Boards

Updated: March 28, 2022

The CBC is supported by a number of academic leaders from Northwestern University, The University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). In addition to Chicago area leadership, our board membership includes a group of interdisciplinary advisors outside of the CBC’s member institutions. The CBC boards meet regularly to discuss CBC initiatives, award and educational programs, and strategies.


Executive Oversight Board

Updated: March 28, 2022

The Executive Oversight Board (EOB) provides general oversight of the CBC, holding the CBC accountable for achieving the goals established for Phase 2. The members of the EOB also provide guidance and, where possible, assistance on the major Phase 2 initiatives to expand linkages with the biomedical industry, fundraise, and elevate the public profile of the CBC. Until recently, the Provosts of each of the CBC universities (Northwestern University (NU), the University of Chicago (UChicago), and the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)) directly oversaw the CBC and provided institutional responsibility working primarily through the EOB. As of April 20, 2020, following the CBC Governance Committee recommendation, the governance structure of the CBC reports to the CBC universities Chief Scientific Officers (CSOs) who hold the positions of Senior Research Officers at the three CBC universities.

The EOB is composed of representatives from:

  • the Foundation (initially The Searle Family and The Chicago Community Trust),
  • the universities (the three CSOs), and
  • the biomedical industry (the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and/or venture capital sectors; pending).

 
CURRENT MEMBERSHIP:

Updated: March 28, 2022

Angel Gibson
Executive Director, Kinship Foundation

Joanna Groden, PhD
CBC Chief Scientific Officer for UIC
Vice Chancellor for Research
University of Illinois Chicago

Karen Kim, MD
CBC Chief Scientific Officer for UChicago
Vice Provost for Research
The University of Chicago

Milan Mrksich, PhD
CBC Chief Scientific Officer for NU
Vice President for Research
Northwestern University

Other membership pending


Scientific Advisory Board

Updated: January 1, 2023

The Scientific Advisory Board’s (SAB) overarching goal will be to evaluate annually the scientific agenda and programs of the CBC to ensure the highest scientific standards and the stature of the CBC as an intellectual leader in scientific circles are maintained.

 
CURRENT MEMBERSHIP:

Updated: January 1, 2023

Luisa DiPietro, DDS, PhD
CBC Scientific Advisor for UIC
Director, Center for Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration
Professor of Periodontics
Department of Periodontics
University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry

Richard Morimoto, PhD
CBC Scientific Advisor for NU
Bill and Gayle Cook Professor of Biology
Director, Rice Institute for Biomedical Research
Department of Molecular Biosciences
Northwestern University


Accelerator Venture Board

Updated: November 30, 2022

CBC Accelerator Award program proposals are evaluated by the CBC Accelerator Venture Board (AVB), composed of civic minded venture capital professionals, who generously donate their time to assess finalized investment theses and recommend funding for viable Accelerator Award proposals. The AVB will meet regularly throughout the year. For a complete list of currently scheduled AVB meeting dates, please click on the link below.

▸ CBC Accelerator Venture Board Meeting Schedule



Catalyst Review Board

Updated: February 13, 2023

CBC Catalyst awards are made on the basis of scientific merit and are evaluated by the Catalyst Review Board (CRB) composed of equal numbers of scientists from consortium institutions who serve on a volunteer basis. The Board advises the Scientific Directors and works closely with the Executive Director to define and implement the specifics of the Catalyst Award program.

*The last edition of the Catalyst Award will be funded in June 2023, after which the CRB will be dissolved.

 
CURRENT MEMBERSHIP:

Michael Caffrey, PhD ▸ Lab Link
Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics
University of Illinois Chicago

David T. Eddington, PhD ▸ Lab Link
Professor, Richard and Loan Hill Department of Bioengineering
University of Illinois Chicago

Michael Federle, PhD ▸ Lab Link
Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Illinois Chicago

Robert Holmgren, PhD ▸ Lab Link
Professor, Department of Molecular Biosciences
Northwestern University

Larry Miller, PhD ▸ Lab Link
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry
University of Illinois Chicago

Cathryn R. Nagler, PhD ▸ Lab Link
Bunning Family Professor, Biological Sciences Division, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and the College
The University of Chicago

Kunle Odunsi, MD, PhD ▸ Lab Link
AbbVie Foundation Distinguished Service Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
The University of Chicago

Michael Rust, PhD ▸ Lab Link
Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute for Genomics and Systems Biology
The University of Chicago

Karla Fullner Satchell, PhD ▸ Lab Link
Anne Stewart Youmans Professor of Microbiology, Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern University

Amittha Wickrema, PhD ▸ Lab Link
Professor of Medicine, Biological Sciences Division, Department of Hematology and Oncology
The University of Chicago


Affinity Groups

Updated: February 13, 2023

Affinity Groups are cross-institutional communities centered around specific topics, which promote collaborative exploration of the community’s delineated key scientific questions. Based on Team Science concepts, the Affinity Group will engender collaborations which the community funds through inter-institutional $250,000 awards.

 
Neuroscience affinity group – Steering Committee:

Simon Alford, PhD ▸ Lab Link
Professor and Head, Anatomy and Cell Biology
University of Illinois Chicago

Edwin H. Cook Jr., MD ▸ Lab Link
Earl M. Bane Professor of Psychiatry
Associate Head, Clinical Services
Director, Program for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Department of Psychiatry
University of Illinois Chicago

William Green, PhD ▸ Lab Link
Professor of Neurobiology
Department of Neurobiology
The University of Chicago

Indira Raman, PhD ▸ Lab Link
Bill and Gayle Cook Professor
Department of Neurobiology
Northwestern University