Bringing Vision to Life, Together
Vivacitas was formed in 2015, with the vision of our founders and Dr. Joseph Rubinfeld (co-founder of Amgen). Vivacitas is committed to creating new treatment options and improving the lives of cancer patients with solid tumors worldwide.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. The global market for cancer therapeutics is growing rapidly, with revenues projected to reach $161 billion in 2026. (source: Allied Market Research 2021).
Currently, the standard of care for solid tumor cancers in the U.S is surgery and radiation/chemotherapy. Patients face significant challenges as treatment regimens must factor in the patient’s ability to tolerate the commonly used chemotoxins.
Significant numbers of cancer patients seek new treatment options especially in recurrent disease. According to the American Cancer Society, this is especially true in glioblastoma, colorectal, pancreatic, ovarian, and small cell lung cancers.
Team
We are founders, scientists, oncologists, biopharmaceutical experts, executives – and passionate people devoted to getting things done – hailing from start-up and multinational companies.
Driven by a shared mission, our team applies clarity, tenacity, and vision in our fight against cancer and the pursuit of new treatment options for patients and their families.
Executive Team

Jeff Stephens
Managing Director,
Infusion 51a
Director &
Co-Founder

Elise Brownell, PhD
EVP – Portfolio Management

Tina Runk, MBA
EVP – Clinical Operations, Director
& Co-Founder
Board of Directors

Jeff Stephens
Managing Director,
Infusion 51a
Director &
Co-Founder

Tina Runk, MBA
EVP –
Clinical Operations
Director
& Co-Founder

Frank Heuszel, JD
CEO Document Security Systems, Inc;
CEO American Pacific Bancorp

Mark Suseck
Director

Chan Heng Fai
Chairman Emeritus
Alset International
Medical & Scientific Advisors

Jai Grewal MD
NSPC Spine & Brain Surgery
Long Island, NY
Clinical Neuro-Oncologist
Executive Board Member American
Cancer Society

Andrew Lassman MD
Columbia University Irving Medical Center New York, NY
John Harris Associate Professor of Neurology and Chief Neuro-Oncology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Katy Peters MD, PhD
Department of Neurology
Duke University School of Medicine Durham, NC
Associate Professor of Neurosurgery
Director of Supportive Care

David Reardon MD
Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute: Harvard
School Boston, MA
Clinical Director,
Center for Neruo-Oncology

Volker Stieber MD
Novant Health Cancer Institute
Forsyth Medical Center
Winston-Salem, NC
Chair, IRB and Co-Chair, Neuro-Oncology Council

Erkut Borazanci MD, MS
HonorHealth Research Institute, University of Arizona College of Medicine
Scottsdale, AZ
Medical Oncology/Clinical Investigator
Clinical Assistant Professor,
Internal Medicine
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