Our Team

Dr. Lucy Hathaway, PhD, is an Associate Professor and head of the Pneumococcal Biology research group at the Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, where she has led lab-based infectious disease research for over 20 years. With more than 30 years of research expertise and over a decade leading her own team, she has secured multiple grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation. As head of the lab where V11A was discovered, she is the primary inventor of these first‑in‑class therapeutic peptides targeted at Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Dr. Kostas Alevizopoulos, PhD, is an experienced life-science executive with over 25 years in drug development, technology licensing, and biotech leadership. He has led the clinical advancement of novel peptide therapeutics and successfully secured venture funding for multiple early-stage programs. He has co-founded and advised several biotech ventures across Europe and the US, bringing deep expertise in R&D, regulatory strategy, and commercialization. He holds a PhD in molecular biology, complemented by postdoctoral research in oncology and intellectual property training.

Greg is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in the pharma industry. He held senior leadership roles at big pharma companies, and he contributed to numerous global blockbuster product launches by effectively connecting the commercial plans to the scientific data to deliver high-impact claims. In 2020 Greg co-founded a medical communications and consulting company, which since then, supports industry innovation, by helping companies to bring into the market and holistically support during their lifecycle, superior pharmaceutical products.

Dr. Stephen L. Leib, MD, is a leading expert in infectious diseases with a focus on brain infections, authoring over 250 scientific publications in the field. He serves as Full Professor and Chair of Clinical Microbiology and is the Executive Director of the Institute for Infectious Diseases at the University of Bern. He also chairs the Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention at Bern’s university hospital network and acts as a clinical consultant in infectious diseases. Dr. Leib brings deep scientific and clinical insight as a valued advisor to our program.

Dr. Yok-Ai Que, MD, PhD, is an expert in translational medicine with a strong focus on developing and evaluating innovative anti-infective strategies in preclinical models. He is Associate Professor of Intensive Care Medicine at the University of Bern and heads the research laboratory of the Department of Intensive Care Medicine at Inselspital, Bern University Hospital. A pioneer in phage therapy, Dr. Que brings valuable clinical and scientific expertise in infectious diseases and experimental therapeutics as a scientific advisor to our program.

Dr. Maximilien Murone, PhD, EMBA, is a senior executive in the biotech sphere, bringing more than 25 years of biopharma and life sciences expertise. As a co-founder and C-suite leader at innovative companies such as Avrion Therapeutics and Cellestia Biotech, Maximilien has consistently driven business development, strategic transformation, and company growth. His past career portfolio includes pivotal roles like Managing Director at AdipoGen and Associate Director at Debiopharm. In addition, Maximilien is an active force in fostering innovation and collaborations as team member of the Swiss Biotech Association, championing cross-industry partnerships and advancements of the Swiss biopharma ecosystem.

Dr. Elisabeth Svanberg, MD, PhD, is an experienced life-science executive and independent board member with a strong background in surgery, clinical development, and medical affairs. She has led global product portfolios reaching millions of patients and held senior leadership roles in drug development, portfolio management, and commercialization within biotech as well as large pharmaceutical organizations in Europe and in the US. She later served as Chief Development Officer and Chief Medical Officer in specialty companies, advancing novel therapeutics in areas of high unmet medical need. She currently serves on biotech and pharma boards and consults for life-science ventures.