News & Events

Eric Diep

Heart Valve Manufacturing Advisor

A seasoned heart valve technologies expert, Eric Diep brings 12 years of hands-on experience optimizing device designs and manufacturing processes across 18 distinct valve products to Vascudyne’s Heart Valve team. Through his consultancy Oak Biomedical, he partners with heart valve startups to bring next-generation devices to market, with expertise spanning CE Mark and FDA IDE design verification packages, ISO 5840 compliance, and pilot line scaling for pivotal trials and commercialization. Prior to founding Oak Biomedical, Eric held engineering roles at HighLife Medical and Medtronic’s Heart Valves division.

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Ann Graves

Principal Regulatory Advisor

Ann Graves brings three decades of medical device engineering expertise and a proven track record in regulatory and clinical affairs to Vascudyne’s advisory team. Her extensive experience spans multiple IDE and PMA approvals for both mechanical and biological heart valves, along with numerous PMA supplements for Class II and Class III devices. She served as VP of Regulatory Affairs at Abbott. Ann’s career includes landmark regulatory achievements in pediatric cardiovascular medicine. She worked closely with the FDA to establish requirements for the first pediatric heart valve approval—the St. Jude Medical 15mm valve—and the first pediatric indication for a left ventricular assist device, the Abbott HeartMate 3

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Dr. Ajit Yoganathan

Heart Valve Project Advisor

A pioneering cardiovascular engineer, Dr. Ajit P. Yoganathan is Regents’ Professor Emeritus and the Wallace H. Coulter Distinguished Faculty Chair in Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

He founded the Cardiovascular Fluid Mechanics Laboratory at Georgia Tech in 1979, where he invented the science of prosthetic heart valve engineering—every prosthetic heart valve implanted in the U.S. has been studied and evaluated in his lab. Over a 45-year research career, he has mentored more than 50 doctoral students and 40 post-doctoral trainees while making profound contributions to native and artificial heart valves, congenital heart diseases, and minimally invasive cardiovascular interventions. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology.

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Kemal Schankereli

Co-Founder

Mr. Kemal Schankereli is co-founder of Vascudyne and served as first CEO. Prior to Vascudyne, Mr. Schankereli worked at Edward Life Sciences and co-founded several startup including Tendyne (acquired by Abbott).

Academically trained in biology and chemistry Kem’s scientific career has focused primarily on the industrial research and development of Class III biomedical devices. His work career accomplishments include the invention, research, development and commercialization of a number of world class products, including Hemashield, the first collagen coated vascular conduit, PeriStrips, the first lung volume reduction staple line buttressing product, MitralSeal, the first transcatheter mitral valve prosthesis, and ArterX, a surgical sealant.

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Abrielle Krouse

Director of Clinical Affairs

Driven Biomedical Engineer with 8 years of experience spanning academic research, industry, and start-up innovation.  Prior to Vascudyne, Abrielle held roles at Medtronic in Design Assurance, R&D, and Reliability Engineering, and gained hands-on experience as a surgical lab technician and tissue engineering researcher at the University of Minnesota. Currently, Abrielle supports Vascudyne’s clinical research program, bringing expertise in surgical terminology, surgeon collaboration, and medical device quality systems to drive product innovation and translational outcomes.

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Keith Brinsko

R&D Scientist I

R&D Scientist with 7+ years of experience in the biotechnology industry, specializing in assay design, optimization, and process development. Before joining Vascudyne, Keith held quality control and research and development positions at Genus IntelliGen Technologies in Madison, Wisconsin. At Vascudyne, Keith leads efforts in assay design and development to ensure that tissue-engineered products meet FDA standards, while also contributing to product innovation and design.

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Matthew Soule, M.D.

Medical Advisor

Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery,
University of Minnesota

Matthew Soule, M.D., is a cardiothoracic surgeon who cares for patients in need of cardiothoracic surgery and thoracic transplantation. Dr. Soule sees patients at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, as well as M Health Fairview affiliated hospitals. His clinical interests include myocardial revascularization and valve repair and replacement. Dr. Soule is also academically interested in research focused on optimization of organ donor selection, use of mechanical circulatory support perioperatively in transplant recipients and transcatheter heart valve therapies. In addition, he is an Associate Professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Expertise

Education
University of North Dakota Medical School
University of Minnesota Medical School, Residency
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Residency

Board Certifications

American Board of Surgery
American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Robroy MacIver, M.D., MPH

Medical Advisor

Pediatric Heart Transplant Surgery,
Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery,
Congenital Cardiac Surgery, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics

Robroy MacIver MD, MPH is a Congenital Cardiac surgeon at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. He performs surgeries to repair congenital heart defects in children. He also performs cardiac transplantation for children. His research interests include tracheal stents, ventricular assist devices, and methods to 3D print congenital heart defects. He has practiced in MN since 2013.

Expertise

Education
Seattle Children’s Hospital
Fellowship, Thoracic & CV Surgery, Pediatric, 2013

Royal Children’s Hospital
Residency, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, 2012

University of Washington Medical Center
Residency, Surgery, Cardio-Thoracic, 2011

Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Residency, Surgery, General, 2009

Northwestern University
Professional Education, Public Health, MPH, 2009

University of Minnesota Medical School
Medical Education, MD, 2002

Board Certifications

Congenital Cardiac Surgery
American Board of Thoracic Surgery, 2016
Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
American Board of Thoracic Surgery, 2013

General Surgery
American Board of General Surgery, 2013

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Nicolas Oltramare

Board Member

Mr Nicolas Oltramare is a Swiss entrepreneur working in the Private Equity sector with experience in finance, technology, medtech and pharma. Nicolas has deal making experience in both, Asia and Europe. Nicolas graduated from the University of Geneva (Political Science, major in Finance) and he holds a Master of Business Administration from the National University of Singapore.

Subsequently, Nicolas started his banking career with UBS in Asia. Then he worked as an investment banker at Deutsche Bank for the next decade covering Europe. Later on, Nicolas co-founded and became the CEO of a Private Bank in Switzerland that was sold to Credit Suisse. Nicolas was furthermore a member of the Board of Directors of the Vontobel Holding AG and Bank Vontobel AG as well as member of the Advisory Council of Bank Vontobel AG (between 2013 and 2024).

In 1996 Nicolas founded and became (and remains) CEO of Hamberg AG, a Zurich based consulting firm which also engages in real estate projects in Zurich. Nicolas is a Board Member of Alquant AG. Nicolas is a member of various boards and advisory boards of companies, charities, a museum in Geneva and a school for handicapped children.

Claude Amos, Ph.D.

Chairman of the Board

Dr. Claude Amos has over 20 years of experience at Goldman Sachs, serving in key roles in New York, London, and Zurich, where he advised Ultra High Net Worth Individuals and families. He earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the Swiss University of St. Gallen prior to joining Wall Street.

During his tenure at Goldman Sachs, Dr. Amos quickly became a prominent contributor in Wealth Management, cultivating strong relationships with significant financial groups and families around the world. As an active trader on the trading floor, he utilized a diverse range of financial asset classes and solutions strategies.

Dr. Amos developed a management style that integrates advanced behavioral finance concepts, effectively mitigating risk through tactical protective asset allocation and dynamic portfolio rebalancing. This approach enhances value by reducing pricing volatility and correlation risks among underlying assets.

Currently, he dedicates his expertise to selected clients and partners, advising on strategic positioning and facilitating agreements or arbitrations among major financial entities. Additionally, Dr. Amos serves on the boards of early-stage companies, promoting cutting-edge technology and innovation. He plays a pivotal role in building teams of world-class experts and facilitating research translation, licensing, and commercialization efforts for the benefit of large patient populations.

Outside of his professional commitments, Dr. Amos is passionate about the arts and music, enjoying classical oil painting and exploring technical interpretations of J.S. Bach’s preludes.

Robert Tranquillo, Ph.D.

Director of Congenital Heart Regeneration Program

Distinguished biomedical engineer and world-renowned leader in tissue engineering/regenerative medicine. With a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and joint faculty appointments at the University of Minnesota, Professor Robert Tranquillo brings over 35 years of pioneering research in cardiovascular TE/RM. Co-invented Vascudyne’s core biologically-engineered matrix, conduit, and valve technologies, now advancing globally to address unmet needs for congenital cardiovascular disease.

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Dan Hill

Quality Control Associate II

Dan is a supply chain specialist with over 20 years of experience in purchasing, inventory management, and laboratory operations. Prior to joining Vascudyne, he spent over two decades at Bio-Techne (R&D Systems), where he developed deep expertise in biotech environments. At Vascudyne, Dan manages procurement and inventory while maintaining critical equipment and performing calibration duties to ensure regulatory compliance. He also conducts environmental monitoring for laboratory spaces, supporting the company’s commitment to quality standards and medical device regulatory requirements.

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Claire Wille

Manufacturing Supervisor

Experienced biology laboratory scientist with a strong background in aseptic technique, cell culture, assay development, and laboratory material preparation. Since 2023, leading manufacturing production at Vascudyne with in-depth process knowledge and a passion for continuous learning and hands-on innovation in a dynamic biotech environment.

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Kai Vang

Quality Assurance Engineer

Detail-Oriented Quality Assurance Engineer with 3+ years of hands-on experience ensuring precision, compliance, and reliability in tissue engineering environments. Proven track record in quality control systems supporting FDA-regulated MedTech innovations. Strong background in analytical testing, process validation, and continuous improvement. Committed to advancing safe and effective biomedical technologies.

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Bejan Hakimi

Director of Quality Control

Strategic Quality Leader with over 10 years in quality assurance and regulatory compliance for Abbott medical devices. Oversees company-wide quality systems, driving continuous improvement, industry certification, and product reliability. Known for building a culture of quality and accountability, he leads initiatives to ensure safety, efficacy, and global regulatory compliance across all manufacturing and development operations.

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Brian Thao

Manufacturing Scientist

Accomplished Manufacturing Scientist with 3+ years of biotechnology experience. Proficient in aseptic and sterile techniques, with a strong understanding of GMP and cGMP regulations. Demonstrated meticulous attention to detail in managing documentation revisions and drafting standard operating procedures. Additionally, responsible for leading the training of personnel to ensure compliance with current aseptic and sterile practices, including biannual updates and assessments.

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Katherine Lindsay

Administrative Manager

Experienced Administrative Manager with 15+ years of success leading operations, streamlining systems, and optimizing team performance across higher education, corporate, and nonprofit settings.  Excels in designing and managing equitable administrative structures that balance fiscal responsibility with employee well-being. Currently pursuing an M.A. in Human Resources & Industrial Relations, Katherine integrates her background in research, HR, and creative arts to foster high-functioning, collaborative teams.

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Mariah McMahon, PM

Director of Research & Development

R&D Leader with 10+ years’ experience in both academia and commercial biomanufacturing. Prior to Vasucudyne, Mariah worked at the University of Minnesota and R&D Systems. Currently, Mariah leads production and process development at Vascudyne, where she plays a hands-on role in advancing our product portfolio.

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Zeeshan Syedain, Ph.D.

CEO

Seasoned MedTech Leader with 20+ years of exceptional technical leadership experience including co-inventor of licensed technology in tissue engineering being commercialized by Vascudyne. Strong innovation, development and commercialization background with PhD in Chemical Engineering.

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Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Reitzle

Board of Directors

Chairman

Internationally renowned industrial manager and Chairman with long-standing track record (e.g. Chairman and CEO of Linde plc, management board member of BMW AG). Various transformational M&A transactions (e.g. merger of Linde and Praxair). Current supervisory board memberships: Continental AG (Chair), Axel Springer SE, Hawesko Holding AG, Ivoclar Vivadent AG. Long-standing growth equity investor and mentor for innovative companies across industries.

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