Dr. Sackner-Bernstein is an internationally recognized clinical investigator in cardiology and was appointed as NeoStem’s vice president of Clinical Development and Regulatory Affairs in April 2012. He brings to the Company over 20 years of experience in clinical practice, medical research, and healthcare management.
From 2008 to 2011, Dr. Sackner-Bernstein served as associate center director for Technology and Innovation at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. While there, he launched the Entrepreneurs in Residence Program, led the Medical Device Innovation Initiative, served as chairperson of the Task Force focused on using new science in regulatory decision-making, and established the Council on Medical Device Innovation in concert with several other federal agencies. Previously, Dr. Sackner-Bernstein served as chief medical officer at the clinical research organization, Clinilabs, Inc., where he established a Phase I research unit from 2006 to 2008. He also served as assistant professor of medicine at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons from 1993 to 2003. His academic accomplishments include contributions to the advancement of cardiovascular therapies and patients following heart attack as well as leadership in changing the paradigms of drug development in heart failure. His model to reward altruism and increase the donation of kidneys for organ transplant was adopted by the Israeli government.
In 2011, Dr. Sackner-Bernstein founded ExVivos, LLC, a privately held company focused on engineering tissues and organs from human cells for the development of drugs, vaccines and biological products, for which he continues to serve as chairman and chief executive officer.
Dr. Sackner-Bernstein earned his B.S.E. degree from the Moore School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and his M.D. degree from Jefferson Medical College. He completed his training in internal medicine and cardiology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. In addition, he holds Secret Clearance from the U.S. Government.