Leadership
Management Team
Nicole L. Wagner, PhD
President and Chief Executive Officer
Contact Email: nicole.wagner@lambdavision.com
Nicole Wagner, Ph.D. is president and CEO of LambdaVision, a biotechnology company developing a protein-based artificial retina to treat patients blinded by retinal degenerative diseases. Dr. Wagner has secured >$17M in funding to accelerate research, development, and commercialization of the technology. Her research has recently involved the production of artificial retinas through 9 missions to the International Space Station (ISS). This research is pioneering and is establishing new commercial opportunities to manufacture products in microgravity with direct clinical benefit.
Dr. Wagner obtained her Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology from the University of Connecticut in 2013. During the course of her Ph.D. research, she spent her graduate career working on optimizing light-activated proteins for applications in devices, and she played a critical role in the proof-of-concept experiments which helped to found LambdaVision. Her accolades include the Connecticut Technology Council’s Women of Innovation Award, Connecticut Magazine’s 40 Under 40, the 2020 Women in Aerospace Achievement Award, the 2021 BioCT Rising Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Healthcare Technology Report’s Top 25 Women Leaders in Biotechnology for 2021, Hartford Business Journal’s Power 50 for 2022, the 2023 NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal, and the 2024 Petit Family Foundation Women in Leadership Award. Dr. Wagner serves on the Board of Directors of the New England Women in Science Executives’ Club, the Connecticut Technology Council, the American Society for Gravitation and Space Research, as well as the ISS National Lab User Advisory Committee as the Chair of the Applied R&D Subcommittee.
Nicole L. Wagner, PhD
President and Chief Executive Officer
Jordan A. Greco, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
Contact Email: jordan.greco@lambdavision.com
Dr. Jordan Greco obtained his PhD in Physical Chemistry at the University of Connecticut. Under the direction of Dr. Robert Birge, Jordan focused his graduate thesis work primarily on the investigation of the structure and function of photoactive proteins, using both spectroscopic and quantum mechanical approaches. Much of his work has contributed toward the application of the light-activated protein, bacteriorhodopsin into photonic and biomimetic devices, such as protein-based optical memories and processors, photovoltaic cells, and the protein-based artificial retina being developed by LambdaVision.
Jordan’s graduate thesis work influenced the design and development of the artificial retina construct and the production techniques that are used to produce the treatment. Moreover, his research efforts helped to direct critical proof-of-concept experiments that investigated the efficacy of the artificial retina architecture. As CSO, Jordan is responsible for the production of the artificial retinas, establishing standard operating procedures, quality control measures, and commercialization efforts.
Concurrent with his work on bacteriorhodopsin, Jordan has contributed to numerous computational analyses for the excited-state behavior of heterocyclic-conjugated compounds (e.g., porphyrin, chlorins, and corroles), carotenoids (e.g., peridinin), and other polyene-based chromophores rooted in biological systems. Jordan has presented this work to international audiences and he continues to remain active in the field via several multidisciplinary collaborations.
Jordan A. Greco, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
Robert R. Birge, PhD
Founder
Contact Email: robert.birge@lambdavision.com
Dr. Robert Birge received his B.S. degree in chemistry from Yale University in 1968, his PhD in chemical physics from Wesleyan University in 1972, and was a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University from 1973-1975. He was an Assistant and subsequently a tenured Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Riverside (1975-1984), and then served as Professor and Head of the Chemistry Department at Carnegie Mellon University (1984 – 1987). He joined the faculty at Syracuse University in 1988 where he was a University Professor of Chemistry and Physics, Director of the W. M. Keck Center for Molecular Electronics, and Research Director of the New York State Center for Advanced Technology in Computer Applications and Software Engineering. In January 2000, he joined the faculty at the University of Connecticut where he holds the Harold S. Schwenk Distinguished Chair in chemistry. He has published over 250 research papers and holds 5 U.S. and international patents on the use of proteins to make holographic associative memories, three-dimensional paged memories, and hybrid protein-semiconductor devices. He has served on the editorial advisory board of seven journals and was an associate Editor of Biospectroscopy. In 1997, he was listed among the fifty “Cyber Elite” by Time Digital for his work on protein-based devices, and the use of these devices for computer memories and processors. Dr. Birge won the Connecticut Innovations 2001 Annual Technology Award, the 2002 3M Award of Canada for Physical Chemistry and the 2009 Connecticut Medal of Science. Dr. Birge paved the way for the development of LambdaVision’s artificial retina and continues to be actively involved in the company.
Robert R. Birge, PhD
Founder
Board of Directors
Nicole L. Wagner, PhD
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Nicole Wagner obtained her PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Connecticut under the advising of Dr. Robert Birge, a pioneer in the field of light-sensitive proteins. Nicole entered the graduate program in 2007 and spent the majority of her graduate career working on optimizing retinal-containing proteins for application in devices. During the course of her PhD research, she played a critical role in the proof-of-concept experiments which helped to found LambdaVision. Through the use of site-directed mutagenesis, site-specific saturation mutagenesis, and directed evolution, Nicole was able to genetically engineer the protein, bacteriorhodopsin, for a variety of device applications, including protein-based holographic and 3-dimensional memories, a chemical detection sensor, and, most recently, a protein-based artificial retina.
Nicole is an accomplished scientist and entrepreneur with numerous peer-reviewed publications, and has presented her research at both national and International meetings. In 2012, she received the Connecticut Technology Council’s Women of Innovation “Collegian Innovation and Leadership Award” for her work with LambdaVision, and in 2015, was listed as one of CT Magazine’s 40 under 40. Nicole currently serves as LambdaVision’s president and CEO. Since taking on the role of CEO, Nicole has been successful in securing over $8M in local, state, and government funding to accelerate the research, development, and commercialization of LambdaVision’s artificial retina.
Nicole L. Wagner, PhD
President and Chief Executive Officer
Robert R. Birge, PhD
Founder
Dr. Robert Birge received his B.S. degree in chemistry from Yale University in 1968, his PhD in chemical physics from Wesleyan University in 1972, and was a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University from 1973-1975. He was an Assistant and subsequently a tenured Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Riverside (1975-1984), and then served as Professor and Head of the Chemistry Department at Carnegie Mellon University (1984 – 1987). He joined the faculty at Syracuse University in 1988 where he was a University Professor of Chemistry and Physics, Director of the W. M. Keck Center for Molecular Electronics, and Research Director of the New York State Center for Advanced Technology in Computer Applications and Software Engineering. In January 2000, he joined the faculty at the University of Connecticut where he holds the Harold S. Schwenk Distinguished Chair in chemistry. He has published over 250 research papers and holds 5 U.S. and international patents on the use of proteins to make holographic associative memories, three-dimensional paged memories, and hybrid protein-semiconductor devices. He has served on the editorial advisory board of seven journals and was an associate Editor of Biospectroscopy. In 1997, he was listed among the fifty “Cyber Elite” by Time Digital for his work on protein-based devices, and the use of these devices for computer memories and processors. Dr. Birge won the Connecticut Innovations 2001 Annual Technology Award, the 2002 3M Award of Canada for Physical Chemistry and the 2009 Connecticut Medal of Science. Dr. Birge paved the way for the development of LambdaVision’s artificial retina and continues to be actively involved in the company.
Robert R. Birge, PhD
Founder
Susan Froshauer, PhD
President and Founding CEO, Pangolin Therapeutics
Susan Froshauer, Ph.D., possesses over 30 years of leadership experience in the research and development sector of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Most recently, she served as President and Founding CEO of Pangolin Therapeutics, a Yale therapeutic’s start-up harnessing unique chemistry to target misfolded proteins. Dr. Froshauer is dedicated to assembling multidisciplinary teams to deliver treatments that enhance our quality of life. In support of this commitment, she assumes roles such as mentor, angel investor, Yale Entrepreneur-in-Residence, start-up executive and board member.
She began her career at Pfizer, where she stewarded drug discovery research focused on antibiotic and immune enhancer therapies. Later in the Strategic Alliances Group, she delivered to Pfizer R & D over $200M of biotech investments.
Susan founded and led Rib-X Pharmaceuticals (Melinta), a company specializing in the discovery of antibiotic drugs through the utilization of 3-D ribosome structures. She secured over $150 million in venture capital financing and developed a research and development organization that ultimately advanced several clinical candidates and commercialized several products. As CEO of BioCT, she leveraged her industry expertise to boost Connecticut’s life sciences sector, notably establishing the biotech incubator, BioCT Innovation Commons.
Susan has served on the boards of biotech companies and non-profits, receiving recognition from CT Governor Malloy for her community contributions. She earned a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Harvard and conducted post-doctoral research in cell biology at Yale as a Jane Coffin Child’s Fellow.
Susan Froshauer, PhD
President and Founding CEO, Pangolin Therapeutics
Kirk Dornbush, JD
COO and Co-Founder, Coagulant Therapeutics, Inc.
Mr. Kirk Dornbush has a biotechnology career spanning 15 years. In 2003, Kirk co-founded Iconic Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of a new drug candidate licensed from Yale University, called ICON-1. ICON-1 is a FVIIa-based recombinant protein that targets Tissue Factor, for the treatment of a variety of diseases including wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and cancer.
During his tenure as CEO, he was responsible for all areas of the company including, clinical operations, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, finance, human resources, grant writing and other general and administrative matters. Kirk managed a team of consultants and contractors who designed and implemented all pre-clinical toxicology and efficacy studies to support the company’s first IND filing, developed a cGMP manufacturing process, designed and implemented an 18 patient, Phase 1 study in patients with wet AMD. Kirk was responsible for all corporate financial matters including fundraising, payroll, payables, preparation of financial statements and annual budgets, and management of annual financial audits. From inception through April 2014, Kirk raised approximately $43.0 million in individual and venture financing for Iconic.
In April 2014, Kirk negotiated and closed Iconic’s $20M Series B, venture-backed financing. Concurrent with the Series B financing, Kirk hired William L. Greene, M.D. as the company’s Chief Executive Officer and moved the company to South San Francisco, CA. He remained as the company’s President and COO, helping to launch the company’s first research and development laboratory, negotiate corporate contracts including office leases, clinical trial agreements and CRO master service agreements, manage the diligence associated with its $50M Series C financing. He participated in the design, initiation and recruitment of an 88 patient, Phase 2a study in patients with wet AMD, and helped initiate a Phase 1 study in patients with Uveal Melanoma, manage further development of the manufacturing process and manage a variety of financial, general and administrative matters.
Kirk retired from the company at the end of 2016 and remains on the Iconic Therapeutics’ BOD. In 2017, Dornbush joined Coagulant Therapeutics, Inc. as Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder.
Kirk Dornbush, JD
COO and Co-Founder, Coagulant Therapeutics, Inc.
Cynthia Green
Senior Managing Director, Investments, Connecticut Innovations
A seasoned executive with over 24 years in biotech and big pharma with in depth expertise in collaborations, licensing, business development and raising capital. Currently working with CT Innovations and a variety of early stage companies on strategic business planning, securing venture funds, building effective teams and advisory boards to optimize and accelerate their ability to reach critical milestones.
Cynthia Green
Managing Director, Investments, Connecticut Innovations