MANAGEMENT TEAM
Samy Y. Lamouille, PhD
Co-Founder and CEO
Dr. Lamouille has a demonstrated track record as a leader in both academia and the biotech business sector. He is an experienced cell and molecular biologist with 20+ years of experience in the cancer field, including 8+ years working in biotech companies in San Francisco, CA and Roanoke, VA. He completed his PhD at the University of Grenoble, France, and postdoctoral training at University of California San Francisco. He has made significant discoveries in the field of cancer progression through metastasis, and has published in leading journals, including Nature Biotechnology, Nature Reviews, and Cancer Research. In 2016, he co-founded Acomhal Research to develop novel cancer treatments to prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis. The following year, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities selected Acomhal Research as one of 22 companies nationwide for the University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Showcase at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Dr. Lamouille has served as PI on multiple SBIR/STTR grants and has recently raised capital via a seed fund round with Virginia Investors to support Acomhal’s mission.
Robert G. Gourdie, PhD
Co-Founder and CSO
Dr. Robert Gourdie is Professor and Director of the Center for Vascular and Heart Research at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC at Virginia Tech. He has authored 160+ scientific publications (H factor = 59). Dr. Gourdie has been continuously funded by the NIH since 1997, with two current R01 grants and considerable experience leading NIH STTR and SBIR projects. Presently, he holds a dozen issued US patents and over 30 worldwide, with another 50 patents pending. In 2005, he co-founded FirstString Research, serving as its CSO, where he had a key role in developing the company’s regulatory process, including a successful IND application to the FDA. Dr. Gourdie co-founded Acomhal Research in 2016, which is licensed to use the JM2 peptide drug that was invented in his lab, and his extensive experience will be essential to Acomhal’s translation of JM2 to the clinic.
Heather Mason
Administrative Manager
Ms. Mason joined Acomhal Research in 2021. She is a certified Research Administrator with 10+ years experience in research support. Ms. Mason works closely with Dr. Lamouille to plan, organize, and implement business and research activities. Prior to joining Acomhal, she worked as a senior proposal development specialist at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Virginia Tech. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in English from the University of Wyoming and a Master of Arts degree in public history from Armstrong Atlantic State University (now Georgia Southern University).