Pioneering & leading oral mucosa stem cell therapy
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Dr. Yona Geffen
CEO
Prof. Sandu Pitaru
CO-FOUNDER, VP R & D; CTO
Dr. Geffen joined Cytora leadership team as CEO in January 2025, bringing over two decades of experience in leading clinical and drug development in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. Previous roles: CEO of Avraham Pharmaceuticals, a phase 2b clinical stage company developing drugs for Alzheimer’s disease. VP R&D of Gamida-cell, where she brought Omisirge®, an allogeneic hematopoietic progenitor cell therapy to FDA approval. VP R&D at Stem Cell Medicine, Vice President, Research and Validation at Compugen Ltd (NASDAQ: CGEN). Ph.D Department of Immunology and Microbiology Ben-Gurion University, Israel. M.Sc. Business Management Ben-Gurion University, Israel.
Inventor Cytora Ltd. Technologies and hOMSC. Worldwide expert in oral mucosa and stem cell technologies and therapies. Prof. Emeritus in Oral Biology, Tel Aviv University. Previously Head of Dept. of Oral Biology (TAU). 7 international patents and 84 publications. Co-founder and CSO of Colbar Life Sciences (Acquired by Johnson and Johnson). Inventor of Colbar Ltd. Technologies
PROGRAMS MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS
Dr. Netta Lamdan
CO-FOUNDER & COO
Jacob Zankel
Dr. Lamdan excels at cross-functional project leadership and IP management, with over a decade of experience in strategic and scientific perspectives in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Previous Role: Product Development Leader and IP Manager at Protalix Biotherapeutics, overseeing the company’s IP property portfolio, scientific publications, and patent submissions. Ph.D in Molecular Biology from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. Additional degrees from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Co-founder of Cytora since 2015. 30 years of experience in hi-tech leadership, SW, and HW. Former CEO and chairman of Bynet Data Communication. Former President and CEO for Radlan which was acquired by Marvell in 2003. Active Chairman and Board Member in various startups. B.Sc. degree in Chemical Engineering from the Israel Technology Institute (Technion).
Haim Goltsman
PRODUCTION & PROCESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Over 20 years of experience in the biotechnology industry in a variety of roles. Researcher and developer in the field of cell/ tissue cultures and pre-clinical models in animals. Extensive experience in development and establishment of GMP-compliant manufacturing and quality control of investigational cell therapy products. Developer and inventor of clinical and pre-clinical medical devices. BSc Biotechnology.
Belly Koren
QA AND RA MANAGER
More than twenty years of diversified experience in the biotechnology and cell therapy industry. MSc Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. Former VP Production and Lab Manager, MultiGene Vascular Systems Ltd. Former Head of QA department, Medgenics Medical. Former QA and regulatory consultant, Gsap Ltd.
MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Sari Alon
Over 20 years of pharmaceutical industry expertise, with experience spanning the entire product lifecycle, from early development through successful FDA and EMA approvals. Previous Roles: Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs at Protalix Biotherapeutics, playing a key role in bringing innovative therapies to patients. R&D roles at cell therapy and diagnostics startups. MSc in Molecular Genetics from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORS
Prof. Tanya Gurevich, M.D.
Director, Parkinson’s Disease and Neuroautonomic Service, Movement Disorders Unit, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.
Over 30 years of clinical and scientific expertise in neurology.
20 years specializing in movement disorders and autonomic disturbances.
Full faculty member at the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University.
Dr. Boaz Tadmor, M.D.
Dr. Tadmor founded and headed the Research and Innovative Authority at Rabin Medical Centre.
From 2007 to 2016, served as the CEO of Beilinson Medical Center, Israel. Dr. Tadmor is an expert in Internal Medicine, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology.
Dr. Tadmor worked as a senior researcher at Columbia University from 2016 to 2020. His research focuses on stem cells, autoimmunity and inflammation.
Dr. Lew Schon
Director, Orthopedic Innovation, The Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland.
More than 35 years’ experience in medicine and patient care.
Co-inventor of several notable devices including the Stem Cell Suture, the Tornier WAVE calcaneal plate, the DJO Airlift brace, the Arthrex ProStop, and Darco’s Toe Guard and Pneumatic Night Splint.
Former president of The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS).
Professor at Johns Hopkins and Georgetown Universities.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Nissim Darvish, M.D.
Chairman of the Board
Veteran of the life sciences industry. Dr. Darvish has more than 20 years of experience in this field covering a wide range of activities.
Ron Naftali
An accomplished business man in multiple fields. Mr. Naftali holds BA in economy and statistics
from Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Dr. Dan Goldstaub
Dr Goldstaub is an experienced Biomedical Research and Development executive with a Ph.D in Molecular Genetics from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
Daniel Naftali
Gideon Tadmor
