Dr. Robert “Bob” Hariri
Dr. Hariri is considered a visionary surgeon, scientist and serial entrepreneur in both biomedicine and aerospace. The Chairman, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of one of the world’s largest human cellular therapeutics companies, Dr. Hariri has pioneered the use of stem cells and biomaterials to treat a range of life threatening diseases. His activities and experience includes academic neurosurgeon at Cornell, executive, military and defense scientist and surgeon and aviator and aerospace innovator. Dr. Hariri has 100 issued and pending patents, has authored over 100 published chapters, articles and abstracts and is most recognized for his discovery of pluripotent stem cells from the placenta and as a member of the team which discovered the activity of TNF (tumor necrosis factor). Dr. Hariri was recipient of the Thomas Alva Edison Award in 2007 and 2011, and has received numerous other honors for his many contributions to biomedicine and aviation. Dr. Hariri is also the Founder and Chairman of Myos Corporation, a bionutrition and biotherapeutics company and the Vice-chairman and Co-founder of Human Longevity, Inc., a genomics and cell-therapy company.
Dr. Hariri serves on numerous Boards of Directors including Myos Corporation, Provista Diagnostics and Bionik and is a member of the Board of Visitors of the Columbia University School of Engineering & Applied Sciences and the Science & Technology Council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons; as well as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, which is awarded by the X Prize Foundation. Dr. Hariri is also a Trustee of the J. Craig Venter Institute and the Liberty Science Center and has been appointed Commissioner of Cancer Research by New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie. Dr. Hariri received his undergraduate training at Columbia College and Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and was awarded his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Cornell University Medical College. Dr. Hariri received his surgical training at The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center where he also directed the Aitken Neurosurgery Laboratory and the Center for Trauma Research.