TRIANGLE BIOTECH
Meet the Board
​President - Oswaldo (Ozzy) Lozoya, PhD MS
​Dr. Oswaldo (Ozzy) Lozoya is a distinguished biomedical engineer with expertise in multi-omics analytics, single-cell sequencing, and biomarker discovery. His extensive scientific publications cover diverse fields, including metabolism, epigenetics, and regenerative stem cell physiology. While at NIH, he developed a SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 surveillance technology, now one of eleven NIH patents licensed for global pandemic preparedness. Currently, Dr. Lozoya is a Scientific Computing Principal Investigator at RTI International, where he applies new analytical paradigms to extract biological insights from "Big Data" for public health. Outside of his professional life, Ozzy, a native Mexican and adopted North Carolinian, enjoys fishing, baking, grilling, and watching fútbol and other shows with his family.
Vice President & Director of Corporate Partnerships - Rabina Mainali, PhD
​Dr. Rabina Mainali, a first-generation college graduate, earned her Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Physiology from Wake Forest University after completing her B.S. in Biochemistry from Salem College. As a STrIDE Postdoctoral Fellow at NIEHS, she investigates cellular metabolism, specifically focusing on deamidated NAD synthesis in the liver. Driven by a desire to contribute to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, she aims to apply her expertise for greater societal impact. Dr. Mainali joined the board in 2024
Beyond her academic pursuits, she finds joy in cooking, paddling, and sunset walks.
Director of Finance - Anne Ballou, PhD
​Dr. Anne Ballou works to support sustainable and safe food animal production by improving gastrointestinal health and function in swine and poultry. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Animal Science from the University of Kentucky, and her PhD in Functional Genomics from North Carolina State University, where she studied the relationships between gastrointestinal bacteria and host immune function. Anne overlays nutrition, genetics, and immunology in her research to understand and promote microbiomes that contribute to host health and function. In addition to her research efforts, Dr. Ballou works to be a part of the cross-disciplinary cooperation that goes into developing and implementing effective outreach, and science and agriculture policy.
​Learn more about Dr. Ballou in her Board Member Highlight!
Director of Marketing - Jake Rodriguez
Graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University, Jake possesses experience in BioTech Manufacturing, QC, Stability, Data Processing, and Technology Science. He is motivated by his passion for revolutionizing BioTech Manufacturing through innovative technology.
Beyond his scientific pursuits, Jake leverages his passion for digital tech to guide brands and organizations through the digital world. With a knack for crafting tailored marketing strategies and implementing cutting-edge automation, he is committed to advancing both scientific innovation and digital presence optimization.
​Jake also enjoys leadership and public speaking engagements.
Director of Activities - Deena Horowitz
With over a decade of experience in the clinical research world, Deena is a client success champion who leverages industry best practices and expertise to ensure clinical study teams get the support they need to more efficiently run their trials. She enjoys networking with other industry professionals and learning about different aspects of life sciences both within and outside of clinical research. Deena has called Durham home since 2016, and is a dedicated mom and Peloton enthusiast. Deena joined the board in 2023.
Director of Strategic Relations - Ali Ghiassi
​Ali holds degrees in International Business, Economics, and Spanish from UNC-Greensboro, and has over a decade of experience in the Life Sciences industry. He's supported diverse Pharma, Biotech, Medical Device, and Services organizations globally. Ali focuses on building strategic partnerships and implementing effective programs for talent acquisition, management, and employee engagement. Using his international experience across LATAM and Europe, he currently leads recruitment for Labcorp’s Global Commercial Organization and has been involved with TBT since 2012. Outside of work, Ali loves travel, cooking, camping, hiking, skiing, painting, and volunteering for non-profits.
​Secretary and Director of Board Governance - Shauna Martin, Ed.D
Dr. Shauna Martin works in organizational development in the CRO space. She has worked for three industry-leading, global CROs supporting clinical operations staff in career development and job performance. Currently, Dr. Martin is a Senior Learning & Performance Specialist at Rho, Inc located in Durham, NC. She is also the Founder and Chief Learning Consultant for her life sciences consulting firm, Synergy Learning Solutions.
She received her Ed.D in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and her M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Gardner-Webb University. She also received her M.A. in English from East Carolina University and her BA in English from the University of Virginia. Outside of work, Dr. Martin enjoys traveling and spending time with her two daughters.
​Director of Community Outreach - Deepthi Rajagopalan
Deepthi offers over 12 years of transformative experience in healthcare, specializing in clinical diagnostics and oncology solutions. She's a dynamic leader who excels at taking cutting-edge products from development to implementation, collaborating with healthcare providers globally. Her expertise covers product commercialization, regulatory compliance, and strategic market growth, with a strong history of successful launches. Based in the Research Triangle Park area, Deepthi enjoys the local culinary scene and outdoor spaces, and loves meeting new people and connecting with friends. Deepthi is excited to return to the TBT board in 2025.
Director of Compliance - Austin Bell-Hensley, Ph.D
Austin Bell-Hensley is a bioinformatician with expertise in developmental biology, tissue engineering, and epigenetics, blending his wet lab background with a multidisciplinary approach to scientific problem-solving. Beyond his research, Austin has consulted for numerous biotech and medical device startups, and he founded a student consulting organization to connect aspiring entrepreneurs with local founders. Having recently moved to the Triangle, Austin is eager to support Triangle Biotech Tuesday's mission of strengthening the local biotech community. In his free time, he enjoys exploring national parks, playing sports, and trying new plant-forward recipes. Austin joined the Triangle Biotech Tuesday board in 2025.
Director of Corporate Social Responsibility - Branden Caffoe
​With a strong background in specialty logistics, Branden has spent the past five years working in the biopharma space. Currently serving as a Business Development Manager in cold-chain logistics, he thrives on problem-solving and strategic thinking to tackle challenges and create impactful solutions.
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Branden joined Triangle Biotech Tuesday in 2025 and is excited about contributing to the local life science community and building something meaningful. In his free time, he enjoys reading, staying active, and exploring the outdoors.
Director of Event Operations - Parth Desai
Dr. Parth H Desai, a first-generation college graduate, earned his Ph.D. in Synthetic Biology and MS in Nanoscience from UNC Greensboro. As a Postdoctoral Fellow at NCA&T, he's developing high-throughput techniques to study surface interactions through collaborations with national labs and universities. Driven by a passion for STEM education, he co-founded Advise 360 to provide science-based education and mentorship. Beyond his academic work, Dr. Desai enjoys mentoring, reading, spending time with family, and networking.