Igor Nasonkin

Igor Nasonkin has extensive experience in the field of ophthalmology and stem cell research. Igor is currently the Founder, CEO, and Chief Scientific Officer at Phythera Therapeutics, Inc since May 2021. Before that, they worked as the Director of Translational Research at Aivita Biomedical from April 2020 to May 2021.

Prior to their role at Aivita Biomedical, Nasonkin served as the Director of Research & Development and Principal Investigator at Lineage Cell Therapeutics (formerly BioTime, Inc.) from February 2018 to March 2020. In this position, they directed translational ophthalmology work, focused on retinal differentiation of human embryonic stem cells and transplanting 3-dimensional retinal tissue into ocular space of animal models. Igor also built a research team, wrote and submitted grant applications, developed collaborations, and conducted translational epigenetics research.

Nasonkin's previous experience includes working as a Principal Investigator and Lab Head at BioTime, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, from November 2015 to March 2020. Here, they conducted similar ophthalmology research and managed a research team.

Before joining BioTime, Inc., Nasonkin held the position of Faculty, Principal Investigator, and Director of the Laboratory of Retinal Repair & Epigenetics at the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC (Department of Ophthalmology) from July 2012 to August 2015. Igor established a new lab space, conceptualized research projects, and focused on mechanisms of neural and retinal differentiation of stem cells.

Nasonkin's earlier career includes a role as a Senior Research Fellow at the National Eye Institute/NIH from January 2008 to July 2012, where they worked in collaboration with Dr. Anand Swaroop. Igor also served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine from October 2004 to December 2007, conducting neural differentiation studies with human embryonic stem cells and transplantation into rodent models.

Prior to that, Nasonkin worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Bresagen, Inc. from October 2003 to July 2004, where they focused on human embryonic stem cell culture and neural differentiation.

Igor began their research career as a Postdoctoral Associate at MIT/Whitehead Institute in Boston from 2002 to 2003.

Overall, Igor Nasonkin has over 10 years of experience in leading and conducting translational ophthalmology research, particularly in the field of retinal differentiation and stem cells. Igor has established research teams, written and submitted grant applications, collaborated with academic labs and CROs, and published research manuscripts and abstracts.

Igor Nasonkin's education history begins with their high school education at #105 from 1975 to 1985. Following this, they attended St.Petersburg State University from 1985 to 1992, where they obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (1st) and Genetics (2nd).

After completing their undergraduate education, Igor pursued a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at The University of British Columbia from 1995 to 1997.

Continuing their academic journey, Igor enrolled in the University of Michigan Medical School from 1997 to 2002, focusing on human genetics and earning a Ph.D. degree.

In terms of additional certifications, Igor obtained a certification in mouse embryonic stem cell culture from the University of Michigan Transgenic core (TAMC) in November 1998.