The VIC Tech investment model is unique, sourcing promising life science innovations directly from universities nationwide. It provides funding to launch startup companies and advance these technologies, ultimately guiding them toward acquisition. Beyond initial capital, VIC offers its portfolio companies a range of business and scientific resources, including interim management, accounting, marketing, and research support, creating a comprehensive venture development ecosystem.
The VIC Fellows program was established to further enhance this ecosystem and is now welcoming its fifth class. The program enables participants to actively engage in identifying and evaluating life science technologies, as well as contributing to the formation and support of new companies focused on developing and commercializing these innovations.
This program offers an exceptional opportunity for individuals considering a transition into the investment sector (venture capital, private equity, investment banking, etc.), strategic partnerships, technology transfer, or entrepreneurial ventures. Fellows come from various career stages, including graduate students (PhD, MD, MBA), postdoctoral fellows, and early-career professionals.
We are pleased to highlight the new class of VIC Fellows:
Sobha Pisharody, PhD - Senior Fellow: Dr. Pisharody holds a PhD in Molecular Oncology and Immunology from New York University School of Medicine and a BS in Genetics from the University of California at Berkeley. She has a background in both startups and large companies, having held senior leadership roles such as Chief Strategy and Product Officer at InformedDNA, Senior Vice President, Product and Strategy at Talis Biomedical, and Director of Product Management at Thermo Fisher Scientific. Dr. Pisharody was also the founder and CEO of GenoRx, Inc., a molecular diagnostic startup. Recently, Pisharody has been appointed as Chief Product Officer at Hound Labs, a company that specializes in ultra-sensitive technology for non-invasive breath measurement and has developed the first dual alcohol and marijuana breathalyzer.
Jonathan Rayner, PhD - Senior Fellow: Dr. Rayner is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of South Alabama. He is also the Director of the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases (LID) and Responsible Official for the select agent program at the university. Dr. Rayner received his PhD in Microbiology from Colorado State University and has a background in vaccines development, having completed post-doctoral research programs with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. Rayner has worked in both private industry and academic settings, focusing on the development of vaccines and therapeutic drugs against infectious diseases, including anthrax, influenza virus, Zika virus, and severe acute respiratory syncytial virus 2.
Andrés Lorente, PhD – Fellow: Dr. Lorente holds a PhD in Biochemistry from Dartmouth and completed postdoctoral training at UT Southwestern in Physiology and Cancer Biology, equipping him with deep expertise in assessing compounds' impact on physiology and disease. After his postdoc, he worked at UT Southwestern's Technology Transfer Office, conducting market research and investor outreach. In 2018, Andrés joined Reata Pharmaceuticals, where his leadership in competitive intelligence and market research played a pivotal role in strategic decisions, including Reata's $7.3 billion acquisition by Biogen. In 2024, he founded BioScience Strategy IQ to provide strategic insights for biotech and pharmaceutical companies.
Karim Refaey, MD – Fellow: Dr. ReFaey is a physician-scientist with a background in neurosurgery and neural engineering. Trained at Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic, he has worked in academia, industry, and investment, publishing 42 articles, holding 5 patents, and authoring a neurosurgery textbook. Karim has focused on improving neurological treatments through roles at Johnson & Johnson, ZOLL Medical, Siemens Healthineers, and Abbott Laboratories. His investment expertise, sharpened by a Certificate in Private Equity and Venture Capital from Wharton, includes angel investing and scientific due diligence for venture capital. Karim is passionate about bioelectronic medicine's potential to revolutionize healthcare, particularly in NeuroTech, and is committed to advancing brain health and humanity
Nicole Shirkey-Son, PhD – Fellow: Dr. Shirkey-Son has held leadership roles in both startups and Fortune 500 companies, specializing in preclinical development of medical devices and biologic products. At Luminary Therapeutics, she was part of a team that advanced a cell therapy asset from mid-preclinical development to an approved IND in about 18 months. Nikki has secured over $2 million in non-dilutive funding through grant writing and holds certification in Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), with over five years of experience as Principal Investigator/Study Director for preclinical studies. At Boston Scientific, she earned multiple awards for her contributions to mentorship, talent pipeline development, and employee engagement. Nikki holds a BA in Biology from Concordia College, a PhD in Neurobiology & Behavior from UC Irvine, and completed postdoctoral training at Columbia University.
Dhananjay Tambe, PhD – Fellow: Dr. Tambe is an accomplished scientist and educator with expertise in mechanical, biomedical, and integrative physiological sciences. He serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering at the University of South Alabama and holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Pharmacology. Dr. Tambe also directs the Cell and Tissue Culture Core at the Center for Lung Biology. He completed his postdoctoral training in Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences at Harvard and earned his PhD in Mechanics of Solids and Structures from Brown University. His interdisciplinary research focuses on the mechanics of biological systems, particularly in lung biology.
To learn more, visit victech.com/fellows