company > management team

Management Team

Our team consists of professionals with broad experience in chemistry, molecular biology, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, in vivo animal model, PK/ADME, toxicology and formulation R&D. We conduct our research in a 5,200 sq ft facility of which 3,700 sq ft are wet lab space. Our lab has both GLP and non-GLP capabilities and conducts chemistry, analytical, formulation, cell culture and in vivo testing. The team is lead by a group of senior managers, with extensive experience in academia, biotech and large pharmaceutical organizations:

GORDON AMIDON, PhD, Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer

Gordon is an internationally recognized expert in the field of solubility, transport phenomena, prodrugs, and drug absorption. He has been actively involved with the development of the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) with the FDA, which serves as a basis for international drug regulation. Gordon received his B.S. degree from the State University of New York, Buffalo (1967), his M.A. degree in mathematics (1970), and his Ph.D. in pharmaceutical chemistry (1971) from the University of Michigan. From 1971 to 1981 he was a member of the faculty at the University of Wisconsin. In 1981 he became director of Pharmaceutical Research at Merck/INTERx, in Lawrence, Kansas. He was appointed Professor of Pharmaceutics at the University of Michigan in 1983 and was named the Charles R. Walgreen, Jr., Professor of Pharmacy in 1994. Gordon has published extensively in journals, with over 200 published papers. He has contributed chapters to over 30 books and monographs. Gordon received the Ebert Prize of APhA in 1974 and 1981, and was co-recipient in 1984. In 1996, he received the Scheele Award of Swedish Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences for outstanding contributions to the field of oral drug delivery and biopharmaceutics. He is a fellow of AAPS (and served as president in 1998), APhA/APS, and AAAS. He is also a member of the Controlled Release Society (and served as president in 1994), AACP, ACS, and the American Peptide Society.

JOHN HILFINGER, PhD, Executive Vice President and General Manager

John brings to TSRL more than 20 years of research and management experience. He received his B.S. degree in chemistry from the State University of New York at Syracuse in 1977, and his Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of Michigan Medical School in 1984. During his postdoctoral work at the University of Michigan, John acquired extensive expertise in molecular biology, protein chemistry, and virology.. Since joining TSRL, John has been responsible for implementing and managing a strong, extramurally-funded research and development program directed at drug formulations, oral drug delivery, prodrugs, and gene delivery. For much of this work, he has fostered the collaboration of a diverse network of scientists within industry and academia. He is the co-editor of International Bioequivalence Standards: A New Era and has published numerous articles and book chapters on oral drug transport, drug delivery and prodrugs.

ELKE LIPKA, PhD, MBA, Vice President of Business Development

Elke joined TSRL in June of 2007 to develop and implement a sustainable competitive commercialization strategy for TSRL's technology portfolio. Elke received her BS in pharmacy and PhD in pharmacology form the Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, and her MBA from the University of Michigan. Elke started her career as a research scientist at TSRL in 1992, and subsequently held a number of scientific and management positions of increasing responsibility at Parke-Davis, Pfizer and Esperion Therapeutics. She is an experienced professional capable of building and managing multidisciplinary teams involved in the discovery and development of pharmaceutical drug candidates and drug delivery systems. Her expertise includes pharmacokinetic, drug metabolism and drug safety scientific guidance to small molecule and biologics drug development programs. Elke brings strong skills in project management, establishment of strategic partnerships, and management of financial and operational business aspects to TSRL.

JAE-SEUNG KIM, PhD, Director of Biopharmaceutics and Analytical

Jae Seung received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemical engineering from Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea (1973, 1975) and his Ph.D. degree in biochemical engineering from the University of Iowa in 1986. From 1976 to 1982 he was a research scientist at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. After his postdoctoral research in the pharmaceutics department at the University of Michigan, Jae Seung joined TSRL as a research scientist in 1992. His Ph.D. and postdoctoral work have focused on the development of polymer reactors for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications of functional polymers. At TSRL, he has been actively involved in various oral drug delivery projects in a multidisciplinary research environment. Jae-Seung's research ranges from elucidation of structure-absorption relationships and site directed delivery to development of membrane transport-enhancing agents for increasing the oral bioavailability of various drugs and peptides. Jae Seung brings extensive experience in bioanalytical quantification of drug candidates to TSRL and directs all in vitro and in vivo sample analysis using LC/MS/MS, HPLC, atomic absorption spectrophotometer and UV spectrophotometer. He is a member of ACS and AAPS.

JILL KOWALSKI, Manager of Finance and Administration

Jill received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Michigan State University in 1990. Following an Auditor position with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan, Jill relocated to Illinois where she gained experience in domestic and international financial reporting at several companies in the Chicago area. Her positions have included Staff Accountant, Financial Accountant, and most recently was Senior Accounting Consultant, working on special projects for client companies including for-profit and non-profit organizations. She has also performed volunteer work with the Center for Economic Progress. In addition to financial reporting, Jill's responsibilities at TSRL include cost accounting, budgeting and forecasts, internal controls, cash management, grant and contract administration, and human resources.