Dr. Katarina Madunic is a pharmacist with a PhD from Leiden University Medical Center, specialized in glycobiology, analytical chemistry, and translational glycoscience. These experiences have shaped her commitment to bringing glycan-based innovations to patients. She has actively engaged with industry, co-authored grant proposals, and initiated collaborations that bridge academia and clinical applications. Katarina has hands-on experience in Phase 3 clinical trials, giving her a strong grasp of regulatory strategy and clinical translation. She plans to dedicate her career to applying her scientific expertise to create clinically validated, impactful solutions that address urgent medical needs. She is currently part of the unlock_ biotech startup incubation program and NWO Faculty of Impact to further develop her entrepreneurial skills.
Prof. Manfred Wuhrer is the head of the Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics at Leiden University Medical Center and is professor for Proteomics and Glycomics. He is trained as a biochemist and obtained his PhD in the field of mass spectrometry glycomics at Giessen University, Germany, in 1999. He pioneered high-throughput, high-sensitivity glycoanalytical methods, and applied these methods for studying the molecular signatures and mechanisms of a vast range of human diseases. He is co-inventor for the two patent (applications) that will be licensed from Leiden University Medical Center, and will lead the R&D activities. Manfred wants to achieve an impact on patient care by driving the clinical translation of the fibrosis biomarker.