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CellTech Leadership

CEO

Peter Chiu

CEO

“Seasoned financial advisor supporting biotech startups with fund raising and strategic financial guidance to accelerate growth.”

Johnny Yu

Founder & Chairman

“As the Chairman of CellTech Innovation Venture Studio, I am proud to develop and cultivate a team of visionary entrepreneurs and scientists on a journey to unlock the limitless potential of Cell and Gene technologies. Together, we’re pioneering groundbreaking solutions that will shape the future of healthcare, biotechnology, and beyond, driving innovation that transcends boundaries and redefines what’s possible in the world of life science.”

Chia Ning Shen, PhD

Founder & Partner

“CellTech will foster a culture of creativity and innovation and push the boundaries of Regenerative Medicine.”

Our Team

Johnny Yu

Founder & Chairman

James Tsai, PhD

Founder & CEO

Chia Ning Shen, PhD

Founder & Partner

Nicole Wang, PhD

Vice President

CEO

Peter Chiu

Chief Financial Officer

George Su

Program Manager

Edward Chen, PhD

Senior Research Associate

Patryk Chojecki

Business Development Associate

Advisors

Chi Feng Chang, PhD

Li Ju Wang, PhD

Spike Lo

Mentors

Eade Wang, PhD

Chief Strategy Officer @Global Bio & Investment

#Media #Promotion #Marketing

Volker Heistermann

Managing Director @Mosaic Venture Lab

#Business Development #Cold Outreach #Sales Pitching

Kai-wen Huang, MD/PhD

Doctor @National Taiwan University Hospital

#Clinical Research

Tong-Young Lee, PhD

Chairman @StemCyte

#Biomedical Expert

Simon Hu

General Manager @A2 Healthcare Taiwan

#CRO

Guo-li Lin

General Manager @Austar Taiwan

#GMP

Yu-fang Yan

Certified Public Accountant @PwC

#Equity Structure

Alex Chen

General Manager @Rayx Global Consulting

#Operation

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Founder & Chairman

Johnny Yu

Johnny’s career boasts a standout tenure as the former Vice President at Yuanta Asia Investment, where he excelled in deal sourcing, due diligence, and post-investment management. His accomplishments include significant contributions to M&A, successful private equity fund setup, and fundraising endeavors that have solidified his reputation as an investment maestro.

Moreover, Johnny’s exceptional leadership skills have played a pivotal role in propelling the achievements of distinguished enterprises such as BRIM Biotechnology and Advagene Biopharma. In his capacity as a board director at both BRIM and Advagene, Johnny has consistently demonstrated a hands-on approach, guiding startups from their very inception and skillfully molding their paths towards establishing a prominent presence in their respective industries.

Johnny’s deep market insights and exceptional ability to navigate investment landscapes make him a sought-after expert. His knack for identifying growth opportunities in today’s dynamic market positions him as a key asset for startups aiming to thrive.

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Founder & CEO

James Tsai, Ph.D.,

James Tsai, Ph.D., boasts a remarkable track record of success. He has successfully founded and led Deesse Vivante Biomed and Unicocell Biomed to a successful public listing and OTC listing. Furthermore, he has achieved significant accomplishments in the field of clinical product development, spearheading human clinical phase I/IIa trials for allogeneic adipose mesenchymal stem cell therapy for degenerative joint diseases, with TFDA IND approvals at Chang Gung and Tri-Service General Hospitals.

In the realm of GXP, he established Taiwan’s first cell therapy PICS/GMP pilot factory and the country’s first early-stage cell therapy GTP facility, earning recognition from Japan’s PMDA for overseas CPC (cell processing center). Additionally, he obtained TAF ISO/TES 17025 certification in cell therapy and collaborated with multiple hospitals on special permit applications.

His IMPAC award in large-scale production is a testament to his achievements. He developed a semi-automated production line for adherent MSCs, obtained FDA DMF (Drug Master File) certification, and invented the first Class II medical device for automated filling and sealing of cell storage containers.

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Founder & Partner

Chia Ning Shen, Ph.D.

Dr. Shen is a dedicated researcher in the fields of stem cells and regenerative medicine. His work focuses on the reprogramming of somatic cells, investigating key mechanisms of cell differentiation and transformation. He has published 90 journal articles, cited nearly 3300 times. His research areas include:

  • Using cell reprogramming techniques to develop diabetes cell therapy strategies.
  • Applying patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells to study metabolic diseases and develop novel glucose-regulating drugs.
  • Employing 3D tissue imaging and metabolic reprogramming analysis to explore pancreatic tissue transformation mechanisms.
  • Developing gene and cell therapy strategies for pancreatic cancer treatment.

 

Outside of research, Dr. Shen has pursued legal and technology management studies at Taiwan University and National Chengchi University. He has also been involved in various academic roles and served as an executive director. He played a key role in establishing the Taiwan Stem Cell Society and served as its first secretary-general. Additionally, he held the position of president from 2017 to 2021 and is currently an executive director of the Taiwan Cell Therapy Association and the Regenerative Medicine Society, actively involved in promoting legislation and policies related to cell therapy and planning physician training courses. Since January 2019, he has been leading the Biomedical Translation Core Facility, providing technical platforms for the biotechnology research community. From September 2019, he has served as the acting CEO of the Academia Sinica Biomedical Translation Research Center’s Innovation and Incubation Center, supporting the growth of Taiwan’s biotech startups in the national biotech research park.

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Vice President

Nicole Wang, Ph.D.

Dr. Wang brings a wealth of professional experience in immunology research, cell therapy, and cell process-related fields. She held positions as an assistant professor at the National Defense Medical College and as a postdoctoral researcher at Academia Sinica and National Taiwan University. With a focus on immune therapy and preclinical drug development, she possesses a deep understanding of the drug development process and clinical trials. Dr. Wang’s dedication to the field of cell therapy is evident through her role as a researcher and quality project lead at the Cell Therapy Center in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Here, she contributed to the design and establishment of GTP facilities and assisted with numerous cell therapy cases. Additionally, Dr. Wang is a member of the GTP Expert Panel at the Taiwan Society of Quality Assurance (TSQA), where she actively contributes to quality assurance efforts and GXP policy for biomedical products. With comprehensive experience spanning from protocol submission to cell therapy application. Prior to this, she served as a project manager at the Medical Affairs Department of Ivy Life Sciences, demonstrating her exceptional leadership in clinical therapeutic coordination and organizational.

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Chief Financial Officer

Peter Chiu

Peter brings a wealth of experience from the various roles held in the 25+ years of working in venture capital, private equity and investment banking.

He served as the General Manager of Lippo-Tsinghua PE Fund, spearheading the $2bn joint venture effort between Indonesia’s Lippo Group and Tsinghua University’s investment arm. Prior to this appointment, he was Deputy General Manager of Lippo North, one of Lippo Group’s investment teams covering Greater China.

Before returning to Asia, Peter was extensively involved in fund raising and business development at DFG Investment Advisors, a credit derivatives asset manager in New York. He was also a member of the restructuring team at American Racing, a portfolio company of Platinum Equity, tasked to reorganize critical business functions such as purchasing, inventory and cash-flow management as Finance Manager.

Peter began his career in equity research with Credit Suisse First Boston and Credit Agricole W.I. Carr, where he earned research accolades from the firms’ top tier clients.

Peter received his undergraduate degree from University of Southern California in Business Administration and MBA from Pepperdine University.

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Program Manager

George Su

George is an accomplished professional with a degree from San Jose State University, where he has honed his skills and expertise. He currently serves as a Project Manager at both Mosaic Venture Lab and CellTech Innovation Venture Studio, where he has consistently demonstrated exceptional abilities in managing projects and initiatives.

George stands out for his excellent communication skills, which allow him to effectively liaise with team members, stakeholders, and partners. His ability to convey ideas clearly and facilitate collaboration has been instrumental in the successful execution of various projects.

In addition to his communication prowess, George excels in problem-solving and critical thinking. He has a knack for identifying challenges, analyzing complex situations, and devising innovative solutions. His strategic mindset is evident in his approach to project planning and execution.

George also brings a solid foundation in strategic planning to the table. He possesses a keen understanding of how to align project goals with broader organizational objectives, ensuring that every initiative contributes to the overall success of the company.

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Senior Research Associate

Edward Chen, Ph.D.

Edward Chen is a senior research scientist with over a decade of successful experience in new drug discovery research and development. Edward completed his Ph.D. in Toxicology from National Taiwan University and specializes in oncology and various types of human stem cell, such as MSC, ESC, iPSC and cancer stem cell. After transitioning to the biopharmaceutical industry, Edward contributed his efforts to new drug development, in vitro toxicity assessments, animal model establishment, PK/PD experiments and worked closely with global preclinical CRO company. Edward thrives on challenges and is eager to contribute his expertise to your esteemed organization.

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Business Development Associate

Patryk Chojecki

Patryk Chojecki is a dedicated professional passionate about supporting the growth and success of early-stage biotech startups. As part of CellTech Accelerator, he works closely with founders to provide guidance on strategic planning, business development, and fundraising. His goal is to help startups navigate challenges and connect with valuable networks across the APAC region.

Patryk has contributed to organizing pitch events and symposiums in Taiwan and Japan, bringing together industry leaders, investors, and startups to foster collaboration. He has also helped establish partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies, and biopharma stakeholders, working to create opportunities for startups to achieve their potential.

With a background in international relations and political economy, along with experience living and working across different cultures, Patryk brings a thoughtful and global approach to his work at CellTech Accelerator. He remains committed to helping startups make meaningful progress toward their goals.

Before joining CellTech, Patryk gained experience in research and project management at Academia Sinica and contributed to ESG-focused initiatives at the Taiwan Architecture & Building Center. He also worked as an international representative, fostering partnerships and expanding product portfolios in Asia. Patryk’s diverse professional experiences have equipped him with a global perspective and the ability to connect startups with valuable opportunities in the biotech space.

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Advisor

Li Ju Wang

Dr. Wang currently serves as the Director of the Drug Commercialization Center at the Development Center for Biotechnology. In this role since April 2017, she oversees the center’s overall operations and provides services such as technology market analysis, patent strategy, analysis, and technology commercialization support. Her focus is to assist academia and industry in overcoming challenges in the drug commercialization process.

With over 11 years of experience as the principal investigator for national biotechnology projects, she has a wealth of accomplishments and expertise in advancing the commercialization of biopharmaceuticals and biotechnology medicines. Dr. Wang possesses nearly 20 years of experience in patent analysis, consulting/strategy, patent mapping, and patent infringement identification in industrial practice. She holds national licenses as a patent attorney, food technologist, and nutritionist. Due to her extensive experience in patent and commercialization guidance, she has been appointed as a review committee member for organizations such as the National Biotechnology Research Park and the Taiwan Bio Industry Organization.

Under her leadership, her team has facilitated over 80 technology commercialization achievements in the past decade, including technology licensing agreements, industry-academia collaboration projects, and the establishment of startup companies, totaling investments exceeding 2.5 billion New Taiwan Dollars.

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