Rick Bourke, Founder
Rick is widely known as co-founder of Dooney & Bourke, a handbag and fashion accessory company launched in 1975. The company today is regarded as an iconic brand in the global handbag industry. Concurrent with his business success, Rick has spent over 30 years committing much of his energy and wealth to pursuing his passion for scientific and medical research. He has developed, advanced and supported several medical research projects, some of which have evolved into successful and novel treatments for cancer and other diseases. Rick is well respected within the medical community and he has established an extensive network of relationships with top medical institutions, scientists, and researchers worldwide. He is the founder and sole investor of Immunolight and has a multitude of patents authored in his name. Rick received his BBA from the University of Michigan and his MBA from Columbia University.
Harold Walder, President
Harold has over 30 years of experience in developing and leading high performance organizations to innovate products and processes to fulfill high unmet medical needs. Harold has spent the last 17 years as the President of Immunolight, developing a paradigm shifting novel treatment for cancer. Prior to joining Immunolight, he spent 18 years at Johnson and Johnson. In his tenure at J&J he has led Research and Development, New Business Development, Worldwide Operations and Strategic planning organizations to innovate new products for the oncology, diagnostics and diabetes markets. Prior to J&J, Harold worked as a medical device reviewer at the Food and Drug Administration and as a design engineer in the high tech defense electronics industry. Harold received his bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Rutgers University, his master’s degree in Medical Engineering from George Washington University, and his MBA in Executive Management from the West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Zak Fathi PhD, Chief Technology Officer
Zak Fathi PhD serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President at Microelectronics Assembly Technologies, Inc. Dr. Fathi is a high tech executive with 13 years of experience in semiconductor packaging. Dr. Fathi has held senior management roles throughout his professional career and served as the Vice President of Business Development and Chief Technology Officer at Lambda Technologies Inc. Dr. Fathi is the recipient of various honors including the R&D 100 award and the Semiconductor Vision Award on products developed while at Lambda, and academic presidential recognition while at the University of Florida. He has 23 patents and patent applications. One of these patents, a joint patent with HP, enabled the largest Ink Jet Cartridge product launch resulting in $20 billion yearly revenue. Dr. Fathi has a BS in Physics and received his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Florida.
Wayne Beyer Jr. PhD, VP of Chemical & Biological Sciences
Wayne received a Doctorate in Inorganic Chemistry at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina and a B.S. (Cum Laude) in Chemistry at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida. He completed his Post-Doctorate Research in Analytical Protein Chemistry and Free Radical Biology in the Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. He has over 25 years of scientific and managerial experience working with and leading innovative teams of Scientists and Engineers in Fortune 500 and start-up companies in the areas of in-vivo and in-vitro medical diagnostics, medical devices, small molecule drugs and protein/peptide based biological therapeutics. Wayne has authored over 40 peer reviewed scientific articles and book chapters and is an inventor on 25 issued US and international patents.
Michael Bourke, Vice President of Development
Michael has been actively involved with Immunolight since the company’s inception in 2007. Prior to this he has worked in research and development at the International Crisis Group and as a freelance writer and analyst. Michael received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Williams College and his master’s degree in International Relations from Boston University.
Susan McLaughlin, Director of Clinical Research
Susan has been with Immunolight for five years. She brings with her 30 years of research experience. Susan spent 13 years at Johnson & Johnson, managing oncology, heart transplant, GvHD and hepatitis studies and 17 years as President of Synergy Clinical Research, providing protocol management and monitoring services for over 110 different protocols in various therapeutic areas to dozens of pharma and device companies. Susan is a former pediatric ICU nurse at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and holds a BSN from Villanova University.
Research and Development Team
Tuan VoDinh, PhD – R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Professor of Biomedical Engineering; Professor of Chemistry; Director of the Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics of Duke University.
Eric Toone, PhD – Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Chemistry; Professor of Biochemistry; Director of the Duke University Small Molecule Synthesis Facility
Michael Therien, PhD – William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Chemistry, Duke University
Terry Yoshizumi, PhD, MS – Professor of Radiology; Professor of Radiation Oncology; Radiation Safety Officer, Duke University
Barry Myers, MD, PhD, MBA – Professor of Biomedical Engineering; Bass Fellow; Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization, Duke University
Translational Medicine Team
Mark Dewhirst, DVM, PhD – Associate Dean of Faculty Mentoring; Co-Director, Radiation Oncology/Imaging Program; Gustavo S. Montana Professor of Radiation Oncology in the School of Medicine; Professor of Pathology, Duke University
Kim Lyerly, MD – Professor of Surgery; Assistant Professor of Immunology; Associate Professor of Pathology, Duke University
Mark Oldham, PhD – Professor of Radiation Oncology; Professor of Biomedical Engineering; Director of the Optical Biophysics and 3D Dosimetry Lab, Duke University
Justus Adamson, PhD – Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, Duke University
Michael W. Nolan, DVM, PhD – Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology and Biology, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine
Clinical Research Team
Will Eward, MD, DVM – Frank H Bassett Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery; Chief Section of Orthopaedic Oncology, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University.