Leadership
Executive Team
Avraham Kadar, MD
Avraham Kadar, MD, is a physician-scientist, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. He is the founder and former chief executive officer of BrainPOP, a pioneering digital education company that has engaged, inspired, and impacted millions of students across the world for more than two and a half decades. BrainPOP was acquired in 2...
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Avraham Kadar, MD, is a physician-scientist, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. He is the founder and former chief executive officer of BrainPOP, a pioneering digital education company that has engaged, inspired, and impacted millions of students across the world for more than two and a half decades. BrainPOP was acquired in 2022 by KIRKBI, the family-owned holding and investment company of the LEGO brand—its first acquisition in digital learning. A pediatrician and immunologist by training, Dr. Kadar began his career at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he was a fellow in the laboratory of clinical investigation at the height of the AIDS epidemic.
Prof. Michal Schwartz
A world-renowned expert in Neuroimmunology who pioneered the field of nervous system repair, protection, and maintenance by the immune system. Schwartz is a professor of Neuroimmunology at the Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS). She was the first to suggest, against the prevailing dogma at the time, that circulating immune cells are e...
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A world-renowned expert in Neuroimmunology who pioneered the field of nervous system repair, protection, and maintenance by the immune system. Schwartz is a professor of Neuroimmunology at the Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS). She was the first to suggest, against the prevailing dogma at the time, that circulating immune cells are essential for supporting life-long functional brain plasticity in health and disease, and should be harnessed to help fighting brain pathologies. These results led to the paradigm-shifting approach of developing an immunotherapy to combat neurodegenerative diseases. Her scientific publications have been extremely influential, as reflected by their high citation scores. Schwartz has received numerous national and international awards, and served as president of the International Society of Neuroimmunology (2016-2018).
Roee Hevrony
Prior to joining ImmunoBrain in 2015, Roee worked for Babcock Power, Inc. in its nuclear power generation unit as a business controller and started his career as an investment banker with Merrill Lynch. Roee holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Columbia University (magna cum laude) and an MBA from the Wharton School of the Unive...
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Prior to joining ImmunoBrain in 2015, Roee worked for Babcock Power, Inc. in its nuclear power generation unit as a business controller and started his career as an investment banker with Merrill Lynch. Roee holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Columbia University (magna cum laude) and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Tommaso Croese, MD, Ph.D.
Tommaso is a Neurologist with extensive experience in neuroimmunology, focusing on the role of immune cells in neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s Disease. His expertise is backed by over 10 years in preclinical model research, shaping a deeper understanding of these diseases. After completing his residenc...
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Tommaso is a Neurologist with extensive experience in neuroimmunology, focusing on the role of immune cells in neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s Disease. His expertise is backed by over 10 years in preclinical model research, shaping a deeper understanding of these diseases. After completing his residency in neurology at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, Tommaso pursued his PhD at the Weizmann Institute of Science, further enriching his clinical and research capabilities. During his PhD, he authored numerous scientific papers, underscoring the interaction between the brain and the immune system.
Sharona Raveh, Ph.D., MBA
Over 20 years of experience in global biopharmaceutical companies, running operations and R&D teams, leading CMC and CMO activities from early phase development through commercial production. Sharona served as Senior Director, Head of Bio-Analytical Development, CMC Biosimilars for Teva Pharmaceuticals. Prior to that Sharona was D...
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Over 20 years of experience in global biopharmaceutical companies, running operations and R&D teams, leading CMC and CMO activities from early phase development through commercial production. Sharona served as Senior Director, Head of Bio-Analytical Development, CMC Biosimilars for Teva Pharmaceuticals. Prior to that Sharona was Director of Analytical Development and CMC project manager in BTG, Ferring. Sharona holds an M.SC. from Ben-Gurion University, Ph.D from PARIS VI University and Pasteur Institute in protein engineering, structure and function and MBA in management and business psychology from The college of management.
Kuti Baruch, Ph.D.
Over 10 years of experience in leading drug discovery and translational biology across all stages of development. Kuti joined ImmunoBrain when the company was founded, following licensing of the technology that was developed at the Weizmann Institute of Science in his Ph.D. and Postdoctoral studies at Prof. Schwartz’s laboratory. Kuti ...
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Over 10 years of experience in leading drug discovery and translational biology across all stages of development. Kuti joined ImmunoBrain when the company was founded, following licensing of the technology that was developed at the Weizmann Institute of Science in his Ph.D. and Postdoctoral studies at Prof. Schwartz’s laboratory. Kuti holds a M.Sc. in Medical Science from Tel-Aviv University, and a Ph.D. in Neurobiology from the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Alex Kertser, Ph.D.
Neuroimmunologist with over 10 years of experience in pre-clinical project management, assay development and in-depth understanding of experimental animal models. Dr. Kertser holds a B.Sc in biology and chemistry from the Hebrew University, and both M.Sc and Ph.D in Neuroimmunology from the Weizmann institute of Science.
Neuroimmunologist with over 10 years of experience in pre-clinical project management, assay development and in-depth understanding of experimental animal models. Dr. Kertser holds a B.Sc in biology and chemistry from the Hebrew University, and both M.Sc and Ph.D in Neuroimmunology from the Weizmann institute of Science.
Dalia Bracha, RN, BSN, MPA
An experienced clinical Project Manager with more than 22 years of demonstrated management of global clinical studies (phase I-IV) across the US, EU and Israel, having worked across large global pharmaceuticals, CRO and emerging biotech companies.
An experienced clinical Project Manager with more than 22 years of demonstrated management of global clinical studies (phase I-IV) across the US, EU and Israel, having worked across large global pharmaceuticals, CRO and emerging biotech companies.
Our Advisory Board
Dr. Jan Egebjerg, Ph.D
SVP Grants and Prizes Lundbeckfoundation. Previously Senior Director of Neurodegeneration at Janssen since 2018. Previously he was Divisional Director for Neurodegeneration at H. Lundbeck A/S and ass. professor at Dept for Molecular Biology, University of Aarhus.
SVP Grants and Prizes Lundbeckfoundation. Previously Senior Director of Neurodegeneration at Janssen since 2018. Previously he was Divisional Director for Neurodegeneration at H. Lundbeck A/S and ass. professor at Dept for Molecular Biology, University of Aarhus.
Lon Schneider, MD
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Director of the California Alzheimer’s Disease Center, the Department of Psychiatry Geriatric Studies Center and co-director of the clinical core of the University of Southern California Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (National Institutes of Health)....
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Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Director of the California Alzheimer’s Disease Center, the Department of Psychiatry Geriatric Studies Center and co-director of the clinical core of the University of Southern California Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (National Institutes of Health).
Michael Davidson, MD
Professor of Psychiatry at the Sackler School of Medicine Tel Aviv and Mount Sinai School of Medicine NYC . Currently Executive President of the Alzheimer Center in Tel Aviv, an organization providing inpatient and community care to several hundred demented elderly.
Professor of Psychiatry at the Sackler School of Medicine Tel Aviv and Mount Sinai School of Medicine NYC . Currently Executive President of the Alzheimer Center in Tel Aviv, an organization providing inpatient and community care to several hundred demented elderly.
Paul Aisen, MD
Professor of Neurology; Director, Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute, University of Southern California.
Professor of Neurology; Director, Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute, University of Southern California.
Board of Directors
Avraham Kadar, MD
Avraham Kadar, MD, is a physician-scientist, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. He is the founder and former chief executive officer of BrainPOP, a pioneering digital education company that has engaged, inspired, and impacted millions of students across the world for more than two and a half decades. BrainPOP was acquired in 2...
Read more >>
Avraham Kadar, MD, is a physician-scientist, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. He is the founder and former chief executive officer of BrainPOP, a pioneering digital education company that has engaged, inspired, and impacted millions of students across the world for more than two and a half decades. BrainPOP was acquired in 2022 by KIRKBI, the family-owned holding and investment company of the LEGO brand—its first acquisition in digital learning. A pediatrician and immunologist by training, Dr. Kadar began his career at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he was a fellow in the laboratory of clinical investigation at the height of the AIDS epidemic.
Joel Mesznik
Joel Mesznik started his finance career at Citibank and then moved to Drexel Burnham where he founded and managed the Public Finance department for 12 years. His responsibilities included structuring and placing nearly 200 financings for public institutions such as hospitals, universities, and v...
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Joel Mesznik started his finance career at Citibank and then moved to Drexel Burnham where he founded and managed the Public Finance department for 12 years. His responsibilities included structuring and placing nearly 200 financings for public institutions such as hospitals, universities, and various infrastructure projects. He founded Mesco Ltd in 1990 to focus on capital formation and advisory activities. One of the projects was the creation and management for 25 years of Pharma/wHealth. It was the first multi-strategy global healthcare fund. The fund hired managers with expertise in biotech, big pharma, generics, medical devices and emerging markets healthcare. The investor base was all European including pension funds, insurance companies and family offices. Investments included multiple early-stage biotech companies. He sold PharmaW/Health in 2018. Mr. Mesznik has been an early-stage investor in 19 start-ups and helped raise multiple follow-on rounds as an active director. He has served on boards of companies listed on the NYSE, NASDAQ, the Swiss Stock Exchange, Luxembourg Stock Exchange and more than a dozen private companies. Mr. Mesznik earned a Bachelor in Civil Engineering from the City College of New York and his MBA from Columbia University Graduate School of Business.
Nathan Hevrony
Founder of ImmunoBrain. An entrepreneur and private equity investor with 40 years experience in financing and M&A in industrial and biotechnology companies. Serves as a director and trustee in public and private enterprises.
Founder of ImmunoBrain. An entrepreneur and private equity investor with 40 years experience in financing and M&A in industrial and biotechnology companies. Serves as a director and trustee in public and private enterprises.
Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH
Dr. Walensky, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, spent her career in infectious disease clinical practice, research, and policy, with a particular focus on the promotion of global access to HIV prevention, screening, and care. She served as the 19th director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well...
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Dr. Walensky, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, spent her career in infectious disease clinical practice, research, and policy, with a particular focus on the promotion of global access to HIV prevention, screening, and care. She served as the 19th director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Walensky also serves as chair of scientific council at the Global Brain Care Coalition.
Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD
Dr. Collins is a pioneering physician-scientist who served as the 16th director of the National Institutes of Health under three United States presidents. In this role, he guided the nation's biomedical research, from basic science to clinical trials, as well as a historic series of research partnerships that included addressing Alzhei...
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Dr. Collins is a pioneering physician-scientist who served as the 16th director of the National Institutes of Health under three United States presidents. In this role, he guided the nation's biomedical research, from basic science to clinical trials, as well as a historic series of research partnerships that included addressing Alzheimer's disease, cancer, precision health, neuroscience, and COVID-19. In addition, Dr. Collins led an active research group at the University of Michigan and the NIH for 41 years, doing groundbreaking research on type 2 diabetes and discovering the gene misspellings that cause cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease, progeria, and several other disorders. A former director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, Dr. Collins coordinated an international consortium of laboratories as part of the Human Genome Project to produce the first complete sequence of the human DNA instruction book in 2003. He has been recognized for his many contributions to science, medicine, and society with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Science, and the Templeton Prize.
