Greg Bird Ph.D.

Director of Biologics

Dr. Bird is our Director of Biologics. Prior to joining Taiga Biotechnologies, Dr. Bird spent four years as a research associate at biotechnology companies Cytokine Sciences and Sangamo BioSciences. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and his B.A. from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Thomas Payne Ph.D.

Director of Cellular Therapy

Dr. Payne has over 20 years of experience in R&D and clinical translation of cell and gene therapies. He received his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a B.S. in Molecular Biology from Benedictine University.

Erin Mann

Professional Research Associate

Ms. Mann joined Taiga in 2018 as a Professional Research Associate. Prior to Taiga, she taught high school Advanced Placement Chemistry for 28 years. She holds a Masters in Science Education and a Bachelor of Science in Geology from University of Colorado, Boulder.

John Hite

Professional Research Associate

Mr. Hite joined Taiga in 2019 as a Professional Research Assistant. Prior to Taiga, he taught outdoor education in Denver Public Schools for 24 years and middle school Math/Science for two years. He holds a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from The Colorado College.

Matthew LaRouche

Product Engineer

Mr. LaRouche works with the Research & Development team to advance preclinical/clinical stage products.  He helps to improve efficiency & quality of technical processes and establishment of cell therapy manufacturing operations.  He was an undergraduate research assistant investigating traumatic brain injuries.  He received his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Bucknell University.

 Alex Vinton

Senior Financial Analyst

Mr. Vinton joined Taiga in 2022 as a Senior Financial Analyst. Prior to Taiga, Alex worked in corporate strategy and as an associate at a middle-market private equity firm. He received his B.A. in Political Science and Economics from Boston College and Master’s in Finance from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver.

Teresa Wong

Tax & Accounting

Ms. Wong provides domestic and international consultancy on accounting, tax, banking, and finance related matters.  Prior to that, She's held various audit, accounting, and financial consulting positions in companies such as Zwift, Inc. PricewaterhouseCoopers, PepsiCo, Whitby School and Sakonnet Technology.  Teresa received her B.S. in Accounting from Binghamton University in New York.

Mitsuho "Missy" Katahira

Office Manager

Ms. Katahira manages the daily activities of Taiga, including HR, IT and other administrative functions. Prior to joining Taiga, she worked for VMware, Pentax, a Japanese travel agency and Consulate General of Japan in Denver, CO. She holds a B.A. in Graphic Design from Middle Tennessee State University. She is bilingual in English and Japanese.

Vivienne Margolis

Global Director of Clinical Trials

Ms. Margolis has over 20 years’ as a senior manager in the English National Health Service and was Associate Director of Adult Healthcare for a Primary Care Trust. She received a Post Graduate Diploma in Prescribing Sciences at the University of Liverpool and a BSc in Pharmacy from the University of Sunderland. She has worked for the last 12 years on clinical trials worldwide

Geulah Carmel-Fink

Clinical Trial Coordinator

Ms. Carmel-Fink recently joined the Taiga team to support Taiga’s expanding clinical trials. Prior to that, she worked for 4 years as a clinical research coordinator in Hadassah University Hospital. She received a BSc in Biomedical Sciences from University College London.

Yuko Fujii Ph.D.

Laboratory Manager

Dr. Fujii has worked for digital device companies as a scientific and technological adviser for 3 years, and spent over 6 years in a research and development investment area focused on new technologies. She received her Ph.D. and M.S. in Medical Science from Nagoya University in Japan.

Yoko Tashiro

Japan Operations Director

Ms. Tashiro is managing all administrative and operation issues and the set up of our cell processing facility in Tokyo.  Prior to joining Taiga, she was the assistant for a world-renowned researcher in wearable electronics, and managed his laboratory at Tokyo University.  She also worked at Morgan Stanley supporting fixed income traders and worked on a global database project.

Kuniko Matsuo

Japan Country Manager

SustentoBio Japan KK

Ms. Matsuo has more than 25 years of experience in investment industry as a portfolio manager/security analyst in both US and Japan. She also spent 10 years as a professor of finance at a private university in Japan. Ms. Matsuo received Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, Bachelor of Law from Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. She is Rotary International Scholar.

Tap Decho

Country Manager Thailand

Mr. Decho is responsible for managing both our Taiga and Sustentobio businesses in Thailand. Prior to joining SustentoBio, Tap operated a fishing tour agency in Bangkok, Thailand. He received his M.S. in Recreation, Sports and Tourism from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and his B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Purdue University.

Vigrom Jennetisin, M.D.

Consulting Physician

Dr. Jennetisin is a physician at the Mahidol University, Phyathai Hospital in Thailand where Taiga is conducting a human study of TBX-3400 against hepatitis B, HPV, hepatocellular carcinoma and associated head and neck cancer.

Adisak Wongkajornsilp M.D., Ph.D.

Consulting Physician

Dr. Wongkajornsilp is a physician at the Mahidol University, Siriiraj Hospital and oversees the GMP human cell processing facility in Bangkok, Thailand that used to manufacture TBX-3400 for Taiga’s human study of TBX-3400 against hepatitis B, HPV, hepatocellular carcinoma and associated head and neck cancer.