While InvivoSciences was officially launched in 2001, its inception came nearly two years earlier when Dr. Tetsuro Wakatsuki, Ayla Annac and Dr. Elliot Elson collaborated to conceive the company’s technology, products and path.

The company was formed in St. Louis, MO with exclusive technology licensed from Washington University. Its first independent lab space was also located in St. Louis.

A more attractive business environment and enthusiastic state support for bio-tech startups led InvivoSciences, in 2005, to the Wisconsin Research Park in Wauwatosa. Additionally, Dr. Wakatsuki found a welcoming environment for his research at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

The founders remain a working team augmented by a core group of scientific and business advisors who are soundly dedicated to the company’s vision. To date InvivoSciences has been funded via the founders’ personal capital with some assistance from state and federal grants.

 

 

Leading InvivoSciences are those most closely vested in its mission and, consequently, most passionate about its success. The diverse experiences and education of this team lend depth, insight and considerable understanding of the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, their direction, needs and opportunities.

 

Ayla Annac

Co-founder, president & CEO
MBA • St. Louis University
18 years of experience in executive leadership, global marketing, strategic business development and finance, with Nestle Purina and Forth James companies.

 

Tetsuro Wakatsuki

Co-founder, chief scientist, patent holder, board member, scientific board member
PhD, BioPhysics and MS, Mechanical Engineering • Washington University
BS, Physics • Aoyamagakuin University
Assistant professor, Physiology, Biotechnology & Bioengineering Center, Medical College of Wisconsin

 

Elliot L. Elson

Co-founder, patent holder, chief scientific board, board member, scientific consultant
PhD, Biochemistry • Stanford University; BS, Biochemistry • Harvard University
Alumni Endowed Professor , Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry • Washington University

 

Joseph Schlessinger

Strategic advisor
William H. Prusoff Professor and Chair of Pharmacology • Yale University
Co-founder • Sugen, Inc.
Co-founder • Plexxikon, Inc.

 

 

Independent of our founders, scientists and strategic advisors, InvivoSciences benefits from the expertise of a talented team of scientific advisors hailing from a variety of disciplines that complement and enrich the InvivoSciences mission.

 

Elliot Elson, PhD

Chair of advisory board
Endowed Professor Biochemistry • Washington University

 

Joseph Schelssinger, PhD

Chair of Pharmacology • Yale University
Co-founder • Sugen, Inc.
Co-founder • Plexxikon

 

Douglas Lauffenburger, PhD

Director of Biomedical Engineering • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

 

Linda Griffith, PhD

Proessor Biomedical Engineering, • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

 

Michael Mitchell, MD

Professor, Division of Cadiothoracic Surgery • Medical College of Wisconsin

 

 

Sarah Botham

Founder • Botham, ink.
Faculty Associate, Department of Life Sciences Communication • University of Wisconsin-Madison