A Culture of Innovation, Diversity, and Collaboration #
Our team comprises individuals with diverse skills and backgrounds, dedicated to developing effective solutions for neurological disorders. We foster a company culture of innovation and collaboration, where every voice is heard, and every idea is valued. Respect for diversity is at the core of our ethos, as we recognize that diverse perspectives drive creativity and innovation.
Our commitment to diversity and excellence empowers our employees to achieve their best and contributes to a thriving workplace. Our people are the cornerstone of our success and the heart of our vibrant culture at NeuroCytonix.
Our Leadership #
We are guided by an accomplished leadership team that includes our Senior Executives, Scientific Board Advisors, and Board of Directors. Together, they shape our organization's strategic direction. Our esteemed scientific board, composed of leading experts in their fields, further enhances our capabilities and credibility. Their guidance and insights are pivotal in shaping our research and development efforts, ensuring we remain at the forefront of innovation.
Senior Executives
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J. Roberto Trujillo, M.D., Sc.D. #
Founder and Chief Executive Officer #
Roberto Trujillo is a physician and scientist in the field of neuroscience and molecular virology. Trujillo obtained his Doctor of Science degree in Neurosciences and Molecular Virology at Harvard University under the direction of Lasker Prize winner Dr. Max Essex. Prior to Harvard, Trujillo had an internship in medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, he completed a two-year Clinical Neurological and Neurosurgical Fellowship at Texas Medical Center. His career began at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEM), where he graduated from medical school with Summa Cum Laude honors.
The initial years of his career were during the AIDS epidemic, where he studied the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its effects on the brain which resulted in the publication of several scientific findings. He is the co-inventor of CerCa, a photodynamic therapeutic medical device for treating human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer prevention. He has been on various scientific editorial boards and published research for over 30 years. His contributions include work in neurovirology and photodynamic therapy.
Aiming to bring together scientists from Latin America and the Americas to study viral infections and their effects on the nervous system, Dr. Trujillo established the Pan-American Society of Neurovirology in 2000. He has held distinguished academic posts at Harvard, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the NIH, and the University of Maryland. Since 2010, he helped establish and raise support for several biotech companies in the biotechnological corridor of Maryland and Latin American markets.
Dr. Trujillo has been awarded numerous other awards during his career, including the National Research NIH Award, the Helena Rubinstein Award, and the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award. He was recognized as one of the '100 Most Influential Professional Mexicans' in the USA. Dr. Trujillo received the Ohtli Award, the highest honor awarded by the Mexican government to recognize individuals of Mexican heritage. He is a member of several prestigious scientific societies including the American Academy of Neurology, The American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the distinguished Cosmos Club, a private social club in Science, Literature, and the Arts in Washington, D.C.
Laurent Lavigne du Cadet, PhD, MBA #
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer #
Laurent Lavigne du Cadet, MBA, Finance PhD, Series 7, 24, 79, 63, 99 FINRA certified, is an experienced manager and financial expert with more than 20 years of experience in corporate finance and M&A. Previously he served as Senior Advisor at Dentons US LLP, the largest law firm in the world. Laurent has also been the CEO and CFO of several global investment companies and has raised over $3 billion in equity and $5 billion in debt during his career.
Scientific Board Advisors
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Robert C. Gallo, MD #
Senior Scientific Board Advisor #
Homer and Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professor in Medicine, Co-Founder & Director, Institute of Human Virology
Dr. Gallo is a world-renowned scientist who co-discovered HIV, showed that the virus causes AIDS, and led the team that developed the HIV blood test. His work led to therapies that have been used to prolong the lives of millions infected with the virus. Dr. Gallo was the first to identify a human retrovirus and the only known human leukemia virus. He has been honored with the prestigious Lasker Award twice in 1982 and 1986 for his scientific contributions. He was ranked third in the world for scientific impact from 1983-2002.
As the co-founder and director of the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Dr. Gallo continues to advance research on HIV/AIDS and other viral diseases. Prior to establishing the IHV in 1996, he spent 30 years at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), where he served as head of the Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology.
Dr. Gallo has received numerous scientific awards and holds 35 honorary doctorates. He has published over 1,300 papers and was the most referenced scientist in the world during the 1980s and 1990s. He currently serves as Chair of the Global Virus Network Scientific Advisory Board, headquartered at USF Health where he leads new research discoveries in the battle against infectious disease threats worldwide.
Vanderlei S. Bagnato, PhD #
Senior Scientific Board Advisor #
Professor of Physics at USP-IFSC and a professor of biomedical engineering at Texas A&M University, USA.
Vanderlei Bagnato obtained his Ph.D. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Master’s degree in Physics from the University of São Paulo’s Instituto de Física de São Carlos (USP-IFSC), Brazil. Dr. Bagnato is currently a professor of Physics at USP-IFSC and Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University, USA. Additionally, he serves as the coordinator of the USP Agency for Innovation. With over 700 scientific publications and more than 4,000 citations, his contributions to science are widely recognized.
Dr. Bagnato's expertise encompasses optics, atomic and molecular physics involving cold atoms, as well as biophotonics. In atomic physics, he is a pioneer in producing cold atoms, contributing significantly to experiments involving Bose-Einstein condensation, quantum turbulence, and the development of Latin America’s first atomic clock. In biophotonics, his groundbreaking work includes using photodynamic therapy to address cancer and control microbiological infections, including antibiotic-resistant strains.
Dr. Bagnato has been honored with numerous prestigious awards, such as the Robert E. Hopkins Leadership Award, the Almirante Álvaro Alberto Award, the Comendador da Ordem Nacional do Mérito Científico (awarded by the President of Brazil), and the 24th José Reis Prize. He serves on the editorial boards of various scientific journals and is a distinguished member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
In May 2021, Dr. Bagnato was recognized as a champion of UNESCO’s "Trust Science" initiative, which highlights researchers advancing the science of light.
Rajah V. Kumar, PhD #
Senior Scientific Co-Chair #
Dr. Kumar has over 30 years of research experience. He is a pioneering researcher in the fields of biophysics, radiobiology, and sustainable energy. He has worked for more than twenty years in regenerative tissue engineering. Among his many patents is the NeuroCytotron®, a critical element of NeuroCytonix’s technology. He is the Group Chairman of Organization de Scalene.
Board of Directors
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Jeff Balagna #
Vice Chairman of the Board #
Jeff Balagna is a partner at Gryphon Investors, LLC, a prominent middle-market private equity firm. He is a seasoned executive with extensive experience within the healthcare and services industries. His career includes stints at leading brands including Medtronic, GE, and Eli Lilly. Jeff has extensive experience serving on Boards of Directors and has been a board member of Sears Auto Centers, Sears Home Services, Sears Consumer Electronics, Tennant Company, US Energy, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, TGI Friday’s, Team Car Care, FinanceIt, and Carlson Marketing. His philanthropic activities include Board Chair for Light of Hope, and as a board member at Minnesota Public Radio, Minnesota Orchestra, and ELIMU.
Isabel Gomez de Coppel #
Board Member #
Isabel Gomez de Coppel is a certified Brain Developer and is Founder and President of Estrella Guia IAP, an organization that provides treatment and guidance to the parents of children with brain injuries and has helped many families throughout Mexico.
She has served on the board of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and is currently a member of the Latin American Circle at the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
Armando Requejo, MBA #
Board Member #
Armando Requejo is a senior leader in corporate finance, strategy, and business development with a diverse career spanning consulting, corporate leadership, and investment management. At Finaccess Capital, he oversees the full investment cycle of the firm, including portfolio strategy, evaluation of investment opportunities, due diligence, and long-term growth initiatives in the growth equity and venture capital spaces. Finaccess Capital is an investment firm with a global portfolio that cuts across a variety of sectors including consumer goods, retail, real estate, technology and biotechnology. Armando serves on multiple boards, including NeuroCytonix, providing strategic oversight and governance.
Previously, Armando held leadership roles at Booz & Company and Avon, focusing on business growth planning and performance improvement. Armando holds a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Iberoamericana and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Operations Team #
Our Operations Team is the backbone of our organization, diligently supporting our Leadership Team. With precision and dedication, they execute strategies seamlessly, enabling us to accomplish our mission. Their expertise and efficiency contribute to the overall effectiveness and growth of our innovative efforts.
Daniel R Trujillo, MS #
Chief Accounting Officer #
Daniel Robert Trujillo has been an integral part of NeuroCytonix’s management team since its inception, overseeing treasury management and accounting operations for the company and its international subsidiaries. With a strong background in finance and leadership, Daniel brings extensive expertise and unwavering dedication to his role. He holds a master’s degree in Biotechnology Enterprise and Entrepreneurship from Johns Hopkins University and a dual undergraduate degree in Economics and Political Science from Georgetown University. Additionally, he participated in an exchange program at Oxford University and completed a specialized "Drug and Medical Device Development" program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Yandro Torno, CCRA, ACRP-CP #
Director of Monitoring and Operations #
Yandro Torno has been an invaluable asset to NeuroCytonix, working closely with our clinical research center in Monterrey, Mexico. With 17 years of extensive experience in the clinical research industry, Yandro has collaborated with pharmaceutical companies ranging from small to multinational, like Pfizer. He has worked in all phases of drug development (I to IV), covering seven therapeutic areas and over sixteen different indications. Yandro holds a degree in Health Information Management from DeVry University and a nursing degree from Holguin University of Medical Sciences, Nursing Branch. His broad expertise and dedication are instrumental to our ongoing success in clinical research.
Lorenzo R Morales Mancías, MD #
Principal Investigator, NeuroCytonix Mexico #
Dr. Lorenzo R. Morales Mancías is a pediatric neurologist and clinical researcher who has served as the Principal Investigator at NeuroCytonix Mexico since 2019. He runs clinical research studying the safety and efficacy of our medical device, the NeuroCytotron, for addressing symptoms in children with cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder. He holds a Bachelor of Medicine from the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León and completed two residencies at the Hospital Universitario in Monterrey—one in pediatrics, and another in pediatric neurology. Dr. Morales has participated in multiple national medical congresses of Neurology and Pediatrics and has 15 publications in medical journals. He is certified in Good Clinical Practice, HIPAA compliance, and the U.S. FDA’s Clinical Investigator Training.
NeuroCytonix Mexico Clinical Research Center #
Discover the future of medical research at our state-of-the-art clinical research center.
