Innovative implantable bio-artificial pancreas for the treatment of diabetes patients

No More Frequent Glucose Monitoring & Insulin Injections

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Executive Team

Zohar Gendler, CEO

Prior to joining Beta-O₂ Mr. Gendler served as the CEO of the Technion Entrepreneurial Incubator (TEIC) for a period of 11 years. In this capacity as the CEO, he gained a wide range of experience in identifying new technologies and in establishing, directing, and creating value to technology-based start-up companies. Under Mr. Gendler’s management, the TEIC and its portfolio companies achieved eight excellence awards for outstanding achievements from the Chief Scientist Office, Ministry of Industry and Trade. Mr. Gendler led the establishment of and investment in more than 40 companies, such as Modigene (NASDAQ: MODG), Corindus, Mazor, Cellaris, Regentis, GeneGrafts and many others.
Prior to his appointment as the CEO of TEIC in 1995, he served as the Technion Incubator's vice president for business development for a period of two years. In addition, Mr. Gendler was the business manager of TAN Ceramic Ltd and held a post at Israel's Ministry of Defense. During 1998-2006, he was a member of the Technion’s Patent Committee.
Mr. Gendler earned his master's of science degree in material engineering, a bachelor's degree in physics, and a certificate in business management, all from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.

Avi Rotem, Ph.D., CTO

Dr. Rotem is a veteran in the biotechnology industry. He has successfully served as the CEO at several companies including ProteOptics Ltd. (Haifa, Israel) and Advanced Molecular Semiconductors Ltd. (Rehovot, Israel). Throughout his career, Dr. Rotem has managed many multidisciplinary projects in the fields of medical devices, biochips and new drug development. While at Elan Medical Technologies Israel (Yavne, Israel), a subsidiary of élan, an Irish based company, Dr. Rotem led a team of 15 scientists and researchers in the development of a minimally invasive glucose sensor. The project passed Phase I and was subsequently sold for US$17 million to Medisys, a UK based company. A specialist in mass and oxygen transfer to algae and tissue cultures, Dr. Rotem earned a B.Sc. in Biochemistry, an M.Sc. in Biology and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering and biotechnology all from Ben Gurion University in Beer-Sheva, Israel. He also completed a post doctoral at Harvard Medical School, where his studies focused on oxygen delivery to artificial organs and bio-artificial livers. Dr. Rotem is the recipient of the scholastic achievements in biology award from the Department of Biology, Ben-Gurion University. He is the author of many scientific articles as well as patent pending technology.

Uriel Barkai, Ph.D., Head, Islet Division

Dr. Barkai comes to Beta-O₂ from Pluristem Ltd. where he served as the CSO and vice president of regulatory affairs. Prior to this commission, he worked as the V.P. of R&D at PolyHeal (wound healing) as well as the head of the biology department at Carmel Biosensors (islet-based glucose monitor). He was also a consultant for Biological Industries. Dr. Barkai headed R&D in the IVF unit at Serlin Maternity Hospital, where he researched molecular signals transmitted and received between the uterus and the implanting embryo. Dr. Barkai earned a B.Sc. in Biology, as well as an M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in Zoology, all from Tel-Aviv University. He is a former post doctoral fellow at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology were his work concentrated on the mechanism of action of Vitamin A. Dr. Barkai is a member of the Society for the Study of Reproduction, the Israel Diabetes Society, the Endocrine Society and the International Society of Cell Therapy. He has participated in more than 30 international scientific meetings and has published many scientific articles.

Azarov Dmitry, D.V.M., R&D, Head of Veterinary Applications

Prior to Beta-O2, Dr. Azarov worked in Experimental Surgery at the Felsenstein Medical Research Center (FMRC), a distinguished and sophisticated institute for biomedical research at the Rabin Medical Center, Israel.
At FMRC, Dr. Azarov gained vast expertise and experience in experimental surgery, the development and administration of biomodels, and the development and transplantation of medical devices. He participated in numerous biomedical projects, including projects related to artificial liver development.
Dr. Azarov received his D.V.M. degree from the Agricultural Academy Veterinary Department, Ukraine, and completed a course in microsurgery at the Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, USA. Dr. Azarov has taken advanced professional courses in Israel and has authored or co-authored numerous articles in scientific journals.