Hopkins Loves Biotech

Aniqa Tasnim, PhD, is a Senior Associate at 5AM Ventures, where she focuses on early-stage life science investments and company creation. She earned her PhD in Neuroscience from Harvard Medical School, conducting specialized research in the lab of David Ginty on the developmental timing of touch processing and its relationship to autism spectrum disorders. Prior to her doctoral work, she graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a BA in Neuroscience. Beyond her investment role, Dr. Tasnim is a prominent leader in the biotech community as the Co-Founder and President of BioSpark Group, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the entrepreneurial ecosystem for life science researchers in the Boston area.

Geoffrey T. Miller is an Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and serves as the David S. and Marilyn M. Zamierowski Director of the Johns Hopkins Medicine Simulation Center. A recognized expert in healthcare simulation and educational technology, his work focuses on improving clinical outcomes through advanced digital health, augmented reality, and immersive learning environments. Before joining Johns Hopkins, he held leadership roles at Eastern Virginia Medical School and the University of Miami. Dr. Miller is a prolific researcher in emergency medical services and disaster management, and he is a co-author of the global "Improving Simulation Instructional Methods" (iSIM) course.

Bob Wasserman is a Physician-Scientist Oncologist with over 25 years of experience in the Pharmaceutical/Biotech industry, primarily in Oncology Clinical Drug Development. He has extensive experience in Translational and Early Phase Clinical trial design and execution. His time in Pharma included stints at Merck, Novartis, and Roche, and at the latter he was Vice President, Global Head of Translational Medicine Oncology. Subsequently, he was the Chief Medical Officer at two early-stage Oncology Biotech companies, Northern Biologics and Inspirna. Bob earned his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and M.D. from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed his Pediatric residency and Pediatric Hematology-Oncology fellowship training at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, after which he became an attending physician and Assistant Professor in the Division of Oncology. 

Steven Laken, Ph.D., is an accomplished biotechnology leader and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience translating cutting-edge science into clinical and commercial impact. His career spans the breadth of the life sciences, including genomics, molecular diagnostics, therapeutics, and medical devices. Dr. Laken has established a track record of building and guiding companies from founder-stage startups to publicly traded organizations, with teams under his leadership collectively raising more than $2 billion.

Early in his career, Dr. Laken was instrumental in the growth of Exact Sciences, helping take the company public in 2001 and contributing to the launch of the first colorectal cancer screening test—a breakthrough that transformed early cancer detection. Since then, he has partnered with innovators and executive groups to drive strategy and accelerate the journey from discovery to the clinic.

Currently, Dr. Laken is the CEO of Sunac, where he is focused on advancing a first-in-class therapy to significantly improve and ultimately reverse osteoarthritis. A dedicated mentor, he is passionate about developing high-performance teams and building company cultures rooted in collaboration and shared ownership. He is also the CEO of Advise Connect Inspire, LLC.