Leaders in Pharmaceutical Business Intelligence (LPBI) Group

Dror Nir, PhD 

RadBee

32 Avenue des Bécasses, 1410, Waterloo, Belgium

dror.nir@radbee.com

Informative links:

http://be.linkedin.com/in/nirdror

http://www.radbeeqms.com/

http://www.radbee.com/

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/?s=dror+nir

General Manager; Technology transfer, Technology commercialisation (spin off); CTO; Health Technology Assessment; Business Development; Medical-Imaging: Product definition, R&D, Medical Device Clinical validation and Access to market;

Dror is an accomplished CEO particularly experienced with start-up and SME’s within the medical-imaging industry. Being involved in development and bringing to market of sophisticated, state-of-the-art technologies for two decades Dror is well positioned for assessing technology viability and rout to market.  Particularly, spending the last ten years as a manager and entrepreneur in the medical-device and cancer management arena, Dror is presenting unique combination of hands-on experience and understanding of the health-care market, the way it works and which technologies could provide it with viable solutions. Dror’s strong research relations with leading academies in Europe and USA on one hand and his medical-devices industry network are important assets when supporting technology commercialisation is considered. Dror has no problem with extensive traveling and handles very well work-load and stress situations.

Dror’s major achievement in recent years is the successful introduction into the cancer management pathway a unique and disruptive medical-imaging device, HistoScanning^TM, which today is in daily use all over Europe in the urologists’ office for ultrasound based prostate cancer detection. The experiences he acquired in the course of this project include the founding of a medical device company and leading it from the fundamental research phase to early sales in Europe, whilst building a loyal, talented and proactive team of 36 people. He also established a trusted network of medical KOLs in Europe, UK and USA mainly in Urology, Radiology and Gynecology. Dror continues to maintain the relationships with these clinicians, in particular with the urologists amongst them. Dror continues to publish scientific papers and participate in research related to the development of innovative medical devices in urology.  

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

• Founded Advanced Medical Diagnostics SA, Waterloo, Belgium and developed the company to early sales achieving revenues of over 1Mil. Euro/year within 3 years of the initial product launch.
• Built a highly productive and motivated lean and mean team.
• Inspired and led a team of scientists and engineers:
• Guided the development of a disruptive, unmatched tissue characterisation technology, HistoScanning^TM, from initial concept, through prototyping, rigorous multi-center clinical studies, production and regulatory processes to being distributed and sold in 6 European countries.
• Obtained CE mark for a risk level 2a device within 18 months and ahead of the product launch,
• Obtained ISO 13485 and CAN/CAN ISO13485 certifications within the first certification audit with no major non-conformity being recorded.
• Attracted and recruited from various sources the Governmental grants, private and institutional investments and bank loans required to fund Advanced Medical Diagnostics’ activities through to post commercialization of the first product.  Raised over 20 Million Euros over an 8 year period.
• Built a network of trusted clinical advisors and recognised KOLs across Europe and the USA to advise on clinical need, guide product development, create and execute robust clinical studies, publish credible peer-reviewed papers and to be advocates for the technology.
• Protected the company IP assets through a combination of prudent patent licencing and the careful management of critical know-how.
• In 2011 HistoScanning was awarded the Technology Innovation, Medical Diagnostics and Imaging Technology award by Frost & Sullivan.

 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

RadBee                                                                                   2012 – now

www.radbee.com

Managing partner

Advanced Medical Diagnostics (AMD), Belgium        2003 – 2012

www.histoscanning.com

CEO

Built an organization from scratch emphasizing excellence, streamlined processes and agility.

ELTA (Sub. of  Israeli Aircraft Industries), Israel        1993-2002

R&D Team Leader & R&D Projects Manager

Algorithms development in the field of pattern recognition and image processing and leading R&D on advanced air born radars imaging techniques.

EDUCATION

1982–1993        Tel-Aviv University

10/1992 – 11/1993 – Post graduating research.

1987 – 1992 – PhD.  In nuclear physics: Developing a novel technique for characterization of solid surfaces using stimulated (by a chain of weak – decays) desorption of radioactive isotopes.

1985 – 1987  – M.Sc. – Nuclear physics

1982 – 1985 – B.A., Physics.

LANGUAGES

English – Fluent business level

French – good conversation skills

Hebrew – Mother tongue

PATENTS AND PUBLICATIONS

Patents

System and Method for Analysis of a Tissue US patent 6,785,570

Method and system for selecting and recording biopsy sites in a body organ; US Patent No. 7,824,339 and PCT/IL02/00481, PCT IB2004/001127

Method and device for planning and performing a biopsy; US patent 13/131,553 and PCT/EP2008/067525.

Method of re-sampling ultrasound data; PCT/EP2010/067529 – Pending.

 Peer Reviewed Publications

NIR (D.), Kelson (I.) Ultraclean radioisotope marking by nuclear stimulated desorption/ Journal of Applied Physics — February 1, 1991 — Volume 69, Issue 3, pp. 1147-1150  

Computer-aided ultrasonography (HistoScanning): a novel technology for locating and characterizing prostate cancer B J U  I N T E R N A T I O N A L , June 2008.

VAES (E.), MANCHANDA (R.), AUTIER, NIR (R.), NIR (D.), BLEIBERG (H.), ROBERT (A.), MENON (U.). Differential diagnosis of adnexal masses: Sequential use of the Risk of Malignancy Index and a novel computer aided diagnostic tool. Published in Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Issue 1 (January). Vol. 39,. Page(s): 91-98.

VAES (E.), MANCHANDA (R.), NIR (R.), NIR (D.), BLEIBERG (H.), AUTIER (P.), MENON (U.), ROBERT (A.). Mathematical models to discriminate between benign and malignant adnexal masses: potential diagnostic improvement using Ovarian HistoScanning. Published in International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer (IJGC). Issue 1,. Vol. 21,. Page(s): 35-43.

LUCIDARME (O.), AKAKPO (J.-P.), GRANBERG (S.), SIDERI (M.), LEVAVI (H.), SCHNEIDER (A.), AUTIER (P.), NIR (D.), BLEIBERG (H.). A new computer aided diagnostic tool for non-invasive characterisation of malignant ovarian masses: Results of a multicentre validation study.Published in European Radiology. Issue 8. Vol. 20,. Page(s): 1822-1830.

LUCIDARME (O.), AKAKPO (J.-P.), LAURATET (B.), GRANBERG (S.), SIDERI (M.), MASHIACH (R.), BLEIBERG (H.), NIR (D.), AUTIER (P.), LEFRANC (J.P.), GRENIER (P.). HistoScanning: a new computer aided diagnostic tool for non invasive detection of malignant ovarian masses. A European clinical study report. Published and presented at the annual European Congress of Radiology (ECR). Session “Genitourinary – SS 307 Imaging of the pelvis”, B152, 07/03/2008, Wien (A).

BLEIBERG (H.), AKAKPO (J.-P.), GRANBERG (S.), SIDERI (M.), MASHIACH (R.), AUTIER (P.), NIR (D.). HistoScanning, a new device to enhance ultrasound’s contribution to clinical assessment of pelvic masses. Published and presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). 02-06/06/2006, Atlanta (GA, USA).

FRANCHI (D.), SIDERI (M.), NIR (D.), BOVERI (S.), di PACE (R.), MAGGIONI (A.). Ovarian HistoScanning, a new device to enhance ultrasound based clinical assessment of pelvic masses.Published and presented at the world congress of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ISUOG-WC). 0C157, 03-07/09/2006, London (GB).

GRIVEGNÉE (A.R.), ABSIL (A.-S.S.), NIR (D.), AUTIER (P.). Histoscan: Tissue characterization in early detection of ovarian cancers. Published at the annual Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Session “Behavioral and social science: Screening and early detection”, A52, 13/11/2006, Boston (MA, USA).

BRAECKMAN (J.), AUTIER (P.), SOVIANY (C.), NIR (R.), NIR (D.), MICHIELSEN (D.), TREURNICHT (K.), JARMULOWICZ (M.), BLEIBERG (H.), GOVINDARAJU (S.K.), EMBERTON (M.).The accuracy of transrectal ultrasonography supplemented with computer-aided ultrasonometry for detecting small prostate cancers. Published in British Journal of Urology International (BJUI). Issue 11 (May),. Vol. 102,. Page(s): 1560-1565.

BRAECKMAN (J.), AUTIER (P.), GARBAR (C.), PIPELEERS-MARICHAL (M.), SOVIANY (C.), NIR (R.), NIR (D.), MICHIELSEN (D.), BLEIBERG (H.), EGEVAD (L.), EMBERTON (M.). Computer-aided ultrasonography (HistoScanning): a novel technology for locating and characterizing prostate cancer. Published in British Journal of Urology International (BJUI). Issue 3 (July),. Vol. 101,. Page(s): 293-298.

SIMMONS (L.A.M.), AUTIER (P.), ZÁT’URA (F.), BRAECKMAN (J.G.), PELTIER (A.), ROMÍCS (I.), STENZL (A.), TREURNICHT (K.), WALKER (T.), NIR (D.), MOORE (C.M.), EMBERTON (M.).Detection, localisation and characterisation of prostate cancer by Prostate HistoScanning. e-Published ahead of printing in British Journal of Urology International (BJUI). 17/11/2011.

BRAECKMAN (J.G.), MICHIELSEN (D.), SOVIANY (C.), NIR (R.), NIR (D.), BLEIBERG (H.), AUTIER (P.), GOVINDARAJU (S.K.), EMBERTON (M.). The ability of Prostate HistoScanning to identify low volume prostate cancer tumour foci. Published and presented at the annual meeting of the European Association of Urology (EAU). P.1016, 27/03/2008, Milano (I).

GOVINDARAJU (S.K.), BRAECKMAN (J.G.), SOVIANY (C.), NIR (R.), NIR (D.), BLEIBERG (H.), EMBERTON (M.). Prostate HistoScanning (PHS) technology and its potential use in focal therapy.Published and presented at the International Symposium on Focal Therapy and Imaging in Prostate and Kidney Cancer (FTI-PKc). 21-22/02/2008, Durham (NC, USA).

NIR (D.). Smart imaging for better informed management of cancer patients. Presented at the Oncology imaging and Personalised Medicine congress (OIPMC). 29/10/2011, Brussel-Bruxelles-Brüssel (B).

Imaging in Cancer

1.       Ultrasound

1.1.    2013 – YEAR OF THE ULTRASOUND

Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/04/10/2013-year-of-the-ultrasound/

1.2.    Imaging: seeing or imagining? (Part 1)

Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2012/09/10/imaging-seeing-or-imagining-part-1/

1.3.    Today’s fundamental challenge in Prostate cancer screening,

Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2012/09/02/todays-fundamental-challenge-in-prostate-cancer-screening-2/

1.4.    From AUA2013: “HistoScanning”- aided template biopsies for patients with previous negative TRUS biopsies,

Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/05/05/from-aua2013-histoscanning-aided-template-biopsies-for-patients-with-previous-negative-trus-biopsies/

1.5.    Ultrasound-based Screening for Ovarian Cancer

Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/04/28/ultrasound-based-screening-for-ovarian-cancer/

2.       MRI & PET/MRI

 2.1.    Introducing smart-imaging into radiologists’ daily practice.

Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2012/10/09/introducing-smart-imaging-into-radiologists-daily-practice/

2.2.    Imaging: seeing or imagining? (Part 2).

Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2012/09/29/imaging-seeing-or-imagining-part-2/

2.3.    Whole-body imaging as cancer screening tool; answering an unmet clinical need?

Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/01/03/whole-body-imaging-as-cancer-screening-tool-answering-an-unmet-clinical-need/

3.       CT, Mammography & PET/CT

 3.1.    Causes and imaging features of false positives and false negatives on 18F-PET/CT in oncologic imaging

Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/05/18/causes-and-imaging-features-of-false-positives-and-false-negatives-on-18f-petct-in-oncologic-imaging/

3.2.    Improving Mammography-based imaging for better treatment planning

Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/01/14/improving-mammography-based-imaging-for-better-treatment-planning/

3.3.    Closing the Mammography gap

Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2012/11/04/closing-the-mammography-gap/