ORTHOGEN

Harold Alexander, Ph.D.

Dr. Harold Alexander is the CEO Orthogen, LLC. He is responsible for company’s strategy and future direction. He has over 35 years of experience in the field of orthopedic and dental biomaterials and medical devices. Previously, he served as President of the Orthogen Biomaterials Division of Bio-Lok Interntional, Inc, where he directed the development of a revolutionary new line of dental implants (Laser-Lok) incorporating laser micromachining to effect bone and soft tissue attachment. Prior to his association with Orthogen, he was the Director of the Department of Bioengineering at New York University’s Hospital for Joint Diseases. He has served as the Editor of the Applied Biomaterials section of the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research since its inception in 1986. He also co-founded 2 other medical device companies in the past, CAS Medical Systems and Orthomatrix. Dr. Alexander has extensive experience in transferring laboratory research to industrial applications and has developed several medical devices, including absorbable fracture fixation devices, bone graft materials, a neonatal blood pressure measurement system, a ligament prosthesis and a composite hip stem. He has served on the faculty of the UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, the Stevens Institute of Technology, the City College of New York, the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the New York University School of Medicine. He is an International Fellow of Biomaterials Science and Engineering, a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering and a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine. He has been awarded the Founder’s Award for the Best Current Research by Society for Biomaterials in recognition of his work in the field of prosthetic ligaments and tendons. Dr. Alexander holds a Doctorate degree in Applied Mechanics from New York University’s School of Engineering and Science.

Sachin Mamidwar, MBBS, MS

Sachin Mamidwar is one of the founders of Orthogen, LLC and serves as its General Manager. He is responsible for the company’s day to day operations including manufacturing, packaging, marketing, sales and advertising strategies and developing markets for Orthogen’s products through its own network and distributors. Previously he was Director of Product Development and Clinical Affairs at the Orthogen Biomaterials Division of Bio-Lok International, Inc, where he was the team leader responsible for the development (including animal studies, clinical studies, manufacturing, packaging, FDA approval, etc.) of a new line of bone graft materials. He was also responsible for the procuring and pursuit of several NIH SBIR Phase I and II grants. Sachin serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials and The Open Biomaterials Journal. He also serves as Vice-Chair of the Dental/ Craniofacial Special Interest Group of the Society for Biomaterials. He has organized and run several sessions at the Society’s annual meetings. Recently, he was appointed editor for the special issue of Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials focusing of Dental Biomaterials. He has a medical degree from India and a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from the joint graduate program of Rutgers University and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. His thesis work involved development of a controlled-release calcium sulfate based composite for bone regeneration. 

John L. Ricci, Ph.D. 

Dr. Ricci is a primary consultant to Orthogen, LLC. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomaterials and Biomimetics at the New York University School of Dentistry.  He also serves on the Editorial boards of JBMR-Applied Biomaterials and Implant Dentistry. He directs the in vivo testing and device evaluation aspects of many of the research projects of Orthogen and has over 25 years of experience in orthopedic biomaterials, tissue response to biomaterials and surface micro texturing of biomaterials. He played a key role in the development of the Laser-Lok™ technology and in obtaining FDA approvals in the United States. He has collaborated with several companies in the past, including Hexcel Medical, Orthomatrix, Integra Life Sciences and Osteonics. The focus of his current research is in vitro and in vivo cell and tissue response to experimental implant surfaces and bone repair biomaterials that posses unique release characteristics for growth factors, bone morphogenetic proteins and antibiotics.  He has also served on the faculty of the UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School, the New York University School of Medicine, Rutgers University, and the City College of New York and as an affiliated faculty at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He has published extensively in biomaterials. Dr. Ricci received a doctorate degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Dr. John Grew is a consultant to the Orthogen in its efforts to develop microgeometric fabrication technologies for surface modification of biomaterial implants. He is an Assistant Professor of Biology at the New Jersey City University and holds adjunct appointments at New York University and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He has more than 10 years experience in investigating the in vitro cellular responses to microtextured and micromolded substrates that mimic implant surfaces. He has presented and published numerous studies that discuss the morphology, cytology and physiology of connective tissue cells cultured on these substrates. Dr. Grew and the Orthogen team have recently begun testing the ability of microgrooved culture substrates to direct axonal generation and regeneration. He has also researched the biological effects of metallic toxicity of bone and metabolic bone disease. Dr. Grew earned bachelors and master's degrees in Biological Science from the University of Massachusetts and a Ph.D. in Basic Medical Science from New York University.

Dr. Michael Wells acts as a consultant to Orthogen in projects related to the development of direct nervous system communication with electromechanical devices. He is currently Associate Professor of Basic Sciences, Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nevada. Dr. Wells has over 25 years of basic and clinical research experience and has published numerous articles concerning nervous system injury and regeneration, biomechanics and neurophysiology. His current work with Orthogen primarily involves the development of an interface with lesioned peripheral nerves to extract motor signals for use in the volitional guidance of prosthetic devices. The combination of this interface with Orthogen's connective tissue interface technology is facilitating the development of a new generation of prosthetic devices with biologically stable, direct attachments to the human body coupled with enhanced functional capacities. Dr. Wells holds a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Neurosciences from the University of Florida.