About us
Fluid Biomed is a medical device start-up founded by two neurosurgeons, Dr. John Wong and Dr. Alim Mitha, at the University of Calgary who have developed a polymer-based stent that can heal a blood vessel by diverting blood flow away from a weak brain aneurysm. Working together for the past two decades to help people with stroke, their drive and commitment to improve patient health sparked a vision to create a radical new stent to cure a wide variety of aneurysms with greater efficiency and safety.
Guided by their clinical experience in the operating room towards a goal of minimizing side effects and complications, years of research and development in Dr. Mitha’s biomedical engineering laboratory has made the concept a reality. The company has transitioned the stent from proof of concept towards final prototyping and validation of their unique technology.
With the support of its partners, Fluid Biomed is achieving significant scientific, regulatory, and financing milestones along the pathway of product development. Fluid Biomed is well positioned to disrupt the stent market, and ultimately improve the quality of life and well-being of patients everywhere.
President, Chief Technology Officer, Co-founder
Dr. Alim P. Mitha is an associate professor at the University of Calgary. He graduated with an undergraduate degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and after graduating from medical school at the University of Alberta, completed his residency training in Neurosurgery at the University of Calgary. During that time, he also completed a Masters of Science degree with a focus on Biomedical Engineering at Harvard University and a research fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Thereafter, he completed an additional two years of clinical subspecialty training at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona under the mentorship of Dr. Robert Spetzler. Since 2011, he has been practicing as a Cerebrovascular, Endovascular, and Skull Base Neurosurgeon at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary. He is the scientific leader of a research laboratory at the University of Calgary affiliated with the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Libin Cardiovascular Institute, that focuses on biomedical device development.
CEO and Co-founder
Dr. John H. Wong is an associate professor in the Departments of Clinical Neurosciences and Radiology at the Cumming School of Medicine. He serves as Director of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery and maintains a busy clinical practice almost exclusively dedicated to treating brain aneurysms and stroke. Dr. Wong received his medical education and neurosurgical training at the University of Alberta. After a one-year fellowship in neurovascular surgery at Yale University and further two-year specialization in interventional neuroradiology in New York City, he was recruited to Calgary in 2001. Since then, he has helped develop one of the most collaborative and productive neurovascular and stroke units in North America with colleagues in neurology, radiology, and neurosurgery.
Dr. Wong has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts and has served on several grant review panels including for the Canadian Institute of Health Research and the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. He has held numerous local and national leadership roles including the provincial past president of the Alberta Neurosurgical Society for over a decade, previous Division Head of Neurosurgery at the University of Calgary, and is the current President of the Canadian Neurosurgical Society. Dr. Wong received his MBA from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania where he earned a double major in Finance and Entrepreneurship & Innovation and was conferred the Dean’s Leadership Award.
Operations Manager
Alessandra Bosco has experience in biology basic research and early drug development ranging from project strategy development and experimental design to administrating an academic research laboratory. Alessandra previously obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology at the University of Bologna in Italy and a master’s degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Lethbridge. She has graduated from the Master of Biomedical Technology (MBT) program at the Cumming School of Medicine in the University of Calgary, where she learned to integrate her scientific knowledge with practical skills and business concepts of the biotechnology industry.
Director of Engineering
Ehsan joined Fluid Biomed after finishing his NSERC-funded postdoctoral research at McGill University working on organic and inorganic biomedical materials and devices as well as their interaction with physiological fluids including blood. During this time, he also obtained his Professional Engineer license after years of close collaboration with the relevant industries. He completed his Ph.D. at Concordia University working on the development of highly porous PLLA/Bioglass® scaffolds with enhanced bioactivity, morphological, and mechanical properties. With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering from the University of Tehran, Ehsan has knowledge and experience in processing, manufacturing, and characterization of various classes of materials.
Chief Financial Officer
Hisham has 15 years of extensive experience providing financial oversight and business insight to companies across many industries. He started his career in public accounting and gained extensive experience in financial reporting, accounting standards, auditing, and taxation. After seven years, Hisham transitioned to industry and worked with some of the largest North American companies. During this time Hisham developed expertise in internal business functions which has made him a well-rounded accounting and finance professional.
Senior Mechanical Engineer
David completed his Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta. Thereafter, he gained over 10 years of knowledge and experience in the energy and chemical manufacturing industries in the fields of Maintenance & Reliability, Project Management, and Field Engineering. During that time, he also completed his Masters in Biomedical Engineering at University of Toronto to pivot his career towards the medical device industry. David then worked in research and development within musculoskeletal healthcare. He implemented CAPA related activities and helped with obtaining two 510(k) clearances from the FDA for patient-specific surgical guides and a personalized robotic system. David has experience in technical design, verification activities, design transfer to suppliers, and post-market surveillance.
Preclinical Study Director
Crista joined Fluid Biomed with decades of experience in industrial and academic environments, directing preclinical testing as well as research and development projects. Crista completed her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Biochemistry at the University of Guelph in Ontario, completing research projects related to environmental and medical biology. She completed her Ph.D. in Pathology and Molecular Medicine at Queen’s University in Kingston Ontario evaluating the transcriptional regulation of key oncogenes in breast cancer. In addition to completing a post-doctoral fellowship at McGill University in Montreal Quebec focused on metabolic mechanisms driving drug resistance, Crista has worked extensively as a Study Director/Departmental Director in the industrial preclinical contract research environment successfully establishing and streamlining in vitro mutagenicity and biocompatibility testing. Recognized as an excellent trainer and presenter, Crista prioritizes mentorship and team building. She has acted as the Treasurer for the Society of Toxicology of Canada, volunteered in associations devoted to disease research and patient care, and established an onsite “After Work Aerobics” program in her previous employment.
Biomedical Engineer
Gavin earned his Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science from the University of Guelph. During his undergraduate studies, Gavin gained valuable experience in the medical device industry, specifically in the field of oral prosthetics. Building upon his initial industry exposure, Gavin furthered his career by joining Baylis MedTech as a Research and Development Engineer, focusing on interventional and neurovascular products. In this role, he actively contributed to the development and testing of both new and existing products. Gavin possesses knowledge in areas such as New Product Introduction (NPI), compliance with ISO and FDA standards, bench testing, verification and validation procedures, as well as the development of MATLAB scripts for data analysis.
Senior Biomedical Engineer
Joseph holds a bachelor of honors in Mechanical and Manufacturing from SETU Waterford Ireland (previously WIT) with over a decade of industry experience, specializing in manufacturing, validation, project management, and Research and Development. Joseph previously worked for Bausch and Lomb, Abbott Vascular, and Integer. Joseph is a programming and model rocketry enthusiast, with a working knowledge of Python and Arduino, and dedicated member of the Calgary Rocketry Club and the Canada Association of Rocketry.
Biomedical Engineer
Andrew graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Biomechanics and Medical Devices. As an undergrad, Andrew gained industry experience in the medical device field where he was a member of a mechanical testing team working towards gaining FDA approval for an investigational device exemption (IDE) for a Class III medical device. Andrew is also an active volunteer with the Engineer’s Without Borders UBC chapter where he is both a mentor and educator for local high school students.
Senior Manufacturing and Quality Engineer
Kannan holds the distinction of being an ASQ certified Six Sigma Black Belt and a Certified Quality Engineer. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from India, followed by a Master's degree in Industrial Engineering from the University at Buffalo (SUNY). With an extensive background spanning over 8 years in Quality Engineering, Kannan has directed his efforts towards diverse areas including sustaining operations, supplier quality management, continuous process improvements, New Product Development (NPD), and Design Assurance in both ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 regulated environments. During his professional journey, Kannan furthered his education by completing a second Master's degree in Project Management from Harrisburg University. This additional qualification equips him with the adeptness to employ advanced project management methodologies within development initiatives. Relocating to Canada to advance his career, Kannan assumed the role of Staff Quality Engineer at Baylis Medical Company, subsequently acquired by Boston Scientific. During his tenure, he made valuable contributions in handling the night shift operations in manufacturing sheaths, dilators and sterile packaging processes, helped with the completion of FDA AI response in obtaining guidewire 510(K) clearance, and actively contributed to several NPD projects that enhanced the organization's portfolio.
Preclinical Scientist
Logan graduated from the University of British Columbia with a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and a minor focus in Psychology. Prior to UBC, Logan briefly studied at Boston University and Stanford University through dual-enrollment programs. While completing his degree, Logan gained valuable laboratory experience in biotechnology and excelled in molecular techniques. He joined the UBC Faculty of Science as an undergraduate laboratory teaching assistant and conducted undergraduate microbiology and biochemistry labs while also hosting volunteer study sessions through student unions. Outside of academics, Logan enjoys endurance sports such as cycling and swimming and aspires to complete an Ironman. Before joining the team, Logan worked at a global environmental laboratory testing Canadian inorganic samples for trace metals, hydrocarbons, and other hazardous contaminants.
Biomedical Engineer
Graciela graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Minor in Biomedical Engineering. During her undergraduate studies Graciela received two NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards and studied ACET technique for lab-on-a-chip applications. During this time, she used Multiphysics software packages to create ACET Technique models and plan physical experiments. Aside from this Graciela gained industry experience by completing an internship with Fluid Biomed and through her capstone project on Passive Mucosal Sampling Capsules with Nimble Science, which won Gold in the multidisciplinary category of the Capstone Design Fair at the University of Calgary.
Director of Operations
Kevin has worked extensively within the medical device field, with experience across the product development spectrum, including front-end feasibility, R&D, manufacturing process development, and supply chain readiness. He began his career working on the design and development of minimally invasive surgical devices, holding both R&D and manufacturing engineering roles, before moving into the development of accessories for cardiac catheter ablation procedures. In this role, he also worked closely with acquired companies to complete integration and strategic planning for future product development and manufacturing. Most recently, Kevin was responsible for an organization comprised of engineering and pilot production teams focused on process development and manufacturing of instruments in the company’s robotics portfolio. Kevin emphasizes technical and cross-functional leadership to bring products to market, while striving to ensure professional development for his team and building the organizational capabilities necessary for launching and maintaining medical devices. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Xavier University.
Quality Specialist
Jannisto Mongan is a seasoned Quality Specialist at Fluid Biomed, bringing over six years of expertise in quality management and manufacturing to the role. He excels in assessing Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs) and employing advanced analytical methodologies such as 8D problem-solving and Pareto Charts to pinpoint root causes and implement effective corrective actions. His skill set includes thorough site audits, inspections, and applying quality methodologies such as Lean Manufacturing and ISO standards. Jannisto Mongan is also a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, having completed the certification through YDelay, which further underscores his expertise in process improvement and operational excellence. Jannisto Mongan holds a diploma in Quality Engineer Management from Lambton College and a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from Trisakti University. His strong commitment to quality and operational efficiency is evident in his effective collaboration with diverse teams and successful implementation of impactful improvements in the manufacturing industry
Engineering Technician
Sashreek Datta earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Throughout his studies, he gained hands-on experience in product development, R&D, clinical research, and quality engineering. During his Co-Op terms at BC Children’s Hospital and STEMCELL Technologies, he developed research protocols, designed mechanical test jigs, and ensured quality control in the medical device sector. On campus, Sashreek actively participated in UBC Mars Colony, Engineers Without Borders, and UBC Music Initiative, where he sharpened both his technical expertise and cultivated a passion for music and performance.
Quality Assurance & Systems Specialist
Pradipika holds a Master’s degree in Materials Engineering from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering from India. She is also a certified internal auditor, with hands-on experience in the medical device field gained through interdisciplinary projects focused on enhancing patient care and safety. Pradipika brings a unique blend of technical expertise and a commitment to quality-driven healthcare solutions to her role as a Quality Assurance and Systems Specialist at Fluid Biomed.
Entrepreneur
Dr. Hunter’s career has revolved around examining ways to make implantable medical devices “bioactive” and “smarter” leveraging technologies borrowed from other industries such as pharmaceutical coatings, surface modification and sensor technologies. As an inventor with over 200 patents and patent applications to his name, he has been involved in the invention and development of the TAXUS® Drug-Eluting Coronary Stent, the Zilver PTX Peripheral Drug-Eluting Stent, and the Quill barbed wound closure device; combined these products have been used in over 40 million patients and recorded revenues exceeding $25 billion.
Previously, Dr. Hunter co-founded and served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals (1992-2011). After founding the company while a medical student in 1992, he grew the company to become a profitable and diversified device company with over 1,400 employees, several thousand commercially available products, and 12 facilities in 5 countries. His latest venture, Canary Medical, utilizes implanted sensor, battery and transmission technology to create “smart” implanted medical devices that can “self-report” on function, activity, wear, complications and patient outcomes for up to 20 years.
Professor, Neurosurgeon, and Interventional Neuroradiologist
Dr. Vitor Mendes Pereira is a neurosurgeon and interventional neuroradiologist specialized in minimally invasive procedures of the intracranial and spinal circulation and percutaneous spinal interventions for pain management.
Dr. Pereira is a Professor of Medical Imaging and Surgery at the University of Toronto, and Director of Endovascular Research and Innovation at St. Michael's Hospital. He did his residency in Sao Paulo, Brazil and his clinical fellowship in France (CHU Bicetre and Rothschild Foundation). Dr Pereira has worked as the Head of Interventional Neuroradiology division and Privat-Docent at the University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland from 2008 to 2014. As a pioneer in the use of novel medical devices, he also leads a laboratory well-versed in the scientific evaluation of stents and endovascular technologies.
Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs Expert
Austin Griggs is a seasoned medical device leader with over a decade of broad experience in operations, quality, and regulatory approval of Class II and Class III devices. With a specific focus on new devices for patients with limited existing treatment options, Austin has worked collaboratively with regulatory bodies around the world to ensure adequate safety data supports the use of these novel treatments.
Austin is past Director of Quality at Edwards Lifesciences, a global leader in patient-focused innovations for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring. He is currently Head of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs (Americas Region) at Align Technology where he leads a team of >1200 dispersed over 7 locations in North America. He earned a Master of Science degree in Biomedical and Translational Science from the University of California, Irvine, and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Technology Lawyer and Investor
Ron Fernando is a technology lawyer and experienced angel investor based in Silicon Valley. With respect to industry verticals, his current interests include consumer brands, B2B SaaS, fintech, cyber security, medical devices, and sparse computing. For many of the companies that he invests in, Ron has helped them define market opportunities, refine pitch materials for raising venture capital, and better understand and negotiate with professional services vendors to conserve capital and reduce costs.
PROFESSOR & INTERVENTIONAL NEURORADIOLOGIST
Mayank Goyal, MD PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Radiology and Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary and the Director of Imaging and Endovascular treatment at the Calgary Stroke Program, one of the world’s most renowned stroke programs. Dr. Goyal’s passion and main research interest is acute stroke imaging, workflow and intervention. With 285 peer-review manuscripts (including NEJM, Lancet Neurology, Radiology, Circulation, ANJR, Stroke), >35 editorials and opinion pieces, over 300 abstracts and >200 invite lectureships, Mayank has been an integral contributor in furthering the field of Stroke intervention research. He was one of the Principal Investigators in two global multi-centric trials in the field: ESCAPE and SWIFT PRIME (both published in NEJM). A citation index of 39177, an h-index of 73 and an i10 index of 380 (Google scholar, Jan 2021) are testimony to Dr. Goyal’s vast contribution and influence in the world of Stroke research. Bestowed with several honours and awards including the Outstanding Contributions in Research Award (American Society of Neuroradiology, 2020), and the Lifetime Contribution Award (Canadian Association of Radiology, 2018), Mayank continues to weave and expand the worldwide teaching network in the fields of Stroke imaging and intervention.
CLINICAL TRIALIST AND INTERVENTIONAL STROKE NEUROLOGIST
Dr. Mohammed Almekhlafi is a neurologist and a clinician scientist at the Calgary Stroke Program. In addition to his training in stroke and interventional neuroradiology, he holds a master’s degree in clinical epidemiology. Throughout his career, Dr. Almekhlafi has been driven by a passion for finding innovative solutions to the challenges faced by patients with cerebrovascular disorders. He is also actively involved in teaching and mentoring the next generation of neurologists and stroke researchers. He has published numerous papers in top-tier medical journals and presented his work at conferences worldwide.
INTERVENTIONAL NEURORADIOLOGIST
Dr. Muneer Eesa is an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology and Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary. He specializes in the imaging diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment of vascular disorders of the brain and spinal cord. Dr. Eesa completed his radiology residency from New Delhi, India in 2007 before pursuing fellowship training in Diagnostic Neuroradiology (Calgary), Vascular and Interventional Radiology (NYU) as well as Interventional Neuroradiology (Columbia). Dr. Eesa is part of the Neurovascular and Stroke Programs at the University of Calgary. He has a special interest in advanced imaging techniques for neurovascular disorders. Dr. Eesa has collaborated extensively with research in Stroke and Neurovascular diseases at the University of Calgary and is a published author with numerous research papers in highly regarded academic journals in the Neurovascular space.
MEDICAL DEVICE EXECUTIVE AND SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR
Michael is a medical device executive, serial entrepreneur, inventor, and part-time venture capitalist. With a passion for commercializing disruptive technologies for the benefit of patients, he has co-founded 5 companies and achieved 4 successful exits to date. In 2021, Michael sold Devoro Medical to Boston Scientific. He holds BSME and MSME degrees from the University of Delaware and UC Davis, and is the inventor or co-inventor of over 300 patents. Before founding medical device companies, Michael held senior roles in Technical and Operational leadership at large medical device companies and startups in Silicon Valley. He spent 10 years at Target Therapeutics/Boston Scientific developing endovascular brain aneurysm solutions. He then worked for 12 years at 3 successful medical device startups in executive R&D and Operational roles: BARRX Medical, Baxano Inc, and Silk Road Medical. Michael's first two companies, TW Medical and 880 Medical, were sold to Stryker's Neuro Vascular division in 2015 and 2017 respectively. He also co-founded CardioProlific, which sold to Philips Medical in 2018. Currently, Michael runs his incubator 880 Medical, co-founded Early Bird Medical, serves as a part-time Venture Partner at ShangBay Medical, and is a board member or advisor for select startups.
Interventional Neuroradiologist and Scientist
Ajay K. Wakhloo, MD PhD, is an internationally renowned Professor of Radiology, Neurology and Neurosurgery and has held positions as the Director as the Division Neuroimaging and Intervention in the Department of Radiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, and tenured Professor of Radiology, Neurological Surgery and Biomedical Engineering in the Department of Radiology at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. He received his medical degree from the University of Mainz, Germany, where he also received a Ph.D. in Endocrinology and Metabolic Disorders. Dr. Wakhloo completed his Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at the City Hospital of Wiesbaden, Medical School, University of Mainz, and continued his training in Radiology at the City Hospital of Wiesbaden as well as the University of Freiburg, Germany. He conducted Fellowships in Neurosurgery (University of Freiburg) and Endovascular Surgery (SUNY-Buffalo), as well as Research Fellowships in Neurological Surgery (Barrow Neurological Institute) and in Neurosurgery (SUNY-Buffalo). Dr. Wakhloo has been the recipient of numerous scientific and clinical awards and honors. His primary areas of focus include acute stroke therapy, isolation of intracranial aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations. He has made pioneering contributions to the development of flow-diverting stents and various endovascular procedures which are now established treatments. Dr. Wakhloo has secured significant research funds from private and federal sources as a principal and co-investigator of large grants. He has served on numerous Editorial Boards and is a reviewer for more than 15 medical journals, and has served in wide capacity on several national and international professional societies. Dr. Wakhloo holds multiple patents for vascular and neurovascular devices, and has over 500 publications, presentations and abstracts (including 2 books and approximately 200 peer reviewed articles and chapters).
Co-founder, President and CTO, Fluid Biomed
Co-founder and CEO, Fluid Biomed
Corporate Lawyer and Entrepreneur
Murray Coleman is senior partner at Bennett Jones LLP and head of the firm's franchise practice group and co-head of the agribusiness, food & beverage practice group. Murray's practice focuses on commercial transactions, business law, private company mergers and acquisitions, banking, and franchise matters. He advises clients on matters relating to financings, secured transactions, asset and share purchase agreements and corporate structuring and organization. He is a member of both the Canadian Franchise Association and the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising. Murray is on the board of directors of a number of public and private boards.
Entrepreneur and Venture Capitalist
Brian Sidman is a co-founder and principal at METIS Innovative, a venture capital firm focused on investments in early-stage neuroscience medical device and technology companies. He is also founder of BAS Holdings, an entrepreneurial Real Estate ESG focused investment, development and management firm headquartered in Miami, FL. Brian is a board member of BundleFi, Inc. a financial technology start-up, a former board member of a charitable foundation that donated over $16,300,000.00 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN and former board member of Lux Home, Inc. DBA Pella Windows and Doors NJ/NY. He is also a Society member at Mount Sinai Medical Center on Miami Beach.
Physician and Venture Capitalist
Chaucer Shen is Managing Partner at ShangBay Capital and has more than 20 years of medical device industry and investment experience. He started his career as a practicing physician. Prior to joining Shangbay Capital, he was a senior investment advisor at Legend Star, a leading healthcare VC firm, where he was responsible for deal sourcing, providing advisory services on the technical aspects of potential target companies, and worked closely with the investment team on market risks and company valuation, finalizing investment deals together with the team and the board. Chaucer has worked with a number of renowned international medical device companies, demonstrating his superb in-depth medical device industry knowledge and unmatched leadership to execute deals and grow businesses. His reputation with government agencies and healthcare communities has made it easier to communicate and help resolve any business challenges between portfolio companies and government regulators. Chaucer holds an M.D. degree from Shanghai Jiaotong University Medical School.
