Expertise
The BioQuest Innovations management team is comprised of a deliberately small, but highly qualified and experienced core group of professionals who provide an outstanding blend of commercial and scientific expertise, and a proven track record of successfully accelerating the commercialization of new medical technologies.
Our management team is complemented by an extensive resource network consisting of experts in drug development, regulatory affairs, intellectual property, CRO’s, CMO’s and much more.
The combination of our in-house expertise and network of experts allows BioQuest to provide all of our clients with superior experience and expertise, and the highest quality of services, while minimizing the costs involved in the commercialization of new medical technologies.
Management Team
Dr. Stiller is one of the founders of BioQuest Innovations and has held the post of Chairman since its inception. Dr. Stiller is also the Chairman of Genome Canada, and was previously Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund. He is a physician, scientist and corporate director and Professor Emeritus of medicine, University of Western Ontario. He is the former Chair of the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund and serves as a Director of the Ontario Innovation Trust, MARS Corporation, and is director and co-founder of the Cancer Research Institute of Ontario. He is a Director of several corporations and is the recipient of numerous awards including the MEDEC Award (1992), the Order of Canada (1995) and the Order of Ontario (2000).
Gerald Slemko, President & CEO
Mr. Slemko has extensive expertise in all aspects of management and business development, with both a finance and entrepreneurial background. He is President and CEO of Cuddy International Corporation, Managing Partner of Chelsey Corporation, and is a member of the Board and Audit Committee Chair of Landmark Global Financial Corporation and a member of the Board of Ellis Don Corporation. Mr. Slemko was a founding partner in Technology Investment Management Corporation and Chair of the Board. Previously, Mr. Slemko co-owned Oracle Services Networks Corporation, and he was instrumental in growing the company into new products and markets resulting in the successful sale of the company. Mr. Slemko graduated from the Richard Ivey School of Business with an Honours Degree in Business Administration. He joined PriceWaterhouseCoopers (formerly Price Waterhouse) upon graduation and obtained his Chartered Accountant's designation with honours.
Brian Baker, Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Baker joined BioQuest Innovations in May 2008, bringing over 25 years of financial and operational experience in both private and public companies. From April 2004 to April 2008, Mr. Baker was Director of Internal Audit for Torstar Corporation where he was responsible for internal audit activities and CEO/CFO Certification Initiative. From July 2002 to April 2004, Mr. Baker was Vice President Finance with responsibility for the common business systems initiative at MDS Pharma Services. From January 1995 to July 2002, Mr. Baker was Vice President Finance with responsibility for the financial reporting, management and analysis for MDS Capital Corp. and its affiliates, investment funds and a number of start-up companies. Mr. Baker held a number of other financial, accounting and controllership positions with Torstar Corporation and its operating divisions between 1982 and 1995. Mr. Baker, a Chartered Accountant, obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University.
Dr. Richard T. Timmer, Scientific Consultant
Dr. Timmer has a wealth of experience in the areas of preclinical development, early clinical development, intellectual property management, technology licensing, and pharmaceutical business development. Prior to joining BioQuest, Dr. Timmer was a technical advisor in the intellectual property group at the international law firm of Troutman Sanders LLP. Prior to that, he was Director of Clinical Operations for Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. and Director of Business Development at Reddy US, where he was charged with operational management of pre-clinical research, early clinical development, technology licensing and management of intellectual property assets. Dr. Timmer was also previously an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology at Emory University School of Medicine. He received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin, his M.A. in chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin, and his B.A. in chemistry from Macalester College.
Hong Gou, Business Development Associate
Ms. Gou has a strong background in chemical research and analysis, and a superb track record of successful project leadership. She received her M.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Toronto, and her B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Victoria. She was awarded a National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) scholarship for her graduate research, and completed an internship at GlaxoSmithKline Inc.