Biologics Consulting Group, Inc.
is pleased to make the following announcement:

Michael L. Salgaller, PhD, has joined Biologics Consulting Group, Inc., as President and Chief Operating Officer.  In this newly-created position, he assumes full operational responsibilities for the day-to-day activities of BCG. He becomes mainly responsible for overseeing client activities and inquiries, as well as working directly with Dr. Jim Kenimer, CEO, in the development and execution of business development activities. Dr. Salgaller, a medical researcher by training, brings over 20 years of experience in the biologics sector – including industry, venture capital, and at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He has extensive experience in the product development life-span, from inception/discovery through late-stage clinical trials.   

Most recently, he was Chief Operating Officer for Calibrant Biosystems, Inc, in Gaithersburg, MD.  While there, he directed all business and financial aspects regarding their proteomics platform technology – including the successful execution of their first major pharmaceutical alliance. Immediately prior, he was on the investment team of Toucan Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm in Bethesda, MD. He helped found and develop several companies centered around novel, emerging technologies. Often the first institutional investor, his firm focused on working with scientific entrepreneurs at the beginning of their efforts to bring an invention or technology to patients and the marketplace. Toucan’s investment focus and portfolio was primarily biologics – including cell therapies, tissue engineering, and immuno-modulators – and medical devices. Portfolio companies with which he was involved raised over $40M in subsequent financings – including Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), Private Investments in Public Entities (PIPEs), venture debt, and follow-on financings. He served on various Boards, as well as interim management.
From 1996 to 2002, Dr. Salgaller held positions of increasing management responsibility at Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NWBT) – culminating in his appointment as Vice President of Clinical and Research Affairs. At NWBT, he directed the research and commercialization pipeline for their biologic therapeutics. He led the development of DCVax™, a cell-based immunotherapy, from inception through clinical studies currently cleared by FDA for registration trials in brain and prostate cancer. He was the major liaison between the Company and various industry and academic research collaborators. He had significant involvement in all aspects of several Phase I-III Investigational New Drug (IND) applications to FDA.

Dr. Salgaller went to the National Cancer Institute after being awarded a Biotechnology Training Fellowship, then was hired as a Senior Staff Scientist – where he remained until 1996. He worked with Dr. Steven Rosenberg in the Surgery Branch, where his areas of research and clinical responsibility included:

• Co-Primary Investigator on numerous first-in-human studies involving cell-, viral-, and antibody-based immune therapies for cancer;
• Screening patients for histocompatibility inclusion criteria for various studies;
• Directing cellular and humoral immunotherapy studies related to treatment regimen and dosing;
• Managing the immune monitoring of patients on clinical trials.

Dr. Salgaller has served as a Principal Advisor for NIH’s Commercialization Assistant Program, which provides business, financial, and technical mentorship to awardee companies of NIH Phase II Small Business Investigational Research (SBIR) grants. He also co-directed the establishment of The Albert F. Sabin Vaccine Foundation’s Cancer Vaccine Consortium.

Dr. Salgaller holds a Ph.D. in Pathology from The Ohio State University, a M.S. in Immunology from the University of Dayton, and a B.A. in Biology from Washington and Jefferson College. He is the author of more than 60 publications and book chapters, and serves on the editorial/review boards of several journals – including the Journal of Immunotherapy. He has given over 50 invited lectures, and served on numerous NIH Study Sections, Special Emphasis Panels, and Grant Review Committees.

View Dr. Salgallers's Curriculum Vitae...

Page Updated May 7, 2009