At SynXT, our team brings together cutting-edge scientific innovation and deep drug development expertise. Guided by the leadership of Drs. Ali and Peng, we are driving the company forward with a clear, actionable strategy and a strong focus on translational impact.
Meet our team
Our Scientific Advisory Board plays a vital role, offering expert insight across every stage of development—from formulation and IND-enabling studies to clinical translation and regulatory planning. With their specialized guidance, we are building a robust foundation for long-term success and meaningful therapeutic breakthroughs.
Taufeeque Ali, Ph.D
Chief Executive Officer & Lead Principal Investigator
As CEO and Principal Investigator, Taufeeque is the visionary behind SynXT’s core technology: a patented platform of ROS-activated prodrugs that achieve precise, tumor-selective cell death. His research, which demonstrates >10-fold selectivity for cancer cells, is focused on overcoming resistance in hard-to-treat cancers like TNBC. A Ph.D. biochemist and named inventor, he possesses the unique blend of deep scientific expertise and entrepreneurial leadership to guide SynXT’s mission.
Xiaohua Peng, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
As Chief Scientific Officer, Xiaohua Peng provides the deep chemical and pharmacological expertise behind SynXT’s therapeutic platform. She has over 15 years of experience developing ROS-activated DNA-modifying agents designed to selectively target aggressive cancers like TNBC. Her lab leads our critical in vivo studies, leveraging her extensive track record in validating pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety in mouse models. An accomplished researcher funded by the NIH and other prestigious grants, she is a vital driver of our drug discovery and translational efforts.
Alexander Arnold, PhD
Pharmacology Advisor
Alexander Arnold serves as our Pharmacology Advisor, offering deep expertise in translational drug development. With a career spanning academia and industry, including key roles at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and as a co-founder of Pantherics Inc., he has repeatedly guided novel therapeutics through preclinical profiling and toward clinical trials. His current role as Director of the Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery positions him as a leading resource on pharmacology, PK/PD, and IND-enabling studies, providing SynXT with critical strategic oversight.
Brijesh Patel, PhD
Formulation Consultant
Brijesh Patel serves as our Formulation Consultant, bringing extensive expertise in pharmaceutical product development from concept to commercialization. With a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a background as a senior R&D executive, he specializes in advanced drug delivery systems, including nanoemulsions and lipid-based carriers. He is guiding SynXT’s formulation efforts for IV vitamin C and our H₂O₂-responsive platform, ensuring robust development and regulatory compliance.
Yee Chung Cheng, MD
Clinical Advisor
Yee Chung Cheng serves as Clinical Advisor, bridging SynXT’s innovative research with clinical application. A renowned breast cancer specialist and educator at the Medical College of Wisconsin, he brings deep expertise in designing and leading clinical trials for aggressive breast cancers. His guidance is instrumental in validating our PDX models, planning biomarker studies, and designing the clinical development strategy for our TNBC-targeted therapies.
Hongyan Xu, PhD
Biostatistician Consultant
Hongyan Xu serves as our Biostatistician Consultant, bringing deep expertise in bioinformatics and data science to SynXT’s STTR project. A professor and core director at Augusta University, he has a strong track record in developing novel analytical methods for NIH-funded cancer and genomics research. He is instrumental in optimizing our experimental design, performing robust statistical analysis of efficacy data, and modeling dose-response relationships to de-risk our development pathway.
Kimberley Hoefen, PhD
Regulatory Consultant
Kimberley Hoefen serves as SynXT’s Regulatory Consultant, leveraging her extensive background that includes federal regulatory service and leadership in global consulting. In her role as COO of Versiti Clinical Trials, she specializes in early-phase regulatory strategy for oncology. She is responsible for shaping our regulatory roadmap, advising on CMC and nonclinical requirements, and preparing for critical FDA engagements to accelerate our development timeline.
Daniel Sem, Ph.D
Business Strategy Advisor
Daniel Sem serves as Business Strategy Advisor, offering a unique blend of deep scientific and commercial expertise. His career spans co-founding a biotech acquired by Novartis, leading multiple startups through IND-enabling studies, and practicing IP law. This experience, combined with his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and advanced degrees in law and business, allows him to provide SynXT with critical guidance on intellectual property strategy, translational planning, and navigating the path from STTR funding to commercial success.
Anthony Watkins
Commercialization Consultant
Anthony Watkins serves as SynXT’s Commercialization Consultant, bringing a proven track record of driving growth and market entry in the life sciences. His career includes executive financial leadership at Eli Lilly China, Baxter Healthcare, and most recently as EVP and CFO of Versiti, Inc. He is responsible for developing our commercialization strategy, including market validation, competitive analysis, and financial modeling to de-risk the technology and secure future funding.
SynXT Therapeutics 