Keith March
Keith L. March, MD, PhD, FACC, has dedicated his career to bringing new medical approaches to patients.
His publications include more than 150 manuscripts. He was the editor of the first book dedicated to cardiovascular gene transfer. Dr. March’s research has resulted in more than 55 worldwide (20+ U.S.) patents, with others pending. He invented the Closer, a widely-utilized patented suture-mediated closure device, used to close the puncture wound in an artery following heart
catheterization. This device allows a patient to “walk off the table” after a catheterization without requiring prolonged bedrest. In 1999, Abbott Vascular, an affiliate of Abbott Laboratories, acquired the company that developed this technology, and the Closer approach has been used worldwide to treat more than 8,000,000 patients. He has served as a scientific advisor to numerous pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. Theratome Bio is his most recent venture, based on a patented platform of technology originating in his laboratory that has established the therapeutic factors secreted by stem cells as powerful therapeutics for critical medical needs, including degenerative and ischemic diseases of the nervous system. With FDA input, Theratome Bio is pursuing this off-the-shelf approach to markedly reduce stroke and prolong quality life in ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), as two near-term goals.
His laboratory focuses on vascular biology, with a particular emphasis on the function and translational study of stem cells found in the adipose (fat) tissue, which his laboratory identified as cells with critical roles in blood vessel growth and control of inflammation. Dr. March is recognized as a leading expert in the field of adult stem cell research, particularly that involving adipose-derived stem cells. From 2008-2012, he was Chair of the National Institutes of Health Data and Safety Monitoring Board that oversees cell therapy trials in the areas of heart, lung, and blood diseases. In 2012, his center was selected as one of the seven Cardiovascular Cell Therapy Research Network (CCTRN) centers in the USA which would work together to conduct NIH-sponsored cell therapy clinical trials during a 7-year period. He has obtained FDA approval to conduct U.S. trials employing one’s own adipose-derived stem cells: one of these to avoid amputations in legs of patients with severe circulatory disease, and another to avert knee replacements in patients with severe arthritis.
In addition to his research roles, Dr. March has served as the President (2007) of the International Federation of Adipose Therapeutics and Science (IFATS), and as the Chief Medical Advisor for the Cell Therapy Foundation. He continues to serve on the IFATS Board. In these affiliations, he has worked to advance collaboration as well as public awareness about the significance of adult stem cells.
In 2017, Dr. March joined the University of Florida as Director of the University of Florida Center for Regenerative Medicine. This multidisciplinary center is working to bring regenerative therapies to patients with unmet medical needs.
Brad Miller
Brad spent nearly 25 years with The Dow Chemical Company and is now a member of the Executive Team within Ambassador Enterprises.
Ambassador Enterprises (AE) is a strategic investing firm that inspires people to achieve more. AE seeks to guide leaders, companies, and organizations committed to performance that creates lasting, positive impact on people and communities. Founded in 2006, Ambassador Enterprises is based in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
During his years with Dow Chemical, Brad held a succession of progressive commercial and business leadership roles in both the Chemicals and Plastics Divisions, including an assignment in Corporate Strategic Development where he helped focus Dow’s corporate Merger & Acquisition efforts. Before joining Dow, Brad was the Sales & Marketing Director for Moody Press (a unit of Moody Bible Institute) and was an Instructor in the Business & Economics Department at Huntington, University.
Brad received a BA from Michigan State University, his MBA from Indiana University and additional Executive Education from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
Brad and his wife Georgia have been married for more than 35 years and have two grown daughters; Megan, married and living in Chicago and Julia, married and living in Boston.
Mike Trotta
Mike Trotta began in the auto industry, but quickly became interested in the surface finishing solutions space, where he has spent the bulk of his career. His roles have ranged from sales tomanagement and supervision, and ultimately into leadership. More recently, Mike has managed multiple mergers and acquisitions, and in many cases, influenced change that madeentities ripe for profitable re-sale.
Mike’s current interests are serving as an advisory role to GNAP, LLC (a recent exit of a company Mike had years of connection to), is an operating partner in two local (Indianapolis) businesses, an investor in several Real Estate Holding Companies, and in Theratome Bio, where he currently serves on the Board.
Mike is happily married to his wife of 43 years. They have 5 children, and 8 grandchildren. He still enjoys cars and is an avid water skier.