About the Presenters
Stela Filipovic-Sadic
Asuragen
Research & Development Manager
Ms. Stela Filipovic-Sadic is a manager of research and development at Asuragen, where she has worked for the last 16 years on developing innovative molecular genetic technologies and diagnostic tests. She has been instrumental in the development, optimization, and launch of the AmplideX FMR1 gene assays used by labs around the world.
Ms. Sadic graduated from the Chemical and Biosciences Technology program at Red River College (Winnipeg, MB, Canada). Her work at Asuragen has spanned multiple areas of diagnostic interest, helping the Fragile X, Leukemia, and SMA communities get quick and accurate answers. She is an author of seven peer-reviewed publications describing novel technical advances and clinical research that have accelerated FMR1 gene testing and has also helped coordinate multiple collaborations with experts in the Fragile X community to explore applications for new FMR1 technologies.
Stephen O’Quinn, PharmD
Zynerba Pharmaceuticals
Senior Pharmaceutical Executive
Dr. O’Quinn is a senior pharmaceutical executive with over 30 years of experience in clinical development, medical affairs, and commercialization of medicines in multiple therapy areas, including neurology and psychiatry. Before joining Zynerba, Dr. O’Quinn spent over 20 years with GlaxoSmithKline in senior leadership roles. Following his time at GlaxoSmithKline, he spent five years as a consultant to pharmaceutical companies supporting clinical development and medical affairs activities. Dr. O’Quinn earned a doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy with the UNC School of Pharmacy and Division of Cardiology.
Chad Coberly
Tetra Therapeutics
CEO
Chad has more than 25 years of experience, primarily in the areas of biotech regulatory, clinical, compliance, intellectual property, business development, litigation, and general corporate legal affairs. Before joining Tetra he served as the chief clinical & legal officer for Cohera Medical, where he led the clinical, regulatory, and legal aspects of commercialization of the first ever approved 100% synthetic absorbable surgical adhesive. He brings intellectual property experience from the law firm of Howard and Howard, and experience from Zassi Medical and the Surgical Group of the Stryker Corporation where he held regulatory and legal-related positions.
Chad holds a doctorate from Michigan State University and a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Tulane University. He also has conducted MBA studies at Boston University. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is a member of the Michigan Bar.
Wayne Chadwick, PhD
Healx Ltd.
Principal Pharmacologist
Dr Wayne Chadwick is a principal pharmacologist at Healx, an AI-driven drug discovery company focused on identifying new treatments for rare diseases. Wayne received a doctorate in Biochemistry from the University of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, before moving to the United States to complete a postdoctorate in neuroscience at the NIH. Wayne has authored more than 30 scientific publications and book chapters and has over 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry where he has led several drug discovery projects in neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders.
