Jason Ridlon
Bile acids are detergent molecules that allow absorption of dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins into the bloodstream. Bile acids are synthesized from cholesterol in the liver, secreted into the small intestine where fats are taken up, and transported back to the liver in a recycling process known as the enterohepatic circulation (EHC). The EHC is 95% efficient; however, several hundred milligrams of bile acids enters the large intestine each day where they are converted to toxic and growth-depressing, and carcinogenic secondary bile acids by gut bacteria. A major focus of our research is working out the biochemistry and molecular biology of the pathway that leads to secondary bile acids in Clostridium scindens and related species. Furthermore, the Ridlon lab is interested in using high-throughput sequencing and metabolomics in order to understand how Clostridium scindens interacts with the host and other microbes. Bile acids have become a major topic of research recently because far from simple detergents, these molecules are now recognized as hormones regulating diverse physiological and pathophysiological processes. Clostridium scindens can thus be thought of as a hormone-producing bacterium. Indeed, its very name means "to cut", an epithet given because it is capable of "cutting" the side chain of glucocorticoids resulting in the production of androstenes. Glucocorticoids and androstene measurement in stool is the principle means of determining stress in animals important to agriculture and conservation biology. Our lab works on the biochemical pathway leading to androstenes in Clostridium scindens and how these androstenes affect human and animal well-being. Taken together, our focus is on what we term the gut "sterolbiome", the repertoire of microbial genes that metabolize host-derived, dietary, and pharmaceutical steroid molecules.
Tanja Hoel
Before being appointed General Manager of the Seafood Innovation Cluster in May 2015, Tanja was Managing Director of Fiskeriforum Vest (FFV) for 4 years. FFV was a regional network organization for the Seafood Industry in Western Norway, and a co-founder of the Seafood Innovation Cluster. Prior to that Tanja worked as a Project Manager at Norsk Sjømatsenter where she was managed a number of innovation and knowledge projects. Tanja was born and raised in Chicago but now lives with her family in Bergen.
Sam Al-Murrani
Babylon BioConsulting LLC is a human and animal health-based consultancy firm specializing in pre-revenue and early stage valuations of Animal Health and Biotech companies and providing clients with investor outreach, due diligence, business development and intangible asset management and valuation services. Dr. Sam Al-Murrani is also Managing Director for Bimini LLC, a privately owned manufacturer of pet dose-form health supplements and health treats.
Dr. Al-Murrani has a B.Sc. in Animal Science from the University of Edinburgh and a Ph.D. in Immunology/Biochemistry from the Roslin Institute and the Department of Veterinary Pathology at the University of Edinburgh. He holds an M.B.A. in Finance from Baker University.
Sébastien Huron
Sébastien Huron, 46, DVM, started his career in 1994 in Brazil in the Hoechst-Roussel group where he rapidly rose to become the Marketing director of the animal health division. After Intervet acquired this division (Akzo Nobel group), which was then integrated into the Merck Group, Sébastien Huron pursued his career in 2000 in the United States as Market Development director, and then as director of the Pet division. After rejoining the Virbac group in 2006 as the general manager of the Spanish subsidiary, he then became the director of the European region in 2008, and then head of Global Business Operations in 2013. He has been part of the Virbac executive board since December 2012.
Sorina Casian Botez
As part of the Principal Investments team, Sorina drives the strategy for Eight Roads’ real estate portfolio and works with the management teams of healthcare portfolio investments and associated food and agriculture venture fund, Anterra Capital.
Matt Dobbs
Simon Innes
Simon was appointed as Chief Executive in January 2004. Prior to this he was Chief Executive of Vision Express from 2000 to 2004, over which time he built the business up to £220m turnover and 205 practices, and reversed a loss-making position to create one of the most profitable corporate optical operators in the UK. The growth strategy that was successful at Vision Express is now being implemented in the veterinary industry by CVS.
Prior to Vision Express, Simon was on the board of Hamleys PLC as Operations Director and gained 10 years’ management experience at Marks & Spencer. He also served seven years in the British Army, achieving the rank of Captain in the Royal Engineers.
