
Collaboration inspires innovation
Breaking boundaries with purpose
At Biodesign, we believe that our best chance of achieving success in health, sustainability and security is by working together. We purposefully blur traditional boundaries to connect physicists, microbiologists, neuroscientists, clinicians and more in order to find effective solutions inspired by nature.
Science happens at intersections. It’s a convergence. Even the architecture of the building encourages connection, bumping into each other.
Behind the research
Joshua LaBaer
Executive Director and Professor
Joshua LaBaer is one of the nation’s foremost investigators in the rapidly expanding field of personalized diagnostics. His efforts focus on the discovery and validation of biomarkers—unique molecular fingerprints of disease—which can provide early warning for those at risk of major illnesses, including cancer and diabetes. Formerly founder and director of the Harvard Institute of Proteomics, LaBaer was recruited to ASU’s Biodesign Institute as the first Piper Chair in Personalized Medicine in 2009.
Stephen Munk
Deputy Director
Steve Munk, a former pharmaceutical company executive, assists with strategic planning and execution relevant to technical and business operations associated with basic research, applied research and advanced technology development programs within the institute.
Russell Harper
Associate Director, Facilities Services
Russell Harper oversees a team of administrative support professionals that assist the Biodesign Institute research centers and faculty. He has rich experience in the operations of the Biodesign Institute and university research operations.
Julie Kurth
Assistant Director, Marketing and Communications
Julie Kurth elevates awareness of the Biodesign Institute. She draws on years of experience in industry, for-profit and nonprofit public relations, marketing and communication settings to support the advancement of the scientific community’s research impact.
Elizabeth Muncal
Director of Development
Elizabeth Muncal leads philanthropic efforts for the Biodesign Institute. Working with individuals, corporations and foundations, Muncal matches donor passions with meaningful projects to advance the mission and impact of Biodesign and ASU.
Miranda Pratt
Director, Human Resources
Miranda Pratt leads the human resource team’s objectives to grow an empowered, engaged and skilled workforce. Her efforts are focused on executing effective and functional strategies aimed at attracting, engaging, growing and retaining a diverse, high-performing workforce that feels valued, included and connected.
Karl Theisen
Senior Director of Operations
Karl Theisen executes operational objectives to advance the Biodesign Institute’s mission and vision and promotes sustainable organizational growth. He brings his leadership in establishing international operations, forging global partnerships and realizing process improvement in both private and public sectors.
The Internal Advisory Board for the Biodesign Institute is comprised of thought leaders and expertis within the ASU community who provide guidance in shaping the future direction of the Institute and act as Biodesign advocates i their organizations and the community in four distinct areas: Enterprise Development, Biomedical Health, Translation, and Sustainability/Security.
Enterprise development
Aric Bopp
Executive Director, Economic Development, Knowledge Enterprise
Augie Chen
CEO and Chief Legal Officer, Skysong Innovations
Ji Mi Choi
Senior Vice President, ASU Foundation\
Grant McFadden
Center Director, Biodesign Center for Immunology, Vaccines, and Virotherapy
Professor, School of Life Sciences
Grace O’Sullivan
Assistant Vice President, Corporate Engagement & Strategic Partnerships, Knowledge Enterprise
Wade Stokes
ASU Foundation
Biomedical health
Pat Kenney
Associate Dean and Professor, School of Life Sciences
Steven Neuberg
Chair and Professor, Department of Psychology
Susan Pepin
Managing Director and Senior Advisor, Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development
Tijana Rajih
Director and Professor, School of Molecular Sciences
Patricia Rankin
Chair and Professor, Physics Department
Marco Santello
School Director and Professor, School of Biological and Healthy Systems Engineering
Michelle Villegas-Gold
Associate Director,, Health and Clinical Research, Office of the Vice President of Research
Translation
Dave Guston
Director, School for Future of Innovation in Society
Deborah Helitzer
Dean, College of Health Solutions
Kyle Siegal
Senior Vice President of Life Sciences and Chief Patent Counsel
Kyle Squires
Dean, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
Elizabeth “Libby” Wentz
Vice Provost and Dean, Graduate College
Sandra “Sandy” Stauffer
Senior Associate Dean and Professor, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
Sustainability/Security
Nadya Bliss
Director and Professor of Practice, Global Security Initiative
Treavor Boyer
Associate Professor, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment
Stephanie Forrest
Center Director, Biodesign Center for Biocomputing, Security, and Society
Professor, School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering
Klaus Lackner
Senior Global Futures Scholar, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory
Timothy “Tim” Long
Center Director, Biodesign Center for Sustainable Macromolecular Materials and Manufacturing
Peter Schlosser
Vice President, Vice Provost and Professor, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory
Philanthropy accelerates our lifesaving discoveries
The Executive Board of Philanthropy at ASU’s Biodesign Institute provides guidance to advance the philanthropic mission of the Institute. As foundational partners in philanthropy, they work together with Biodesign leadership to promote our research efforts.
Whether it is finding answers to cancer, fighting Alzheimer’s disease, protecting our planet or creating new technologies to revolutionize the field of medicine, an investment in the ASU Biodesign Institute will impact people and our planet for generations to come. Together we can accelerate lifesaving discoveries.
For more information, please contact:
Elizabeth Muncal
Director of Development
[email protected]
816-294-6238
Top scientists collaborating across disciplines
Our hundreds of experts — biologists, physicists, chemists, engineers, mathematicians — solve some of the world’s most urgent problems in health care, sustainability, security and more. |