BHI Board of Directors

Peter Briskman is the Executive Director and Broker Lead for JLL’s Maryland Region. His primary focus is on Tenant Advisory Services working with Life Science Occupants locally and nationally on complex real estate and leasing strategies for Headquarter transactions, relocations, build-to-suits, renewals, expansions, and consolidations. His applied expertise includes strategic real estate planning, municipal incentive negotiations, lease structuring/transactions, portfolio management, and capital markets investment sales. He is the recipient of GWCAR’s Commercial Leasing Broker of the Year and has been recognized with GWCAR Office Leasing Transactions of the Year for multiple clients.    

Donna has 35+ years of healthcare experience, beginning as critical care nurse, and migrating to operations and senior management as a hospital administrator, GM of a large physician group practice and then recruited to industry, in clinical leadership positions. She spent 8+ years with Baxter in Senior/VP (group) executive positions in business development, sales and marketing of clinical products aimed at improving care and reducing health care costs. She has served in Senior Executive Management roles for 10 diagnostic companies in her career and was in key leadership roles in two company exits. She is a recognized leader in Cardiovascular Diagnostics, changing clinical practice in this space, as part of the discovery, development and commercial launch of a series of the key diagnostic products in the field. She was a governor appointed member of the Va BioTech Research Park Authority for 9 years and a member of the Intellectual Property Board of Directors for Virginia Commonwealth University for 8 yrs. She is a founder of Virginia Life Sciences Investments, Inc. and led the Series A investment in ImmunArray LTD, the original home of the broad portfolio of biomarkers for Neurological Disease Diagnosis and Monitoring spun out in late 2018 to BRAINBox Solutions, where she is a founding member and CEO.

David Lemus serves as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at miRecule, a pioneering biotechnology company advancing RNA-based therapeutics to address critical unmet medical needs. With over 25 years of experience in financial and operational leadership within the life sciences sector, David is instrumental in steering miRecule’s strategic growth and operational excellence. Prior to joining miRecule, David held senior leadership roles at several prominent biopharmaceutical and healthcare companies. He has a proven track record of securing financing, driving business development initiatives, and optimizing operations to scale innovation and deliver transformative therapies. His expertise spans financial strategy, mergers and acquisitions, fundraising, and global market expansion. At miRecule, David oversees financial planning, investor relations, and day-to-day operations, ensuring alignment between the company’s scientific advancements and business objectives. His leadership has been pivotal in miRecule’s progression from early-stage research to clinical development. David is recognized for his ability to integrate financial acumen with a deep understanding of the biotech landscape, making him a trusted partner to both internal teams and external stakeholders. He holds degrees in finance and business management and actively participates in industry forums, sharing insights to advance the life sciences field.

Chuck Morton, repeatedly ranked as one of the top M&A lawyers in the country, is Managing Partner of the Baltimore Office of Venable, Maryland’s largest law firm. He has a national practice, solving complex problems faced by lenders, investors, and entrepreneurs as they create, build, and buy or sell businesses. He routinely advises on mergers and acquisitions and financings, including every flavor of equity investment. He regularly acts on behalf of private equity groups.  His practice focuses on life sciences and technology companies.

Rich Bendis is the Founder, President, and CEO of BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI), a public-private nonprofit based in the BioHealth Capital Region (Maryland/DC/Virginia), focused on accelerating the biohealth industry nationally and internationally. A recognized leader in the global innovation economy, Rich was also the founding President and CEO of Innovation America, a national partnership driving the growth of innovation across the U.S. His career spans roles as a successful entrepreneur, corporate executive, venture capitalist, angel investor, investment banker, and an expert in technology-based economic development. Rich has served on numerous prestigious boards and advisory groups, including the White House U.S. Innovation Partnership Advisory Task Force, the National Association of State Venture Funds, and the Small Business Innovation Research Committee. He was also a founding Chairman of The Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation and the Founder and CEO of Innovation Philadelphia. Internationally, he has provided global consulting services to over 16 countries and 22 states, several cities and regions, along with international organizations including the United Nations, NATO, UK Trade and Industry, European Commission, French Embassy, the German Marshall Fund, The Canadian Consulate, METI, AKEA, the International Science Parks and Innovation Expert Group and other global entities. Previously, Mr. Bendis successfully leveraged a career in the private sector (with Quaker Oats, Polaroid, Texas Instruments, Marion Laboratories and Kimberly Services) and the venture capital industry (RAB Ventures). Mr. Bendis also successfully built an Inc. 500 healthcare software company, Continental Healthcare Systems, Inc., which he took public on NASDAQ and later sold to an international conglomerate. In addition, Mr. Bendis continues to be an active investor. In Maryland, Rich sits on Governor Moore's Life Science Advisory Board and is Co-Chair of the AURP BioHealth Caucus. Known for his contributions to the innovation sector, he has been recognized as a Top 5 Speaker on innovation, one of Maryland’s most influential leaders, and the host of the BioTalk podcast. He was voted one of the Top 5 Speakers on innovation and creativity, voted 4th best Innovation Blogger, a most influential Marylander award and a Maryland innovator of the year award.

Jarrod Borkat is a 15-year veteran in the biopharmaceutical industry and currently the Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer with On Demand Pharmaceuticals. He joined MedImmune in 2010, and served as Senior Director/Head, Global External Partnerships & Collaborations. In this role he was responsible for establishing and overseeing global strategic collaborations with universities, non-profit organizations and government entities, across all the therapeutic areas relevant to MedImmune. His team led the creation of several multi-million dollar collaborations, including one with Johns Hopkins University and one with University of Maryland. Prior to this role, Jarrod led the Portfolio Strategy & Management function for MedImmune, helping the organization optimize its R&D portfolio. Before joining MedImmune, Jarrod worked at Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for 11 years, rising through the ranks in the sales and commercial organization. During his time at BI, he spent two years in Germany, working at their corporate headquarters, leading the global commercial strategy for their CNS franchise. His last position prior to leaving BI was Director of U.S. Marketing, HIV. Jarrod has won multiple awards throughout his career, including being recognized as an industry “Top 25 Direct-to-Consumer Marketer of the Year” in 2007. He is also active in several industry organizations and has served on industry-related panels. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Jarrod serves on the Kentlands Board of Trustees and the Kentlands Community Foundation Board. He also ran a marathon on all 7 continents with his father, making them the first father/son duo to have accomplished this challenging endeavor. Jarrod earned an M.B.A. from Kennesaw State University, with concentrations in finance and marketing, and earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of Georgia.

Mr. Callaghan manages M&T’s Healthcare Banking Group, providing sales advisory, credit oversight and industry training to the team. Christopher joined M&T Bank in 1994. He has held several positions in the Corporate Banking and Institutional Investment Management Divisions at M&T, including 15 years in the Healthcare Banking Group. M&T’s Healthcare Banking Group is a Specialized Industry Group that provides Commercial Lending, Investment Banking, Treasury Management and other Financial Services to Health Systems, Hospitals, Skill Nursing Facilities and Senior Living Communities. Christopher received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Saint Michael’s College in Winooski, Vermont and a Master’s of Science in Finance from The Johns Hopkins University. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Evergreen Healthcare Cooperative, the Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland School of Nursing and is active in several healthcare industry groups.  

Dr. Eric S. Edwards is currently the co-founder and CEO of Phlow Corporation, a leading impact-driven pharmaceutical company focused on securing the supply chain for critical essential medicines and their ingredients in America. Previously, Dr. Edwards was an independent executive healthcare, pharmaceutical, and medical device consultant to small and large multi-national corporations. Prior to consulting, Dr. Edwards was the co-founder of Kaléo, Inc., a pharmaceutical company in Richmond, VA developing novel medicines for the treatment of a variety or chronic and acute-care diseases. He is co-inventor of several currently marketed products, including AUVI-Q, an epinephrine Auto-injector for the treatment of allergic emergencies (anaphylaxis) as well as the Naloxone Auto-injector (Rapid Opioid Countermeasure System) currently being deployed by the DoD in case of an opioid-related attack on the homeland or abroad as a part of the warfighter’s medical arsenal. Dr. Edwards has over 240 patents and has authored numerous publications in the allergy and opioid use disorder arena as well as on America’s essential medicine supply chain. Dr. Edwards has been active on several committees and boards, including being appointed by the Governor to the Board of the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park Authority/ Activation Capital and serving as a mentor and Board member for Lighthouse Labs, a nationally-recognized, Top 25 Accelerator. He is also on the founding Board of the Food Allergy Science Initiative (FASI) working with world-class researchers to find a cure and develop treatments for food allergies. Dr. Edwards graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University’s guaranteed admission program. While at VCU/MCV, he received a B.S. in Biology, his Ph.D. in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, and M.D. degrees.

Michael Friedlander is the vice president for health sciences and technology at Virginia Tech, where he also serves as the founding executive director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and the senior dean for research at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. He has built the institute’s research programs to over $140 million in current grant value with more than 35 research teams and over 400 investigators and students since its founding in 2010. He has served as the principal investigator on multiple research grants on brain processes that mediate vision, developmental plasticity, and traumatic brain injury. His research has been published in leading journals such as Academic Medicine, Cell, J. Neuroscience, Nature, Neuron, PNAS and Science.

As Executive Director of the Institute for Biohealth Innovation, Amy Adams is responsible for nurturing and advancing biohealth research and innovation interests of more than 300 faculty and thousands of students who represent a broad range of academic disciplines. She is also leading Northern Virginia’s first Innovation District in partnership with Prince William County, City Manassas, and the surrounding business community. The 3,800 acre Innovation District builds on existing strengths and focuses in strategic sectors including: Life Sciences, Aerospace, Defense, Semiconductors, and Data Infrastructure. It is home to companies ranging from start-ups to high-tech businesses with a global footprint, a life science incubator, regional airport, entertainment hub, and town center with mixed-use development under construction. Ms. Adams is responsible for supporting the advancement of research, innovation, and workforce readiness by fostering partnerships, overseeing core laboratory facilities, and building strategic programs for industry, government, and academic engagement. Her efforts are aimed to ignite the launch of start-ups; recruit, retain, and support expansion of existing companies; and grow high-quality jobs. Ms. Adams brings 23 years of experience in higher education and 18 years developing and leading new programs and organizations focused on research, innovation, and workforce development. She has partnered with leaders across the state and region to foster connected ecosystems and build novel programs to accelerate biomedical innovation. She earned a M.S. in Chemistry, B.S. in Biology, and is an author on one patent and fifteen peer reviewed articles.

Jason brings nearly 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry leading clinical research and commercial teams developing and delivering program strategies across all phases of clinical development and marketed products. His extensive infectious disease experience includes seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19. Given the public health focus of vaccines and infectious diseases, he has engaged effectively with stakeholders across government agencies, public health policy bodies, market access, and advocacy organizations. Currently, Jason is VP, Strategy Operations at Emergent BioSolutions and is responsible for corporate business planning and reporting, enterprise governance, alliance management, and other efforts related to strategy execution. Prior to joining Emergent, Jason was Managing Director, Vaccine Policy at Avalere and collaborated with several vaccine manufacturers on key public health policies to expand vaccine access. Jason has also served as the Global Commercial Head, Vaccines and Infection at AstraZeneca. His responsibilities included building global commercial strategies and tactical plans that combine marketing, medical affairs, market access and pricing, public policy, and real-world evidence generation. Jason’s broad experience also includes ECG Management Consultants where he was a consultant specializing in government and industry-funded R&D program administration within Academic Medical Centers and Schools of Medicine. Jason holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Augustana College and a Master of Business Administration from The George Washington University. He lives in Washington, DC with this wife, Holly, and daughter, Jane, and their two golden retrievers.    

Serving in a dual role, Ron is responsible for CVI’s Medical business including Sales, P&L, and Strategy. In addition, Ron is also responsible for the Business Development Division, including the development of strategic partnerships that leverage Canon Technology and Manufacturing Know-how. Prior to this position, he led the R&D division in the design and development of medical products for Canon BioMedical, Inc., which was a newly created Canon company.  Ron has worked for Canon Virginia for more than 23 years. Prior to joining Canon, Ron served as a Mechanical Design Engineer for nVIEW Corp, responsible for video projector design and as a Product Design Engineer for GE Aircraft controls, responsible for mechanical design and thermal / vibration analysis of Flight and Engine controls. Ron holds multiple patents and has previously served on the Old Dominion University’s College of Engineering and Technology Advisory Board. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Binghamton University.