Management Team
Adam Forman, PhD
Co-Founder, R&D
Adam is a chemist and biomaterial engineer with 10+ years experience. He leads the development of Synakis’ ocular biomaterial. Previously, he obtained his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Toronto (2020).
Mickael Dang, MASc, EMSc
Co-Founder, R&D
Mickael is a chemical engineer and drug formulation expert with 5+ years experience. He leads the development of drug formulations for the treatment of glaucoma. Previously, he obtained his MASc in Applied Physics from
École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay (2019) and his EMSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from HEC Paris (2022).
Jonathan Labriola, PhD
Co-Founder, R&D
Jonathan is a biochemist and protein engineer with 10+ years experience. He leads the development of protein therapeutics for the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases. Previously, he obtained his PhD in Biochemistry from McGill University (2018).
Molly Shoichet, PhD, FRS
Co-Founder
Molly is a leading expert in the development of polymers for drug delivery and tissue regeneration. She is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society, an Officer of the Order of Canada, a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, and was the Canada Research Chair in Tissue Engineering (2001-2020).
Advisory Team
Our management team is supported by leading clinicians and scientists in the field of ophthalmology.
Robert Devenyi, MD, FACS, FRCSC
Co-Founder, Clinical Advisor
Robert is a world-renowned ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon at Toronto Western Hospital. He is the Ophthalmologist-in-chief at the Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute (Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network), as well as a Clinician Investigator in the Surgical Retina Clinic, and previously the Co-Director of the Institute. He is also a Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at the University of Toronto.
“Our hydrogel will be transformative for patients.”
Alexander Baker, PhD
Co-Founder, Scientific Advisor
Alexander is a co-inventor of Synakis’ ocular biomaterial and an expert in synthetic biology, protein and biomaterial engineering. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Dalhousie University.
Photo credit: Tyler Irving/U of T Engineering
Peng Yan, MD, FRCSC
Clinical Advisor
Peng is an ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon at Kensington Eye Institute and Toronto Western Hospital, and a Clinician Investigator in the Surgical Retina Clinic at the Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute (Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network). He is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at the University of Toronto.