Management
Board of Directors
Dr. Elizabeth Corsi
Dr. Corsi is a Senior Pharmaceutical Executive with over 20 years experience in both major pharmaceutical companies as well as biopharmaceutical start-ups. She has held senior level operating positions in multi-national pharmaceutical companies with responsibility for US, and Europe, as well as biopharmaceutical companies. She is currently President and Managing Director of Crixmor LLC, a pharmaceutical development and licensing company. Prior to this she was Chief Executive Officer of VALEXIA Pharmaceuticals Inc., a late stage oncology biopharmaceutical company. From 1998-2005, she was President & Chief Executive Officer, EXIMIAS Pharmaceuticals a privately-held oncology biopharmaceutical company taking the company from a planning stage to late-stage development while raising $93.4 million in private equity. Dr. Corsi earned a B.S from the University of Pittsburgh, an M.B.A. from Pace University and a Doctor of Pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. She is a Distinguished Alumna of the University of Pittsburgh and has served as a Trustee for The University of the Sciences of Philadelphia.
Dr. Hank Safferstein, Ph.D.
Dr. Safferstein has served on the Board of Brainstage for the past year. He is an Executive at The Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse. Prior to joining PLSG, he served as Vice President, Business Development, Omrix Biopharmaceuticals, a commercial-stage company that develops and markets biosurgical and passive immunotherapy products. Before Omrix, he was Executive Vice President, Corporate Development for TransPharma Medical, a privately-held medical device company. Dr. Safferstein received a B.A. in Biochemistry from Rutgers University, a Ph.D. in Human Anatomy and Neurobiology from the University of Louisville, a J.D. from the American University, Washington College of Law and an M.B.A. from Columbia University.
Dr. Rafael Velez, M.D.
Dr. Velez is diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology, and has been predominantly in community practice for over 25 years. He is President of New Century Anesthesiology Corp., Director Division of Anesthesiology Services Somerset Community Hospital, co-founder of RZV Medical Specialties to design and market medical Infection Control disposables (Secretion-Trapper Tm Suction Tube Holder ), co-founder Cima Software Corp. to develop and provide Enterprise Content Management Solutions (DocuClass Software ), President of Horizon View Real Estate (residential and commercial holdings), and President of Horizon View Farms ( grass-fed beef and equestrian facility ).
Tony Florence
Mr. Florence is a seasoned business executive with deep experience in entrepreneurial companies and workout situations. In his career, he has built two start-up companies, led three companies through initial public offerings, taken one company private, and helped build a number of start-up and midcap software, industrial and technology companies into industry leading positions. He has served Brainstage as a co-founder, CEO and past Chairman. He previously was CEO and Director General of Avanex France S.A., with operations in France, England, and Thailand. Before that, Mr. Florence was a member of the Office of Chairman of Ansaldo Signal NV, a Netherlands-based company with operations in France, Italy, Ireland and the United States. Earlier, he was an officer of Finmeccanica?s U.S. company Union Switch & Signal, Inc.