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Meet The Team

Senior Leadership

Our Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors at PTx are made up of talented and diverse experts in mRNA science, particularly in areas like immunotherapy, infectious diseases, cancer, and therapeutics. Each member brings a deep understanding and extensive experience, which helps our organization stay ahead in mRNA technology, including drug development and vaccine production.

Providence Therapeutics Logo
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Brad Sorenson, MBA

The Foundation of Providence

Founder & CEO

  • MBA from the University of Rochester
  • Co-founder Arcturus Therapeutics
  • Advocate for brain cancer research

Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Brad Sorenson is the founder and CEO of Providence Therapeutics.

In 2013, a stage four cancer diagnosis for Brad's teenage son set a course for Sorenson to dedicate his time and research towards eradicating the word "terminal" from any cancer diagnosis.

Read More on the FOUNDATIONS OF PROVIDENCE

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Dr. Aleksandra Pastrak MD, PhD

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Chief Medical Officer

  • M.Sc., Ph.D from the University of Toronto
  • M.D. from the University of Belgrade
  • VP of Clinical Development and Medical Officer at OPKO Health-Transition Therapeutics
“I joined Providence because I have always been passionate about scientific discovery and development of novel therapies. mRNA technology can be broadly transformational with a remarkable potential to treat so many diseases and to improve the lives of so many people worldwide.  I believe that Providence’s entrepreneurial, science-based approach coupled with its amazing people will uncover many possibilities of the mRNA platform and personalized immunotherapy.”

Natalia Martin Orozco, PhD

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Chief Science Officer

  • PhD in Immunology-Medicine from UNAM, Faculty of Medicine
  • Principal Scientist at Merck Serono
  • Principal Scientist at Lion Biotechnologies Inc. (Now Iovance)
  • Senior Scientist at Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

“I joined Providence Therapeutics because I was impressed with their technology. The strength of the immune response that could be generated with one single injection of the vaccine, is something I haven’t seen with any immunotherapy. The possibility to see a cancer patient recovered with a vaccine treatment developed by our team, was extremely appealing and an exciting opportunity. Creating new, effective and safe treatment options for cancer patients is a great mission and something I really wanted to be part of.” 

Board of Directors

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Brad Sorenson, MBA

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Founder & CEO

  • MBA from the University of Rochester
  • Co-founder Arcturus Therapeutics
  • Advocate for brain cancer research
"My family’s experience with the terminal diagnosis of my son taught me that when faced with life’s hardest trials two things become very important… One, your faith, whatever that might be, and two, you really want the science to work. For me, Providence represents the intersection of those two forces, and the diverse and highly talented team we are building at Providence Therapeutics is committed to bringing safe and effective immunotherapy from the lab to patients in need. My personal goal is to remove the word “terminal” from any cancer diagnosis."

Ken Hughes, MPA, ICD.D

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Chair of the Board

  • Master of Public Administration, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University (1983)
  • Member of Canadian Parliament, (1988-93)
  • Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister
  • Certified Member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, (ICD.D) 2005
  • Founding Chair of Alberta Health Services (2008-11)
  • Member of Alberta Legislature (2012-14)
  • Alberta Minister of Energy, Minister of Municipal Affairs (2012 - 2014)
  • Co-Founder, Principal shareholder and Chair, Alpine Insurance & Financial Inc. (2002-present)
“I was initially compelled to join the Providence team because I saw an opportunity to help move compelling science closer to the patient bedside. Over the last two years, I have been delighted to see the immense and diverse capabilities of the team that is coming together. My focus is getting real improvements for real patients. Providence Therapeutics presents a rare opportunity where we have a legitimate shot at that important outcome. If we succeed at that medical outcome, shareholders will do just fine as well.”

Scott Leary, MD

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Co-Founder & Board Member

  • M.D. from Washington University in St. Louis​
  • Practicing Neurosurgeon at the SENTA Clinic and Scripps Health in San Diego
  • Experienced principal investigator for multiple FDA clinical trials
  • Extensively published, including three cover articles in the International Journal Neurosurgery
"I co-founded Providence Therapeutics because as a practicing Neurosurgeon I am frustrated with the lack of progress in advancing treatment options for late-stage cancer patients. For nearly twenty years I have seen these patients suffer and ultimately pass from this deadly disease. For the first time, I am optimistic that outcomes can change and that these patients will have a chance at beating their diagnosis and living full lives."

Eric Marcusson, PhD

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Co-Founder & Board Member

  • PhD in Biomedical Sciences from University of California San Diego
  • Director of Oncology at Isis Pharmaceuticals
  • Co-founder & Senior Director of Oncology at Regulus Therapeutics
  • Named inventor on over 50 published patent
“I joined Providence because I have a passion for trying to develop new technologies that will help make a difference in patients' lives. I have been in the biotechnology industry, and more specifically RNA therapeutics, for more than 20 years and was one of the early people working on antisense technology that is just now coming to full fruition and literally giving patients and their families a new lease on life. The biggest hurdle in RNA therapeutics has always been the delivery of the drug into cells. In Providence Therapeutics, I saw the chance to take what I considered to be the best lipid nanoparticle delivery system and apply that to oncology, the field I have worked in most of my career. The chance to be a part of a "second wave" of RNA therapeutics that was aided by a new delivery system was something I could not pass up.”

Donna T. Ward, PhD, JD

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Board Member

  • B.S. BIOLOGY, Cumberland University
  • Ph.D. BIOCHEMISTRY, University of Kentucky - College of Medicine
  • Post - Doctoral Fellow, CHEMISTRY, Vanderbilt University
  • J.D., Thomas Jefferson School of Law
 "For me, it’s all about courage. I’ve worked with Brad and Eric since the conception of what would become Providence, and courage defines who they are. I am honoured to continue to be part of a team that drives forward in the face of fears because something else is more important than those fears - which is to help sick people."

She is a member of the state bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Dr. Ward has been practicing patent law for over 20 years with a strong emphasis in nucleic acid technologies, including antisense, RNAi, gene therapy and RNA technology. She began her career at Ionis Pharmaceuticals, where she was Executive Director of IP.

She also served as the Chief Patent Counsel at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. She is the founder and senior partner at DT Ward, PC, a boutique IP law firm representing leading startup biotech companies worldwide. Her practice is comprehensive, providing strategic counselling at the intersection of law, business and science.

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Scientific Advisory Board

Pam Ohashi, PhD

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Scientific Advisory Board Chair

  • PhD from the University of Toronto
  • Professor in the Departments of Medical Biophysics and Immunology at the University of Toronto
  • Canada Research Chair in Autoimmunity and Tumour Immunity
  • Director of Immune Therapy Program at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
  • Past Chairperson, Cancer Immunology Working Group of the American Association for Cancer Research
  • Canadian Association of Immunologists-Pharmingen Investigator Award
  • NCICs William E Rawls Award, and CSI Cinader Award
"I was excited to join Providence because the vision of the Company aligns well with the current directions of the cancer immunotherapy field. Their technology is superb, and has tremendous potential to impact the quality of life for cancer patients."

Brian Barber, PhD

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Scientific Advisory Board Member

  • PhD from the University of Toronto, Department of Medical Biophysics
  • Professor Emeritus, Department of Immunology, University of Toronto
  • Former Director of Technology Development and Commercialization (TDC) at the University Health Network
  • Assistant Vice President for Immunology at Aventis Pasteur (now Sanofi Pasteur)
  • Chief Scientific Officer at Mojave Therapeutics in New York
“After a career spent advancing vaccine design and development, much of it focussed on better ways to induce beneficial cytotoxic T-cell responses, the opportunity to help Providence develop mRNA vaccine strategies targeted to tumour neoantigens was very appealing. The potential to design effective, personalized cancer vaccine immunotherapeutics is now within our grasp, and this technology needs to be fully developed and deployed.”

Art Krieg, MD

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Scientific Advisory Board Member

  • MD from Washington University in St. Louis
  • Founding CEO of RaNA Therapeutics (now Translate Bio)
  • Founder and CSO of Checkmate Pharmaceutics
  • Founder and CSO of Coley Pharmaceuticals
  • CSO at Sarepta Pharmaceuticals
  • CSO and VP at Pfizer
  • Entrepreneur in Residence at Atlas Ventures
  • Professor at the RNA Therapeutics Institute at University of Massachusetts
  • Immediate Past President of the Oligonucleotide Therapy Society
  • Discoverer of immune stimulatory (CpG) oligonucleotides
“One of the most important factors for me was the team. I already knew Eric and Pam and was delighted by the chance to work with both of them. Aside from that, the preliminary data and the science are exciting, and potentially the best in class. Cancer immunotherapy has incredibly high potential, and Providence has the chance to be a serious player.”
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Cancer Vaccine Clinical Advisor

Amit Oza, MD

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Clinical Advisor

  • MD from Bartholomew's Hospital, University of London (UK)Head, Division of Medical Oncology & Hematology, University Health Network/Mount Sinai Health System
  • Medical Director, Cancer Clinical Research Unit, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
  • Co-Director Bras Family Drug Development Program
  • Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
  • PI and co-investigator in >100 phase I, II and III trials for gynecological cancer and advanced colorectal malignancies
  • Under his direction, the gynecology group is one of the largest ovarian cancer (OC) clinical trials groups consistently accruing >30% of all patients seen onto clinical trials (>150/yr) at PM
  • Under his direction, the group has led or participated in seminal studies in gynecologic cancers that have led to the approval of targeted agents such as PARP (Olaparib) and anti-angiogenic (Bevacizumab)