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:
Andrés Lorente, PhD – Senior 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.
Amuche Anakor, MD – Fellow: Dr. Amuche Anakor is a medical professional with expertise in clinical practice, translational medicine, and clinical development, holding an MD from Queen Mary University of London and additional diplomas in forensic medicine, substance misuse, and sexual and reproductive health. She has led safety strategies for pivotal clinical trials and advanced rare immunology therapeutics, achieving successes from trial completion to regulatory approval. Passionate about bridging scientific discovery and patient care, she focuses on improving outcomes in women’s health, substance misuse, and rare autoimmune conditions.
Olivia Asfaha, PhD – Fellow: Dr. Asfaha is a pharmacologist and biochemist with 10+ years of experience leading research on novel therapeutic strategies. She has published 17 peer-reviewed manuscripts and acquired 3 NIH funding awards (National Research Service Award and Small Business Innovation Research) as principal investigator. Dr. Asfaha received her PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of California, Davis, and then conducted a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus. She now coordinates operations and research strategy at Solaris Vaccines to advance SolaVAX-inactivated vaccines to the clinic.
Michael O’Connor, PhD – Fellow: Dr. O’Connor is a retired senior research program director from Medtronic with over 40 years of professional experience, including 35 in the medical device industry. He holds multiple graduate degrees and a PhD in civil engineering with a focus on project management from the University of Maryland, College Park. In addition to roles at 3M, Pfizer, and three startups, he serves as an adjunct professor in strategy, engineering, project management, and information systems, and has volunteered extensively with professional societies and academic institutions.
Shreya Patel, MD, MPH – Fellow: Dr. Patel is a physician and commercial leader with experience across public and private healthcare systems. At Sanofi, she led vaccine and oncology product launches, developed UK and US go-to-market strategies, and secured national tender wins, later driving portfolio strategy in immunology across multiple early-stage assets. She began her career as a practicing physician in the UK and transitioned into life sciences to bridge scientific innovation and real-world impact, with interests in women’s health, preventive health, and the role of AI in future health systems. She holds an MD from University College London and an MPH from Harvard.
Kazima Saira, PhD – Fellow: Dr. Saira is a scientist specializing in vaccine and drug development with expertise spanning research, clinical trials, and team leadership. She has led assay development for influenza and COVID-19, including work at Invivyd that supported EUA approval for COVID-19 prevention. Her experience at organizations such as Southern Research, Eurofins, and MOgene includes optimizing workflows, managing cross-functional teams, and aligning scientific priorities with organizational goals.
Sharath Sundararaj, PhD - Fellow: Dr. Sundararaj is a biomedical professional with a PhD in biomedical engineering and over a decade of industry experience developing advanced medical devices and combination products. She has deep expertise in designing preclinical models to accelerate translational research, de-risk early concepts, and guide product strategy across orthopedics, spine, neurovascular, wound healing, plastic surgery, and regenerative medicine. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), she has a strong record of leading cross-functional R&D, navigating regulatory pathways, and supporting quality systems that enable scalable innovation.
To learn more, visit victech.com