FruitVaccine Family
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S. Indu Rupassara, PhD, MBA (Co-Founder/President/CEO)
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The Late Dennis E. Buetow, PhD (Co-Founder/Founding President)
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Joseph T. Mahoney, PhD, DrBusEcon (Chief Strategy Officer)
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John W. Kindt Jr., MBA, BS (Business and Operations Manager)
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Dawson Dodds, BS (Supply Chain & Marketing Assistant)
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Emily Sandoval, BS (Healthcare Planning Assistant)
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R&D Advisors/Consultants/Collaborators
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Hugh S. Mason, Ph.D.
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Christopher da Costa, MD, Ph.D., MBA FACP, FIDSA
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Edwin G. Moore, Ph.D.
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Brenda Anne Wilson, Ph.D.
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Erik Nelson,
Ph.D. 
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Indika Kahanda, Ph.D.
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Jagdeep S. Sandhu, Ph.D.
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Jose O. Solbiati,
Ph.D. 
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Daniel McKim,
Ph.D. 
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Robert Carnahan, Ph.D.
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Other Consultants
Marketing - Nancy Sullivan
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Budgeting - Roland Garton
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Legal - Alan Singleton
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Business Strategy - Dennis Beard
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R&D Support Team
Xanthe Brown
Communicator
Management of FVI Facebook page and Youtube channel, FVI video-editing |
Haidong Wang
Data Analyst/Statistician
Assists in Customer Discoveries and related data analysis |
Aigerim Kamzina
Research Associate
Preparation of gene constructs and conducting related lab research |
Mike Thomas
Artist/Videographer
Adding artistic touches/edits to FVI graphics and videos |
Nazmul Kazi
Natural Language Processing (NLP) Specialist
FVI survey data analysis and manuscript assistance |
Mia Takekawa
Research Assistant
Assisting in lab and greenhouse research |
Alan Noegroho
Finance Strategist
Researching the funding strategies and management of FVI LinkedIn page |
Aaksa Nair
Data Analyst
Data analysis and FVI business ecosystem development assistance |
Mingze Xiao
Programmer
Website development |
Carol Wei
Auditor
Initiation of FVI Facebook and LinkedIn pages |
Matt Thomas
Organizational Developer
Assists in strategizing organizational development |
Allen Ni
Technical Strategist
Assists in developing the FVI business strategy and technical plans |
Team's Biographies
S. Indu Rupassara, PhD, MBA (Co-Founder/President/CEO)
Dr. Rupassara leads FruitVaccine overseeing its organizational, business, and R&D growth. Indu is the Principal Investigator of FruitVaccine’s NSF-SBIR Grant Award, and has presented talks in conferences in the US, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Indu’s multidisciplinary expertise includes biotechnology, immunology, and ‘omics’ technologies, using an array of biological systems such as humans, animals, plants, and microorganisms. Indu received her PhD (Metabolomics/Biotechnology), MBA, and MS (Biochemistry) degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA (UIUC), MSc (Microbiology) from the University of Sydney, Australia, and BSc (Agric. Sc.) from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
LinkedIn and Google Scholar
Dr. Rupassara leads FruitVaccine overseeing its organizational, business, and R&D growth. Indu is the Principal Investigator of FruitVaccine’s NSF-SBIR Grant Award, and has presented talks in conferences in the US, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Indu’s multidisciplinary expertise includes biotechnology, immunology, and ‘omics’ technologies, using an array of biological systems such as humans, animals, plants, and microorganisms. Indu received her PhD (Metabolomics/Biotechnology), MBA, and MS (Biochemistry) degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA (UIUC), MSc (Microbiology) from the University of Sydney, Australia, and BSc (Agric. Sc.) from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
LinkedIn and Google Scholar
The Late Dennis E. Buetow, PhD (Co-Founder/Founding President)
Dr. Buetow served at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and at Baltimore City Hospitals in Maryland from 1959 to 1965. Since 1965, he was employed as a Professor in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology at UIUC. He was Head of this department from 1983-1988 and Interim Head from 1991-1992. He was Professor Emeritus in this department where he did research on a daily basis. He received his PhD in 1959 from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He was Editor for the Academic Press series “Cell Biology, a Series of Monographs” among over 100 other book chapters and journal articles on his research. Dennis is missed dearly by all of us at FruitVaccine and we will strive to carry on the vision he helped to create.
Publications and More about Dennis
Dr. Buetow served at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and at Baltimore City Hospitals in Maryland from 1959 to 1965. Since 1965, he was employed as a Professor in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology at UIUC. He was Head of this department from 1983-1988 and Interim Head from 1991-1992. He was Professor Emeritus in this department where he did research on a daily basis. He received his PhD in 1959 from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He was Editor for the Academic Press series “Cell Biology, a Series of Monographs” among over 100 other book chapters and journal articles on his research. Dennis is missed dearly by all of us at FruitVaccine and we will strive to carry on the vision he helped to create.
Publications and More about Dennis
Joseph T. Mahoney, PhD, DrBusEcon (Chief Strategy Officer)
Dr. Mahoney leads the strategic growth of FruitVaccine, emphasizing on organizational economics. Joe has published over 85 journal articles, served as an Editor of several journals, and as the Chair of Business Policy and Strategy Committees. His book, Economic Foundations of Strategy, has been adopted by over 45 doctoral programs, internationally. Joe received outstanding teaching and mentoring awards several times in MBA programs and served on 87 completed doctoral dissertation committees. Joe earned his BA, MA, and PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, with a doctorate in Business Economics from the Wharton School of Business. He joined the Gies College of Business at UIUC in 1988, and is currently Professor of Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and International Business, and also serves as the Caterpillar Chair of Business.
Publications and More about Joe
Dr. Mahoney leads the strategic growth of FruitVaccine, emphasizing on organizational economics. Joe has published over 85 journal articles, served as an Editor of several journals, and as the Chair of Business Policy and Strategy Committees. His book, Economic Foundations of Strategy, has been adopted by over 45 doctoral programs, internationally. Joe received outstanding teaching and mentoring awards several times in MBA programs and served on 87 completed doctoral dissertation committees. Joe earned his BA, MA, and PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, with a doctorate in Business Economics from the Wharton School of Business. He joined the Gies College of Business at UIUC in 1988, and is currently Professor of Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and International Business, and also serves as the Caterpillar Chair of Business.
Publications and More about Joe
John W. Kindt Jr., MBA, BS (Business and Operations Manager)
Mr. Kindt manages the business and operations of FruitVaccine. John has a decade of experience in the financial services industry and within the UIUC system. He is working with Dr. Rupassara on FruitVaccine’s R&D efforts through data analysis, forecasting, and funding applications, and evaluating the feasibility of novel processes and production methods. John also performs market analysis and helps manage the development of a unique logistic FruitVaccine ecosystem. John received his MBA from the Gies College of Business at UIUC, and his BS degree in Finance from Eastern Illinois University.
More about John
Mr. Kindt manages the business and operations of FruitVaccine. John has a decade of experience in the financial services industry and within the UIUC system. He is working with Dr. Rupassara on FruitVaccine’s R&D efforts through data analysis, forecasting, and funding applications, and evaluating the feasibility of novel processes and production methods. John also performs market analysis and helps manage the development of a unique logistic FruitVaccine ecosystem. John received his MBA from the Gies College of Business at UIUC, and his BS degree in Finance from Eastern Illinois University.
More about John
Dawson Dodds, BS (Supply Chain & Marketing Assistant)
Mr. Dodds is a supply chain and business professional with Bachelors of Science in Finance and in Supply Chain Management from UIUC. Throughout his time in university and post-graduation, he has had experience with contracting and procurement, social enterprise consulting, onboarding, data mining, and volunteer outreach. Dawson joined the FruitVaccine family in 2019 and has been working with Dr. Rupassara employing his breadth of experience for developing cost models and future business plans, marketing materials, and designing the FV website. He has a passion for biotechnology and is excited for the future of the company.
More about Dawson
Mr. Dodds is a supply chain and business professional with Bachelors of Science in Finance and in Supply Chain Management from UIUC. Throughout his time in university and post-graduation, he has had experience with contracting and procurement, social enterprise consulting, onboarding, data mining, and volunteer outreach. Dawson joined the FruitVaccine family in 2019 and has been working with Dr. Rupassara employing his breadth of experience for developing cost models and future business plans, marketing materials, and designing the FV website. He has a passion for biotechnology and is excited for the future of the company.
More about Dawson
Emily Sandoval, BS (Healthcare Planning Assistant)
Ms. Sandoval is a researcher who obtained her Bachelors of Science in Community Health with a concentration in Health Administration from UIUC. Emily gained work experience at Carle Foundation Hospital in the surgical services department and at Rush University Medical Center. She has been working with Dr. Rupassara since February 2019 managing projects aimed to increase hRSV awareness on FruitVaccine's Twitter and Instagram pages, and compiling publication findings on respiratory viruses impacting us across the globe.
Ms. Sandoval is a researcher who obtained her Bachelors of Science in Community Health with a concentration in Health Administration from UIUC. Emily gained work experience at Carle Foundation Hospital in the surgical services department and at Rush University Medical Center. She has been working with Dr. Rupassara since February 2019 managing projects aimed to increase hRSV awareness on FruitVaccine's Twitter and Instagram pages, and compiling publication findings on respiratory viruses impacting us across the globe.
Hugh S. Mason, Ph.D.
Dr. Mason, an Associate Professor at Arizona State University, was the first to publish peer-reviewed work on the use of plants for production of vaccine antigens, showing expression of authentic hepatitis B surface antigen in tobacco (Mason et al., 1992). He was a leader in this field for many years and continues to publish work in plant-based vaccines (Kim et al., 2015). With funding from NIH-NIAID, Dr. Mason focused on oral delivery of vaccines for enteric diseases including Norwalk virus (Mason et al., 1996) and enterotoxic E. coli (Haq et al., 1995), and demonstrated oral immunogenicity in mice after ingestion of transgenic potato tuber.
More about Hugh
Dr. Mason, an Associate Professor at Arizona State University, was the first to publish peer-reviewed work on the use of plants for production of vaccine antigens, showing expression of authentic hepatitis B surface antigen in tobacco (Mason et al., 1992). He was a leader in this field for many years and continues to publish work in plant-based vaccines (Kim et al., 2015). With funding from NIH-NIAID, Dr. Mason focused on oral delivery of vaccines for enteric diseases including Norwalk virus (Mason et al., 1996) and enterotoxic E. coli (Haq et al., 1995), and demonstrated oral immunogenicity in mice after ingestion of transgenic potato tuber.
More about Hugh
Christopher da Costa, MD, Ph.D., MBA FACP, FIDSA
Dr. da Costa provides advice, mentorship, and services as needed for FruitVaccine’s vaccine development efforts. Chris is a US-licensed board-certified physician, infectious disease immunologist, and vaccine and immunotherapeutics development subject matter expert. Chris has over 15 years’ prior experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in end-to-end vaccine and drug development that includes expertise spanning preclinical to late-stage and post-licensure activities. He obtained his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Zambia, MSc (Tropical Medicine) and Ph.D. (Immunology) degrees at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), as well as a Physicians’ executive MBA degree at Auburn University.
Dr. da Costa provides advice, mentorship, and services as needed for FruitVaccine’s vaccine development efforts. Chris is a US-licensed board-certified physician, infectious disease immunologist, and vaccine and immunotherapeutics development subject matter expert. Chris has over 15 years’ prior experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in end-to-end vaccine and drug development that includes expertise spanning preclinical to late-stage and post-licensure activities. He obtained his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Zambia, MSc (Tropical Medicine) and Ph.D. (Immunology) degrees at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), as well as a Physicians’ executive MBA degree at Auburn University.
Edwin G. Moore, Ph.D.
Dr. Moore brings 30 years of biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, and clinical diagnostic industry experience from global companies, Baxter Healthcare Corp and Abbott Laboratories, in R&D product development. He has held various roles in CMC pre-clinical product development for recombinant therapeutic proteins and for IV parenteral small molecule products in Analytical Method Development, Stability Testing, Formulation, as well as leading overall pre-clinical product development for a recombinant therapeutic protein product. Ed also mentors start-up companies at EnterpriseWorks, the University of Illinois Business incubator. Ed has a PhD in Physical Biochemistry from Cornell University, NY, and received a BS from UIUC.
More about Ed
Dr. Moore brings 30 years of biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, and clinical diagnostic industry experience from global companies, Baxter Healthcare Corp and Abbott Laboratories, in R&D product development. He has held various roles in CMC pre-clinical product development for recombinant therapeutic proteins and for IV parenteral small molecule products in Analytical Method Development, Stability Testing, Formulation, as well as leading overall pre-clinical product development for a recombinant therapeutic protein product. Ed also mentors start-up companies at EnterpriseWorks, the University of Illinois Business incubator. Ed has a PhD in Physical Biochemistry from Cornell University, NY, and received a BS from UIUC.
More about Ed
Brenda Anne Wilson, Ph.D.
Dr. Wilson is a Professor of Microbiology and Assoc. Director of Undergraduate Education in the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology, with a joint appointment in Pathobiology, College of Vet. Med., at UIUC. She is also an Inaugural Professor in the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. Her current research focuses on host-microbe interactions: bacterial protein toxins and their molecular interactions with eukaryotic hosts; developing novel post-exposure antitoxin therapeutics and delivery platforms; and drug resistant microbes in health and disease. Dr. Wilson earned her B.A. from Columbia University, NY, and her M.S.-Ph.D. degrees (in Chemistry: β-lactam antibiotics) from the Johns Hopkins University, MD. Her PostDoc at Harvard Medical School was on bacterial protein toxins.
More about Brenda and profile
Dr. Wilson is a Professor of Microbiology and Assoc. Director of Undergraduate Education in the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology, with a joint appointment in Pathobiology, College of Vet. Med., at UIUC. She is also an Inaugural Professor in the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. Her current research focuses on host-microbe interactions: bacterial protein toxins and their molecular interactions with eukaryotic hosts; developing novel post-exposure antitoxin therapeutics and delivery platforms; and drug resistant microbes in health and disease. Dr. Wilson earned her B.A. from Columbia University, NY, and her M.S.-Ph.D. degrees (in Chemistry: β-lactam antibiotics) from the Johns Hopkins University, MD. Her PostDoc at Harvard Medical School was on bacterial protein toxins.
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Erik Nelson, Ph.D.
Dr. Nelson is an Associate Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology at UIUC. He received his BSc (major: zoology, minor: chemistry) and PhD in comparative endocrinology from the University of Calgary. His PostDoc at Duke University was in pharmacology and cancer biology, prior to joining UIUC faculty. Dr. Nelson's research program is focused on how hormones and cholesterol metabolism impact breast and ovarian cancer progression. In recognition of his research, Dr. Nelson has been awarded the Government of Alberta Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship, a Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, and a National Cancer Institute Pathway to Independence Award.
More about Erik
Dr. Nelson is an Associate Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology at UIUC. He received his BSc (major: zoology, minor: chemistry) and PhD in comparative endocrinology from the University of Calgary. His PostDoc at Duke University was in pharmacology and cancer biology, prior to joining UIUC faculty. Dr. Nelson's research program is focused on how hormones and cholesterol metabolism impact breast and ovarian cancer progression. In recognition of his research, Dr. Nelson has been awarded the Government of Alberta Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship, a Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, and a National Cancer Institute Pathway to Independence Award.
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Indika Kahanda, Ph.D.
Dr. Indika Kahanda is an Assistant Professor in the School of Computing at the University of North Florida, where he directs the bioinformatics, biomedical informatics, and medical informatics lab. His research interests lie in the areas of Bioinformatics, Biomedical Informatics, and Medical Informatics. He focuses on the application of machine learning and natural language processing techniques to solve problems involving large-scale biological, molecular, and biomedical data. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Colorado State University in 2016 in the area of Bioinformatics, a Master of Science in Computer Engineering from Purdue University in 2010, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in 2007.
More about Indika
Dr. Indika Kahanda is an Assistant Professor in the School of Computing at the University of North Florida, where he directs the bioinformatics, biomedical informatics, and medical informatics lab. His research interests lie in the areas of Bioinformatics, Biomedical Informatics, and Medical Informatics. He focuses on the application of machine learning and natural language processing techniques to solve problems involving large-scale biological, molecular, and biomedical data. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Colorado State University in 2016 in the area of Bioinformatics, a Master of Science in Computer Engineering from Purdue University in 2010, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in 2007.
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Jagdeep S. Sandhu, Ph.D.
Dr. Sandhu obtained his PhD from the University of Cambridge, UK, in 1996. He conducted postgraduate research on transfer of the RSV fusion-protein into plants, at UIUC (1996-2000, in Buetow-lab), and then as a biotechnologist at the Punjab Agricultural University, India, where he is employed at the present time.
More about Jagdeep
Dr. Sandhu obtained his PhD from the University of Cambridge, UK, in 1996. He conducted postgraduate research on transfer of the RSV fusion-protein into plants, at UIUC (1996-2000, in Buetow-lab), and then as a biotechnologist at the Punjab Agricultural University, India, where he is employed at the present time.
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Jose O. Solbiati, Ph.D.
Dr. Solbiati is currently conducting research at the University of Florida. He also served at UIUC for over 10 years after being employed both in Argentina and Spain upon completion of his PhD in Argentina. Dr. Solbiati has been collaborating with Dr. Indu Rupassara on research related to genetic engineering to stabilize the RSV gene.
More about Jose
Dr. Solbiati is currently conducting research at the University of Florida. He also served at UIUC for over 10 years after being employed both in Argentina and Spain upon completion of his PhD in Argentina. Dr. Solbiati has been collaborating with Dr. Indu Rupassara on research related to genetic engineering to stabilize the RSV gene.
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Daniel McKim, Ph.D.
Dr. McKim is an assistant professor in the Department of Animal Science at UIUC. He completed his doctoral and postdoctoral training at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center with a focus on neuroendocrine regulation of hematopoiesis using mouse models. Dr. McKim currently runs a research lab studying the interactions between lifestyle factors, hematopoiesis, and chronic health conditions. Dr. McKim contributes to the FruitVaccine Team with his expertise in animal modeling for immunology research and employs relevant techniques including flow cytometry, single cell transcriptomics, and functional assays.
More about Daniel and profile
Dr. McKim is an assistant professor in the Department of Animal Science at UIUC. He completed his doctoral and postdoctoral training at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center with a focus on neuroendocrine regulation of hematopoiesis using mouse models. Dr. McKim currently runs a research lab studying the interactions between lifestyle factors, hematopoiesis, and chronic health conditions. Dr. McKim contributes to the FruitVaccine Team with his expertise in animal modeling for immunology research and employs relevant techniques including flow cytometry, single cell transcriptomics, and functional assays.
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Robert Carnahan, Ph.D.
Dr. Robert Carnahan is a Professor in Pediatrics and Associate Director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. His expertise is in the discovery of novel antibody therapeutics and rapid pandemic response platforms. In particular, he has guided the DARPA-funded Pandemic Prevention Platform (P3) program at VUMC. The goal of this program was to define and test rapid response platforms for viral pandemics. This platform was activated to respond to SARS-CoV-2 in 2020 and developed a large panel of potential antibody therapeutics, some of which are now in Phase 3 clinical trials. Dr. Carnahan is also a recognized expert in Lean Laboratory management practices.
More about Robert and profile
Dr. Robert Carnahan is a Professor in Pediatrics and Associate Director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. His expertise is in the discovery of novel antibody therapeutics and rapid pandemic response platforms. In particular, he has guided the DARPA-funded Pandemic Prevention Platform (P3) program at VUMC. The goal of this program was to define and test rapid response platforms for viral pandemics. This platform was activated to respond to SARS-CoV-2 in 2020 and developed a large panel of potential antibody therapeutics, some of which are now in Phase 3 clinical trials. Dr. Carnahan is also a recognized expert in Lean Laboratory management practices.
More about Robert and profile