Team and Leadership

Dr. Victoria Fox (PhD)

Dr. Victoria Fox is a human pluripotent stem cell biologist and the co-founder of the LA Biotech Center. Currently, she serves as a faculty course instructor at California State Channel Islands and as the CEO of PluriCORE, a stem cell consultation company.

Prior to her current roles, Dr. Fox was an Assistant Professor of Research at the University of Southern California (USC) and Director of the USC Stem Cell Core Facility. Her contributions to stem cell research are significant, having provided support, training and consultation to many scientists from across the world. Her expertise spans fundamental stem cell biology, disease modeling, and early translational research. She is also highly skilled in establishing wet-lab facilities for academic, teaching, and industry applications.

Originally from England, Dr. Fox completed her PhD training in stem cell biology at the University of Sheffield, under the guidance of internationally recognized scientist Peter Andrews at the UK’s inaugural Center for Stem Cell Biology. She joined USC in 2007, where she not only advanced research and education but also served as vice chair of USC’s Embryonic Stem Cell Research Committee, overseeing the scientific and ethical merits of stem cell research on the campus.

A seasoned educator with 15 years of experience, Dr. Fox has taught science to a diverse audience ranging from pre-school students to working professionals. At USC, she taught accredited degree courses, providing practical instruction focusing on essential cell biology techniques to hundreds of graduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral students.

In 2008, she created the USC Stem Cell Core Technical Training Program— a unique series of extracurricular courses offering training with human stem cells to both professional scientists and high school students. This groundbreaking program was the first of its kind to allow pre-college students to learn essential science hands-on with human stem cells in a professional, industry-style training format. Before spinning out to form Pathways to Stem Cell Science, the USC Stem Cell Core Technical Training Program educated more than 1,000 students worldwide and became a major provider of preparatory training for the CIRM-funded Bridges to Stem Cell Research Workforce Initiative.

Dr. Victoria Fox’s multifaceted career reflects her dedication to advancing stem cell science through education, research, and practical application. Her work continues to inspire and shape the future of biotechnology.

George Tseng

George Tseng is an instructional laboratory specialist, research scientist, and laboratory manager at The LA Biotech Center. In his multifaceted role, George is pivotal in advancing the center’s research initiatives, working collaboratively with scientists from around the world to develop improved stem cell technologies. An accomplished educator, George also excels in creating and delivering hands-on science education programs for students of all ages.

With a dual focus on education and research, George is a major asset to the LA Biotech Center and an inspiration to the students he mentors. His expertise stems from a comprehensive education in biotechnology and the CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research program at Pasadena City College where he learned advanced laboratory methods. Over the course of his career, George has made significant contributions to the field of stem cell science, both at the LA Biotech Center and during his early career as an intern at the USC Stem Cell Core Facility. There, he studied the mechanisms of cellular reprogramming and developed foundational techniques that continue to inform ongoing educational and research efforts.

Before joining the LA Biotech Center in 2017, George served as a research associate in the City of Hope’s Department of Cancer Biology, where he investigated the role of androgens in prostate cancer. This experience, combined with his robust background in cell biology and biotechnology, equips George with a wealth of scientific and technical expertise that he brings to his current role.

George Tseng’s enduring commitment to scientific excellence and education positions him as an asset to the center, constantly driving innovation and inspiring the next generation of scientists.

Dr. Thomas Zwaka (MD. PhD)

Dr. Thomas Zwaka is a Professor of Developmental and Regenerative Biology and founding director of the Huffington Center for Cell-Based Research in Parkinson’s Disease at the Icahn School of Medicine. He recently co-founded the Biotech company Paratus Sciences, with scientific luminaries Richard Young and Paul Matsudaira. His academic research focuses on fundamental questions relating to the biology of stem cells and developing better treatments for neurodegenerative disease. 

Originally from Germany, Dr. Zwaka earned his MD and PhD from Ulm University, where he also trained as a cardiologist. He transitioned to the field of stem cell research in 2002 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship at The University of Wisconsin in the laboratory of stem cell pioneer Jamie Thomson. Here Dr. Zwaka made major contributions to the development of technologies for genetically engineering human stem cells, resulting in highly cited publications and important methods that continue to inform the field.

In 2004 Dr Zwaka joined the faculty of the Baylor College of Medicine where he served in both the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and in the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy. He was subsequently promoted to co-director of the Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center, before joining The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

Dr. Zwaka is an internationally recognized authority on iPSC generation who has authored more than 64 peer reviewed scientific articles. His dedication to science, mentorship and biotechnology will have lasting impacts on the field of stem cell research.

Dr. Martin Pera (PhD)

Dr. Martin Pera is a distinguished professor at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine, where his research focuses on the regulation of stem cell self-renewal. Dr. Pera was previously the Chair of Stem Cell Sciences at the University of Melbourne and a founding scientist at the Australian Stem Cell Center. With a career that spans five decades, he is widely regarded as one of the most revered scientists in the field of stem cell research.

Among his most recognized achievements, Dr. Pera pioneered the isolation and characterization of pluripotent stem cells from human germ cell tumors, laying the groundwork for the stem cell field as we know it today. At Monash University, his laboratory was the second in the world to isolate human embryonic stem cells and the first to report their differentiation into somatic cells in vitro. Dr. Pera’s scholastic contributions include over 150 peer-reviewed scientific articles that have significantly advanced our understanding of human stem cell biology.

In addition to research, Dr. Pera has dedicated much of his life to supporting early-career scientists through training, mentorship and international collaborations. He has contributed greatly to the advancement of stem cell science throughout the world, enabling scientists from a diverse array of disciplines to integrate stem cells into their research programs. Dr. Pera was among a small group of scientists to spearhead the establishment of stem cell science as an independently recognized field with dedicated funding, research facilities and professional associations. Through his popular podcast “The Stem Cell Report with Martin Pera”, he helps the scientific community stay informed about the latest developments in the field.

Beyond the laboratory, Dr. Pera is considered an international leader and distinguished authority in the field of stem cell science. His most notable roles include, Founding chair of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at the University of Southern California, Director of embryonic stem cell research at the Australian Stem Cell Center and Program Leader of Stem Cells Australia. As a professor at the Jackson Laboratories, he continues to provide essential guidance to state, national and international regularly bodies including the steering group of the International Stem Cell Initiative which sets international standards for stem cell research.

Dr. Pera’s legacy is one of profound and lasting impact. His work has created the foundation for modern stem cell science, inspired the next generation of scientists and shaped the future of regenerative medicine.

Dr. Pamela Eversole-Cire (PhD)

Dr. Pamela Eversole-Cire is the director of the Biotechnology and CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Programs at Pasadena City College (PCC). A seasoned educator of 40 years, she has supported the mentorship and training of countless students, mostly from underprivileged backgrounds.

Dr. Eversole-Cire completed her PhD training at the University of Southern California in 1994 then worked for six years as a Research Fellow at Caltech before joining the faculty of PCC in 2001. She currently holds the position of visiting associate in Biology with the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering at Caltech.

Mr. Mark Cervi (CPA)

Mark Cervi is the co-founder, chief financial officer (CFO) and treasurer of the board of directors of the LA Biotech Center. He oversees all aspects of financial administration from accounting to tax compliance.

Mr. Cervi is a financial advisor with over 20 years of diversified business experience. In his current role as a senior director at Alix Partners, he provides interim management and advisory services for distressed companies, lenders, and unsecured creditors in both bankruptcy cases and out-of-court situations. A certified public accountant (CPA) with a background in tax and assurance cervices from Price Water House Cooper Mark brings invaluable expertise in budgeting, financial planning, cash management.

Joseph Bobek III 

Josef Bobek III is the secretary of the board of directors at the LA Biotech Center. He is an experienced advisor who assists the center with legal oversight and guidance.

Mr. Bobek holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Southern California, and received a Juris Doctorate from the School of Law at Pepperdine University. He is currently General Counsel & Secretary of Landmark Dividend LLC, one of the nation’s largest ground lease acquisition companies. Having served on the boards of K-12 schools he also brings significant In addition to being an experienced legal advisor he has significant expertise in educational oversight, having served on the board of K-12 schools.