Biosketch for Dr. Culiat and

Dr. McLaurin

 

  • Cymbeline T. Culiat Ph.D.

    Founder, President and Chief Science Officer

    NellOne Therapeutics Inc.

    Suite 101, 11020 Solway School Road

    Knoxville, TN, USA 37931

    Dr. Culiat’s (Bem) career and accomplishments span 40 years as a scientist, entrepreneur, educator, and book author. Bem is a molecular geneticist specializing in tissue repair and regeneration after severe injuries or diseases. As a senior scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL; 1999-2009), a leading US federal research institution, she discovered the role of the NELL1 signaling protein in tissue growth and maturation of the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. Bem is the inventor or co-inventor in 24 NELL1 patents issued in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, and Israel. Four of these patents cover the composition and applications of NV1, a NELL1 variant molecule with improved properties for commercial manufacturing and soft tissue healing.

    In 2008, Bem began an entrepreneurial journey by co-founding NellOne Therapeutics Inc. (NellOne), a biotechnology company in regenerative medicine, dedicated to translating NELL1 science into human and veterinary drugs and devices. NellOne is currently developing therapies for lung and heart tissue damage induced by viral infections such as COVID-19 and influenza (e.g. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome or ARDS).

    Bem is a creative and dedicated teacher. She taught genetics, cell and molecular biology at the University of the Philippines, Laguna (1981-1991), where she earned B.S. Cell Biology (cum laude; 1981) and M.S. Genetics (1988) degrees. She received a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from ORNL-University of Tennessee in Knoxville (UTK; 1994), as a scholar of ORNL and the Hilton-Smith Fellowship and recipient of the Chancellor’s citation for Professional Promise. Bem completed postdoctoral training in molecular genetics and genomics at ORNL (1995-1999), as an awardee of the prestigious Alexander Hollaender Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship. She was adjunct faculty of the Graduate School of Genome Sciences and Technology, UTK (1999-2009). She mentored young scientists from high school (TN Governors Academy), college and graduate levels (three national science internship programs). The Department of Energy Office of Science awarded her the outstanding mentor award (2006). At present, Bem is a guest lecturer at private and public universities, supports STEM education in public schools and non-profit organizations. She was a science advisor to Regent College’s (Vancouver, Canada) science and faith program funded by the Sir John Templeton Foundation (2010-2012) and led by Dr. Jennie McLaurin. Jennie and Bem expanded their collaboration into a book, Designed To Heal: What the Body Shows us about Healing Wounds, Repairing Relationships and Restoring Community (2021; Tyndale Momentum).

    Bem’s career is widely recognized with many awards including: YWCA Woman of Distinction in Health, Science and Technology (2008), Biosciences Division Individual Achievement and Significant Event (2008), Federal Lab Consortium Excellence in Technology Transfer (2008), and the Technology Transfer Key Contributor (2006). The Philippines honored her international achievements with the Gawad Lagablab Outstanding Alumni Award (2011; Philippine Science High School), Department of Science and Technology Outstanding Filipina Scientist (2015), and the UPLB-CAS Outstanding Alumna Award in the Sciences (2020).

  • Jennie is a pediatrician, writer, and public health expert with particular interests in culture, bioethics and maternal-child health. She graduated from Salem College with a degree in chemistry and then received an MD from Wake Forest University, an MPH from UNC-Chapel Hill and an MA in theology and ethics from Regent College (Vancouver, BC). She has worked with marginalized and underserved communities in the US for over 30 years, caring for migrant, unsheltered, indigenous, and special needs populations. As a consultant for the Health Resources Services Administration and for the National Association of Community Health Centers, she has collaborated in programs to advance food security, reduce childhood obesity, improve immunization access, and reduce health disparities. Her work has taken her to all 50 states, several territories, and a number of countries.

    Clinically, Jennie recently has been the medical director at two sites, one serving at-risk adolescents and one providing multidisciplinary early intervention services to 0- to 3-year-olds with special needs.

    The recipient and principal investigator of a number of grants, Jennie led Regent College, along with Ross Hastings, in a John F. Templeton Foundation grant that promoted engaging North American pastors in the realm of science so as to strengthen the faith of their congregations and recognize the interactions between the the two domains. Dr. Culiat was the scientist-in-residence selected for this project, which introduced Jennie and Bem to their ongoing collaborative work.

    As a creative writer, Jennie has published award winning essays and wrote a monthly column on science and faith for several years. She published her first book, Designed to Heal, in August 2021.