Scientific Advisory Board
Steven R. Smith, M.D.
Chair – Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Steven Smith has more than 15 years experience in clinical endocrinology and metabolism and has served as principal investigator on over 47 clinical studies focusing on the mechanisms of and treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes. His research is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the US Department of Agriculture, as well as the pharmaceutical industry. He has authored over 85 peer-reviewed papers and 20 chapters and reviews in the field of obesity, diabetes and metabolism and serves on the editorial boards for the International Journal of Obesity, Obesity, and Diabetes.
Dr. Smith currently serves as Professor at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center with the administrative position of Assistant Executive Director of Clinical Science. He also directs the Inpatient Clinic testing unit and leads the Imaging Core. Dr. Smith’s pharmaceutical industry experience includes several scientific advisory boards as well as consulting for international pharmaceutical companies.
Andrew M. Slee Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer, ViviSource Laboratories, Inc.
Dr. Andrew Slee has been active within selected areas of pharmaceutical research for 32 years. Initially the focus of his discovery efforts was in anti-infectives starting with Sterling Drug, Inc. (quinolone antibacterials, cell wall directed antifungals) and later with DuPont Medical Products (oxazolidinone antibacterials and styryl antifungal agents). With DuPont Merck, Dr. Slee held the position of Senior Director of General Pharmacology (in vivo assessment group for anticancer, antinflammatories, anti-infectives, selected CNS models, and General Pharmacology/PK), Safety Pharmacology, Cardiovascular Sciences (thrombosis, stroke and diabesity) and Anti-infectives. In 2001, Dr. Slee moved to smaller start-up companies establishing pharmacology groups at Enanta Pharmaceuticals (anti-infective and anti-inflammatory programs), SelectX Pharmaceuticals (anti-infectives, anticancer and anti-inflammatory programs) and Arpida-US Inc. (DHFR inhibitors).
Dr. Slee is currently Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer with ViviSource Laboratories, Inc. ViviSource was established in 2004 to meet the growing outsourcing needs of pharmaceutical and emerging biotechnology companies. ViviSource has been engaged in programs ranging from anti-infectives to ED and diabesity to cancer. ViviSource currently operates out of two sites in Massachusetts.
Bob Taber, Ph.D.
Dr. Bob Taber has over 30 years of experience in executive pharmaceutical and biotechnology research and development positions. Dr. Taber served as Senior Vice President for Research and Development at Synaptic Pharmaceutical Corporation, Vice President of Pharmaceutical Research for DuPont Merck and as the Director of Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Research for DuPont Pharmaceuticals. He began his industrial career at Schering-Plough where he served as Director of Biological Research.
He co-founded and served as the first President and Chief Executive Officer of Message Pharmaceuticals. He also serves as a Board member for Palatin Technologies and Antyra, Inc. and is involved as a pharmaceutical and biotechnology consultant. Dr. Taber holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the Medical College of Virginia and a B.S. in Pharmacy from Rutgers University.