About JPG Biotech

Julius Pryor III

Julius Pryor is an innovative leader who drives business results, having created and led groundbreaking strategies at multiple global corporations. He is the Founder & General Managing Partner of JPG BioTech, a company whose mission is to develop therapies for the treatment of cancers that disproportionately affect at-risk populations.

He has held executive roles at Johnson & Johnson, Genentech/Roche, Coca-Cola, Russell Athletic, AbbVie, Takeda, Cerner/Oracle, and BeOne Medicines. He is Chair of the Board of Directors at the Center for Healthcare Innovation, an independent, non-profit research institute dedicated to driving health equity by leveraging technology, data analytics, and innovative marketplace platforms. Julius is an expert in building organizational diversity maturity, which drives ideas across lines of demarcation and enables leaders to make better decisions.

Julius learned a great deal about agility, driving outcomes, and clarity of mission during his service in the U.S. Navy — noting that “the Navy is a requirement-driven culture: you can delegate authority, but not responsibility.” He is a U.S. Navy Captain (retired), Surface Warfare Officer, and instructor for the Navy Officer Leadership Development Program, and held leadership roles in the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, including Unit Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, and Fleet Staff Officer. He had the honor of serving on the re-commissioning crew of the historic USS Missouri (BB-63).

A graduate of Morehouse College and The Williston Northampton School (Easthampton, Massachusetts), he was initiated into the legendary Psi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity while at Morehouse. Julius is the author of Thriving in a Disruptive World: 6 Critical Concepts for Navigating the 21st Century.

Dr. Rehan Waheed

Dr. Rehan Waheed is a visionary physician-executive with 20 years of leadership experience across the education, healthcare, and technology sectors. He combines strategic foresight with operational expertise — leveraging Lean, Six Sigma, AI, and emotional intelligence to build scalable systems and high-performing teams. As President & CEO of Mansooba LLC, he empowers small businesses and entrepreneurs through strategic advisory and executive coaching, with the goal of driving measurable, sustainable growth through empathetic servant leadership.

Prior to Mansooba, Dr. Waheed was the Sr. Medical Director & Chief Medical Informatics Officer for Healthcare Analytics Solutions (HAS) at Quest Diagnostics, where he created and led both the Public Health and Clinical Innovation Divisions — helping public health entities understand disease burden, building new products to simplify their work, and developing AI-driven disease predictive models. He was also responsible for clinical strategy in leveraging data to support life sciences and payor companies nationwide.

Before Quest, he was a Director & Physician Executive at Cerner Corporation leading efforts in the federal sector. His earlier roles include Sr. Director in the Department of Integration & Transformation (DoIT) at The MetroHealth System, Sr. Consultant for Better Health Partnership, and Medical Officer at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and holds a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, an Informatics Certificate, and an Emotionally Intelligent Leadership Certificate from the CWRU Weatherhead School of Management. He has taught at the School of Medicine and School of Management at Case Western Reserve and the School of Public Health at Baldwin Wallace.

Michon Pinnix

Michon Pinnix has spent more than two decades at the intersection of science, business, and human need, building meaningful solutions to global challenges. As a company builder, she has navigated the full arc of the life sciences ecosystem. Her career spans foundational work in specialty chemicals and management consulting, early-stage entrepreneurship, and large-scale transformation within global biotech leaders like Amgen and BeOne Medicines. Guided by the conviction that agility is a superpower to be used for good, Michon thrives on crossing boundaries. Raised as a military dependent across continents, she developed a lifelong instinct for navigating complex cultural, organizational, and disciplinary systems.

This multi-disciplinary career is backed by an elite academic foundation: Michon holds a BS in Chemistry from Spelman College, a BS in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, an MS in Civil Engineering from Stanford University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. With this unique technical and strategic toolkit, her track record spans oncology, cell and gene therapy, genomics, and AI strategy. At BeOne Medicines, she led corporate development at scale, driving $150M in financial optimization and architecting the company's first AI-driven operating model. Previously, as an early leader at Chimera Bioengineering, she secured $45M in funding and forged high-impact collaborations with Bluebird Bio, CytomX, and Illumina, building the company's infrastructure from the ground up.

Today, Michon serves as an independent advisor at the frontier of life sciences and technology. Driven by a mission to democratize data, she partners with organizations that believe open-source data and global collaboration are the most powerful levers to accelerate innovation and fight disease for everyone. She currently consults with the Align Foundation, a nonprofit building the large-scale, open biological datasets required to power the next generation of AI-driven medical breakthroughs, from rare cancers to infectious diseases.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Michon is a mother of three, a half-Ironman triathlete, a dedicated yoga practitioner, and a long-time advocate for education, serving as an advisor to the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the West Valley Boys and Girls Club. She leads not just with an elite pedigree, but with profound purpose.

Joseph P. Gaspero

Mr. Joseph P. Gaspero is a healthcare executive, health equity advocate, non-profit Founder and CEO, and United States Air Force veteran who has dedicated more than 20 years of his career to improving healthcare access and advancing equitable health outcomes for underserved populations.

Mr. Gaspero currently serves as Clinical Partnerships Director at Iris Telehealth, where he partners with federally qualified health centers, community behavioral health organizations, hospitals, and health systems to address behavioral health workforce shortages, reduce patient wait times, and expand access to psychiatric care. His work focuses on helping organizations overcome staffing challenges and improve behavioral health outcomes for the communities they serve.

Previously, he served as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for ATW Health Solutions, where he collaborated with federal agencies, health systems, and national healthcare organizations on quality improvement initiatives, health equity programs, patient safety strategies, and community engagement efforts designed to improve healthcare outcomes and advance equitable care delivery. Mr. Gaspero is also the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Healthcare Innovation (CHI), a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing health equity, clinical trial diversity, patient engagement, and healthcare innovation. Under his leadership, CHI developed partnerships with more than 100 healthcare, academic, government, and life sciences organizations and helped connect thousands of underrepresented patients to healthcare and research opportunities.

Throughout his career, Mr. Gaspero has worked at the intersection of healthcare innovation, behavioral health, patient engagement, and strategic partnerships, collaborating with federal agencies, healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations, and life sciences companies to improve access, quality, and patient outcomes.

A military veteran and mission-driven healthcare leader, Mr. Gaspero brings to JPG Biotech extensive experience in health equity, healthcare delivery, patient engagement, behavioral health access, and community-centered innovation. His career has been guided by a commitment to ensuring that emerging healthcare technologies and innovative care models ultimately improve the lives of patients and communities.

Dr. Linda Bing

Dr. Linda Bing has spent more than twenty-five years helping leaders, organizations, and communities unlock human potential by understanding the behavioral dynamics that drive performance, trust, innovation, and organizational transformation. Throughout her career, she has worked at the intersection of leadership science, organizational behavior, culture, and executive performance, guiding organizations through complex challenges where sustainable success depends as much on people as it does on strategy.

Colleagues often describe Dr. Bing’s greatest gift as her ability to read people—not to judge them, but to understand who they are, recognize what they need, and help them become who they are capable of becoming. Her rare combination of behavioral insight, empathy, and strategic thinking enables her to quickly identify the human dynamics that determine whether innovation flourishes, teams collaborate, leaders inspire confidence, and organizations achieve their mission.

As the founder and CEO of Turning Point Leadership Group, Dr. Bing has advised corporations, government agencies, healthcare organizations, nonprofit institutions, and executive leadership teams through periods of significant growth, disruption, and change. She is recognized for helping leaders see what others often miss—translating complex human behavior into practical strategies that strengthen leadership effectiveness, organizational resilience, and high-performing cultures. Whether facilitating strategic planning, coaching executives, or guiding organizational transformation, she brings clarity, wisdom, and an uncommon ability to align people around a shared purpose.

Dr. Bing holds a doctorate in Organizational Psychology and has built a career grounded in the science of human behavior and organizational effectiveness. Her multidisciplinary expertise spans leadership development, organizational culture, workforce engagement, executive coaching, relationship dynamics, and human performance. A Certified Diversity Executive, Certified Relationship Specialist, and Certified Menopause Wellness Coach, she is known for translating behavioral science into practical solutions that improve both organizational outcomes and individual well-being. Her contributions to leadership, education, and community impact have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.

Today, Dr. Bing serves as a trusted strategic advisor to visionary leaders and organizations navigating complex human challenges in rapidly changing environments. She believes that breakthrough innovation requires more than breakthrough science—it requires understanding the people who bring that science to life. By helping organizations cultivate trust, strengthen leadership, and unlock human potential, she enables teams to transform bold ideas into meaningful, lasting impact.

Dr. Nakisha Rutledge

Dr. Nakisha Rutledge is a biotechnology executive, scientist, and entrepreneur with expertise in translational medicine, immunology, targeted drug delivery, and oncology drug development. She has led the advancement of novel therapeutics from early discovery through preclinical development, while overseeing scientific strategy, CRO and CDMO partnerships, fundraising initiatives, and investor engagement.

In addition to her work in biotechnology, Dr. Rutledge is the founder of STEMulating Potential: Sci In The City, an organization dedicated to expanding access to STEM education and inspiring the next generation of scientists. She is passionate about bridging science, business, and community impact to accelerate innovation and improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Rutledge has an undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Spelman College and advanced degrees from Northwestern University.

Ashwin Datt

Ashwin Datt is a biotech leader who believes that science and human potential grow strongest together. He has spent his career building organizations that turn bold ideas into real-world impact—where innovation serves both people and purpose. Ashwin currently serves on the boards of CellX Technologies, Oak Bay Biosciences, and the LEMO Founda on. He was previously co-chairman and CEO of APIE Therapeutics, focused on regenera ve medicine, and CEO of Carousel Therapeutics, a start-up developing engineered T-cell therapies for cancer.

Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Gyroscope Therapeutics—including Chief People Officer, EVP of Corporate Development, and Advisor to the CEO—and at companies such as Sana Biotechnology, Juno Therapeutics, GRAIL, Genentech, and Amgen. His work has spanned science, strategy, and building thriving teams. His varied roles at these innovative companies have helped him accumulate a wealth of knowledge across therapeutic areas, including oncology, immunology, respiratory, ophthalmology, neuroscience, and diagnostics, and gain expertise in diverse modalities such as small molecules, biologics, and gene and cell therapy. Ashwin earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Guided by curiosity and compassion, he brings to JPG BioTech a deep commitment to empowering people to reach their full potential—through innovation, education, and community. “We have the unique privilege and responsibility to redefine HOPE every day!”

John A. Allen

John Allen serves as Vice President, Global Commercial Affairs & Business Relations, with responsibility for the development and execution of U.S. and international public and private distribution strategies designed to expand patient access to INOVIO products. He works cross-functionally with manufacturing, regulatory affairs, market access, and contracting teams to ensure the successful commercialization of INOVIO's portfolio. John also has overall responsibility for health policy engagement, reimbursement strategy, and insurance coverage for INOVIO's commercially approved products.

In addition, John evaluates the potential impact of legislative, regulatory, policy, and political developments on business operations and patient access to INOVIO's DNA Medicines. He leads strategic relationships with U.S. federal agencies, state governments, and international healthcare purchasing and policy organizations.

A former U.S. Army officer and commercial pilot, John brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across the biotechnology, vaccine, and pharmaceutical industries. His career includes senior leadership roles with Takeda/Abbott, MedImmune, Genzyme, Intercell, and Valneva USA, where he served as General Manager for the U.S. operations of the European vaccine company.

John has extensive expertise in government affairs, distribution strategy, federal and commercial contracting, pricing, reimbursement, and market access. Throughout his career, he has served as the company's lead representative to key government agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), helping shape policy and commercial strategies in highly regulated healthcare environments.

John is married to Patricia Underwood, a Certified Public Accountant, and together they have four adult children.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, John is a certified commercial helicopter and airplane pilot, an FAA-certified Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic, and a certified rescue scuba diver.

Chad Womack, PhD

Dr. Chad Womack serves as the Executive Vice President for Capital Initiatives and Enterprise Integration at the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, where he oversees a portfolio of strategic initiatives and helps the CEO integrate programs, business processes, and workflows across the enterprise. Previously, as President of Innovation and Social Ventures at BlueSKY Collaborative Partners, he aligned client value propositions with market investment and growth opportunities and helped lead national efforts such as the Sustainable Communities Initiative. He is also the founder of the Innovation and Research-Inspired STEM Empowerment in Philadelphia initiative (iRISE PHL), focused on economic mobility through STEM education, talent development, and entrepreneurship.

As Vice President of National STEM Programs and Tech Initiatives at the UNCF, Dr. Womack helped raise over $125M for a portfolio that included the Silicon Valley HBCU Tech Innovation Summit, the UNCF STEM Scholars Program, the HBCU CS Academy, and the Ernest E. Just Life Science Fellowship, which supports the career development of African Americans in the life sciences and builds research capacity at HBCUs. He is the Founding Managing Director of the Applied Research Institute for Mathematics and Computational Sciences (ARI), established in partnership with Google, and has led the White House–supported HBCU Startup and Innovation Initiative, served on the U.S. Department of Commerce EDA National Advisory Council for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE), and was a founding member of the District of Columbia’s Mayor’s Innovation and Technology Inclusion Council (ITIC).

A certified Design Thinking and Lean Startup instructor, Dr. Womack brings an extensive scientific background to the team, including co-founding and serving as Chief Science Officer of 3GEN Vaccines and completing research fellowships at the NIH Vaccine Research Center and the Laboratory of Immunoregulation at NIAID, as well as at the Harvard AIDS Institute. He earned his Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the Morehouse School of Medicine and his B.S. in Biology, with minors in Chemistry and Applied Physics, from Morehouse College.