Shernan Holtan, MD, is an associate professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota and Medical Director of the Clinical Trials Office - Cell, Gene, and Immunotherapy Program for the Masonic Cancer Center.  In her clinical role, she focuses on enhancing the safety and efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants for malignant and non-malignant diseases.  In her research role, she is studying how enhancements to tissue regeneration, through medications and strength-based exercise, can help improve outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.  Her research funded by Regenerative Medicine Minnesota led to a new orphan drug designation from the FDA for repurposing an inexpensive and safe drug to treat acute graft-versus-host disease.

Barbara Nelsen is the founder of Nelsen Biomedical, a strategy consulting firm focused on building businesses in the life sciences industry headquartered in Minneapolis with offices in Cambridge, MA.  A scientist who moved to the business side of industry early in her career, Barbara thrives on working at the intersection of biology and business.  She brings more than 20 years of experience providing technology and opportunity assessment, strategic planning and partnering, market expansion and commercialization plans. Clients range from start-ups to well-established life sciences companies, investment firms and research institutions. Barbara is also the founder of Emerge Institute, providing career training programs for advanced professional degree students in the life sciences.

David Knapp is a leader in Medical Device Development and Exploratory Research working to treat unmet clinical needs for over 20 years. Dave’s current focus as Corporate Distinguished Fellow at Boston Scientific is on developing new solutions and fostering growth in adjacent and strategic areas of Interventional Cardiology and Peripheral Interventions, and developing novel technical platforms that cut across all Boston Scientific Divisions. He is passionate about coordinating open collaborative efforts including developing relationships with external institutions and connecting functions to drive meaningful innovation.  Dave also serves as President of the Board for the Boston Scientific Foundation, is the Executive Sponsor in Minnesota for the Employee Resource Group Leadership, Education and Allies for Disabilities, and is a member of the Boston Scientific Health Advisory Panel. 

He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from University of Minnesota where he is a Fellow and Industrial Advisor of the Institute for Engineering in Medicine and a member of the External Advisory Board for the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.  Dave also serves as a member of the External Advisory Boards for the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering at University of Michigan, and the Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design at Johns Hopkins University.

Kristina Bloomquist MEd, CPHQ, CHRC, is employed by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)/Be the Match serving as a Senior Director to lead a strategic initiative to transform technology and operations for its research data. The prospective and observational research conducted by The Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR- a research collaboration between NMDP/Be The Match and the Medical College of Wisconsin) is accomplished through scientific and statistical expertise, a large global network of transplant centers and a clinical outcomes registry of more than 550,000 patients. Ms. Bloomquist brings more than 27 years of experience leading strategic programs, centers and a research institute focused on informing and improving patient care outcomes. 

Julie Allickson, Ph.D., is the Michael S. and Mary Sue Shannon director of Mayo Clinic's Center for Regenerative Medicine and the Otto Bremer Trust director, Biomanufacturing and Product Development, Center for Regenerative Medicine and Associate Professor of Regenerative Medicine.  Dr. Allickson recently joined Mayo Clinic from Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest School of Medicine, where she was the chief manufacturing development center officer. Dr. Allickson is leading the next phase of development of the Center for Regenerative Medicine as it delivers on innovations that Cure, Connect and Transform patient care in alignment with Mayo Clinic's 2030 vision. She directs the enterprise-wide biomanufacturing strategy that aspires to introduce new regenerative therapeutics into the practice and establish Mayo Clinic as a category of one in regenerative medicine for rare and complex conditions.  Dr. Allickson provides strategic leadership for all center activities and operations across Mayo Clinic. The Center for Regenerative Medicine has over 200 clinical trials and projects underway and has filed more than 150 regenerative patents. The center performs over 100,000 regenerative procedures annually. With more than 25 years of experience in clinical translation of cellular therapies and regenerative medicine products, Dr. Allickson has expertise in business management, regulatory affairs, strategic planning, project management and team-building.  She has served as an executive officer of a publicly traded company that builds services for cellular banking, including licensure of technology with international affiliates.

Margaret Anderson Kelliher, BA, MPA, [2014-2020] is the Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Transportation and past President & CEO of the Minnesota High Tech Association. She served as a state representative from 1999 to 2011 and as speaker of the House from 2007 to 2011. She serves on the boards of directors for the Greater Twin Cities United Way, the YWCA of Minneapolis, and the Textile Center. In 2011, she was appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton to be the chair of the Governor’s Broadband Task Force. Anderson Kelliher earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Gustavus Adolphus College and a master’s degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She was on the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities from 2012-2018.

Roberta King, MPH, [2014-2020] is retired from Be The Match, where she served as Vice President for the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) Minneapolis, a research collaboration between NMDP/Be The Match and the Medical College of Wisconsin. In this capacity she oversaw the administrative and scientific support activities for CIBMTR’s Minneapolis campus. Ms. King brought more than 30 years of experience in the field of hematopoietic cell transplantation, beginning with basic science research at the University of Minnesota and extending to her role in the CIBMTR.

Ven Manda, BSc, MSc, [2014-2020] serves as President of Renal Care Solutions (RCS) within Medtronic’s Minimally Invasive Therapies Group (MITG), responsible for the strategic direction and global leadership of the RCS business. Mr. Manda is focused on providing better quality of life for End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients worldwide and has been with Medtronic since 1994. He was the recipient of the 2002 Wallin Leadership Award and is a member of Medtronic's honorary Bakken Society.

Jakub Tolar, MD, PhD, [2014-2020] is the Dean of the Medical School, Vice President for Clinical Affairs, and a Distinguished McKnight Professor in Pediatrics, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, at the University of  Minnesota. He is one of the co-creators of Regenerative Medicine Minnesota and one of the original co-chairs of the Board.