Mladen Merćep

Committed and innovative entrepreneurial scientist with strong skills in intuitive and analytical thinking, research management, communication, strategic planning, and technical expertise in inflammation/immunology and drug discovery, with a good understanding of new drug development. Demonstrated ability to create, develop, inspire, and lead by example successful cross-functional teams in the discovery/pre-clinical setting (established an industrial research group in Switzerland and an inflammation/immunology department in Croatia). Readiness to accept new challenges. Consistent high performer in various cultural settings, including Croatia, USA, Germany, and Switzerland.

Major Achievements:

• Published in prestigious journals (Science, Nature, J. Exp. Med., etc.) with about 2200 citations
• Established inflammation/immunology therapeutic area from ground-up
• Successfully led multidisciplinary research teams
• One molecule in Phase II testing
• Successfully presented work at scientific and business conferences, attracting out-licensing offers and the company buy-out
• The initiation of Phase I testing triggered a $15.000.000 milestone payment
• 30 published patents
• Awarded the highest Croatian state medal for inventiveness
• Initiated and led the preparation of project documentation for the EU Structural Funds projects: "Center for Competence in Translation Medicine Srebrnjak (CCTM)" for the Children's Hospital Srebrnjak and "Research on the biology of aging and age-related diseases at MedILS" for the Mediterranean Life Research Institute (MedILS) project. The total value of the projects is around €70 million.
• Established biotech company Amalgen d.o.o.