Management Team
Robert Pollock - President / Chief Operating Officer
Robert Pollock brings to AVT over forty years of extensive engineering and business development experience. During the past four years, Robert is the President and Chief Operating Officer. Since 1994, he was founder and managing partner of Continuum Partners, a global network security and business development consultancy. His associates included three internationally recognized senior security PhDs, including Roger Schell PhD. a former NSA Deputy Director and partner. Besides his own extensive technological and business development skills, he has demonstrated a unique ability in raising substantial capital for promising technology companies. Bob also has also been Director/Trustee in the Greenwich Advisors India Investment Fund through 2011 covering a four year tenure.
In 1973, Robert was named President of Sci-Tex Americas, New York and Herzlia, Israel, the first successful CAD/CAE and Graphics manufacturer, which he helped build from start-up to $150 million. After the commencement of the 1973 Israeli war, he became the President, looking after worldwide business opportunities for the parent company through 1977. Thereafter, he became President of Putnam-Gellman (PG, OTC) and VP-Technology for Pioneer Systems (a shareholder of PG). The company under Bob’s leadership was returned to profitability during his first year coupled with doubling of sales revenues from new CAD/CAE-based two and three axis machine tools. In 1983 he joined Proteon (start-up) to become VP of Business Development, the first successful large IT Router and High-Speed fiber backbone company. Robert left at IPO in 1989 having built a sales backlog of $175 million, of which DOD and NSA had already installed a portion of their first high-speed campus backbone. In 1989 he became a founder and President of GIS, which became a competitor of Sci-Tex with its proprietary Parallel Computer and Operating System. The company was then sold in 1994 to one of the world’s largest printers. He then became President of SISTEX, an IT security OEM, and also invested in the company. This company was subsequently sold to a large government systems integrator in 1999.
Robert graduated from the City University of New York, having majored in Physics and Mathematics. After his active duty in the US Army, he joined Bell Telephone Labs (BLT) as a Member of the Technical Staff, working for five years in their Commercial and Military Defense Laboratories. Robert also studied advanced electrical engineering and computer sciences at BTL’s graduate center. He left to join the General Electric Company (GE) where he specialized in business development focused on advanced productivity systems for other Fortune companies. He also is a graduate from GE’s Crotonville School of Business Management.
Abraham Mittelman, MD - Chairman of the Board
Dr. Abraham Mittelman is a practicing oncologist. He has served as Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at New York Medical College since 2000, as Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, New York Medical College (NYMC) since 1983, and as Attending Physician in the Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, at Westchester Medical Center from 1983 to present. His academic training was as Research Fellow in Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York City. He previously held the position of Assistant Professor of Medicine at Cornell University. Dr. Mittelman has extensive experience in managing clinical trials in investigational pharmaceuticals and immunological agents.
Dr. Mittelman currently serves on the Editorial Board for the publication of Cancer Investigation and Clinics of Oncology and Hematology. Previously, he has served on the Editorial Board of Acta Hematologica. He currently reviews papers for submission to Cancer, The Journal of Immunology, and American Cancer Society. In addition to being an active researcher, Dr. Mittelman is a prolific writer and has authored or co-authored more than 150 scientific papers and more than 200 abstracts. Many of these papers have been presented at international meetings on cancer.
Dr. Mittelman serves as a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Association for Cancer Research, American Society of Pharmacology, Society of Biologic Therapy, and the New York State Society of Medical Oncology and Hematology. It should be mentioned that he has been the recipient of a number of awards for his clinical research. Dr. Mittelman holds an MD degree from the University of Guadalajara as well as a Masters Degree in Physics from New York University. His undergraduate degree is from Pratt Institute.
Dr. Mittelman brings to the Company an extensive background in theoretical, clinical and practical research experience and a keen ability to identify novel therapeutics as well as the ability to measure their clinical outcome.
Morton Coleman MD - Vice President
Dr. Morton Coleman is Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and the Director of the Center for Lymphoma and Myeloma at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Campus. Dr. Coleman’s expertise is in the treatment of lymphoma, myeloma, Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia and associated diseases. He has played an instrumental role in devising the standard treatment for Hodgkin’s disease, the use of infusional chemotherapy in lymphoma, the concept of dose intensity and its use in myeloma and lymphoma, the combined use of thalidomide in myeloma, the role of PET scanning in lymphoma, the innovative applications of monoclonal antibodies in lymphoma and many other developments.
Dr. Coleman is chairman of the Medical Affiliate Board of Lymphoma Research Foundation and is on its Board of Directors and Scientific Review committee. He is also a member of the scientific review committees of the International Waldenstrom’s Foundation and the Research Fund for Waldenstrom’s, Ltd. Dr. Coleman has served as chairman of the New Agents Committee of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (university research consortium) and currently is on its Lymphoma Core Committee. He is the chairman of the Fund for Blood and Cancer Research and has also served as the chairman of the board of the Affiliated Physician’s Network. He has served on both the Publication and Program Committees of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and also served as the chairman of several subcommittees.
Dr. Coleman is an associate editor of Cancer Investigation and has served as the chairman, consultant or member reviewer for many scientific committees and journals, particularly in the areas of lymphoma, myeloma and Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia. He has authored over 400 publications in the field of blood cancers, and has been designated one of the “Best Doctors in America.”
Raj Kumar Tiwari, PhD -
Chief Scientific Officer, Chair of the Science Board & Director
Dr. Raj Kumar Tiwari is a cancer biologist with over 25 years of cancer research. An accomplished scientist of international repute, he has over 150 publications and abstracts, is a leader in cancer prevention and control, and the inventor of several patents involving Capridine and Cancer Vaccine, which are part of the IP of AVT.
Dr. Tiwari joined New York Medical College as an Assistant Professor 1996 and currently serves there as Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Professor of Otolaryngology (2005 to present) and Graduate Program Director (2000 to present), and formerly as Associate Professor of Medicine (1996-2008). Prior to this, he was Assistant Professor of Biochemistry in Surgery at Cornell University Medical College, New York (1991-1996), and Assistant Laboratory Member for the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research (1989-1991). During the same period he served as Assistant Attending Biochemist for Memorial Hospital’s Breast Center. He has a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Calcutta University and received his post-doctoral training at the University of Toronto, Canada (1984-1985) and then at Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute, New York (1986-1989).
In addition to his academic appointments, Dr. Tiwari reviews grant applications for the American Cancer Society, the American-Italian Foundation and the Dutch Cancer Society. He also reviews papers for a number of referred scientific publications that include: Cancer Research; Journal of Clinical Oncology; Anti-Cancer Research; American Journal of Gastroenterology; Journal of the National Cancer Institute; Journal of Interferon Research; Peptides; FASEB Journal; and Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. Dr. Tiwari has been honored a number of times for his scholarship, including: (i) National Scholarship, Government of India (1972-1979); (ii) Junior Research Fellowship, Indian Council of Medical Research (1979-1982); (iii) Senior Research Fellowship, Indian council of Medical Research (1982-1983); (iv) Post-Doctoral Fellowship, University of Toronto (1983-1985); and (v) Post-Doctoral Fellowship, the National Institute of Health (1992).
Dr. Tiwari is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Society for Interferon Research, the Harvey Society and the New York Academy of Sciences. Dr. Tiwari also serves as a member of the Molecular Biology Study Section which reviews and awards grants for breast cancer research from the US Army Medical Research Command. His research has been funded by grants from the National Institute of Health (NIH), the US Army Medical Research Command (Breast and Prostate Cancer Initiative), and the American Institute for Cancer Research.
Jan Geliebter, PhD - Secretary
Dr. Jan Geliebter joined New York Medical College as Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology in 1996, and currently serves there as Professor of Microbiology and Immunology (2008 to present), as well as Associate Professor of Medicine (1998 to present), Associate Professor of Otolaryngology (2005 to present), and Medical Microbiology Course Director (2003 to present). Previously, Dr. Geliebter was Assistant Professor of Urology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1993 – 1996). Prior to this, he held the position of Assistant Investigator for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (1988 – 1993). During the same period, Dr. Geliebter was an Assistant Professor for The Rockefeller University. In his early graduate career, he served as a Research Associate for Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1984 – 1987) and a Postdoctoral Fellow (1981 – 1984).
In addition to his academic appointments, Dr. Geliebter serves as an ad hoc reviewer for the periodicals: Journal of Urology, Cancer Investigation, Cancer, and Peptides. He is very active in a wide range of educational activities at the New York Medical College on the graduate level and also has a keen interest in helping high school students considering a career in science.
Dr. Geliebter has published over fifty (50) scientific articles. He has been awarded three (3) patents and currently has two (2) patents pending. Dr. Geliebter has been honored a number of times for his scholarship and educator talents. They include recognition from the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Pfeiffer Foundation, and New York Medical College. Dr. Geliebter holds a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from SUNY, Downstate Medical Center. Dr. Geliebter is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the New York Academy of Sciences. His research has been funded by grants from the Pfeiffer Foundation, American Institute for Cancer Research, Retirement Research Foundation, Zita Spiss Foundation, Zalmin Arlin Cancer Research Fund, National Institute of Health, and the National Cancer Institute.
Dr. Geliebter brings to the Company a wide range of research experience that will be useful in the Company’s future growth. His experience includes research of prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, vaccines, and infectious diseases.
Ronald J. Kovach, MSc - Bus/Dev Officer, Consultant to Board of Managers
Mr. Ronald J. Kovach has had a multifaceted career that spans more than thirty-five (35) years, with one exception, all within the business of health care and medical technology. His career covers: sales and sales training; marketing, market research and advertising; communications including conference promotion, television production, and medical writing; investment banking including private placements, mergers and acquisitions, as well as initial public offerings (IPOs); entrepreneurship; and consulting. His areas of interest are: 1) development and initial implementation of health care related businesses with a specific interest in preparing the business for a public offering; 2) general health care marketing including strategic planning, market research, product and/or service placement and positioning, and advertising; 3) medical writing for specialty medical business journals on the future of medical markets; 4) the biology of aging and the potential for eliminating the debilitating diseases associated with aging; and Universal Design, a school of design that has significant applications for the housing of this country’s aging population.
Mr. Kovach’s current endeavors, besides his involvement with Applied Vaccines Therapeutics, includes: 1) designing Aging in Place townhouses for Bakos Homes, Inc., Jim Thorpe, PA; 2) writing a book with his son, Brett Kovach, PhD. The book is currently titled Building the Perfect Retirement Home; and 3) developing a venture capital fund for a major hospital in Pennsylvania to fund start-ups and development stage companies in the health care technology field(s).
Some of Mr. Kovach’s significant accomplishments follow:
2004
Designed and marketed an Aging in Place development with an association with Steve Bakos Homes, Inc.
1995
Founded and became CEO of a mobile nuclear cardiology company and a mobile ultrasound company, the holding company was called Medical Providers’ Capital Network, Inc.
1993
Produced and moderated a series of videotape presentations on the Safe Harbor Regulations which were complimentary regulations to the Stark Laws. More than 300 sets of the tapes were sold nationally to physicians and their lawyers.
1991
Produced two (2) television shows for the American Medical Association (AMA) on the Stark Laws (I & II) which made it unlawful for physicians to form joint venture arrangement with other physicians to which they would refer their own patients. The two (2) programs were televised over the Discovery Channel in September of 1991.
1986
Senior Vice President in Corporate Finance for Steinberg & Layman, a Wall Street Investment Banking Firm specializing in health care ventures. During his tenure, he was involved in more than twenty (20) merger and acquisition as well as private placement deals. He was also involved in the structuring of more than a dozen initial public offerings (IPOs).
1985
Designed, authored and published the most comprehensive market research study ever attempted on diagnostic testing in physicians’ offices. The final report was almost 2000 pages in length.
1984
Initiated for the Bayer Aspirin line of Sterling Drugs, a program to take an aspirin a day to prevent a heart attack.
1974
Marketing Director and National Sales Manager for Baker Diagnostics. During his tenure, he guided them to an annual average growth rate of thirty-four percent (34%).
Mr. Kovach holds B.S. and M.Sc. Degrees in Biology. He also has completed an extensive array of graduate work focused on medical physiology at Columbia University.