Texas BioAlliance Staff
Texas BioAlliance
Jacqueline R. Northcut
CEO
Jacqueline Northcut is CEO of Texas BioAlliance. She is also the President and CEO of BioHouston, an organization affiliated with Texas BioAlliance. She is passionate about building the life science industry in the state of Texas and over the last 25 years has assisted the governor and two mayors of Houston in their efforts to create a sustainable industry in the state.
Jacqueline joined BioHouston as its President and CEO in December 2002, creating an organization that is the foundation for what BioHouston has become today.
Prior to joining BioHouston, Jacqueline was a partner with Arthur Andersen. For 18 years, she worked with emerging businesses from the initial start up phase through maturity in various industries including biotechnology, venture capital, medical device and several service industries including numerous initial public offerings and rollups. While at Arthur Andersen she led several biotechnology industry initiatives including the national Association for Biotechnology Financial Officers. She has a demonstrated track record of experience and leadership in public and private financings and mergers and acquisitions.
She received her BBS from Harding University in 1984.
Paul Cossum, Ph.D.
President
Paul Cossum is an experienced biotechnology drug developer/executive with a demonstrated track record of success across a wide spectrum of research and development activities. Paul has built an oncology company with discovery, preclinical, CMC, clinical development, regulatory affairs, project management and finance functions.
Paul has also participated in many pharm/tox/PK IND programs for drugs and biologics. In addition, he directed IND-enabling activities and initiation and completion of Phase I clinical trials in multiple countries for two oncology compounds and a novel anti-HIV compound, as well as overseeing the preclinical submission portion of an NDA.
Paul has also succeeded in securing series A and Series B financing of $40 million. He is an experienced manager of outside discovery, preclinical and clinical contract organizations. Most recently, Paul has been a consultant on product development planning and execution for drugs/biologics and orthopedic/cardiovascular devices.
Prior to that he was President & CEO of Proacta Inc., an oncology company based in San Diego, California. He began his career as a scientist at Genentech and held senior roles at level executive positions at Isis Pharmaceuticals, Aronex Pharmaceutical, Inc. and NewBiotics, Inc.
Paul has a B.Sc. M. Pharmacy and Ph.D. from the University of Tasmania, Australia.
Ann Tanabe
COO
Ann Tanabe joined Texas BioAlliance in 2011 as COO. Prior to joining BioHouston, Ann served as vice president of investor relations at Synthesis Energy Systems, a publicly traded alternative energy company from May 2008 to December 2010.
Prior to this position, Ann served as vice president of corporate communications and investor relations and investor relations director at Encysive Pharmaceuticals, a publicly traded biotechnology company from July 2003 to May 2008.
From October 2000 to July 2003, Ann served as investor relations manager and corporate communications coordinator to Texas Biotechnology, the predecessor company to Encysive Pharmaceuticals. Prior to 2000, Ann held a variety of positions at Rochem Separation Systems. Ann earned a BA degree from Loyola Marymount University.
Jeffrey Larson, Ph.D., DABT
Senior Director
Jeff Larson is a drug development expert with 19 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry. A board-certified toxicologist, Jeff has a base of knowledge across drug development activities. He brings considerable expertise in the design and conduct of preclinical toxicology studies and has monitored numerous GLP toxicology studies at CROs across the United States, Europe and China. During his career, he has had oversight for pharmacology efficacy studies and pharmacokinetic modeling of animal data. His clinical experience includes clinical research associate responsibilities, clinical trials management, clinical operations activities and clinical pharmacology modeling. His extensive background in preclinical research and clinical experience provides him with a unique perspective in overall drug development.
Jeff has extensive experience with the FDA, in face-to-face meetings and communications with the Agency, and he has been part of the development teams that have negotiated successful IND submissions, initiation of first-in-man Phase 1 trials, and Phase 2 and Phase 3 development programs.
Dr. Larson received his Ph.D. in Toxicology/Pharmacology from Washington State University. He has held positions at Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Allergan and Aronex Pharmaceuticals. Most recently, he has held senior executive positions at Tanox Inc. and NexBio Inc.
Michael Magnani
Associate Director, Project Management
Michael joined the Texas BioAlliance in November 2011 as Associate Director, Project Management. Prior to joining Texas BioAlliance, Michael served as a marketing manager for Cyberonics, a publicly traded medical device manufacturer.
Michael spent the previous five years as a healthcare management consultant, serving most recently as a consultant with ZS Associates. He began his career as a research scientist with Acadia Pharmaceuticals in San Diego.
Michael has over 10 years of experience in sales, marketing, strategic planning and business development within the life sciences. Previous clients ranged from start up organizations to Fortune 500 companies.
Michael received his MS and MBA degrees through the Harvard-MIT Biomedical Enterprise Program and his BS in Microbiology from the University of California, San Diego.
Rachel Raia
Project Assistant
Rachel joined the Texas BioAlliance in November 2011. She is working on her Master of Public Health in Health Care Management at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
Prior to joining Texas BioAlliance, Rachel was a prevention intern with CPRIT in Austin, TX. She has also done basic science research at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Rachel received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
