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22 n e w h a v e n B I Z | J u n e 2 0 2 1 | n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m P O W E R 2 5 : H e a l t h c a r e 2 0 2 1 main driver of Alzheimer's progression. Its drug candidate, ALX-001, regulates a protein on the cell membrane known as metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5). Preclinical studies show it can restore synapses that transmit signals between neurons. Strittmatter's research found the drug could reverse the course of Alzheimer's disease in mice models. Early this year, Strittmatter was awarded the 2021 King Faisal Prize for Medicine, for his contributions to the field of neural repair, including identifying a receptor pathway that plays a key role in determining axons' ability to extend and reconnect following an injury. Dr. Ranjit Bindra, Physician, Professor, Scientist, Entrepreneur Dr. Ranjit Bindra is making headway toward a cancer treatment that avoids the oen devastating side effects of traditional therapies. Fighting cancer has been personal for Bindra. Not only has he watched as patients have suffered, but his father also passed away due to cancer. Bindra is a Yale professor of therapeutic radiology, and he is a co- director of the Yale Brain Tumor Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital. He is also a co-founder of New Haven-based Cybrexa erapeutics, a four-year-old biotech that is launching human testing on a new drug to treat solid tumors. Cybrexa's drug candidate, CBX-12, aims to fight solid tumors without side effects such as nausea and hair loss that can occur with treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. e company's approach, based on Bindra's scientific research, is different because it deposits cancer-fighting agents directly into tumor cells, leaving healthy tissue unharmed. According to Cybrexa, the drug features a molecule that forms a corkscrew-like structure when meeting the acidic environment of a cancer cell. e structure then drills into the tumor cell to deliver the drug with precision. Bindra, a physician-scientist at Yale School of Medicine, is also working on another startup, Athena erapeutics, which launched in December and will work to fight deadly pediatric brain tumors and other cancers. Nancy J. Brown, Dean, Yale School of Medicine Dr. Nancy J. Brown took office as the 19th dean of the Yale School of Medicine in early 2020, just as the coronavirus pandemic was beginning to spread. It made for a hectic beginning for Brown, who had to manage the school as researchers pivoted to study the disease, and methods of patient care and education had to change. Brown took over for Dr. Robert J. Alpern, who had served as dean for some 16 years. Brown is the first woman to lead the medical school in its history, which spans more than two centuries. Brown, also a professor of internal medicine, has worked to support the development of physician-scientists during her career. Her research has focused on topics such as how blood pressure and diabetes medications impact the risk of cardiovascular and kidney disease. In her practice, she has helped patients suffering from hypertension. Brown has served in several nationwide leadership roles, including as a member of the NIH National Advisory Research Resources Council and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council. She has also been president of the Association of Professors of Medicine. Lou Gianquinto, President, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Connecticut Lou Gianquinto took the lead at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield's Wallingford- based commercial health plan in Connecticut in December. e company's leadership cited Gianquinto's "in-depth knowledge of the insurance industry" as a factor in his selection as new president. Gianquinto had most recently been president of Missouri Care, Anthem's Medicaid business in Missouri. However, he has strong Connecticut roots, having had several roles in the insurance industry here, including with UnitedHealthcare and Oxford Health Plans, where he led initiatives to improve quality, manage costs and increase affordability. Gianquinto has said he will work to simplify and improve health care for Anthem's more than 1 million members in Connecticut and advocate for greater healthcare affordability. In recent months, Anthem Connecticut has sponsored mobile COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Under Gianquinto's leadership, it has also announced a collaboration with Beacon Health Options to expand the reach of Access Mental Health CT, a state-funded program that works to ensure teens get access to psychiatric and behavioral health services through contact with their primary care physicians. e company cited the "increased need for mental health care among Connecticut's children and vulnerable groups" for its decision to pursue the collaborative effort. Maritza Bond, New Haven Director of Public Health Maritza Bond took over as the Elm City's director of public health in January 2020, and since then has worked continually to help New Haven residents through the coronavirus pandemic. In the virus' early months, Bond led efforts for contact tracing to help curb the virus' spread. She has been a source of public information on the virus' impact on city residents. She has worked with various community leaders to educate residents about prevention and the safety and efficacy of vaccines. Bond pushed for residents to get vaccinated through walk-in and pop-up clinics, mass vaccination clinics, door-to-door campaigns, and vaccination of homebound residents. When obstacles arose, such as residents being hesitant about getting vaccinated, lacking transportation or needing help scheduling an appointment, Bond has worked to overcome those roadblocks. When restrictions on businesses were still in place, Bond led efforts to crack down on those who didn't comply with rules regarding mask-wearing and gathering size. Bond and her team imposed fines and issued warnings and even ordered a bar to shut down. Before coming to New Haven, Bond had been director of public health and social services for the city of Bridgeport. Michael R. Taylor, CEO, Cornell-Scott Hill Health Center Michael R. Taylor has served as chief executive officer of the Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center since 2012. e center has multiple locations in New Haven, Ansonia and West Haven, and provides an array of healthcare services, including primary, behavioral and dental care. It offers special programs such as HIV/ AIDS outreach, alcohol and drug detoxification, health care for the homeless, and specialty healthcare services. It treated some 35,000 people in 2019. Taylor has worked at the center since 2010, and was mentored by the center's late namesake, Cornell Scott, who advanced services for the region's low- income population. Taylor has worked to continue Scott's legacy of growth and development. Taylor has helped fortify the center's financial situation, and improved care sites through renovation and expansion. Taylor also has led the center as it has added new care locations and services. e center is expected to grow to serve more than 50,000 area residents annually. Taylor is active in the community, serving on numerous boards of directors, including for the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, Community Health Center Association of Connecticut, Community Health Network of Connecticut and National Association of Community Health Centers. Susan Sobolov, Women in Bio CT Chapter Leader, Chief Operating Officer at Caelum Biosciences Susan Sobolov is the chair of the Connecticut chapter of Women in Bio, a national organization that aims to raise the profile of women in the life sciences. e state chapter formed earlier this year, and includes some 25 women bioscience entrepreneurs and executives from around the state. Sobolov was a natural fit for the role, as she is chief operating officer at Caelum Biosciences, a New Jersey-based company, and a former executive at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, which has a large research presence in New Haven. According to Sobolov, the local Women in Bio chapter's goals are to cultivate the pipeline of women scientists in Connecticut and to keep them here — as scientists, entrepreneurs and executives. ey'll build networks and provide mentoring to help the women advance their careers here, so they can flourish in the state's growing bioscience industry and obtain leadership roles. In addition to Caelum, Sobolov has had high-ranking roles at Mustang Bio, Fortress Biotech, the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research and Pfizer. While at Alexion, she was a research and development team leader and led the late-stage development of Strensiq, an enzyme replacement therapy for hypophosphatasia, an inherited disorder that affects bone development. Dr. Steven Schneider, President, St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury Dr. Steven Schneider took over as president of St. Mary's Hospital in January 2018, and has led the hospital, which serves the Greater Waterbury region, as it has grappled with the coronavirus pandemic. Under Schneider's leadership, the medical staff has cared for COVID-19 Continued from previous page Continued on next page