Meet our Board of Directors
Photo Credit University of Michigan
Gregory (Greg) Amidon, PhD
Chairman of the Board
Dr. Gregory Amidon is Research Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Michigan, College of Pharmacy. Greg has 28 years of industrial experience holding various positions in R&D at leading pharmaceutical companies. He is recognized for his expertise in the physical, chemical, and mechanical property characterization of active pharmaceutical ingredients, excipients, and products as well as the development of scientific strategies for oral solid dosage form development and oral bioperformance.
Greg has served on the USP Council of Experts since 1990 and currently serves on the Board of Trustees. In 2015, Greg was elected President of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS). He is a recipient of the Ebert Prize from the American Pharmaceutical Association and the 2014 AAPS Research Achievement Award in Physical Pharmacy and Biopharmaceutics. Greg received his BS in Medicinal Chemistry and his PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Michigan.
Gordon Amidon, PhD
CSO
Dr. Gordon Amidon is an internationally recognized expert in the fields of solubility, transport phenomena, prodrugs, and drug absorption. He has been actively involved with the development of the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) with the FDA (BCS serves as a basis for international drug regulation). Gordon received his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Michigan. He has held the following positions; faculty at the University of Wisconsin, Director of Pharmaceutical Research at Merck / INTERx, in Lawrence, Kansas and was appointed Professor of Pharmaceutics at the University of Michigan in 1983. Gordon co-founded the Drug Delivery Foundation. His research is extensive, Gordon has over 300 published papers and has contributed chapters to more than 30 books and monographs.
Elke Lipka, PhD, MBA
Dr. Elke Lipka joined TSRL in June of 2007 to develop and implement a sustainable competitive commercialization strategy for TSRL’s technology portfolio. She was promoted to CEO in November 2018. She received her B.S. in Pharmacy and Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the Johann-Wolfgang-von-Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, and her M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Elke started her career as a Research Scientist at TSRL in 1992 and subsequently has held a number of scientific and management positions of increasing responsibility at Parke-Davis, Pfizer, and Esperion Therapeutics. She is an experienced professional capable of building and managing multidisciplinary teams involved in the discovery and development of pharmaceutical drug candidates and drug delivery systems. Her expertise includes pharmacokinetic, drug metabolism and drug safety scientific guidance to small molecule and biologic drug development programs. Elke brings strong skills in project management, establishment of strategic partnerships, and management of financial and operational business aspects to TSRL.
Martha Farmer, PhD
Dr. Martha Farmer is retired president & CEO, co-founder and current board member of North Shore InnoVentures (NSIV), a technology incubator for innovative start-ups in life science and cleantech. NSIV was awarded a ten-year Sustaining Grant by the Cummings Foundation. The International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) awarded NSIV the Dinah Atkins Technology Incubator of the Year in April of 2018 for their work accelerating the growth of startups through access to well-equipped labs, mentoring, sponsored services and networking to capital. Their portfolio of 44 startups has raised more than $250M and created 300 good jobs.
Martha is a member of the Board of Directors of NSIV and a mentor for several of the startups. She also is on the Board of the North Shore Technology Council and the Life Sciences Consortium of the North Shore, a consortium of local colleges created to insure students are well prepared for careers in our industry. She is serving as an advisor/consultant to startups, colleges and incubators. Dr. Farmer is dedicated to making an impact through fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. Martha earned her BS in Zoology and her PhD in Physiology and Pharmacology from Duke University. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University.
Stephen Munk, PhD
Dr. Munk is experienced in drug discovery, development, and manufacturing both as a scientist and as a manager. He was the CEO and President of Ash Stevens Inc., a full service Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) development and manufacturing organization. From 1997-2017 Ash Stevens received twelve FDA approvals to manufacture innovator drug substances under his leadership. These approvals include the oncology drugs bortezomib (Velcade), busulfan (Busulfex), clofarabine (Clolar), and 5- azacitidine (Vidaza), ponatinib (Iclusig) and ixazomib (Ninlaro). Ash Stevens received six NIH research contracts under his leadership including four competing contract renewals. Prior to joining Ash Stevens in 1997, Steve worked at Allergan, Inc. initially as a medicinal chemist and subsequently, the co-team leader of the adrenergic drug discovery team.
Steve’s work has been summarized in a number of publications and patents. He is a co-author of the 2016 book - Managing the Drug Discovery Process: How to Make It More Efficient and Cost-Effective. Additionally, he have served as an Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at Wayne State University and on the Henry Ford Community College Biotechnology Advisory Board. Steve has also served on the Steering Committee of the Chemistry in Cancer Research Working Group of the American Association for Cancer Research (CICR-AACR; 2008-2010; 2011-2013; Chairman, 2014), the Board of Directors of MichBio (2008 - 2014; Chairman 2010 - 2014), the Michigan Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) affiliate. He received his PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley
