Management
Bradley Popovich, MSc, PhD, FACMG
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Popovich brings a wealth of molecular diagnostic development, commercialization, development of clinical practice standards, and clinical use of these DNA-based diagnostics to Sirius. Preceding his role as CEO, Dr. Popovich was the Chief Operating Officer at Sirius Genomics. Prior to joining Sirius, Dr. Popovich was Vice President of Operations at Xenon Pharmaceuticals. Prior to that, Dr. Popovich was a tenured professor at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) where he was the Director of the Clinical Genetic Laboratories, and the DNA Diagnostic Laboratory in the University Hospital. There he was responsible for the development of molecular diagnostic assays for a wide variety of genetic diseases. Dr. Popovich was also the Director of Graduate Education with the OHSU School of Medicine in the Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics (ACMG). Dr. Popovich has been on the boards of Tm Bioscience, the American College of Medical Genetics, and American College of Medical Genetics Foundation, and he presently sits on the boards for Sirius Genomics, DNA Direct, and Genome British Columbia. It was under Dr. Popovich’s tenure as VP of Lab Practice in the ACMG that cystic fibrosis laboratory and clinical practice standards were adopted by the ACMG and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG). Dr. Popovich received his PhD from McGill University, and did his postdoctoral studies under Nobel Laureate, Dr. Oliver Smithies. He received his Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and Clinical Training at the University of Wisconsin and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
Alexandra Mancini, MSc
Senior Vice President, Clinical & Regulatory Affairs
With more than 25 years of experience, Ms. Mancini brings her clinical trial implementation and regulatory process management expertise to Sirius. Prior to joining Sirius, Ms. Mancini was the Senior Vice President, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs at Inex Pharmaceuticals. There, she provided the strategic direction, oversight and management to the business areas of Clinical Research, Medical Affairs, Clinical Data Management, Medical Writing, Regulatory Affairs, and Quality Assurance. The lead product under development was the anticancer drug Marqibo®. Preceding Inex, Ms. Mancini was with QLT PhotoTherapeutics, where she was the Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and responsible for all regulatory affairs activities for their pharmaceutical and medical device products worldwide. The specific products with successful international regulatory approvals included the anticancer drug PHOTOFRIN® (porfimer sodium) injection with its related medical lasers and OPTIGUIDE™ fibre optic diffusers and Visudyne® (verteporfin for injection) with its related medical laser, used for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. Ms. Mancini has led numerous regulatory meetings with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Canadian Therapeutic Products Directorate (TPD) and Regulatory Authorities across Europe. Ms. Mancini received both her Master and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Toronto.
Celia Courchene LLB
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
Ms. Courchene brings over 20 years of experience in business development and business law to Sirius. Previously, Ms. Courchene was Vice President, Business Development at Xenon Pharmaceuticals and Vice President, Business Development & Legal Affairs at QLT. Preceding QLT, Ms. Courchene was with NeXstar Pharmaceuticals in Colorado. Ms. Courchene has negotiated business deals with a variety of local, national and international partners in both her business and legal careers. Ms. Courchene currently sits on the boards of Partnership British Columbia and The Vancouver Oral Centre for Deaf Children. She holds a bachelor of arts with honours in economics from the University of Western Ontario and a bachelor of law from the University of Victoria.
Jennifer Kaufman-Shaw PhD, LLB
Vice President, Intellectual Property
With significant prior experience in intellectual property in a biotech setting, Dr. Kaufman-Shaw brings over 15 years of scientific legal expertise to Sirius. Previously, Dr. Kaufman-Shaw was Vice President, Patent Counsel at QLT Inc. where for ten years she was responsible for the strategic management of intellectual property matters at the company, including the patent portfolios for the FDA-approved products PHOTOFRIN®, VISUDYNE®, ELIGARD® and ACZONE®. She also has experience managing patent litigation, having been involved in two complex patent cases in the U.S., both at the trial level and on appeal, as well as a case in Germany. Dr. Kaufman-Shaw has had the role of intellectual property counsel for numerous licensing, acquisition and joint development transactions, and has conducted patent due diligence on over 100 medically-related products and technologies. Prior to becoming in-house counsel, Dr. Kaufman-Shaw was a lawyer in the Technology Group of an established law firm, where her practice was focused on patent drafting and prosecution. Dr. Kaufman-Shaw obtained both her PhD in biochemistry and her LLB from the University of Alberta. After graduating from law school, she clerked for the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench and Court of Appeal, articled to the late Honourable Justice J.W. McClung, before being called to the Alberta Bar. Dr. Kaufman-Shaw is a registered patent agent and a registered trade mark agent.
Chris Wagner BSc
Vice President, Business Development
Chris Wagner joins Sirius Genomics with 15 years of collective experience in marketing, sales and business development. Previously, Mr. Wagner was with Aspreva Pharmaceuticals as the Vice President of Marketing, Vice President of Business Development and Vice President of Alliance Management. During his four year tenure there, Mr. Wagner initially directed and oversaw all aspects of Aspreva's marketing policies, objectives and initiatives for all markets worldwide. He then became responsible for managing the business development opportunities for the company. Prior to Aspreva, Mr. Wagner was with Eli Lilly as an international service employee working in Europe, North American and Asia with positions based in Toronto, Indianapolis and Boston. He has worked on the marketing plans for fifteen product launches including biologics and small molecules with annual sales ranging from tens of millions to over four billion dollars per year. Mr. Wagner holds a BSc in Organic Chemistry from the University of British Columbia.
Medical Advisors and Consultants
James A. Russell MD, FRCPC
Co-founder
As a world leader in sepsis, Dr. Russell provides Sirius Genomics with crucial, relevant knowledge regarding critical care. Dr. Russell is currently a Professor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia and is Associate Director of the Intensive Care Unit at St. Paul's Hospital (SPH). Since joining SPH in 1982, Dr. Russell has established an internationally-recognized translational and clinical research program in critical care. He has authored over 320 publications, co-edited a text on Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, and has been on the editorial board of several journals. Additionally, he has worked closely with the pharmaceutical industry as an investigator on clinical trials (Phase II and III), investigator-initiated research and in a senior capacity on Scientific Advisory, Data and Safety Monitoring and Steering Committees. In 2003, he was the recipient for the University of British Columbia Martin F. Hoffman Award for Excellence in Research. Dr. Russell obtained his MD and FRCPC in internal medicine at the University of Toronto and did his Critical Care Medicine Fellowship (clinical and research) at the University of California, San Francisco.