The K2bio Team
Reaching the peak of biotechnology innovation through integrity. advanced practices. essential support. expert guidance.
With extensive expertise in critical laboratory techniques, animal husbandry, phase-appropriate compliance and regulatory oversight, and study protocol development and execution, we ensure research is efficiently and securely conducted. The result: robust, high-value data.
Executive Leadership
Kieron Jones has over 13 years of success in delivering results through direct sales, strategic revenue-generating partnerships, and building collaborative long-term relationships in a variety of government and commercial contracting environments.
Over the past 10+ years, he has gained expertise as a project management professional with experience in preclinical through phase 3 biopharmaceutical development, product lifecycle management, cross-functional collaborations, financial analysis and budgeting, project and portfolio management, and global strategic planning. Mr. Jones has a demonstrated track record of leading by example, adapting to evolving industry demands, and promoting efficiency through analysis of key performance indicators.
Mr. Jones held multiple positions at Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies—Texas (formerly Kalon Biotherapeutics), most recently Director, Commercial Development, where he brought in more than $50 million in new business and participated in successful negotiations of commercial supply agreements and other strategic partnerships. During his 8 years at Fujifilm/Kalon, he worked with the COO on global strategic planning and managed a $175 million multi-option contract with the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
Previously, Mr. Jones held positions as project manager and program analyst at BAE Systems, Atlantic Marine, Rham Construction, and the Haskell Company. He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).
Andrew Strong has extensive experience representing many of the firm’s life sciences clients and routinely advises on corporate and securities, mergers and acquisitions, private and public financing, university licensing, executive compensation, and regulatory matters.
Mr. Strong’s clients include public- and private-sector entities in the emerging technology and life sciences industries as well as public and private academic institutions. He previously served as the general counsel and compliance officer for the Texas A&M University System, where he was responsible for, among other things, business transactions, technology commercialization, research compliance, real estate, and litigation for the system’s 11 public universities, 7 state agencies, and health science center.
Mr. Strong was the founding president and CEO of a start-up biotech company, Kalon Biotherapeutics, formed by the Texas A&M System in 2011. He was integral to the multibillion-dollar award from BARDA in 2012. Over the course of 3 years, Mr. Strong successfully grew Kalon to over 100 employees and secured significant partnerships with MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) and the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. He then successfully ran a process to secure a strategic exit for Kalon that resulted in the sale of the company to Fujifilm and Mitsubishi in December 2014.
Mr. Strong set his focus on helping grow the Texas biotechnology industry and has represented over 20 Texas private and public biotech companies, a number of which are funded by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).
John Ferreira has 36 years of technical and executive experience in preclinical, clinical, and commercial manufacturing and compliance in the biotechnology/pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. Mr. Ferreira’s experience includes validation, compliance, and regulatory activities associated with companies based in the US and Europe. He has served in key roles in the design and build of new biopharmaceutical facilities and quality systems, and he has conducted pre-Biologics License Application (BLA) submission inspections identifying facility, manufacturing, and laboratory compliance gaps. His experience in biopharmaceuticals extends beyond the borders of the US and includes projects in Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy.
Phillip Eckels has more than 12 years of experience working in the cell and gene therapy field spanning research and development (R&D), process development, and clinical manufacturing in the US and Europe. Mr. Eckels has extensive knowledge of viral and nonviral gene modification techniques, cell processing, process automation, vector development, quality, regulatory, and FDA/EMA chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) strategy. In his previous role, he oversaw the product development of both CAR T-cell and TCR T-cell product platforms that were successfully accepted by the FDA for phase 1/2 trials. Mr. Eckels participated in the design and buildout of 2 previous cell therapy manufacturing facilities used for clinical trials, as well as R&D labs.
Kelly Sharp has 15 years of experience as an animal and vivarium manager, during which she was actively involved in obtaining AAALAC accreditation for 2 new vivarium facilities. She has managed animal studies, data collection and delivery from the core team to multiple scientists, and finalized data for review by scientific teams. She has also developed and reviewed IACUC protocol submissions and has hands-on experience with laboratory animals and cell culture work.
Michelle Hotard has more than 8 years of experience in Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) manufacturing and the process development of small molecules and cell therapy products. Her areas of expertise include both autologous and allogenic CAR T-cell and TCR T-cell product optimization, scale up/scale out, closed–system, and process automation. Mrs. Hotard also has experience in Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) lab buildouts; technology transfer from R&D to product development and manufacturing; and cost–/risk–reduction strategies. In her previous role, she led the process development of a nonviral TCR T-cell product that resulted in a successful FDA Investigational New Drug (IND) filing in 2021.
Vita Salsman is coming on board with 17 years of experience, 15 of which are in cell and gene therapy for solid tumors. Over her career, she has attained extensive preclinical project development and clinical translation experience. This includes CAR–T cell manufacturing, SOP development and execution, product optimization and scale up, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) operations, trial structure, and the IND application process. Working closely with the clinical team, she has overseen screening and eligibility for trial enrollment, triage of prospective candidates, and administration of therapeutic products at bedside. This led to 8 phase 1/2 trials, including a recent activation of a multi–institutional trial. Ms. Salsman also has expertise in animal model design and small–animal surgical techniques.
Dr. Elena Gorovits has over 25 years’ working and management experience in the biotechnology and drug development industry. She provided leadership in the areas of anticancer, antiviral, and antibacterial drug development and bioanalytical services. Dr. Gorovits directed the development of potential drug candidates and managed the execution of bioanalytical projects from early-stage projects through advanced phases of clinical trials. She has extensive expertise in multiple aspects of biologics and small–molecule regulated bioanalysis for CMC projects and clinical studies support. She played a key role in the designing and building of 3 biopharmaceutical facilities (including fully compliant GLP labs), and she participated in several successful IND filings and execution of clinical trials.
Strategic Advisory Board
- Appointed CEO of BioHouston in October 2015 after serving 4 years as the company’s COO
- Former vice president of investor relations at Synthesis Energy Systems, a publicly traded alternative energy company
- Former vice president of corporate communications and investor relations and investor relations director at Encysive Pharmaceuticals
- Served as investor relations manager and corporate communications coordinator at Texas Biotechnology
- Held a variety of positions at Rochem Separation Systems
- Bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University
- Member of the the CPRIT Product Development Advisory Committee, The University of Houston BME Industrial Advisory Board, Rice University’s Professional Science Master’s Program Advisory Board, and Houston Community College’s Biotechnology Advisory Committee
- Active member of the Houston Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) since 2000; current board member
- Associate professor of immunology at MDACC, where his laboratory seeks to discover the underlying mechanisms of immune resistance in the “coldest” tumors so that rational therapeutic interventions can be developed to restore T cell infiltration and sensitivity to T cell checkpoint blockade
- Published several influential manuscripts describing how T cell co-stimulatory pathways could be modulated in tandem to mediate immunologic rejection of melanomas in mice
- First recipient of the prestigious American Cancer Society Levy Fellowship to fund his postdoctoral studies
- PhD in immunology from Stanford University, where he was awarded the McDevitt prize for the best graduate thesis in his year
- Founder and CMO of LumaBridge (formerly Cancer Insight) and Trauma Insight
- Served 30 years of active duty as a surgeon and research scientist in the military
- Founder and director of the Cancer Vaccine Development Program, which has over 20 years of experience in the discovery, development, and clinical testing of cancer vaccines, including 5 licensed for commercial development
- Professor of surgery at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and professor (adjunct) of surgical oncology at MDACC
- Former chair of the Cancer Care Program at the San Antonio Military Medical Center and past military director of the United States Military Cancer Institute
- Graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; completed surgical training at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a surgical oncology fellowship at MDACC
- Has written over 300 peer-reviewed manuscripts, abstracts, and book chapters
- Former general counsel of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; led the federal team that assessed the ecological impact of the Valdez Oil Spill
- Former general counsel and head of the gulf coast Environmental Science Group for Entrix; led multidisciplinary science teams in pioneering the use of eco-econometric tools now used by governments and industry worldwide
- Founding partner of a boutique environmental law firm representing some of the country’s largest companies, dealing with some of their most challenging environmental liabilities
Board of Directors
Co-Founder and Board Chair
Andrew Strong has extensive experience representing many of the firm’s life sciences clients and routinely advises on corporate and securities, mergers and acquisitions, private and public financing, university licensing, executive compensation, and regulatory matters.
Mr. Strong’s clients include public- and private-sector entities in the emerging technology and life sciences industries as well as public and private academic institutions. He previously served as the general counsel and compliance officer for the Texas A&M University System, where he was responsible for, among other things, business transactions, technology commercialization, research compliance, real estate, and litigation for the system’s 11 public universities, 7 state agencies, and health science center.
Mr. Strong was the founding president and CEO of a start-up biotech company, Kalon Biotherapeutics, formed by the Texas A&M System in 2011. He was integral to the multibillion-dollar award from BARDA in 2012. Over the course of 3 years, Mr. Strong successfully grew Kalon to over 100 employees and secured significant partnerships with MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) and the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. He then successfully ran a process to secure a strategic exit for Kalon that resulted in the sale of the company to Fujifilm and Mitsubishi in December 2014.
Mr. Strong set his focus on helping grow the Texas biotechnology industry and has represented over 20 Texas private and public biotech companies, a number of which are funded by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).
Co-Founder, CEO, and President
Kieron Jones has over 13 years of success in delivering results through direct sales, strategic revenue-generating partnerships, and building collaborative long-term relationships in a variety of government and commercial contracting environments.
Over the past 10+ years, he has gained expertise as a project management professional with experience in preclinical through phase 3 biopharmaceutical development, product lifecycle management, cross-functional collaborations, financial analysis and budgeting, project and portfolio management, and global strategic planning. Mr. Jones has a demonstrated track record of leading by example, adapting to evolving industry demands, and promoting efficiency through analysis of key performance indicators.
Mr. Jones held multiple positions at Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies—Texas (formerly Kalon Biotherapeutics), most recently Director, Commercial Development, where he brought in more than $50 million in new business and participated in successful negotiations of commercial supply agreements and other strategic partnerships. During his 8 years at Fujifilm/Kalon, he worked with the COO on global strategic planning and managed a $175 million multi-option contract with the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
Previously, Mr. Jones held positions as project manager and program analyst at BAE Systems, Atlantic Marine, Rham Construction, and the Haskell Company. He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).
- Founder and current manager of Resolute Investments
- More than 20 years of experience investing in private and public businesses across technology, biotech, consumer, and retail markets
- Previously an analyst at 2 SEC-registered crossover hedge funds in the Bay Area and a sell-side analyst in San Francisco and New York
- More than 40 years of experience in business, finance, and accounting across a variety of industries
- Began his career with Deloitte & Touche, an international public accounting and consulting firm, where he served clients in manufacturing, distribution, and technology
- Served as the CFO, COO, or CEO of companies in software, healthcare, biotech, and more recently, biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing, including Paragon Bioservices, a CDMO which sold to Catalent for more than $1.2 billion
- Expert in domestic and international operations, debt and equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, and technology licensing
- Currently the managing member of Clipper Consulting, a business advisory firm
- Oncologic and robotic surgeon, biotech consultant, investor, and company founder focusing on disruptive technologies in oncology, T cells and immunotherapy, and other breakthrough healthcare technologies
- Founder and managing partner of Rapha Capital Management, LLC
- Founder of Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, which he led to a successful $161 million IPO in December 2014
- Board member at 3DBio Therapeutics, FIZE Medical, and Demeetra AgBio; guides several investments managed by Rapha Capital
- Board member and interim CEO of portfolio company AsclepiX Therapeutics; engineered their $35 million Series A financing in mid-2020
- Founder and CEO of PONCE Therapeutics, a Houston-based anti-aging company—the first client of K2bio
- More than 3 decades of experience in the biotech industry
- Founder and chief executive officer of OncoResponse, a Seattle-based immuno-oncology company formed as a broad strategic alliance with MDACC
- Former chief executive officer at Theraclone Sciences
- Former chief business officer of Calistoga Pharmaceuticals
- Multiple roles for more than 15 years at ICOS Corporation
- Instrumental role on the leadership team that developed and launched Cialis®
- A key architect of the Lilly ICOS joint venture partnership, which led to the $2.3 billion acquisition of ICOS in 2007
- Master of business administration from the University of Chicago, Booth Graduate School of Business, and a bachelor of science in biology from the University of Utah
