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Meet the Board and Directors
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
The Triangle Biotech board members are professionals in the RTP area who volunteer their time to plan Triangle Biotech events and grow the organization.
We work in a variety of industries and bring diverse strengths and perspectives to Triangle Biotech.
Oswaldo (Ozzy) Lozoya, PhD MS
President
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
Rabina Mainali, PhD
Vice President & Director of Corporate Partnerships
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 2024Beyond her academic pursuits, she finds joy in cooking, paddling, and sunset walks.
Anne Ballou, Phd
Director of Finance
Anne Ballou works to support animal health and wellness by improving gastrointestinal health and function in pets, swine and poultry. She 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 science outreach and public policy.
Jake Rodriguez
Director of Marketing
Jake is a Pharmaceutical Engineer with experience in compliant, production-ready GMP systems supporting patient-focused manufacturing. His background spans CQV, MS&T, Tech Transfer, Regulatory Compliance, and Operational Readiness across the full lifecycle of GMP delivery.
Outside of engineering, Jake genuinely enjoys connecting with investors, founders, and operators to talk through leadership challenges and what it takes to build something that lasts.
Ali Ghiassi
Director of Strategic Relations
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 has supported global Pharma, Biotech, Medical Device, and Services organizations, with a focus on building strategic partnerships and effective talent and engagement programs across the globe. Leveraging international experience across the Americas and Europe, Ali currently leads Talent Acquisition for Precision Medicine Group and has been involved with Triangle Biotech since 2012.
Outside of work, he enjoys travel, cooking, camping, hiking, skiing, painting, and volunteering with a few amazing non-profits.
Deepthi Rajagopalan
Director of Community Outreach
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 Triangle Biotech board in 2025.
Madeline Hemmingsen, Phd
Director of Activities
Dr. Madeline Hemmingsen earned her Ph.D. in Genetics and Genomics from Duke University, where she developed and tested therapeutic strategies for rare metabolic disorders using custom genetically-engineered mouse models. She later transitioned into a consulting role providing support in project scheduling, controls, and risk management. She now works in construction management at CRB, supporting greenfield pharmaceutical manufacturing projects.
Outside of her professional life, Madeline enjoys competitive archery, reading, and working on DIY projects.
Austin Bell-Hensley, Phd
Director of Compliance
Austin Bell-Hensley is a translational cell and gene therapy scientist who brings together experimental and computational perspectives to support innovation in biotechnology. He advises early-stage biotech and medical device startups and serves on the Triangle Biotech Board to foster collaboration, mentorship, and growth within the Triangle’s biotech community.
Branden Caffoe
Director of Corporate Social Responsibility
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.
Branden joined Triangle Biotech 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.
Grant Scull, Phd
Director of Event Operations
Dr. Grant Scull is a biomedical scientist with eight years of expertise in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and microbiology. He holds a BS from Rutgers and a PhD from the joint program at UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State. Grant’s career spans early-stage research through regulated product development, complemented by a strong background in scientific outreach and leadership.
A Triangle resident for nine years, Grant is an avid runner and swimmer. When he's not in the lab, he enjoys surfing, skiing, gaming, and fantasy novels.
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