Board of Directors
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Anthony Cheung, PhD
Director
Dr. Anthony Cheung is the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of enGene (Nasdaq: ENGN), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing a differentiated non viral gene therapy platform for mucosal delivery. He is the co inventor of enGene’s proprietary non viral polymeric gene delivery platform that enables targeted, localized delivery of therapeutics to mucosal surfaces. From 2012 to 2018, Dr. Cheung served as CEO, securing major venture and government financing, expanding R&D capabilities, and executing two strategic pharma partnerships worth over $2 billion. Under his leadership, enGene was recognized as BIOTECanada’s Biotech Company of the Year. As CSO, he leads the advancement of enGene’s gene delivery platform, including its lead bladder cancer program and pipeline expansion into additional genitourinary indications. Dr. Cheung earned his PhD in Physiology from Tulane University School of Medicine. He has co-authored numerous book chapters, review articles and peer-reviewed journals and he is named inventor on numerous patents in the areas of gene delivery and polymer chemistry.
Jacques Courtois, Jr., MBA
Director
Jacques Courtois Jr. is Co-Founder of Quala Inc., President of Genson Capital, and an active investor in biotechnology and life sciences companies. A graduate of Harvard Business School, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, he is also President of the Fondation Courtois and a longstanding supporter of scientific research and innovation in Canada.
Marc Courtois, MBA
Director
Marc was an investment banker for over 20 years at what is now RBC Capital Markets. He was responsible for the coverage of the firm’s largest clients in Quebec notably Quebecor, BCE and Air Canada. Some notable transactions that he was responsible for are the IPOs of Air Canada , Bell Canada International and Quebecor World, the joint acquisition of control of Continental Airlines by Air Canada and TPG Capital, the sale of Montreal Trust by BCE, the sale of control of Donohue by Quebecor, the acquisition of World Color by Quebecor World and the acquisition of Videotron by Quebecor. Since leaving RBC Capital Markets, Marc has been involved in Board work. He is a past Chairman of Canada Post, NAV Canada, Aireon and the Pembroke American Growth Fund and a past director of Groupe TVA and Ovivo. He is also a past chairman of the Montreal Children’s Foundation and a former director of the MUHC and the MUHC Foundation.
Didier Leconte, MBA
Independent Director
Didier is an experienced leader in the fields of biotechnology and life sciences. He holds an Engineering Degree from the Sorbonne University, in France, and an MBA in Technology Management from the UQAM. Over the years, Didier has been instrumental in shaping Quebec’s aggressive strategy in support of life sciences. He has been Vice-President of Investments in Life Sciences at the Fonds de solidarité FTQ and Vice-President of Investments in Life Sciences and Technology at Investissement Québec, where he played a crucial role in fostering innovation and investment in healthcare technologies. He held various board positions for many successful institutions and companies at different stages of development, including his involvement with adMare BioInnovations, Valeo Pharma, JAMP Pharma, Congruence Tx, DalCor Pharma, Axelys, Montreal InVivo and BioQuebec.
Massimiliano Paganelli, MD, PhD
Director
Max co-founded Morphocell in 2018 and has been leading the company as president and CEO since 2019. He is also pediatric transplant hepatologist, head of the Liver Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Laboratory at CHU Sainte-Justine and associate professor of pediatrics at the Université de Montréal. He earned his medical degree at the Sapienza University of Rome, and trained in pediatrics in Rome and in pediatric hepatology and transplantology in Naples and in Brussels. Max also has a Ph.D. in hepatology and cell therapy from the Catholic University of Louvain. Expert in cell therapy of liver diseases, he is a Stem Cell Network investigator and a CIHR/FRQS-funded scientist. Driven by the needs of his young patients, Max is seeking better ways to treat liver disease using novel stem cell therapies.
Claudia Raggi, MD
Director
Dr. Claudia Raggi is a physician-scientist and internationally recognized expert in human development, stem cell biology, and regenerative medicine. Trained in medicine at Sapienza University of Rome and the Catholic University of Louvain, she has dedicated her career to translational research since 2009, bridging fundamental science and therapeutic innovation. As the inventor of Morphocell’s proprietary iPSC-based platform technology, Dr. Raggi has pioneered novel approaches to engineering functional human tissues for therapeutic applications. She brings deep expertise in cell therapy development, stem cell differentiation, manufacturing, and preclinical translation. As Chief Scientific Officer, she has built and leads Morphocell’s multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers, driving the advancement of the company’s breakthrough regenerative medicine programs from discovery toward clinical application.
Paul Wotton, PhD
Independent Director
Dr. Paul Wotton is a seasoned biotech leader with a track record as CEO and board member across numerous life science companies. He is currently Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of RBL LLC, Rice University’s biotech venture creation studio, and serves on the boards of Vericel, Cynata Therapeutics, and Kytopen. An EY Entrepreneur of the Year (2014, NJ), Dr. Wotton has guided companies through transformative partnerships and acquisitions, including with Vertex, Eli Lilly, Astellas, and Asahi Kasei. He previously led Ocata, Antares, and Sigilon Therapeutics, and held senior roles at Abbott, Merck, Eurand, and Penwest. Renowned for his expertise in encapsulated and regenerative therapies, he brings strategic vision and deal-making acumen that have advanced multiple breakthrough technologies. Dr. Wotton also serves as Chairman of Rice University’s Biotech Launch Pad, supporting the translation of pioneering academic research into real-world impact.