Based in Madison, WI

ENDSULIN is developing a revolutionary genetic therapy for T1DM that with a single administration would restore the body’s own ability to produce and regulate insulin. Our goal is to deliver a patented genetic factor that will “switch on” new insulin-producing cells to confer years – and perhaps a lifetime – of freedom from injecting artificial insulin, realizing the goal that has eluded researchers since the discovery of insulin.

Jim L’Italien, PhD
 SAB Member

Jim L’Italien is a veteran regulatory affairs expert with over 30 years of experience in the pharma and biotech industry. In his previous role as Senior Vice President, Chief Regulatory and Quality Officer for AveXis Inc., he helped lead the team as it earned one of the first FDA approvals for a gene therapy. Prior to AveXis, Jim held the title of Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance at various pharma and biotech companies including InterMune, Gereon, and Somaxon Pharmaceuticals. He received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Boston University.

Jim L’Italien, PhD
 SAB Member
Jim L’Italien is a veteran regulatory affairs expert with over 30 years of experience in the pharma and biotech industry. In his previous role as Senior Vice President, Chief Regulatory and Quality Officer for AveXis Inc., he helped lead the team as it earned one of the first FDA approvals for a gene therapy. Prior to AveXis, Jim held the title of Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance at various pharma and biotech companies including InterMune, Gereon, and Somaxon Pharmaceuticals. He received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Boston University.

David Pauza,PhD
 SAB Member

David Pauza is an internationally recognized cancer, human viral disease and viral sectors for gene therapy expert who has published more than 200 original publications and three gene therapy patents. He currently serves as Chief Science Officer for Viriom, Inc. a leading company for the discovery, development and deployment of antiviral drugs meeting the need for therapeutic options in infectious diseases. Prior to joining Viriom, Dr. Pauza was Chief Science Officer for American Gene Technologies where he led the development of a cell and gene therapy for HIV disease and developed a robust intellectual property portfolio in cancer and infectious diseases. Prior to AGT he was the associate director at the University of Maryland Medical School Institute of Human Virology, and co-leader of the viral oncology program at the Marlene and Stewart Greenbaum Cancer Center. Dr. Pauza received his B.A. in molecular biology from San Jose State University and his Ph.D. in molecular biology from University of California, Berkeley.

David Pauza,PhD
 SAB Member

David Pauza is an internationally recognized cancer, human viral disease and viral sectors for gene therapy expert who has published more than 200 original publications and three gene therapy patents. He currently serves as Chief Science Officer for Viriom, Inc. a leading company for the discovery, development and deployment of antiviral drugs meeting the need for therapeutic options in infectious diseases. Prior to joining Viriom, Dr. Pauza was Chief Science Officer for American Gene Technologies where he led the development of a cell and gene therapy for HIV disease and developed a robust intellectual property portfolio in cancer and infectious diseases. Prior to AGT he was the associate director at the University of Maryland Medical School Institute of Human Virology, and co-leader of the viral oncology program at the Marlene and Stewart Greenbaum Cancer Center. Dr. Pauza received his B.A. in molecular biology from San Jose State University and his Ph.D. in molecular biology from University of California, Berkeley.

Peter Tuhle, MD
 SAB Member

World-renowned endocrinologist and leading-edge researcher in gene alteration in hepatocytes, who has authored over 50 publications on the development of insulin gene therapy as a treatment for diabetes. He is an associate professor at Emory University School of Medicine and an adjunct clinical associate professor at Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Thule received his M.D. from Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, Germany.

Peter Tuhle, MD
 SAB Member

World-renowned endocrinologist and leading-edge researcher in gene alteration in hepatocytes, who has authored over 50 publications on the development of insulin gene therapy as a treatment for diabetes. He is an associate professor at Emory University School of Medicine and an adjunct clinical associate professor at Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Thule received his M.D. from Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, Germany.

Mark A. Atkinson, PhD
 SAB Member

Mark Atkinson is one of the world’s leading diabetes researchers, who over the span of his almost 40-year-old career, has authored more than 600 publications and has been the recipient of multiple scientific and humanitarian-based awards for these efforts in Type I diabetes research, including the prestigious Eli Lilly Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the ADA Humanitarian Award (2018) and the ADA Albert Renold Award (2018). Dr. Atkinson is currently the American Diabetes Association Eminent Scholar for Diabetes Research and the Jeffrey Keene Family Professor at The University of Florida, where he is also the Director of the Diabetes Institute. He previously was the Executive Director of the JDRF Network for Pancreatic Organ donors with Diabetes (nPOD) program, and he recently completed his term as Steering Committee Chair of the NIH Human Islet Research Network (HIRN). Dr. Atkinson is President of Insulin for Life USA, the world’s second largest charity dedicated to providing insulin to persons living with diabetes in the developing world. He received his B.S. in biology from the University of Michigan and his Ph.D. from the University of Florida.

Mark A. Atkinson, PhD
 SAB Member

Mark Atkinson is one of the world’s leading diabetes researchers, who over the span of his almost 40-year-old career, has authored more than 600 publications and has been the recipient of multiple scientific and humanitarian-based awards for these efforts in Type I diabetes research, including the prestigious Eli Lilly Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the ADA Humanitarian Award (2018) and the ADA Albert Renold Award (2018). Dr. Atkinson is currently the American Diabetes Association Eminent Scholar for Diabetes Research and the Jeffrey Keene Family Professor at The University of Florida, where he is also the Director of the Diabetes Institute. He previously was the Executive Director of the JDRF Network for Pancreatic Organ donors with Diabetes (nPOD) program, and he recently completed his term as Steering Committee Chair of the NIH Human Islet Research Network (HIRN). Dr. Atkinson is President of Insulin for Life USA, the world’s second largest charity dedicated to providing insulin to persons living with diabetes in the developing world. He received his B.S. in biology from the University of Michigan and his Ph.D. from the University of Florida.

Brian Kaspar, PhD
Board Member

Brian Kaspar is a gene therapy pioneer who has authored more than 100 scientific articles on neuroscience and a demonstrated history leading scientific teams in the biotechnology industry. Before Endsulin, Dr. Kaspar founded two biotech companies, AveXis Inc. and Milo Biotechnology, dedicated to developing and commercializing gene-therapies to treat neurological disorders. Prior to joining AveXis, he was a clinical trial investigator and professor of pediatrics at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where he led basic and translational neuroscience lab for over a decade. Dr. Kaspar received his B.S. in neurobiology and neurosciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Ph.D in molecular pathology from UC San Diego.

Brian Kaspar, PhD
 Board Member

Brian Kaspar is a gene therapy pioneer who has authored more than 100 scientific articles on neuroscience and a demonstrated history leading scientific teams in the biotechnology industry. Before Endsulin, Dr. Kaspar founded two biotech companies, AveXis Inc. and Milo Biotechnology, dedicated to developing and commercializing gene-therapies to treat neurological disorders. Prior to joining AveXis, he was a clinical trial investigator and professor of pediatrics at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where he led basic and translational neuroscience lab for over a decade. Dr. Kaspar received his B.S. in neurobiology and neurosciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Ph.D in molecular pathology from UC San Diego.

Thomas Dee, MBA
Chairman of the Board & CEO

Thomas Dee has over two decades of experience leading business and financial operations for global pharma and biotechnology companies. Before joining Ensulin, he served as Chief Financial Officer of AveXis Inc, where he was responsible for bringing one of the first FDA-approved gene therapy to market. Thomas spent most of his career at Abbott Laboratories, where he held various senior leadership roles including VP of Finance Operations and VP Controller Pharmaceuticals. He holds a B.S. in accounting from Northern Illinois University and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Thomas Dee, MBA
 Chairman of the Board & CEO

Thomas Dee has over two decades of experience leading business and financial operations for global pharma and biotechnology companies. Before joining Ensulin, he served as Chief Financial Officer of AveXis Inc, where he was responsible for bringing one of the first FDA-approved gene therapy to market. Thomas spent most of his career at Abbott Laboratories, where he held various senior leadership roles including VP of Finance Operations and VP Controller Pharmaceuticals. He holds a B.S. in accounting from Northern Illinois University and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Hans Sollinger, MD, PhD, Dr hc
Founder

Hans Sollinger is an award-winning kidney-pancreas transplant surgeon, who has authored over 500 manuscripts in peer reviewed journals, five books and dozens of chapters on organ transplantation. His research led to the development of a revolutionary surgical technique that reduced the kidney-pancreas transplant mortality rate from 40% to less than 10%. Prior to founding Endsulin, Dr. Sollinger led clinical development of CellCept®, the most successful commercial transplant drug in history. His contributions to the field have earned him numerous awards and recognitions, including the industry’s highest honor, the American Society of Transplant Surgeon’s distinguished Pioneer Award.

Hans Sollinger, MD, PhD, Dr hc
Founder

Hans Sollinger is an award-winning kidney-pancreas transplant surgeon, who has authored over 500 manuscripts in peer reviewed journals, five books and dozens of chapters on organ transplantation. His research led to the development of a revolutionary surgical technique that reduced the kidney-pancreas transplant mortality rate from 40% to less than 10%. Prior to founding Endsulin, Dr. Sollinger led clinical development of CellCept®, the most successful commercial transplant drug in history. His contributions to the field have earned him numerous awards and recognitions, including the industry’s highest honor, the American Society of Transplant Surgeon’s distinguished Pioneer Award.

Adam Shaywitz, MD, PhD
 SAB Member

Adam Shaywitz is an experienced medical leader with over 20 years of experience researching, developing, and leading clinical trial research. He currently serves as Chief Medical Officer at BridgeBio Gene Therapy (BBGT), which is part of the larger BridgeBio Pharma portfolio focused on finding and developing novel treatment approaches for genetically driven disease. Prior to joining BridgeBio Adam worked at BioMarin Pharmaceutical where he led programs aimed at treating a broad range of rare diseases including Sanfilippo Syndrome (MPS III), achondroplasia, endocrinologic disorders, Morquio A syndrome and other lysosomal storage disorders. Before joining BioMarin, Adam spent four years at Amgen in their early clinical development group, focused on advancing promising diabetes and metabolism agents into the clinic. He received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard Medical School, did his internal medicine training at MGH and subsequently went on to pursue a fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center and the Joslin Diabetes Center.

Adam Shaywitz, MD, PhD
 SAB Member

Adam Shaywitz is an experienced medical leader with over 20 years of experience researching, developing, and leading clinical trial research. He currently serves as Chief Medical Officer at BridgeBio Gene Therapy (BBGT), which is part of the larger BridgeBio Pharma portfolio focused on finding and developing novel treatment approaches for genetically driven disease. Prior to joining BridgeBio Adam worked at BioMarin Pharmaceutical where he led programs aimed at treating a broad range of rare diseases including Sanfilippo Syndrome (MPS III), achondroplasia, endocrinologic disorders, Morquio A syndrome and other lysosomal storage disorders. Before joining BioMarin, Adam spent four years at Amgen in their early clinical development group, focused on advancing promising diabetes and metabolism agents into the clinic. He received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard Medical School, did his internal medicine training at MGH and subsequently went on to pursue a fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center and the Joslin Diabetes Center.

Go to Top