ICU-acquired Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a prevalent and serious problem, associated with significantly increased morbidity and mortality. According to US physicians, among the top priorities for AKI is facilitating its prevention by earlier diagnosis.[1] Preventive measures and identification of high-risk patients have shown a decrease in both the incidence and severity of hospital-acquired AKI.[2]
[1] Decision Resources: TreatmentTrends: Acute Kidney Injury (US) 2015.
[2] Lewington AJP, Cerdá J, Mehta RL. Raising Awareness of Acute Kidney Injury. A Global Perspective of a Silent Killer. Kidney Int. (2013) 84 (3):457-467.
[3] Hoste EAJ, Bagshaw SM, et. al. Epidemiology of acute kidney injury in critically ill patients: the multinational AKI-EPI study. Intensive Care Med (2015) 41:1411–1423.
[4] Halpern NA, Goldman DA, Tan KS, Pastores SM. Trends in Critical Care Beds and Use Among Population Groups and Medicare and Medicaid Beneficiaries in the United States: 2000-2010. Crit Care Med (2016) 44(8):1490-9.
[5] National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death. Adding Insult to Injury. 2009.
Mr. Strafaci is an experienced sales and marketing executive with extensive knowledge in launching novel capital and value-added consumables in the hospital market. Most recently, he was an early team member and leader at Cogentix Medical, where he headed the endoscopy business unit with double-digit quarterly sales increases. The company was acquired by Laborie Medical Technologies. Mr. Strafaci is a published co-author in the Journal of Molecular Biology and holds a degree in Biological Sciences from Rutgers University in New Jersey.
Professor Khouli is the Chair of the Department of Critical Care Medicine in the Respiratory Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. Previously he was the Chief of the Critical Care Division at Mt. Sinai West and Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospitals in New York City, where he founded the Center for Advanced Medical Simulation (CAMS) and was the Chair of Medical Ethics for over 15 years. Prof. Khouli is on the advisory boards & committees of several regional and national organizations and societies.
Mr. Benhamou has over 25 years’ experience in sales management, product management and business development at companies including Siemens Healthineers, GE Healthcare and Intel Digital Health Group. With a deep understanding of international healthcare systems and the technology needs of various medical specialties, he has vast experience defining and implementing sales strategies. Mr. Benhamou holds an MSc in Biomedical Engineering from Aix-Marseille II University, France.
Dr. Grinstein is a published biochemist and experienced scientific and clinical researcher with 10 years of focus on AKI. He received his MSc from Hebrew University and the Max Planck Institute, and his PhD in Medicine from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, specializing in renal stem cells. Dr. Grinstein is currently a researcher at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Ms. Goldman manages the company’s clinical trials in Israel and the US. Formally a pediatric oncology nurse, she is a published clinical researcher with 10 years of focus on AKI. Ms. Goldman received her Bachelor’s in biology from Yeshiva Univ in NY, and her degree in nursing and Master’s in biotechnology from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Ms. Goldman is also a Registered Nurse in the State of New York. She is currently pursuing a PhD in bioethics at Bar-Ilan University in Israel.
Ms. Azran manages the company’s clinical trials in Israel and Europe. She has 17 years of experience in clinical research, 10 of which have been in renal disease. Ms. Azran began her clinical career in the In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) Department at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. She then continued her clinical research in the Ophthalmology surgical division at Kaplan Hospital. Ms. Azran received her Bachelor’s degree in life sciences and her Master’s in endocrinology from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Mr. Barda has a wealth of experience in operations management in the electronics & medical device industry. In his previous positions as VP Operations at Mobileye (NYSE:MBLY) and MedDynamix, he established mass production infrastructure logistics in Israel and the Far East, managed supply chains, in- and outsourcing, QA, MRP/ERP development and implementation, and many other key functions. He holds an MBA and a BA in electrical engineering and electronics.
Mr. Mantinband is a senior technology executive with extensive experience in all aspects of product design and lifecycle encompassing both hardware and software. Previously, he served in executive management positions at Microsoft, Kayote Networks, and Accent Software International Ltd. (NASDAQ: ACNTF). Mr. Mantinband holds an MSc in Industrial Engineering and Ergonomics from North Carolina State University and a BSc in EECS from Northwestern University.
Mr. Engelhardt joined RenalSense in 2015. Prior to joining RenalSense, he served for 18 years as CFO and VP Finance of ViryaNet, a global provider of mobile workforce management software solutions. During his tenure at ViryaNet he played a key role in building the accounting and finance functions, managing the integration of acquisitions, and supporting the company’s IPO and successful sale of the company in 2014 to a large private equity. Mr. Engelhardt is a Certified Public Accountant in both the US and Israel.
Mr. Kleiman is an experienced entrepreneur with extensive management, marketing and operations experience, 15 years of which have been in the renal and critical care space. As past CEO of MedDynamix, he transformed the company from a young start-up to a global medical device provider. Mr. Kleiman also founded Csoft International, a US software company acquired by Marconi Systems in 1999.
Mr. Kochba has vast and diverse experience developing and commercializing medical equipment and multidisciplinary systems. Previously, he served as VP R&D of SuperDimension, a company that introduced a unique lung navigation system for pulmonary cancer care, and as VP R&D for Pythagoras Solar, a company that developed unique building integrated photovoltaic windows. He also held several leading management roles at Orbotech.
Mr. HaCohen is a seasoned C-level and investment professional with 25 years’ experience building and managing multi-national, multi-cultural companies. He is the Founder and a Managing Partner of Jerusalem Technology Investments (TASE: JTI), where he heads the Investments Committee and serves on the boards of several IT and Medical Device companies. Prior to founding JTI, Mr. HaCohen was the Founder, CEO and Chairman of ViryaNet (NASDAQ: VRYA).
Mr. Do leads the Global Strategy Group of Samsung’s diverse business portfolio. Previously, he was the Chief Strategy Officer for Merck, Tyco Electronics, and Lenovo. He was also a former senior partner at McKinsey & Company, where he spent 17 years and helped build the healthcare, high tech and corporate finance practices. Mr. Do holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
Mr. Yisrael is Principal of a Family Office overseeing investments in the US and Israel in a variety of sectors including venture capital, capital markets & real estate. Founder and partner of Hadas Arazim Investment house (today part of Halman Aldubi Investment House), he currently serves as a Board Member, as well as in several other private companies. Mr. Yisrael holds an LLB degree from Bar Ilan University & is a member of the Israeli Bar since 1995.
Professor Safirstein is an internationally renowned nephrologist and 40-year industry veteran. He is Professor of Internal Medicine at Yale University, past Executive Vice Chair of the Dept. of Internal Medicine, University of Arkansas, and Asst. Editor of Kidney International. Dr. Safirstein holds senior positions at several major medical institutions in the US and at the NIH.
Dr. Caine, a board-certified general surgeon, is Director General of Herzog Hospital in Jerusalem. Prior to assuming his present position, he was a senior staff surgeon at the Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem; where he continues to practice as an active surgeon. Dr. Caine has served as Surgeon General of the Israeli Air force and was until recently the President of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine.