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People

Our people are changing the landscape of psychedelic pharmaceuticals. Our executive team and scientific advisory board of both industry and academic thought leaders, together have deep alliances and partnerships, and bring unparalleled knowledge and experience to ensure success with a unique approach to developing better psychedelic medicines.

Our Executive Team

The Founder and Executive leadership Team bring strong track records as entrepreneurs and as former global pharmaceutical senior executives from companies including Merck, AstraZeneca, GSK, Roche-Genentech, Baxter, IQVIA, Lonza, DSM, and Samsung. The company’s Chief Development Officer, Dr. Bill W Massey is one of the top CNS drug developers in the world with an unmatched personal track record of 28 INDs and 8 NDAs for regulatory approvals and market launch.

Our founders are leaders in our field and have expertise in the pharmaceutical industry.

Jeremy M. Caudill
Founder  

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bill massey

Dr. Bill W. Massey, PhD
Chief Development Officer

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Cortney A. Caudill, MBA
Board Advisor

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Everett Truitt
CFO 

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angie

Angela Lively
Market Access

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Gabriel Goroll, MBA
Business Development

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Milena Kanova, MD
Medical 

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yutake desilva

Yutaka DeSilva
Clinical

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steve pinder

Dr. Steven Pinder, PhD
Regulatory Strategy

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Consuela Stewart
Regulatory

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Erik Janssen, PhD
Advisor 

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Our Scientific Advisory Board

Ninnion’s scientific Advisory Board is comprised of world renowned key opinion leaders in the areas of psychedelic research and drug development from top-tier organizations including Johns Hopkins and the Karolinska Institute. Dr Rick Strassman is a prominent member of the psychedelic research community known for his groundbreaking work with DMT in the late 1990s at University of New Mexico, published in his book DMT the Spirit Molecule, which prompted the 2010 Netflix documentary narrated by Joe Rogan. Dr. Charles B Nemeroff is a highly published and internationally respected researcher in the field of CNS diseases and is Chair of the The Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas in Austin. Dr. Bill W Massey, Ninnion’s Chief Development Officer, is the Chair and is actively working with the SAB at Ninnion to create the next frontier of psychedelic medicine. 

Rick Strassman, MD
SAB 

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charles nemeroff

Charles B. Nemeroff
MD, PhD
SAB  

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Ede Frecska, MD
SAB 

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Attila Szabo, PhD
SAB 

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Dr. Patrick Finan, PhD
SAB 

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Jay Joshi, MD
SAB 

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Brent Turnipseed, MD
SAB 

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Mathias Egermark, MD
SAB 

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Jair Soares, MD, PhD
SAB 

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William E. Fantegrossi, Ph.D.
SAB  

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Careers at Ninnion

If you’re looking for a team that will change the landscape of psychedelic medications in the coming years, we want to hear from you. We’re continually looking for experienced and passionate team members ready to contribute to breakthroughs in this up-and-coming field.

Executive
Jeremy Caudill
Founder 

Jeremy Caudill is a seasoned biopharmaceutical executive, consultant, and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. His experience in business development and strategy has helped drive success at leading pharmaceutical firms, including Oncobiologics, DSM Biologics, and Samsung, where he served as Global VP of Business Development.

While at Samsung, Jeremy was diagnosed with a life-threatening aortic aneurysm and heart valve defect. He underwent emergency open heart surgery in 2017, but during recovery, he suffered two ischemic strokes, leading to a long and painful post-surgical recovery period.

During this recovery time, Jeremy applied his previous biotech experience to researching pharmaceutical approaches to healing the brain. His exploration of neurogenesis, neuroplasticity, and the mechanisms of recovery from traumatic brain injury led him to studies on the efficacy of psychedelics in managing chronic pain and treating severe mental illness.

These difficult personal experiences helped Jeremy fully understand the need for novel therapeutic approaches to neurological illness and chronic pain. Encouraged by new research and regulatory changes around compounds like ketamine, psilocybin, LSD, and DMT, Jeremy founded Ninnion in late 2020.

Ninnion was created with the mission of bringing psychedelic therapies to those experiencing debilitating and life-altering conditions and expanding access to these options. In support of this mission, Jeremy has assembled a team of prominent researchers and thought leaders in the fields of neuroscience, psychopharmacology, biology, and neurochemistry to develop groundbreaking treatments that promise meaningful relief using the power of psychedelics.

Executive
Dr. Bill Massey, PhD
Chief Development Officer 

Bill Massey is a world-renowned neuropharmacologist, pharmacogeneticist, life sciences professional, inventor, and entrepreneur. His primary focus is developing new CNS therapeutics. He has had a leadership role in placing 28 new drugs into human trials, and eight drugs launched on the consumer market. 

In his 29-year career, Dr. Massey has emerged as a prominent thought leader in novel therapeutics for mental illness. He formerly held the Jack Martin, MD Research Professorship in Psychopharmacology at Vanderbilt University. In this role, he conducted research into the genetics, biological basis, and pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses in collaboration with Dr. Herbert Y. Meltzer. 

Dr. Massey continues his research collaboration with Dr. Meltzer at the Feinberg School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Northwestern University.  Dr. Massey holds a PhD in Pharmacology from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and a BS in Biology from the University of Central Arkansas.

Executive
Cortney A. Caudill, MBA
Board Advisor  

Cortney Caudill has over 25 years of experience in the biotechnology and healthcare industry, including leadership roles in manufacturing, site build and startup, quality, and business development. Mrs. Caudill started her career in the United States Air Force and has held various roles of increasing responsibility at Cambrex, Vaxgen, Genentech, and Vetter Pharma. She played a key role in the start-up of the manufacturing facility for Samsung Biologics in Korea while negotiating strategic deals that drove revenue and future expansions of the campus.  

Mrs. Caudill currently serves as the Senior Vice President, Technical Operations for Aeglea BioTherapeutics. Prior to this role, she was the Head of Baxalta’s Global Drug Product External Manufacturing Network in Zurich, Switzerland, responsible for over 20 commercial and pipeline products.

Mrs. Caudill holds a BS in Biology and a BA in Psychology from The University of Texas, and an MBA from Fordham University.

Executive
Everett Truitt
CFO

Everett is an energetic and engaging finance executive who partners with CEOs and private equity/venture capital investors to build value. A CPA with Big Four public accounting experience, he excels in high growth, rapidly changing, complex and turnaround environments. Everett partners with peers to build disciplined, focused and effective teams by identifying key business drivers and then setting – and executing­ toward – stretch targets. His broad-based experience is punctuated by a deep knowledge of financial leadership for healthcare providers (including revenue cycle management), mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity offerings and company sales. 

Executive
Angela Lively
Market Access 

Angela Lively is a market access consultant with over twenty years of experience in health care and reimbursable payers. As the Founder and Principal of Lively Consulting, LLC, Ms. Lively brings her expertise to analyzing and determining the implications of health and reimbursement policy changes on beneficiaries, providers, health systems, and manufacturers. 

Ms. Lively is an expert in the administration of Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers, with a keen understanding of market access. Throughout her industry and consulting experience, she has supported the launch of dozens of products. In addition, she has helped founders and entrepreneurs understand and navigate the intersection of coverage, coding, and reimbursement with broader health policy and the effect on patient and provider decision making. 

Ms. Lively holds an MSW in Social Policy and Administration from the Catholic University of America, and a BA in Psychology and Sociology from Baylor University.

Executive
Gabriel Goroll, MBA
Business Development

Gabriel Goroll is a Strategic Development and Program Management expert in pharmaceuticals. With over 20 years in the industry, Mr. Goroll brings Ninnion a wealth of information in the research, development, production, and commercialization of products. His areas of specialization include neurology, specialty injectables, and hormone therapeutics.

Mr. Goroll currently serves as the Head of Contract Manufacturing and BD&L with EVER Pharma, a fully-integrated specialty pharmaceuticals company. Prior, he held roles as the Head of Program Management with Novartis, Head of Strategic Planning with Sandoz, and Head of Business Development (Europe) with Samsung Biologics. 

He received his MBA and MA in Engineering Management from Northwestern University and a MA in Electronic Business from UDK Berlin. He also holds a Bachelor’s in computer science (TU Munich).

Executive
Milena Kanova, MD
Medical

Milena Kanova is a clinical trials expert with over two decades of experience in clinical research, neurology, psychiatry, various internal medicine areas, rare diseases, genetic disorders, acute care, inflammation, and immunology. She has experience leading trials in all phases of clinical development. 

Dr. Kanova spent much of her career at IQVIA (now Quintiles) in roles such as Vice President of Clinical Project Leadership, Global Therapeutic Area Head for CNS, Senior Director of Project Management, Therapeutic Strategy Lead in Internal Medicine, Immunology, and Rare Diseases, Global Operations Head for General Internal Medicine, and Clinical Operations Manager and Country Manager. 

Dr. Kanova earned an MD from the Medical University of Sofia and completed her residency in neurosurgery at the Medical University of Pleven.

Executive
Yutaka DeSilva
Clinical

Yukata DeSilva is a seasoned leader in global clinical development, biopharma services, and the healthcare data space. With broad experience in the US, Japan, and Asia Pac markets, he has developed and executed a wide range of clinical development strategies, strategic corporate priorities, innovative business solutions, and change management initiatives.  

Mr. DeSilva spent 20 years at IQVIA (Quintiles) in management roles including Clinical Operations, Business Development, Corporate Development, and Key Customer Management functions.  He has overseen hundreds of trials and has implemented novel study execution strategies and solutions over decades of innovation.

Executive
Dr. Steven Pinder, PhD
Regulatory Strategy

Steven Pinder is a leader in regulatory affairs and an expert in molecular genetics. He has served in roles at some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical firms. Mr. Pinder began his regulatory career with Smith & Nephew before moving to Chauvin Pharmaceuticals (now Bausch & Lomb), where he managed clinical research and drug safety functions in addition to leading the regulatory team. In 1998 Mr. Pinder joined Phoenix International to lead and develop the European regulatory group and later became Global Head of Regulatory Affairs and Drug Safety for MDS.

Executive
Consuela Stewart
Regulatory

Consuela Stewart is a regulatory professional with over 23 years of experience providing proven, solutions-focused regulatory affairs guidance in small/large molecule, cell therapy/regenerative medicine.

Ms. Stewart focuses her work in therapeutic areas of aging, ophthalmology, CNS, respiratory, inflammation, cardiovascular, and pulmonology. She has successfully led regulatory innovation at firms including Genentech, Gilead, and SanBio. She is skilled at leading peak compliance and effective strategies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, fostering corporate worth.

Ms. Stewart holds a Bachelor of Science from Clark Atlanta University.

Executive
Erik Janssen, PhD
Advisor

Erik Janssen is a dedicated scholar, researcher, and business executive whose work in healthcare focuses on fostering corporate innovation and partnerships to improve the patient experience. 

Combining his extensive academic background with decades of business experience, Dr. Janssen has held numerous leadership and advisory roles. In his 17-year tenure at UCB, he has held multiple VP and Director roles for the CNS, Immunology, and Neurology units. He has also served in product management and leadership roles within the oncology business unit of Sanofi-Aventis. Dr. Janssen also serves on the boards of several innovative healthcare organizations domestically and internationally.

Mr. Janssen holds a PhD and MA in Chemistry from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

Executive
Rick Strassman, MD
SAB

Rick Strassman is a psychiatrist, psychopharmacologist, and pioneer in the advancement of clinical psychedelic research. After 20 years of intermission, Dr. Strassman was the first person in the United States to undertake human studies with psychedelic drugs, with his research on DMT and psilocybin in the early 1990s. 

He is currently Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, where he performed his studies as a full-time faculty for eleven years. 

His body of work features five books, including the best-selling “DMT: The Spirit Molecule” and the forthcoming “The Psychedelic Handbook.” 

Dr. Strassman holds an MD from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and a BA in Biological Sciences from Stanford University. He trained in psychiatry at the University of California Davis, and was a clinical psychopharmacology research fellow at the San Diego.

Executive
Charles B. Nemeroff MD, PhD
SAB

Charles B. Nemeroff is an internationally recognized psychiatrist and researcher, specializing in the areas of Neuropsychopharmacology, Psychiatry, mood disorders, and trauma. He serves as the Matthew P. Nemeroff Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. He has previously held faculty positions at Duke University Medical Center, Emory University School of Medicine, and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He has held advisory roles, including the NIMH Advisory Council and the Biomedical Research Council for NASA. 

Dr. Nemeroff has served as president of the American College of Psychiatrists and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, and sits on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Brain and Behavioral Research Foundation. He is President of the  Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

At the University of Texas, he serves as co-director of the Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy. Additionally, he leads the Institute for Early Life Adversity Research within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences as part of the Mulva Clinic for the Neurosciences.

Dr. Nemeroff holds an MD and PhD in Neurobiology from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Dr. Nemeroff is co-editor in chief of the Textbook of Psychopharmacology, soon to be published as the 6th Edition. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine. 

He has published more than 1100 peer-reviewed publications in the scientific/medical literature.

Executive
Ede Frecska, MD
SAB

Ede Frecska is a prolific author, researcher, and scholar with over 100 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters to his credit. He currently serves as Chief of Department at the National Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Budapest. Dr. Frecska’s academic and research experience is centered primarily in psychology, psychopharmacology, and mental illness, with theoretical work focused on the interface between cognitive neuroscience and quantum brain dynamics. 

Together with Slawek Wojtowicz, Luis Eduardo Luna, and fellow Ninnion Scientific Advisory Board member Rick Strassman,  Dr. Frecska is the co-author of “Inner Paths to Outer Space.” He has also contributed chapters in Ervin Laszlo’s books “The New Science and Spirituality Reader” and “A New Map of Reality.” 

Dr. Frecska received an MD from the Semmelweis University in Hungary.

Executive
Attila Szabo, PhD
SAB

Attila Szabo is a distinguished scholar, researcher, and advocate in the areas of psychoneuroimmunology, immunopsychiatry, biological psychiatry, and the molecular biology of inflammation. His current research focuses on immune-brain interactions in severe mental disorders. Dr. Szabo is a Research Fellow at the Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway. He is the founding member of the Norwegian Association for Psychedelic Science (Norsk Forening for Psykedelisk Vitenskap, NFPV), a non-profit that educates the general public, researchers, and mental health practitioners in Norway about psychedelics. Dr. Szabo also serves as Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Psychedelic Studies.

Dr. Szabo holds two Master’s degrees in Biochemistry (MSc) and Philosophy (MA) from the University of Debrecen. He also holds two PhDs in Medicine and Modern Philosophy.

Executive
Dr. Patrick Finan, PhD
SAB

Patrick Finan is a trained clinical psychologist and expert in cognitive, behavioral, and affective non-pharmacological mechanisms and treatments for chronic pain. His research focuses on chronic pain and measurement and analysis of dynamic measures of pain and emotion captured in the course of daily life. 

Dr. Finan is currently the Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on 8 NIH-funded grants totaling over $20 million. His projects utilize laboratory (e.g., experimental sleep disruption; quantitative sensory testing), ambulatory (e.g., actigraphy; ecological momentary assessment), and psychotherapeutic intervention (e.g., meditation) methodologies to probe mechanisms related to chronic pain. 

Dr. Finan serves as an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. Dr. Finan co-chairs the Entrepreneurship Task Force for his Department and serves on the Innovation Advisory Council for the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Dr. Finan holds a PhD in Psychology from Arizona State University.

Executive
Jay Joshi, MD
SAB

Jay Joshi is a nationally recognized, board-certified Anesthesiologist and fellowship-trained Interventional Spine and Pain Management physician. He has contributed to the body of literature in the areas of pain management, central sensitization, CPRS, PTSD, and others. He has been a presenter, speaker, and lecturer over 600 times and has been featured on television, radio, print, and web-based articles.

Dr. Joshi has spent the last 16 years serving as CEO and Medical Director and Interventional Pain Physician for National Pain Centers, a top-tier interventional spine and pain clinic. Dr. Joshi currently sees patients from across the country to provide interventional pain options, stem cell and regenerative medicine, and ketamine infusions.

Dr. Joshi received his MD  from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He received his board certification in anesthesiology and interventional pain management from Henry Ford Hospital.

Executive
Brent Turnipseed, MD
SAB

Brent Turnipseed is a dedicated mental health professional and entrepreneur whose work in behavioral health strives to elevate the standard of care for those living with severe mental illness. 

As a Medical Director and Co-founder of Roots Behavioral Health, Dr. Turnipseed focuses on providing affordable care and expanding access to emerging therapies like ketamine-assisted therapy (KAP) and psychedelic therapeutics. Before founding the company, Dr. Turnipseed practiced psychiatry in clinical and law enforcement settings in Texas, as well as serving as an adjunct professor for the University of Texas. 

Dr. Turnipseed holds an MD from the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) and a BA in Spanish Language and Literature from the University of Texas at Austin. 

Executive
Mathias Egermark, MD
SAB

Mathias Egermark is a versatile and agile clinician and healthcare executive with a passion for building high-performing teams in clinical trials and development. Combining years of experience in clinical practice, pharmaceutical development, and business leadership, Dr. Egermark has distinguished himself as a leader in managing cross-functional teams in global settings. 

Dr. Egermark has served in high-level roles in the world’s major pharmaceutical firms, including Wyeth, Novartis, and Roche Diagnostics, where he served as Lifecycle Leader, Cardiac. He has also participated in post-graduate research and fellowships for various international universities.

Dr. Egermark holds an MD from Uppsala University.

Executive
Jair Soares, MD, PhD
SAB

Jair Soares is a well-recognized researcher, academic, and clinician who has published over 300 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in the field of psychiatry. He has been the recipient of numerous awards, academic and non-academic honors & appointments, including over two dozen awards for his work in the field of medicine and psychiatry.

He is a board-certified psychiatrist and serves as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UTHealth Houston Medical School, and director for the Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders. His past roles include serving as Chief of Psychiatry Services at Memorial Hermann Hospital and LBJ Hospital. 

Dr. Soares has previously served as Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Director of the Center of Excellence in Research and Treatment for Bipolar Disorders at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and as Deputy Chair for Research and Division Chief for Mood and Anxiety Disorders with the Department of Psychiatry at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He has held numerous editorial positions for medical journals, including serving as Co-editor in Chief for the Journal of Affective Disorders. 

Dr. Soares serves as president of the International Society on Affective Disorders, as well as the current president of the American Association of Chairs of Academic Departments of Psychiatry.

Dr. Soares holds an MD from the University of Sao Paulo Medical School and a PhD from the University of Porto Alegre, Brazil. 

Executive
William E. Fantegrossi, Ph.D.
SAB

Dr. Fantegrossi is a published author, behavioral pharmacologist and renowned researcher on the in vivo pharmacology of synthetic cannabinoids, cathinones, fentanyl analogues and hallucinogens. In addition to determinations of preclinical abuse liability, he also studies receptor mechanisms of tolerance, dependence and withdrawal, and the behavioral and pharmacological consequences thereof. Dr. Fantegrossi received his pH D from the University of Michigan and currently serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the College of Medicine at UAMS.