Leadership
Ralph T. Salvagno, MD
Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Salvagno is an orthopedic surgeon trained at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals of Cleveland, with a career dedicated to musculoskeletal trauma and joint arthritis. During this time, he performed more than 6,000 joint replacements and provided non operative care to countless others. Despite the advancements in orthopedic surgery, he has had a persistent vision to overcome the clinical challenges resulting from limitations in current medical technology for early diagnosis and prognosis for OA treatment and inflammatory musculoskeletal conditions.
He previously served as CEO of a public pharma company and was responsible for soliciting investment and business development. He has extensive experience in business planning as well as clinical trial supervision. He has served as principal investigator is several phase II clinical studies and as a medical advisor to several biomedical start-ups. Dr. Salvagno served as Chief of Staff at Meritus Medical Center, Hagerstown Md. from 2017-2019 and as member of the Board of Directors of the Meritus Health System from 2017-2022.
Andre van Wijnen, PhD
Co-Founder, Chief Science Officer
Based on formal training in biochemistry, molecular biology and biomedical sciences, Dr. van Wijnen has pursued research commercialization via translational studies that develop new therapeutic based on fundamental biological questions related to cell growth, differentiation and function in multiple physiological and pathological contexts, including skeletal development, bone formation, orthopedic disorders and cancer.
He pioneered studies on biological and pathological mechanisms that influence skeletal development, homeostasis and repair. He has pursued patient-oriented translational research projects that focus on joint health and function, as well as renal and neural disorders within an active network of clinical, biomedical and industry collaborators. His studies addressed biological and mechanistic questions fundamental to musculoskeletal regenerative medicine, including stem cell lineage commitment and progression, trophic functions in joint tissue repair and regeneration, as well as regulation of normal development and degeneration in bone, cartilage, ligament and tendon tissues.
Bruce Harmon
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Harmon has 40 years’ experience as CFO, director and/or audit chairman of public and private companies. Since 1993, he has operated his own consulting firm where he has served as an interim officer and/or director of various public companies during their growth stages. He has worked with a pharmaceutical company with the registration of an OTC product and the negotiation of the sale of the company to a large pharma company. He has taken 15 companies public on a contract basis.