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Life Sciences Advisory Board

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The LSAB was created by the legislature in 2007 to assist in maintaining Maryland’s preeminence in the life sciences industry. Comprised of 18 members, the Board includes the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce, a representative designated by the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) and 16 members appointed by the Governor.​

Chair

Dr. Jay Perman

Jay A. Perman, MD, became the fifth chancellor of the University System of Maryland (USM) in January 2020.  Prior to this appointment, Dr. Perman, a pediatric gastroenterologist, served as president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) for nearly a decade.

As UMB president, Dr. Perman strengthened that institution's ties to the city of Baltimore, growing innovation-based economic development and spearheading programs to improve the health and well-being of UMB's closest neighbors. As chancellor, Dr. Perman has committed to advancing higher education affordability for all students in Maryland. He also plans to build on USM's reputation for educational innovation, particularly in research, economic development, and community engagement.

Dr. Perman first came to UMB in 1999 as chair of the School of Medicine's Department of Pediatrics. He left Baltimore in 2004 for the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, where he was dean and vice president for clinical affairs. Dr. Perman received a Doctor of Medicine Degree with Distinction from Northwestern University. He completed a fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology at Harvard Medical School and at the Children's Hospital Medical Center in Boston.


Standing Members​

  • Harry Coker, Jr. - Secretary, Maryland Department of Commerce
  • Ruchika Nijhara, PhD, MBA - Executive Director, Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund
 

Appointed Members

  • Vice Chair: Bob Storey - Managing Director, The MVR Company; Managing Director, The LaunchPort™
  • Trushar Agrawal – Sr. Director, Head of Manufacturing, Kite Pharma
  • Richard A. Bendis - President and CEO, BioHealth Innovation Inc.
  • Nawal Benmouna, PhD - Interim VP for STEM and Health Sciences, Montgomery College
  • Jesse Christopher, MBA - CEO, Longeviti Neuro Solutions
  • Rebecca Fisher, PhD - Deputy Director, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command
  • Renee Iacona, PhD - COO, Oncology Biometrics, AstraZeneca
  • Edward E. C. Margerrison, PhD - Director, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  • Mark G. Mortenson, JD - CSO, Clene Nanomedicine
  • Deborah D. Ricker, PhD - Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Hood College
  • Matt Tremblay, PhD - CEO, Blackbird Laboratories
  • Michael Weingarten - Director, SBIR Development Center, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
  • Ellington West - CEO and Co-founder, Sonavi Labs, Inc.
  • Christy Wyskiel - Senior Advisor to the President and Head of Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, Johns Hopkins University


Contact

Stefanie Trop
Director, Life Sciences
Maryland Department of Commerce
401 E. Pratt Street, 17th Floor 
Baltimore, MD 21202
443-610-7436

Meetings

Upcoming Meetings

  • Tuesday, July 15, 2025
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology
Multi-Purpose Room
701 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

  • Tuesday, November 18, 2025
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
World Trade Center, 17th Floor Conference Room
401 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Meeting Archive