Our Team
Mahsa Khoshbakht, PhD
Mahsa is experienced in oligonucleotide therapeutics, spanning discovery, development, and delivery, particularly for genetic, infectious, and rare diseases. She has investigated antisense morpholino oligomers (PMOs) using multidisciplinary methods to enhance cellular uptake and targeted delivery. Her efforts included modifying PMOs with cell-penetrating peptides, antibodies, and other target-specific ligands. Moreover, she employs various bifunctional crosslinkers in the conjugates to optimize stability, hydrophobicity, and length. Mahsa holds a Ph.D. in chemistry, focusing on organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and the epigenetic modification of fungi to create an antimicrobial library of fungal natural products.
Omid Sadeghi, PhD
With over 15 years of expertise in inorganic chemistry and nanoparticle synthesis, Omid possesses a strong background in designing and modifying nanoparticles for various applications. He has demonstrated proficiency in controlling the size, shape, charge, and composition of nanoparticles. Omid received his PhD from Oregon State University, where he focused on the synthesis and modification of iron nanoclusters. Given the interdisciplinary nature of his research, he has collaborated with diverse groups, including biologists, optical engineers, organic chemists, and entrepreneurs, contributing to breakthrough projects.
Douglas Keszler, PhD
Doug Keszler is a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Oregon State University and a world leader in the chemistry. He has extensive experience in technology commercialization. With colleagues at OSU, he contributed to the development of the first transparent oxide thin-film transistors, which are now widely found in high-resolution flat-panel displays. He worked with OSU on formulating programs aligned with the Chips and Science Act of 2022 lead the Corvallis Microfluidics Tech Hub to EDA Designation. He is also an Angel Investor and regularly advise companies on both their business and technology roadmaps. Doug earned his PhD in chemistry from the Northwestern University in 1985.
