Our Team

We are an expert team of biotech/pharma drug developers and strategic advisors

Kurt Gish, Ph.D., CEO and Co-Founder, Board of Directors

Dr. Gish earned his Ph.D. in Biology at Stanford University (thesis advisor: Dr. Charles Yanofsky), followed by a post-doctoral fellowship in molecular immunology at the DNAX Research Institute (now Merck Research Laboratories). Dr. Gish started his career in cancer research with scientist positions at Affymetrix and Eos Biotechnology, and followed by positions as Director of Biologics Technologies at PDL BioPharma, and Research Fellow at AbbVie. With his expertise in target discovery and antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development, he has led two ADCs from concept into phase I human trials and is the inventor on 27 issued US patents and author on 18 peer-reviewed articles.

Pierre Pujol, Chief Business Officer

Mr. Pujol obtained his B.Sc. Biology from the Univ. Paul Sabatier in Toulouse and his M.Sc.  degree from AgroParisTech in Paris, the French ‘Grand Ecole’ for Life Sciences. After working with Merieux/Sanofi for 6 years, he complemented his education with an M.B.A. at INSEAD. Mr. Pujol brings to Trilo a valuable combination of pharma business know-how and understanding of early-stage scientific endeavors.  Mr. Pujol has over 30 years of business experience acquired in both Large Pharma (Sanofi, GSK) and in biotech smaller companies (Chiron, Maxygen, and Eos Biotechnology).  He has extensive experience in commercial evaluations, business development, and corporate development. His last position at GSK was Group VP and Head of the product review process for go/no-go decisions at end of Phase 2 and Phase 3.  He then held executive and advisory positions in biotech companies and was also a founder in two cleantech startups, Oakbio/Novonutrients and Airlib. 

David Steinmiller, Co-Founder, Board of Directors

Mr. Steinmiller earned his M.B.A. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his B.S./M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. Mr. Steinmiller has 20 years’ experience developing devices for biomedical research and diagnostics. His work has resulted in 22 issued patents covering chemical synthesis, fluidics, and chemical analysis. Particularly relevant to the Trilo’s strategy, as Director of Engineering at Eos Biotechnology, Mr. Steinmiller developed instrumentation for high yield, multiplexed DNA synthesis. This technology was acquired by Life Technologies (now ThermoFisher) and supplied their custom oligonucleotide business for years. He later co-founded and raised venture financing for Claros Diagnostics, which developed a microfluidic platform for Point-of-Care immunoassays from finger-stick samples. Claros was acquired by OPKO Health, where he served as COO of OPKO Diagnostics. Mr. Steinmiller is CBO and COO of HelixBind, a developer of instruments and assays for direct-from-specimen characterization of infectious diseases, such as of bloodstream infections associated with sepsis.

Keith Wilson, Ph.D., Founder, Chair of Scientific Advisory Board

Dr. Wilson earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford University. Dr. Wilson has over 20 years of experience of life sciences research, technology innovation, and drug development. Prior to Trilo, he was Chief Scientific Officer at Oxford Biotherapeutics, and Director of Discovery at AbbVie. He has extensive experience of developing and executing new technology platforms, novel discovery programs, and clinical and portfolio strategies, resulting in the development of over 30 pre-IND clinical development programs and more than 10 clinical trials, spanning monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and small molecules. He has successfully developed discovery and platform technologies at multiple companies and is the inventor on 6 issued US patents and author on 25 peer-reviewed articles. Currently he is a founder of two diffferent technology and drug development companies.

Eric Sullivan, Board of Directors

Mr. Sullivan is CEO of Quantum Technology and Founder/Principal of PCG Equity. He previously formed several venture capital funds that provided early-stage venture financing to many successful technology companies. His multi-disciplined approach, and extensive background with leveraged buyouts, provides him a unique perspective and an ability to complete transactions that are complex and sizeable. His current list of startups includes companies in the following industries: semiconductors, biotech, eBikes, commodity trading, artificial intelligence, technology enabled coffee machines, climate action app, and tequila. Most of the startups he is involved with have social and environmental goals, as well as ambitious business aspirations. In addition to sitting on startup Boards, he serves on a variety of civic and philanthropic Boards. Eric received his graduate degree from Harvard University and his undergraduate degree from U.C. Berkeley where he was chosen by his classmates to deliver the valedictory address for the Haas School of Business.

John Shrewsberry, Strategic Advisor

Mr. Shrewsberry was previously CFO of Wells Fargo, President of Wells Fargo Securities and leader of a range of businesses and corporate functions during his tenure of more than 20 years with the company. At Wells Fargo, he was proud to lead a strong, diverse, innovative team committed to satisfying customers’ financial needs and helping them succeed financially. He currently serves as a trustee of Claremont McKenna College, a member of the advisory board of the Yale School of Management, a member on the Yale Endowment Investment Committee, and as co-chair of the Financial Economics Institute. Additionally, he has an active role with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. John is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College and the Yale School of Management.

Cheryl Tajon, Ph.D., Staff Scientist

Dr. Tajon leads chemistry development at Trilo Therapeutics. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry and Chemical Biology at the University of California, San Francisco (thesis advisor: Dr. Charles Craik), followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Molecular Foundry. Dr. Tajon’s past research has focused on the technological development of nanoparticle sensors using peptidomimetic-fluorophore conjugates, as well as targeted inhibitors of prostate cancer based on novel peptidomimetics.

Ronald Zuckermann, Ph.D., Scientific Advisor

Dr. Zuckermann, previously Director of Biological Nanostructures at the Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), is the inventor of the submonomer method of peptoid synthesis, and has continued to explore their synthesis and applications for the past 26 years. He received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley (thesis advisor: Dr. Peter Schultz), has authored more than 140 scientific publications, and is also Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Alan Wahl, Ph.D., Scientific Advisor

Dr. Wahl is CEO/founder of D Biotherapeutics, previously held senior leadership positions at Ambrx, AbbVie, Biogen Idec, Seattle Genetics, Trubion, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, and is an expert in the preclinical development of D-peptide and antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapeutics for autoimmune diseases and oncology. He received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry/Biophysics from the University of Rochester and was a Research Fellow at Stanford Medical School and has authored more than 50 scientific publications and 20 issued US patents .

Chakrapani Subramanyam Ph.D., Scientific Advisor

Dr. Subramanyam ("Subbu"), previously Associate Research Fellow at Pfizer, has deep experience in DNA-encoded library (DEL) construction and screening, and has particular expertise in novel ADC payloads and their development. He has authored 29 peer-reviewed scientific publications and has been issued 27 US patents. He received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Penn State University.