NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 24, 2018) – Cumberland Emerging Technologies, Inc. (CET) is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to its Board of Directors - Robert Grajewski and Samuel M. Lawrence. CET is a joint initiative between Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc., Vanderbilt University, Launch Tennessee, and Gloria Pharmaceuticals. The mission of CET is to develop innovative new biomedical products emerging from university-based research. CET also manages Nashville’s Life Sciences Center which supports a growing number of biomedical startups and successful graduates.
Robert Grajewski is the Evans Family Executive Director of the Innovation Center at Vanderbilt University, where he serves as the primary liaison between the center and the Vanderbilt community. Grajewski works with students to encourage innovation and to motivate them to pursue projects that transform the way we live. Prior to joining Vanderbilt, Grajewski was President of Edison Nation Medical, which was recognized in 2014 by TEDMED as one of the Top 40 innovative healthcare startups. He has an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School and an AB degree from Harvard University.
Samuel M. Lawrence is CEO and a Co-Founder of the scientific imaging and instrumentation company CytoViva, Inc., where he led the development of their core, patented illumination technology. Prior to CytoViva, Lawrence was a Director at Boeing Commercial Airplanes and is co-inventor on two U.S. Patents for innovative insulation materials for commercial airplanes. In 2011, he was named a Distinguished Engineering Fellow at Mississippi State University and, in 2014, was admitted to the Auburn University chapter of the National Academy of Inventors. Mr. Lawrence holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Mississippi State University and a Masters of Management in Manufacturing from the Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
"We’re honored to welcome both Robert and Sam to CET’s Board of Directors," said A.J. Kazimi, CEO of both Cumberland Pharmaceuticals and CET. "They each bring a unique perspective and robust expertise in the areas of innovation and commercializing research. We’ll benefit from the depth of their knowledge, as we endeavor to bring new technologies to market.”
CET’s Board of Directors also includes Kazimi, Dr. John A. Smith, Professor of Pathology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Dr. Kenneth J. Holroyd, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Charlie Brock, President and CEO of Launch Tennessee, and James P. Leyda, a former executive at a series of companies that now make up the Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceutical Company.
Earlier this year, CET announced a new agreement with Louisiana State University adding to its roster of academic collaborations which also includes the University of Mississippi, the University of Tennessee, as well as Vanderbilt University. These partnerships combine the strengths and capabilities of each organization by working together to identify, formulate, develop and commerciality attractive new biomedical products through joint initiatives.
About Cumberland Emerging Technologies Inc.
Cumberland Emerging Technologies, Inc. (“CET”) is a joint initiative between Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc., Vanderbilt University, Launch Tennessee, and China’s Gloria Pharmaceuticals. CET is working with a select group of academic research institutions located in the mid-south region of the U.S to develop therapeutic compounds addressing poorly met medical needs. CET contributes product design and overall development support services to help university-based collaborators bridge the gap between discovery and the marketplace.
CET also operates the Nashville Life Sciences Center providing laboratory space, equipment, and infrastructure to support early-stage, life sciences companies.
For more information on CET see www.cet-fund.com