Mentor and investor for early-stage companies, advising on Funding strategies, management, and operational

Replenish, Inc. developed the world’s smallest implantable, refillable drug pump, known as the MicroPump, targeting the $14 billion retinal therapeutic market. Designed for patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the MicroPump is implanted beneath the eye’s surface, delivering sight-preserving medication. After a quick, 20-minute outpatient procedure, the pump is programmed and recharged wirelessly by the physician, requiring refills only once every six months. This technology enables the administration of biotech protein therapies, which would otherwise necessitate monthly injections by a physician for the patient’s lifetime. The MicroPump is presently in clinical investigation and is not yet FDA-approved for commercial sale.

Part-Time Employee, U.S. Army Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), IPA ProgramAs part of the U.S. Defense Department’s $700 million TATRC program, I represented the Army in identifying cutting-edge healthcare technologies with applications for military medicine. My role involved forging partnerships between West Coast universities, military personnel, and industry leaders to accelerate innovation and address critical healthcare needs.I focused on discovering and supporting the commercialization of innovative therapeutics aimed at improving outcomes for soldiers and providing scalable solutions for underserved populations in third-world nations.About TATRC:The Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) conducts medical reconnaissance and special operations to fill critical gaps underrepresented in Department of Defense medical research. Operating as part of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC), TATRC focuses on advancing medical innovation to meet military and humanitarian needs. Email was sean.caffey@us.army.mil

Biomimetic MicroElectronic Systems (BMES) Engineering Research Center (ERC)Our NSF Center of Excellence at USC and Caltech focused on restoring sight to blind people, reanimation of paralyzed limbs, and cognitive abilities to stroke and alzheimer's patients.Managed business development and corporate partnerships for a $40 million Engineering Research Center (ERC) at USC and Caltech, sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). This NSF national center of excellence's focus was to commercialize "Biomimetic MicroElectronic Systems"-- an exciting field of implantable microelectronics that "mimick" biology in order to restore neuronal functions in sight, limb movement and brain function. Since the central nervous system (CNS) cannot heal itself after nerve injury in the human body, we connect the bridge of broken neurons with microelectronic implants and neural stimulation. Secondary focus of the center was drug delivery.Companies I recruited to the ERC center from 2002 to 2008 (I worked part time during school). Abbott Medical Optics Bausch & Lomb Cell Traffix Eli Lilly Harvest Precision Components Iridex Medtronic Morgan Technical Ceramics National Semiconductor Product Development Technologies Reichert Technologies Santen Second Sight St. Jude Medical Stryker Synergetics Texas Instruments