OUR TEAM

The Scientists Who Built the Biology.
The Operator Executing the Plan.

Mito Innovations is founder-led — built around deep scientific expertise, disciplined development judgment, and a clear mandate: reach patients with a medicine that works where others haven't.

EXTERNAL EXECUTION NETWORK

Medchem / DMPK

Lead and backup candidate selection, potency, selectivity, and exposure profiling

Prof. Rick G. Schnellmann, PhD

Founder & scientific lead, endowed chair, Dean Emeritis, University of Arizona College of Pharmacy

Rick originated the MARY1 renal repair thesis and has spent his career establishing the scientific foundation linking 5HTR2B, PGC-1α, and mitochondrial repair biology to renal recovery. He is the field's foremost authority on mitochondrial pharmacology in kidney disease, with a body of work that directly underpins MARY1's mechanism, translational biomarker package, and clinical rationale.

  • 250+ peer-reviewed publications in renal repair, mitochondrial biology, and 5HTR pharmacology

  • h-index 70+ · Endowed Chair in Pharmaceutical Sciences

  • Leads target/MOA confirmation and translational pharmacodynamics strategy

  • University of Arizona · Duke · MUSC · St. Louis University affiliations

Veena Krishnappa, PhD, MVSc, BVSc

Trained in veterinary medicine and regenerative medicine, Veena is the operational and strategic architect of Mito Innovations. She brings experience in business development, operations, strategy, venture creation, and investment — building the company from discovery to clinical proof of concept with the rigor the AKI field demands.

  • Leads the build to CSA-AKI PoC — milestones, gates, and resourcing across the 36-month plan

  • Leads investor and partner outreach: narrative, diligence management, and financing execution

  • Runs budget, vendor governance, and external CRO/CDMO coordination

  • Partners: FiteBac Pharma · Scripps Research · Biolabs · Cambrian and others

Bioanalytical / PD Labs

Lead and backup candidate selection, potency, selectivity, and exposure profiling

Founding advisor, strategy & execution

Regulatory

Pre-IND package, IND module development, FDA engagement strategy

Nonclinical Safety

Class-aware cardiac monitoring, repeat dose toxicology, IND-enabling package

KOL Network

CSA-AKI clinical design, endpoint strategy, center of excellence planning

Interested in joining or advising?

We welcome conversations with clinicians, scientists, and operators in renal and mitochondrial biology.

Get in Touch

CRO / CDMO

GLP toxicology, safety pharmacology, GMP drug substance and drug product