Scientific Advisors

Jeffrey S. Miller, M.D.

Jeffrey S. Miller, M.D.

Consulting Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Officer

Jeffrey S. Miller, MD, received a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and received his MD from Northwestern University School of Medicine. He completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. After completing a post-doctoral fellowship in Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation at the University of Minnesota, he joined the faculty in 1991. Dr. Miller is currently a Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota. He is the Deputy Director of the University of Minnesota Masonic Comprehensive Cancer Center. He has more than 20 years of experience studying the biology of NK cells and other immune effector cells and their use in clinical immunotherapy with over 170 peer-reviewed publications. He is a member of numerous societies such as the American Society of Hematology, the American Association of Immunologists, a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation since 1999. He serves on the editorial board for Blood and is a reviewer for a number of journals and NIH grants.

Dr. Arjun V Balar, MD

Dr. Arjun V Balar, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York, New York. He is the Director of the Genitourinary Medical Oncology Program and the Medical Director for the Clinical Trials Office at the NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center. He primarily focuses on treating and managing genitourinary cancers, such as prostate cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer and testicular cancer. He has pioneered the development of immunotherapies for bladder cancer and metastatic urothelial carcinoma and is an internationally recognized leader in bladder cancer clinical trials. His research concentration includes molecularly targeted therapy as well as immunotherapy. Dr. Balar leads the NYU genitourinary tumor registry which is a multidisciplinary effort involing clinical, basic science and translational researchers to characterize the genomic and molecular make up of genitourinary tumors and to better understand its impact on patient outcomes. He is the editor of the periodical Targeted Therapeutics in Oncology. Dr. Balar completed residency at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center and is fellowship trained in oncology from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Lisa A. Haile, Ph.D.

Dr. Lisa A. Haile, Ph.D. currently serves as Co-Chair, Global Life Sciences Sector at DLA Piper. Dr. Haile has special technical expertise in molecular biology and immunology . She has particular experience with patentability, non-infringement and validity opinions; licensing strategies; FDA counseling; due diligence work in connection with venture capital, private and public financing; mergers and acquisitions in the life sciences industry; and strategic counseling for comprehensive life sciences patent portfolio management and value creation. Dr. Haile is a member of DLA Piper's Executive Committee.

Dr. Haile's experience includes US and international patent preparation and prosecution as well as IP reviews for investors relating to technologies including novel genetically altered organisms, antisense, RNA and siRNA molecules, peptides, proteins, DNA, antibodies, vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics. 

Dr. Samir Taneja, M.D.

Dr. Samir Taneja, M.D. is the James M. and Janet Riha Neissa Professor of Urologic Oncology and a Professor of Urology, Radiology and Biomedical Engineering at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine. Dr. Taneja additionally serves as Vice Chair of Urology and Director of the Division of Urologic Oncology in the School of Medicine, Director of the GU Oncology Program of the Perlmutter Cancer Center, and Co-Director of the Smilow Comprehensive Prostate Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health. Dr. Taneja received his medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School, and completed his surgical and urologic training at the University of California at Los Angeles. Dr. Taneja is a leader in the diagnosis, treatment and research of urologic cancers having published numerous articles, chapters, and edited textbooks in the field.

Dr. Philip Werthman, M.D., MMH

Chairman, Science Advisory Board

Dr. Philip Werthman, M.D., MMH is director of the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine, and former assistant clinical professor of urology at the University of Southern California School of Medicine. Dr. Werthman received his medical degree from Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, graduating valedictorian. Dr. Werthman completed his residency and fellowship in urology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He conducted award-winning early research in the field of gene therapy for urologic cancers and innovated a number of microsurgical procedures used today. Dr. Werthman founded Merkava Holdings, a venture capital and advisory company focused on helping grow early stage platform life sciences technologies with expertise in biopharma and medical devices. He currently serves as chairman of the boards of Rithem Life Sciences, LLC and Proxamama Inc. and is a board member or strategic advisor to multiple companies.