About Us
Meet Our Team
Management Team
Christian Walker, MBA, MS
President & Founder
Christian Walker
President, Chief Development Officer & Founder:
Christian brings over 20 years of entrepreneurial and senior management experience in the commercialization of nerve technologies, holding advanced degrees in Business, Biomedical Engineering, and Cell and Molecular Biology. His research at the University of Texas at Austin contributed to the technology that became the basis for AxoGen’s lead biologic product, Avance and he worked on drug device combination products at Neuraptive Therapeutics.
Mark Noble, PhD
Chief Science Officer & Co-Founder
Mark Noble
Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder:Dr. Noble is a pioneering researcher in the fields of stem cell biology and a key opinion leader in the field of regenerative medicine. Current research efforts and collaborations are focused on developing pharmacological and cell-based approaches to treatment of spinal cord injury and development of novel treatments for peripheral nerve injury. He is an inventor on 15 filed or pending patents and is co-author of over 150 scientific publications. Dr. Noble was a member of the founding scientific advisory board of Acorda Therapeutics, Inc., the company that first commercialized branded 4-AP. Dr. Noble is also a member of the multi-billion-dollar California Institute of Regenerative Medicine’s (CIRM) Grants Working Group, the panel of independent scientific experts used to review promising regenerative research applications for funding. Dr. Noble received his Ph.D. from Stanford University. He is the Martha M. Freeman, MD Professor in Biomedical Genetics, and holds professorships in Neurology, Neurobiology and Anatomy at University of Rochester School of Medicine where he is Director of the University of Rochester Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute.
Brad Navia, MD, PhD
Chief Medical Officer
Brad Navia, MD, PhD
Chief Medical Officer: Brad has extensive expertise in drug development and regulatory strategy in neurology spanning 20 years in large, medium size pharma and start-up biotechs. Brad has most recently served as CMO for Aprinoia, Therini and Klotho Neurosciences. Brad has led clinical development for small molecules, biologics and gene therapy with an emphasis on neurodegenerative disorders (AD, PD, ALS, PSP); leading over 20 phase 1-3 trials, including 4 positive phase 3’s in neurology with an FDA approval.
LuAnn Sabounjian, RN, MBA
Chief Clinical Officer
LuAnn Sabounjian, RN, MBA
Chief Clinical Officer: Ms. LuAnn Sabounjian is a clinical research executive with over 35 years of experience in clinical operations and drug development across the biopharmaceutical industry, having contributed to 8 NDAs, 28 INDs, and more than 60 study protocols spanning neurology, oncology, and numerous rare diseases. She has held senior clinical operations leadership roles at PureTech Health, Concert Pharmaceuticals, Pulmocide, and Indevus/Endo Pharmaceuticals, and at Solaxa she leads clinical operations for the SLX-100 Phase 3 program in SCA27B.
Bill Passer, MBA
Chief Financial Officer
Bill Passer
Chief Financial Officer: Bill is the founder of P3 Partners with over 30 years of experience in M&A and capital raising, having closed more than $2 billion in transactions at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and Legg Mason. At Solaxa, he brings institutional-grade financial expertise to support the company’s fundraising strategy and long-term growth objectives.
Pavel Khrimian, MBA
Chief Business Officer
Pavel Khrimian, MBA
Chief Business Officer: Mr. Pavel Khrimian is a global life sciences entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in business development and operational leadership, including senior roles at MedImmune (AstraZeneca) and BioReliance. At Solaxa, he leverages his expertise in strategic partnerships and life sciences operations to guide the company through its clinical development and growth phase.
Foundation Partners
