Lisa McKerracher, PhD: Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Lisa McKerracher, Ph.D. is Founder and CEO of BioAxone BioSciences. She is serial entrepreneur with experience in company start-up, drug development, preclinical research and clinical trial strategy and implementation. Dr. McKerracher spent 15 years as a university professor with an active academic research program at McGill University and then Université de Montréal before leaving a tenured position to pursue her passion for drug development. Dr. McKerracher is a recognized leader in regenerative medicine and translational neuroscience and has received multiple awards throughout her career. She was a co-recipient of the Christopher Reeve Research Medal for Spinal Cord Repair in 2000 with Dr. Albert Aguayo and was invited to join the prestigious Springboard program for women entrepreneurs leading high growth companies in 2013. She was previously CEO of Emerillon Therapeutics, a genomics based company, VP at a clean tech company, and CSO of BioAxone (Canada), a university spin-out company. Dr. McKerracher is currently a member of the Consortium Advisory Panel for the Christopher Reeve Foundation, is Scientific Officer for the commercialization panel for the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR), and a member of the Leaders Council for the Tannenbaum Open Science Institute at McGill University. She is also founding member of the Boston BioPharma Executive Council and serves on the NIH SBIR grant panel for the Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. She has had past roles in strategic planning for The Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Addiction of CIHR, and The Rick Hansen Foundation. In 2014, Dr. McKerracher negotiated an out-license to Vertex Pharmaceuticals for BioAxone’s Phase 2 drug to treat spinal cord injury, a deal that included over $100 M in upfront and milestone payments in addition to royalties. Since 2014, Dr. McKerracher has brought in over $6M dollars in non-dilutive SBIR grant funding for BioAxone as Principal Investigator. Dr. McKerracher holds a BSc from McGill University and PhD from York University, and received post-doctoral training at the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology (Massachusetts) and McGill University. Dr. McKerracher continues to hold an Adjunct Professor position in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University.
Pierre Caouette, Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Caouette is Chief Operating Officer of BioAxone BioSciences. He is a serial entrepreneur who has expertise in leading company strategy in various industries that include biotechnology, clean technology and high technology. Mr. Caouette’s background is in computer science, mechanical / electrical engineering and aviation. He holds a valid ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License), having been captain for the 8th largest airline, where his computer and mechanical engineering skills were called upon at a management level. Mr. Caouette was an early entrant to computer technology and founded Hexadecimal Canada Inc. (Hexacan) in 1984. Some of Hexacan routines are still in use today in Microsoft’s Operating Systems. Hexacan was sold to a public company in 1990. After the sale of his company, Mr. Caouette, continued to work as a consultant in the field. In 2000, Mr. Caouette co-Founded BioAxone Therapeutic (Canada) and lead investor. During his tenure as CEO, Mr. Caouette raised over $15M in financing, grew the company to 35 employees, and oversaw cGMP drug manufacturing. These accomplishments resulted in the company receiving recognition as a “Top Ten Canadian Biotech Company” for three years in a row. He was member of the Canadian Olympic Sailing Team for 14 years. In 2005, after leaving BioAxone Canada, he sailed around the world on his own boat, before starting a clean technology company in the marine field. Some of the custom “world record type” electric propulsion systems that he developed are still in use today, and he continues to consult in the field. Since joining BioAxone as COO in 2015, BioAxone’s valuation has jumped 7-fold.
Ronald Goldstein, CPA, Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Goldstein is an expert finance professional with more than 35 years of strategic and entrepreneurial experience in accounting, tax, IPOs, SEC reporting, and general financial and business management. His broad experience includes partner of a successful CPA practice, and CFO of a NYSE company. He has worked with many of the major investment banking houses. For the past 10 years he has worked and consulted with startup biopharmaceutical and tech companies. He has an MBA (Finance) from Boston University School of Management and a B.S. / B.A from Boston University (Accounting).