about us
Mission, Vision, Team
Founded in 2022, UP Oncolytics is engaged in the development of viral vectors to treat refractory and poorly responsive cancers like glioblastoma (GBM) and metastatic melanoma.
Despite intensive research efforts, many cancers do not respond to precision therapeutics because of challenges in drug delivery, heterogeneity of the tumor, and an immuno-inhibitory tumor microenvironment. Oncolytic viruses overcome all these challenges.
Our initial focus is on GBM, an aggressive brain cancer. Brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for people under 40 years of age in the United Kingdom, for men under 40 and women under 20 in the United States. In over a century, the overall survival for GBM patients has not significantly changed. The Central Brain Tumor Registry in the United States (CBTRUS) reported that the median survival for adults with GBM is 8 months with 6.8% of patients surviving to 5 years. At UP Oncolytics, we understand new approaches are desperately needed and we are actively working on solutions.
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Our Mission
To change how cancer is treated.
Our Vision
By harnessing the natural oncolytic and immunomodulatory capabilities of viruses, we will usher in a new era in cancer therapeutics. Our oncolytic virus platforms will provide safe and effective treatments to patients and families fighting difficult to treat cancers.
Richard Rovin, MD
Co-Founder & CEO
Dr. Rovin is a Board-Certified Neurosurgeon with over 30 years of clinical experience. After completing his training at Northwestern University, Chicago IL, Richard began his Neurosurgical practice in Marquette MI. While there, he served as Chief of Surgery and Chief of Staff at Maquette General Hospital. He also co-founded the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center and served as its Medical Director. In 2012, Richard became the first Neurosurgeon in the United States to perform a minimally invasive removal of a deep-seated brain tumor using the BrainPath TM system. In 2015, Richard joined the Aurora Neuroscience Innovation Institute in Milwaukee WI. There he served as Director of Clinical Research, Chief of Neurosurgery, and System Neuro Oncology Medical Director.
Richard’s research interests include discovering novel treatments for glioblastoma and other cancers and identifying social and environmental factors that impact health and access to healthcare.
Parvez Akhtar
Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer
Parvez Akhtar is an experienced cancer biologist and virologist at Advocate Aurora Research Institute, where he is leading the effort to validate oncolytic viruses for the treatment of solid tumors.
He completed his MS in Biochemistry from Dr. RML Avadh University, India. In 2006, he received his Ph.D. degree in Microbiology from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. He conducted his postdoctoral training at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where his research focused on infectious diseases, tumor virology, and cancers.
Dr. Akhtar has published over 40 scientific abstracts and manuscripts in national/international peer-reviewed journals and has been invited for talks and podium discussions in national and international scientific meetings. He has trained and supervised many master’s students, undergraduate students, and technologists. He serves as an IRB and IACUC committee member in AARI. Dr. Akhtar is the recipient of Oncology Research Award and Neuroscience Research Award from Aurora Health Care Foundation and Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, Principal Investigator Award at Aurora Research Institute and Rieselbach Distinguished Paper Session Award on Aurora Scientific Day. His personal mission is to impact the quality of patient care through immediate and effective translation of research.
Board of Directors
Michael Rosen, MBA
Board Observer
Michael Rosen, MBA is the Managing Director of Rosalind Franklin University’s Innovation and Research Park and Helix 51 Incubator and is also a member of the Board of Directors (Board Observer). He has 20+ years of experience as an executive at leading pharma companies including Pfizer and Bristol-Myers. He also has direct experience leading cancer biotech companies, including bringing one public. He has direct experience leading oncology clinical trials in the United States and in Europe. Mr. Rosen will bring this experience to help UP Oncolytics negotiate clinical trials and, ultimately, commercialization.
Gary Gordon, MD, PhD
Board Member
Gary Gordon, MD, PhD has joined UP Oncolytics as a Board Member. He has extensive experience developing and commercializing new therapeutics in the oncology space. Dr. Gordon previously served as VP of Clinical Oncology at AbbVie, where he played a crucial role in their expansion into a global leader for oncology pharmaceutical advancements. Prior to this work, he also served as VP, Global Oncology Development at Abbott where he was responsible for the advancement of ABT-751, an antimitotic sulfonamide with significant antitumor activity. Across his career, Dr. Gordon has experience leveraging advantageous regulatory pathways and the experience of individuals across the therapeutic development spectrum to bring new treatments through first-in-human trials to approval and commercialization. He trained as an oncologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine.