About Preservation Bio
Our Mission & Vision
Our mission is to revolutionize transfusion medicine through the development of next-generation platelet preservation technology. By extending platelet shelf life and improving storage safety, we aim to address critical challenges in the blood supply chain and enhance patient outcomes. We pursue this mission with innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to addressing unmet medical needs. We envision a future where reliable platelet storage minimizes waste, reduces contamination risks, and ensures that life-saving transfusions are available to every patient in need.
Our Story
Preservation Bio was founded to tackle a critical issue in transfusion medicine: the short shelf life of platelets, which leads to significant waste and exacerbates global shortages. Building on pioneering research at the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, scientific co-founders Dr. Jose Cancelas and Dr. Yi Zheng developed an innovative ex vivo additive. This breakthrough technology leverages RHOA inhibitors to protect platelets from cold storage damage, enabling refrigeration and extending their shelf life to 14 days without compromising functionality.
With support from Orange Grove Bio, Preservation Bio is advancing this transformative solution through preclinical development and toward clinical trials. By addressing inefficiencies in platelet storage and supply chains, Preservation Bio is working to ensure that life-saving transfusions are more accessible and reliable for patients worldwide.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Preservation Bio’s leadership team combines deep expertise in transfusion medicine, biopharmaceutical development, and business strategy. With a proven ability to scale innovations and build strategic partnerships, they are driving the mission to revolutionize platelet preservation and improve global healthcare.
Jose A. Cancelas, MD, PhD
Co-Inventor
Dr. Jose A. Cancelas is a renowned physician-scientist and expert in transfusion medicine, cell therapies, and stem cell biology. Currently serving as the Executive Director of the Connell and O'Reilly Families Cell Manipulation Core Facility at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and a member of the Harvard Medical School faculty, Dr. Cancelas oversees advanced cell manufacturing for stem cell transplantation and immune effector cell programs. His work supports clinical research protocols across leading Boston-area hospitals, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Before joining Dana-Farber, Dr. Cancelas was the Director and Chairman of the Hoxworth Blood Center at the University of Cincinnati, where he also led the Cincinnati Children’s Stem Cell Program in the Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute and directed the Translational Core Laboratories. His groundbreaking research has elucidated the molecular and cellular mechanisms of hematopoietic cells, including insights into Rho GTPase signaling in health and disease, as well as innovations in the preservation of platelets, red cells, and T cells. His work has laid the foundation for Preservation Bio’s novel ex vivo additive, which extends platelet storage under refrigeration.
Dr. Cancelas earned his MD from the Autonomous University of Madrid and completed advanced training at institutions including the University of Cincinnati, Cancer Research Institute of Barcelona, and Erasmus University of Rotterdam. He has authored over 220 publications in prestigious journals such as Nature, Cancer Cell, and Blood and serves as Associate Editor of Transfusion. He is also Vice President of the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) and President of the AABB Foundation, reflecting his leadership in advancing transfusion medicine and cell-based therapies.
Yi Zheng, PhD
Co-Inventor
Dr. Yi Zheng is an internationally recognized expert in molecular biology and hematology, with a career dedicated to unraveling the complex roles of Rho GTP-binding proteins in cellular signaling and disease. He serves as Co-Director of the Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Leader of the Signaling and Drug Discovery Program, where he holds the prestigious Marjory Johnson Endowed Chair. His pioneering work in the discovery of Rho GTPase mouse models and small molecule inhibitors has set the foundation for innovative therapies targeting cancer, hematological disorders, and inflammation.
Dr. Zheng’s research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms and physiological impacts of Rho GTPases, which regulate critical cellular processes such as cytoskeletal reorganization, transcription activation, and DNA synthesis. His laboratory has been instrumental in identifying how disruptions in these signaling pathways contribute to pathological conditions, including cancer progression and blood diseases. Through his work, Dr. Zheng has developed small molecule inhibitors that not only elucidate these pathways but also hold promise as therapeutic agents for unmet medical needs.
As a co-inventor of Preservation Bio’s ex vivo platelet additive, Dr. Zheng applied his expertise to develop a novel RHOA inhibitor that protects platelets from cold storage damage, enabling extended storage under refrigeration. This breakthrough technology, rooted in his basic science research, represents a transformative advance in transfusion medicine. Dr. Zheng continues to push the boundaries of discovery, leveraging his deep knowledge of Rho GTPases to pioneer new treatments and improve patient outcomes globally.
Rich Ganz, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
Richard Ganz is a Senior Venture Partner at Orange Grove Bio and a life sciences executive with over forty years of experience in multinational pharma/device companies and venture-backed startups. He spent the first twenty years of his career at Abbott Laboratories, holding various positions in Sales, Marketing and General Management. His last position was Vice President and General Manager, Vascular Medicine. He joined Baxter Healthcare in 2001 as President, Renal North America. In 2004 he moved to Boston to join OmniSonics Medical Technologies as President and CEO. From 2012 to 2014 he was the Chief Operating Officer of Piramal Critical Care, a global leader in anesthetics. He founded RGA LifeSciences, a healthcare advisory company in 2014; assisting companies with formation, strategic planning and fundraising. From November 2017 to February 2020, He worked for Kairos Ventures as an Executive in Residence.
He has served on several private and one public company board of directors. Currently, he is executive chairman of Kalocyte, Inc. a Baltimore-based life sciences company. He has also been an executive in residence at the Cleveland Clinic and the University of Chicago.
Mr. Ganz received his M.B.A. from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota.
Chris Ryan, PhD
VP CMC
Chris Ryan is the Vice President of CMC at Orange Grove Bio. He has over a decade of experience managing internal and external teams developing, testing, and manufacturing cosmetics, drugs, and medical devices. He has worked on developing, manufacturing, and testing drug substances and products for parenteral, respiratory, mucosal, ocular, and oral administration. Dr. Ryan’s experience includes manufacturing cosmetics, small molecule drugs, biologics, and medical devices for indications in wound healing, oral care, transfusion medicine, respiratory disease, immunology, infectious disease, oncology, and gastrointestinal disease. His experience in medical device manufacturing includes product development, commercial manufacturing, and distribution.
While his primary responsibilities have been leading manufacturing and quality control, Dr. Ryan has also served as project manager, head of quality assurance, regulatory lead, head of operations, and other supporting roles. He has authored CMC sections for pre-INDs, INDs, and IMPDs. In addition, he has written, submitted, and led correspondence with the FDA of multiple 510ks for medical device clearance. Dr. Ryan has a background in host-pathogen interaction, molecular biology, and biochemistry, focusing on polysaccharide chemistry and RNA biology. He obtained a BS in Biochemistry from the University of Rochester and a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Buffalo.
Ryan Fox, MS
Executive Chairman
As CEO of Orange Grove Bio, Ryan is dedicated to advancing transformative therapies for cancer, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases. Leading a team of venture partners with extensive expertise in evaluating pre-clinical assets and overseeing companies focused on early-stage pharmaceutical development, Ryan facilitates the translation of initial breakthroughs into viable treatment options for patients.
Under Ryan’s guidance, Orange Grove Bio is executing an investment strategy focused on forming partnerships with research institutions and universities often overlooked by coastal-based venture capital firms. By collaborating with a network of co-investors, strategic partners, and world-class experts, Orange Grove Bio is optimizing the technology licensing process and expediting pre-clinical drug development. Orange Grove Bio’s collaborations are strategically targeted in regions such as the Southeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic, fostering additional avenues for innovative research and development beyond traditional biotech hubs. By prioritizing these underexplored regions, Orange Grove Bio is tapping into a rich pool of novel therapies, and contributing to reshaping the landscape of biopharmaceutical research and development.
Before joining Orange Grove Bio in 2019, Ryan spent 14 years at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in leadership and operational roles, spearheading initiatives to streamline internal processes and accelerating development of novel therapy agents. His expertise spans various areas including drug discovery, project management and strategic planning. While at GSK, Ryan’s ability in managing high-performing interdisciplinary teams and fostering global collaborations led to the advancement of multiple clinical candidates.
Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Master of Science in Organic Chemistry from Miami University. Outside the office, Ryan is an avid marathon runner. He has successfully finished several marathons, including the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati and the Abu Dhabi Marathon in the Middle East.
Laura Crawford PhD, DABT, RAC-Drugs
Vice President, Operations and Early Development
Laura Crawford is a pharmacologist, board-certified toxicologist, and regulatory affairs professional, bringing 10 years of drug development experience to Orange Grove Bio. She has expertise in identifying novel drug candidates and moving them strategically into development programs. As Senior Director of Drug Development at Orange Grove Bio she oversees programs from discovery and IND candidate selection through IND submission and early clinical development. Prior to joining Orange Grove Bio, Laura worked at Athenex, where she led the nonclinical development efforts for 5 clinical products, primarily in oncology. More recently, Laura worked as an Associate Principal Consultant at SciLucent, providing advisement on nonclinical development strategy and study execution, and as Senior Director of Drug Development at Nirogy Therapeutics.
Laura has contributed to numerous investigational new drug applications (INDs) and new drug applications (NDAs) and was a key contributor to the development of Klisyri® (tirbanibulin) from early preclinical development through FDA/EMA approval.
Laura holds a B.S. in Biology from Canisius College and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Therapeutics from SUNY Buffalo. She is a certified Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology (DABT) and maintains Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC).
Brittany de Kouchkovsky, PhD
Operations Manager
Brittany de Kouchkovsky is an Associate Director at Orange Grove Bio and is excited to shepherd great scientific research through the drug development process. She obtained her PhD from Yale University in Immunobiology, with expertise in anti-tumor T cells and immunogenic solid tumor model development. Prior to her PhD, she worked for over 5 years in academic and industrial laboratories on discovery assay and diagnostic development and molecular biology programs, and obtained her B.S. in Molecular Biology from the University of California, San Diego.
Miguel Castellanos, MSc
Dir. of Quality Assurance
Miguel Castellanos is a highly accomplished GxP professional with 25 plus years of experience. From hands-on bench / floor to Directorship. From small start-up to multi-national corporations. A broad & strong combination of experiences (analytical R&D, QA/QC, APIs, FD, Cosmetics, OTC, Consumer Products, Contract Organizations). Developed, implemented, and managed the cGMP program, from Pre-Clinical to Commercial, for a startup CRO/CMO company (Girindus America), and successfully passed a 3-day, unannounced, quality FDA audit, with no findings or objectionable items. Experienced with other FDA audits with different companies in different quality roles, with the record of never receiving a citation from the FDA. Holds a MSc in Analytical Chemistry from Western Carolina University, and a BS in Chemistry from Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic). Fluent in Spanish.
Krista Greenwood, PhD, DABT
Toxicologist
Krista Greenwood is a board-certified toxicologist with 9 years of drug development experience. She has expertise in preclinical toxicology program design and execution, data interpretation and issue resolution to move preclinical assets to the clinic. As Senior Director of Nonclinical Safety at Orange Grove Bio she will support all of the nonclinical drug development programs during discovery through to early clinical development. Previously, Krista worked as a Toxicology Consultant at Integrated Nonclinical Development Solutions, Inc (INDS Inc) which was later acquired by Certara. There she provided nonclinical toxicology support for a wide range of programs, routes of administration, modes of action and indications. Krista has contributed to numerous investigational new drug applications (INDs) and several new drug applications (NDAs).
Before moving into the drug development field, Krista was a postdoctoral fellow in the Inhalation Toxicology group at The Dow Chemical Company. There she led the development of an in vivo rat model for the identification of low molecular weight respiratory sensitizers.
Krista holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Environmental and Integrative Toxicological Sciences from Michigan State University.
John C. Byrd, MD
Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. John C. Byrd is a globally recognized clinician and researcher specializing in leukemia and hematologic malignancies. He serves as Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati, holding the prestigious Gordon and Helen Hughes Taylor Endowed Chair. Prior to his current role, Dr. Byrd was the Senior Advisor for Cancer Experimental Therapeutics and Distinguished University Professor at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. His work bridges laboratory discoveries and clinical applications, making him a leader in translational medicine.
With over 600 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Byrd’s research has been instrumental in the development of breakthrough therapies for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). His laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms driving hematologic cancers and the identification of novel therapeutic targets. As a principal and Chief Medical Officer of Beat AML, an initiative by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Dr. Byrd has played a pivotal role in advancing innovative treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Byrd earned his MD from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, followed by a residency and fellowship in hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplantation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He continues to balance his research with his commitment to patient care, spending long hours in the clinic each week. A dedicated educator and leader, Dr. Byrd’s contributions to hematology have shaped the field and brought transformative therapies to patients worldwide.