The collective expertise of our team members ensures our diverse clientele will reach their full potential.
Morrie Ruffin
MANAGING PARTNER
Mr. Ruffin has more than 25 years of experience in the regenerative medicine, biotech, and healthcare industries. Prior to founding Adjuvant Partners, he was the Chief Executive Officer of LifeTech Innovations, LLC, a business development consulting firm based in Bethesda, MD. Prior to his position at LTI, Mr. Ruffin was Executive Vice President of Capital Formation and Business Development at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the largest trade organization representing the biotech and drug development industries. Joining BIO in 1994 as one of its original employees, Mr. Ruffin was responsible for building the organization's global business development and investor outreach programs focused on helping companies raise capital and identify strategic partnering and licensing opportunities. This BIO business development franchise is now the largest in the world, with operations in the US, Europe, and Japan.
Mr. Ruffin also founded and led several other key industry organizations in the life sciences sector with a primary focus on cell and gene medicine and the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare. He is the co-founder of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), the global organization representing the interests of the cell and gene therapy and tissue engineering communities. Mr. Ruffin built the organization and let it to its international prominence today as the leading global organization representing cell and gene medicine. He now serves as Executive Director of the ARM Foundation for Cell and Gene Medicine which he led the effort to establish in January of 2018. He is also co-founder of the Standards Coordinating Body for Regenerative Medicine and was founder and board member of the Interoperable Informatics Infrastructure Consortium (I3C), an international standards setting body for the bioinformatics industry.
Prior to his work in the private sector, Mr. Ruffin worked for US Senator Arlen Specter for five years as his senior legislative assistant. In his early career he worked for the Systems Planning Corporation International and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Mr. Ruffin received his MA in International Studies & Economics from the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and his BA from the University of Virginia.
Primary Areas of Focus:
Corporate Development
Cell & Gene Therapy Business Strategy
Alliance Management
Regenerative Medicine Business Strategy
Public Policy & Government Relations
Bethany Kraynack
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Bethany joined Adjuvant Partners in early 2012, and brings nearly 20 years of finance, operations and marketing experience to the team. She has specific expertise in building and managing non-profit organizations and advocacy alliances, and currently oversees finance and operations for a number of Adjuvant’s non-profit clients, including RARE-X, the Alliance for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (AAIH) and the ARM Foundation for Cell & Gene Medicine, where she was also Treasurer (2018) and a member of the Board of Directors (2018 and 2019). Further, Bethany has a keen eye for marketing, branding and design, lending these talents to the Adjuvant team to help guide vision and strategy for clients.
In addition to her role at Adjuvant, from 2012-2020 Bethany served as Vice President of Operations for the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), a global advocacy organization representing the cell and gene therapy sector. At ARM, she oversaw all aspects of operations, finance, HR, IT and events, helping grow the organization’s membership from ~80 stakeholders to over 350, and expanded the annual operating budget from less than $1M to $8.5M during her tenure. Bethany was also instrumental in the development of ARM’s conference and event portfolio, including their flagship meeting, the Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa, which is widely regarded as the preeminent conference in the sector.
Prior to ARM, Bethany spent seven years with CONNECT, a San Diego-based non-profit organization focused on accelerating the commercialization of new technology and life science companies and products. At CONNECT, Bethany worked closely with emerging companies and entrepreneurs, as well as academic researchers and institutions, to build and oversee a variety of programs and resources aimed at providing mentorship, education and capital for San Diego innovators.
Bethany is a native of Pennsylvania, where she graduated with a B.A. from Gettysburg College. She currently resides in La Jolla, CA with her husband and two daughters.
Primary Areas of Focus
Finance & Operations
Alliance Management
Business Strategy
Marketing, Branding, Design
Adam Roose
VICE PRESIDENT, CELL & GENE COMMERCIAL STRATEGY
Adam joined Adjuvant in early 2018, and is a life sciences professional specializing in cell therapy bioprocessing and product development with experience in both academic and industry settings. He utilizes extensive background in project management, as well as operational expertise, to create the best possible solutions for platform specific challenges. Adam has hands-on experience in translating academic discoveries into viable manufacturable products and has worked with both academic and industrial partners in doing so.
Prior to joining Adjuvant, Adam spent several years at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute in the lab of Dr. Doug Melton, developing Melton’s proprietary Stem-Cell Derived Beta technology to an industrial standard. Adam was then a first-round hire at Semma Therapeutics where he ran the process development group and established the quality and supply chain management platform for the company. Adam received his BA from Bates College in History with a joint focus on Biology.
Primary Areas of Focus
Business Development
Cell & Gene Therapies
Commercial Strategy
CMC & Process Development
Project Management
Sarah Haecker Meeks, PhD
CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER
Sarah has over 20 years of senior-level management experience in corporate development in the biotech sector. She is currently a Senior Consultant with Adjuvant, as well as Vice President of Business Development for Synpromics Ltd. From 2013 to 2018 Sarah served as Adjuvant’s Chief Scientific Officer, leading business development and corporate strategy for a number of clients, including large cap pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, technology providers, and major medical centers with a focus on cell and gene therapy. During this time she helped found Cardiogen Sciences, Inc. (acquired in 2015 by Audentes Therapeutics) and was the Senior Director, Technology Sections at the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine including launching and managing the Gene Therapy Section and the Genome Editing Task Force. Prior to Adjuvant Partners, Sarah held the position of Vice President, Business Development for Orasi Medical, Circle Biologics and BioE.
Sarah holds a Doctorate in molecular biology and bioethics from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin. From 1995-2004, she completed a post-doctoral fellowship with James Wilson in the University of Pennsylvania’s Human Gene Therapy Program focused on muscle directed gene therapy as well as served as a licensing manager for the UPENN Center for Technology Transfer. She has continued her education in the MBA program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and currently directs the Advancement Committee and is on the Board of the Minneapolis United Soccer Club.
Primary Areas of Focus
Cell & Gene Therapies
Gene Delivery
Project Management
Business Development
Matthew Kyle, MBA, JD
SENIOR CONSULTANT
Matt is an experienced medical technology professional combining technical, legal and business knowledge to assist clients in achieving their objectives. He assists clients in a variety of areas, including: Mission and strategy communication in complex environments; Market opportunity identification & development; Strategic partnerships and M&A analysis and negotiations; Intellectual property asset analysis and development; and Regulatory, quality and governance systems.
Prior to joining Adjuvant, Matt worked in senior leadership positions within startup and emerging growth companies focused on regenerative medicine and orthopedics. His experiences and past activities have ranged from early-stage formation and planning to negotiation and partnering with Fortune 500 entities. Professionally, Matt is a ‘hands on’ partner who works to bringing clarity and focus to complex situations and assist clients in achieving their objective(s).
Matt holds a M.B.A. from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and is a licensed attorney in the state of Minnesota. Matt received a dual B.A. in Biology and Economics from St. John’s University, also in Minnesota.
Primary Areas of Focus
Medical & Surgical Devices
Tissue Engineering & OrthoBiologics
Corporate Strategy
Shosh Merchav, PhD, MBA
SENIOR CONSULTANT
Shosh Merchav has been involved in the field of translational research and drug development since the early 80's, both in the Academic as well as Industrial setting. In her latest job at Teva, which she joined in 2006, she headed the Oncology and Cell Therapy Projects Unit at Teva Innovative Ventures, where she was responsible for hands-on supporting and overseeing preclinical -to registration phase projects in several investment companies as well as in internal programs, in the fields of oncology (cytotoxics, biologics, cell therapy), heart failure, wound healing, neurodegenerative and peripheral artery disease. Among her roles at Teva, Shosh was also a member of various sourcing evaluation committees for product in-licensing or partnering. Prior to joining Teva Dr. Merchav served as General Manager and Director of Research and Operations at ViaCell Singapore Pte. Ltd., which she had established in 2002 as a subsidiary of ViaCell Inc., and managed till 2006. Before joining the Biotech Industry Dr. Merchav held a tenured academic position from 1986 till 2006 at the department of Cell Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel, where she established and headed the Experimental Hematopoiesis and Cell Therapy Unit. Dr. Merchav's translational research activities included Cord Blood Stem Cell Expansion technologies, the latter licensed to Pluristem Inc. Dr. Merchav holds a Ph.D. from Erasmus University, Rotterdam NL and an MBA degree from Haifa University Business School.
Primary Areas of Focus
Biologics Product Development
Cell Therapy & Immunotherapy
Technology Transfer
Clinical Translation
Tom Isett
SENIOR ADVISOR
Tom brings over 25 years of experience in management and strategy development to his role at Adjuvant Partners. With a deep appreciation of the differing execution challenges that exist for Life Science organizations of all types and sizes, Tom is able to help craft executable strategies that reliably deliver results. His insights have been sought after by Fortune 500 companies, CROs, standards-setting organizations, CDMOs, startup, and institutional investors, alike, and he is a member of the NIH's NHLBI Mentor Network.
In addition, Tom is currently the Managing Director of i.e. Advising, a strategy and management consulting firm focused on supporting life sciences companies and investors. Prior founding i.e. Advising in 2015, and Commence Bio, Inc., Tom led GE's $500M North American BioProcess business where he introduced the Integrated Solutions strategy. As Lonza's Head of Cell Processing Technologies and Cell Culture Media businesses, he was in the forefront of helping cell & gene therapy developers meet their clinical development and manufacturing needs. Previoulsy, Tom led Becton Dickinson's Core Microbiology business and was the Founder and VP of the company's Advanced Bioprocessing unit. Tom holds a BSc in Biological Sciences from Drexel University, and as an undergrad, published on plant sciences as part of his work with the USDA and focused on microbiology while at GSK.
Primary Areas of Focus
CMC & Manufacturing
Business Development
Strategic Development
Jayson Slotnik, JD, MPH
SENIOR CONSULTANT
Jayson Slotnik is a principal and founding member of Health Policy Strategies, Inc., a Washington, DC based consulting firm representing innovative biotech, pharmaceutical, device and diagnostic companies. Mr. Slotnik specializes in, and counsels clients on, the impact that Medicare and Medicaid coverage, payment, reimbursement, coding and government policies have on commercial success. He also has experience as a healthcare strategist with demonstrated success in developing and implementing both pre- and post-launch strategies, as well as life cycle management tools for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostic and device manufacturers.
Prior to establishing Health Policy Strategies, Inc., Mr. Slotnik served as Vice President of Reimbursement and Innovation Strategies for United BioSource Corporation (UBC). There, he was responsible for developing technology-related marketing and sales strategies for current internal and new external customers in the branded specialty pharmaceutical space. Mr. Slotnik partnered with the business development team to market technology strategies to over 20 branded specialty manufacturers. In addition, he maintained his policy practice, which helped distinguish UBC’s market access technology, as well as affording his clients the ability to have the business drive the policy and not the reverse.
Before joining UBC, Mr. Slotnik practiced law at two prominent Washington, DC law firms where he counseled clients on many complex healthcare regulatory and legal issues related to coverage, coding and reimbursement. Before returning to private practice, he served as the initial director of Medicare Reimbursement and Economic Policy at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the industry’s leading advocacy group. Mr. Slotnik served as the liaison between BIO and Congress, CMS, and other federal agencies to implement market access policies that stimulate and reward innovation while maintaining appropriate patient access to cutting edge therapies.
Mr. Slotnik serves on the editorial boards for Value-Based Cancer Care and Specialty Pharmacy Times. He speaks regularly at various healthcare reform and market-access conferences.
Mr. Slotnik received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Rochester, his Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from George Washington University, and his Juris Doctor degree in Health Law from the University of Maryland School of Law.
Danielle Peters
SENIOR CONSULTANT
Dani Peters is President of Magnet Strategy Group, a consulting firm that manages public affairs strategies in Canada and the United States.
Prior to founding Magnet Strategy Group, Dani held senior roles in public affairs firms in the U.S. and Canada, concentrating on fields that include innovation, health and life sciences. Over the past decade, Dani has worked with groups in the health sector to develop and manage government, public policy, funding, advocacy and stakeholder strategies.
Dani is co-founder of the Cross-Border Health Foundation, an organization that fosters dialogue between Canada and the United States around common health priorities. In addition to operating Magnet Strategy Group, Dani serves on the Industry Advisory Board for Bloom Burton & Co., a healthcare investment advisory firm in Toronto. She is also a Health Leader-in-Residence for the World Health Innovation Network (WIN), within the University of Windsor’s Odette School of Business.
Dani earned her undergraduate degree from McGill University and a Master of Arts in International Trade Policy from the Middlebury Institute for International Studies at Monterey. She lives in Toronto with her husband and three children.
Michaela Flatley
DESIGN & COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT
Michaela Flatley is the founder and owner of Barley Creative, a boutique consulting firm specializing in graphic design, communications, and marketing. Michaela offers clients her expertise in design and branding strategies, while considering their target audience and overall messaging . Her work includes the design and development of logos, slide decks, websites, training materials, brochures, infographics, executive summaries, and other collateral marketing materials – both digital and print. Michaela also has extensive experience managing social media accounts, developing email marketing campaigns, and writing effective copy for websites and materials.
Michaela has more than five years of graphic design and communications experience. She has consulted for a wide range of organizations, including biotech start-ups, national nonprofit organizations, yoga studios, and others. In 2019, Michaela founded her own company to work full-time as a designer and consultant. Previously, Michaela worked at the Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) as a data analyst and then the Manager of Marketing and Communications, where she established systems and practices to best serve the mission of the organization.
Michaela holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art and a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts and Art History from Fordham University. In addition to her design work, Michaela is an accomplished artist and exhibits her paintings throughout the country.