CEO/Scientific director: Andrea Tortori Ph.D

Ph.D in molecular biology and biotechnology

Master Degree in biotechnology

He has significant experience in the design and production of analogues of nucleic acids, and biochemical systems. He has several years experience in the scientific and administrative management of the laboratory (5 years). He worked in the group of the University of Parma organic chemistry, under the supervision of Prof. R. Corradini, an expert in the chemistry of analogues of nucleic acids, in particular PNA, with scholarships for the synthesis, design and study of PNA both for gene therapy and as tools for analysis of nucleic acids in vitro and in vivo, also developing fluorescent molecules. The group collaborated with prof. Nielsen creator of the PNA. In 2007 he started his PhD in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at University of Perugia with advisor Prof. Aldo Orlacchio. In the first two years he dealt with the study of protein and miRNA biomarkers in AD (supported by the Italian Ministry of Health) and the study of stem cells and biomaterials. In 2011 he received his doctorate with a thesis entitled "Study of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) for the selective inhibition of the oncogene MYCN". From 2009 to 2015 he worked in a start-up in the field of pharma as R&D/Production manager, has organized, managed and developed the laboratory of R&D and production (responsible for a team of 5 people, managing economic resources and collaborations). Furthermore he managed technical relations with the Italian Superior Health Institute (ISS), GLP labs for preclinical studies, supplier relationships and consultants to implement the production in GMP.

CFO: Mia Minashvili 

Master Degree in International Business

She has participated in a training course on design and management projects for Horizon 2020 in Bologna. She has participated in seminars and courses on launch and management of start-ups. She worked several years for the georgian economic development institute (GEDI). She has acquired experience in administration and accounting in a Russian company in the field of distribution and sale of food products. She is mother tongue Georgian and Russian, she is fluent Italian and speaks English.

R&D and production manager: Nicolò Rossi

Master Degree  in Industrial Chemistry

During his bachelor degree, he worked on recombinant proteins preparation and purification, for applications in the field of optimization of experimental vaccines. He received his master degree in industrial chemistry (2014) with a thesis on latest generation nucleic acids analogue and their design, entitled “Reduced conformational freedom PNAs”. He has been working on the same issues, managing the research and development activities in a privat pharmaceutical research lab, developing inhibitors for oncogenic genes. Working experience in the pharmaceutical field has allowed him to improve the ability to organize independently the synthesis of PNA and scale-up of solid phase production processes.