancing treatments for Urothelial Bladder and Lung Carcinoma.
Dr. Rachana Mishra, PhD
Co-Founder, Senior Director of CMC
Dr. Rachana Mishra is a cell biologist specializing in GMP manufacturing and cellular therapy development. As a co-founder of Secretome Therapeutics, she has pioneered the therapeutic use of neonatal cardiac progenitor cells. She has generated nCPCs from over 500 biopsies and authored 30+ peer-reviewed articles. Dr. Mishra earned her PhD in Biotechnology from Sam Higginbottom University.
Dr. Sudhish Sharma, PhD
Co-Founder, Director of Preclinical Research
Dr. Sudhish Sharma is a leading expert in cell therapy research. His work has identified the secretome as the functional unit of progenitor cells, driving Secretome’s platform innovation. He has authored 30+ publications and secured federal and state research grants. Dr. Sharma holds a PhD in Molecular Biology from Manipal University.
Dr. Muthukumar Gunasekaran, PhD
Director of Translational Medicine, Co-Founder
Dr. Muthukumar Gunasekaran focuses on applying nCPC-derived therapies to neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS and Friedreich’s Ataxia. He has 30+ publications in translational research and earned his PhD in Clinical Proteomics from the University of Verona.
Dr. Shannon Rich PhD
Director of Product Strategy
Dr. Shannon Rich brings extensive experience in regulatory strategy and rare disease drug development. She was crucial in FDA and EMA approvals for Skyclarys at Reata Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Rich earned her PhD in Neuroscience from UT Southwestern and her BS in Health Science Studies from Baylor University.
Board of Directors
Vinny Jindal
Co-Founder, Board Member, President & CEO
Vinny Jindal leads Secretome Therapeutics and has a deep healthcare finance, strategy, and entrepreneurship background. As Chief Financial Officer at Reneo Pharmaceuticals, he successfully guided the company through its IPO in 2021. He previously served as Vice President of Strategy at Reata Pharmaceuticals, where he played a crucial role in commercialization and strategic growth initiatives. Earlier in his career, Vinny held senior positions in healthcare equity research at ThinkEquity Partners and Wedbush Morgan Securities. He has an M.S. in Pharmacology from Cornell University and an M.S. in Endocrinology from UC Berkeley.
Dr. Sunjay Kaushal, MD, PhD
Co-Founder, Board Member
Dr. Sunjay Kaushal is a renowned cardiac surgeon and researcher specializing in heart failure treatments for pediatric and adult patients. He serves as Division Head of Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, performing over 200 cardiac surgeries annually. Dr. Kaushal also leads a 10-member postdoctoral research team, supported by NIH funding, focused on developing innovative therapies for severe cardiovascular diseases. With over 100 peer-reviewed publications, he is widely regarded as a leader in translational medicine. Dr. Kaushal earned his MD from Johns Hopkins University and his PhD from Harvard University.
Bill Niland
Board Member
Bill Niland is a serial entrepreneur with a proven track record of founding and successfully exiting life sciences companies. He founded Harpoon Medical, acquired by Edwards Lifesciences for $100 million upfront, and Vapotherm, a publicly traded company pioneering high-flow nasal cannula therapy. Bill has secured 16 patents throughout his career and played a critical role in developing transformative healthcare innovations. His experience as a founder and leader across multiple sectors brings invaluable insight to Secretome’s strategic direction.
Henrik Rasmussen, MD, PhD
Board Member
Dr. Henrik Rasmussen has over 25 years of experience in biotech and pharmaceutical development, specializing in clinical research and regulatory strategy. He has held senior leadership roles at Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, and ZS Pharma, overseeing global development programs and regulatory filings, including INDs, NDAs, and BLAs. Dr. Rasmussen’s expertise spans therapeutic areas such as cardiology, nephrology, and diabetes. With more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, he is a recognized leader in clinical strategy and innovation. Dr. Rasmussen earned his MD and PhD from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Margot Conner
Board Member
Margot Conner is an accomplished executive with over 30 years of experience in the healthcare and life sciences industries. She most recently served as CEO and Board Member of RoosterBio, where she led the company through multiple investment rounds and strategic growth initiatives. Over her career, Margot has been involved in over 20 M&A transactions valued at more than $1 billion. Her leadership roles at companies such as Lonza, Unilever, and Chr. Hansen has provided her with extensive expertise in operational execution, corporate development, and strategic planning.
Clinical Advisory Board
Javed Butler, MD
Dr. Javed Butler is President of the Baylor Scott and White Research Institute and a globally recognized leader in cardiovascular medicine. He has authored over 650 peer-reviewed publications and served on numerous steering committees for international clinical trials. Previously, Dr. Butler held prominent roles at Emory University, Stony Brook University, and the University of Mississippi, where he contributed to groundbreaking research in heart failure treatment.
Sanjiv Shah, MD
Dr. Sanjiv Shah is the Stone Endowed Professor of Medicine and Director of the HFpEF Program at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He is a leading expert in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), having authored over 320 peer-reviewed publications and led more than 25 international clinical trials. Dr. Shah’s pioneering research in cardiac mechanics and novel therapeutics has significantly advanced the field.
Barry H Greenberg, MD
Dr. Barry Greenberg is a Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Director of the Advanced Heart Failure Treatment Program at UC San Diego. He has served on the steering committees of numerous global clinical trials and is a founding Heart Failure Society of America member. His research focuses on the basic mechanisms of heart failure and the development of new therapeutic approaches. With an extensive body of published work, Dr. Greenberg is a highly respected leader in cardiology.
Steven E. Lipshultz, MD, FAAP, FAHA
Dr. Steven Lipshultz is Chair of Pediatrics at the University at Buffalo and a leading authority on pediatric cardiomyopathies. His research spans genetic, toxic, and infectious cardiomyopathies, with a focus on improving outcomes for children with cardiovascular diseases. He has authored significant clinical research studies and continues contributing to advancements in pediatric heart health.
Arshed Quyyemi, MD
Dr. Arshed Quyyumi is a Co-Director of the Emory Clinical Cardiovascular Research Institute and a tenured Professor of Medicine at Emory University. His research focuses on vascular biology, progenitor cells, and biomarkers for cardiovascular disease. With over 250 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Quyyumi’s work bridges laboratory findings and clinical applications to advance treatment for heart disease.
3060 Pegasus Park Dr Building 6, Dallas, TX 75247
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Secretome Therapeutics
323 W. Camden Street, Suite 600
Baltimore, MD 21201
400 N. Aberdeen Street, Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60642
7250 Dallas Parkway, Suite 400
Plano, TX 75024
3060 Pegasus Park Drive, Building 6
Dallas, TX 75247