Our team

Co-founder and Vice Chairman of Indaco Venture Partners SGR, previously served as Investment Director of Quadrivio SGR (2014-2018). She was a Venture Consultant for Sofinnova Partners (2005-2008). Elizabeth has broad experience in life sciences and the development and licensing of innovative pharmaceutical products. She was a co-founder of NicOx S.A. (1997) and served as President of NicOx Research Institute Srl (2006-2022). She is a member of the Board of Directors of Brembo S.p.A. and previously of several life sciences companies in Italy including MolMed SpA. Elizabeth was a Director, Product Development, at Recordati Italy (1990-1996); Consultant, Technology Development, at Techint Engineering Company (1988-1990); Vice President, New Technology Ventures Europe, at Genzyme (1985-1988); Visiting Scientist at MIT (1984-1987); and Post Doctorate Research Associate at MIT (1982-1984). Elizabeth graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Wellesley College in 1977, received her M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1979 and her Ph.D. in biotechnology from MIT in 1982.

A serial biotech entrepreneur, prolific inventor, and venture capital investor in the biopharmaceutical and medical device areas, with broad international experience spanning translational medicine (oncology, hematology, immunology), pharmaceutical drug development, clinical development, business development, and venture capital. Dr. Leoni holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Biochemistry and Immunology from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland (1995), and a Master of Science (License) in Biochemistry from the University of Lausanne (1988). Following his doctorate, Dr. Leoni became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine (Division of Hematology/Oncology) at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), where he worked on cancer biology and the discovery of novel targeted anti-tumor drugs as a full member of the UCSD Cancer Center. He has co-founded several companies and is a managing partner of Ti Venture group and CreAdd Venture group.

Mr. Michele Garufi is a Co-Founder of Nicox SA and served as its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman since the creation in March 1996 until June 1 and July 28, 2022 respectively. Prior to co-founding Nicox, his last position was Vice President of the International Division and Director of Licensing at Recordati Spa and Chief Executive Officer of its Spanish subsidiary. In his career he was a co-founder and board member of several R&D start-up Companies and Speciality Pharma Companies. In addition to his role in Golgenia Srl, he is also a co-founder and Board member of LaMed Pharma Srl, a Services Company to the Pharma Industry; and a Board member of NanoRetinal Inc., a US-based research ophthalmic Company; and Swiss Regen, a Swiss R&D Company focused on cell regeneration therapies. He is also an Advisor to the Italian Venture Fund BIO Indaco. Mr Garufi earned a degree with honors in pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of Milan in 1977 and a pharmacist degree in 1989 from the University of Padova.

Khalid Islam has over 35 years of experience in Biotech & Pharma and a decade in academia. He has been the Chairman of Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Gentium S.p.A. (2009-2014; GENT; sold to Jazz Pharma 1b$). Previously he was President & CEO of Arpida (1999-2008; ARPN, SWX) and earlier had various roles at Hoechst Marion Rousell. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fennec Pharma Inc. (FENC; North Carolina), Gain Therapeutics Inc. (GANX; Maryland) and Minoryx Therapeutics S.L. (Barcelona). He has been a member of the Board of Directors of listed companies including Immunomedics (IMMU; sold to Gilead for 21b$), Processa Pharma (PCSA; Maryland), Karolinska Development (KDEV; Stockholm), Arpida AG (ARPN; Basel) and Molmed SpA (MLM.MI; Milano) and several private companies in the Nordics. He is an Advisor to the Venture Capital Groups Kurma BioFund (Paris) and Indaco (Milan). He graduated in Biochemistry (Kings College, Univ. of London) and obtained his Dipl. I.C. and Ph.D. from Imperial College (Univ. of London). He has published ca. 85 papers and holds several patents.

Khalid Islam has over 35 years of experience in Biotech & Pharma and a decade in academia. He has been the Chairman of Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Gentium S.p.A. (2009-2014; GENT; sold to Jazz Pharma 1b$). Previously he was President & CEO of Arpida (1999-2008; ARPN, SWX) and earlier had various roles at Hoechst Marion Rousell. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fennec Pharma Inc. (FENC; North Carolina), Gain Therapeutics Inc. (GANX; Maryland) and Minoryx Therapeutics S.L. (Barcelona). He has been a member of the Board of Directors of listed companies including Immunomedics (IMMU; sold to Gilead for 21b$), Processa Pharma (PCSA; Maryland), Karolinska Development (KDEV; Stockholm), Arpida AG (ARPN; Basel) and Molmed SpA (MLM.MI; Milano) and several private companies in the Nordics. He is an Advisor to the Venture Capital Groups Kurma BioFund (Paris) and Indaco (Milan). He graduated in Biochemistry (Kings College, Univ. of London) and obtained his Dipl. I.C. and Ph.D. from Imperial College (Univ. of London). He has published ca. 85 papers and holds several patents.

Graduated in Medicine in Milan and spent long periods at the Weizmann Institute (Israel) and the NIH (US) before returning to Italy, now at the IEOS-CNR in Naples. He is a permanent member of the EMBO and Academia Europaea, and has served in the EMBL Technical Advisory Committee, the ERC Advanced Panel, and the EuroBioimaging Governing Board. He was Director of the Cell Biology and Oncology Department at the Mario Negri Sud Institute; co-founder and first coordinator of the European Light Microscopy Initiative (ELMI); co-founder of the Telethon Initiative for the Discovery of Drug Targets (TIDID). He worked in different areas of biology including drug metabolism, microscopy technologies and cell biology and oncology, with a continued focus on the Golgi complex. He demonstrated the mechanism of intra-Golgi transport; developed modern correlative video-electron microscopy (CLEM); discovered novel mechanisms of membrane fission; and, more relevant to Golgenia's goals, unraveled the mechanisms linking glycosylation with intra-Golgi transport. This has led to the discovery of the glyco-oncogenes and to the development of inhibitors of their action for the treatment of solid tumors.

After obtaining his high school leaving diploma in classical studies, Mr. Luini studied political science at the Statale University in Milan for two years before deciding to take up a professional opportunity offered in the sales and commercial area of the tissue and cellulose sector, in the world of Italian large-scale distribution until 1990. From 1990 to 2010 he oversaw the commercial development of exports of Kartogroup spa in Lucca (cellulose products for household use) in the South West Europe Large-scale Distribution and held the role of European Trading Manager Kartogroup Spa. He was appointed board member of the Spanish and Benelux international subsidiaries. In 2010, he left Kartogroup to start his own business as founder and managing director of JMG srl, a manufacturing and import company in the disposable party sector, which became a leader in Italy and was sold in May 2021. He is currently export consultant for Italian manufacturing companies and paper mills in the European markets.

Currently, he is Honorary professor at Tor Vergata University of Rome and an Advisor to the Italian Minister of Health Orazio Schillaci as Expert in the field of pharmaceuticals. Previously he was Professor of Microbiology (2008-2024) at Rome University of Tor Vergata. He was the CEO of Clinical Trial Center, Policlinico Gemelli, Rome, Italy (2020-2023). He has been the Executive Director of EMA for two terms (2011-2020) and Chair of the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA; 2019-2022). He was Director-General of the Italian Medicines Agency (2008-2011) and member of the Management Board (2004-2008). From 2005 to 2008 he was Director of Research at the Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine of the National Research Council (CNR) in Rome. From 1990 to 2005 Prof. Rasi worked at the Institute for Experimental Medicine of the National Research Council, Italy. He has been a lecturer and researcher at the University of California, Berkeley (1999). Prof. Rasi holds a degree in medicine and surgery, with specializations in internal medicine, allergology and clinical immunology, from the University of Rome. He is an advisor to Sanità di Frontiera in Italy, CoRE advisory Board at Duke University, and the Multi Regional Clinical Trial advisory board at Harvard University. He is the author of numerous scientific publications. He has received many awards and a honorary degree.

A medical doctor specialized in hematology and oncology at the Sapienza University of Rome. From 1999 to 2021, served as a First-Level Medical Director in Oncology at the medical oncology department of the Regina Elena National Cancer Institute of the Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Health Care (IRCSS) IFO. Acted as Scientific Director of the Ministry of Health Project "Evaluating the clinical, psychological, and social-health impact of hospice admission on palliative care patients". Member of the ACRO Project (Clinical Applications of Oncology Research) at the National Research Council (CNR). From 1992 to 1999, worked as an Assistant Oncologist at the Regina Elena National Cancer Institute (IRE) in Rome. Served as Vice President of the AMO Association (Oncology Patient Care) for 10 years, overseeing the distribution of 32 oncology scholarships and providing care to 1033 patients. In 1978 he spent 5 years as an Internal Physician within the Hematology Department at Sapienza University of Rome, followed by another 5 years as Hematologist and Doctor of Internal Medicine at the IRE in Rome. He has published numerous scientific papers in international journals and presented at national and international conferences.