Leadership Team

Sanja has 25+ years of research and industry experience, and an educational background in molecular biology, immunology, neurophysiology and medicine. Sanja has worked and studied at various international institutions, including: the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary (Canada); the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole (USA); the Neurobiology Institute Ramon y Cajal in Madrid (Spain); and the Medical School in Ljubljana (Slovenia). Sanja was previously Head of Department of Serology and Immune Assays at Intercell AG (Valneva), where she led a team of 15 senior researchers and scientists, and managed various collaborative projects with pharmaceutical companies (Novartis, GSK, Merck and Sanofi), evaluating the efficacy of product candidates from early discovery to phase II clinical trials. In 2015, Sanja, as the founder and CEO of Origimm, was nominated as one of the “20 entrepreneurs that may change the world” in the inaugural edition of Forbes magazine Austria.

Sanja’s enthusiasm for her work and her desire to find better solutions for dermatology patients, which are not only addressing symptoms, but are acting on the root cause, led her to found Origimm. When it comes to how Origimm should evolve as a small biotech company, she has her own vision about the kind of company culture she would like to create. She appreciates her vast network of advisors, consultants and Origimm employees, who think beyond the borders of their respective field and support her entrepreneurial spirit. Innovation and bringing new ideas to fruition are her core values.

More about Sanja at: https://at.linkedin.com/in/sselak

Frank is a senior manager with 20+ years of experience within academia, biotechnology and the life sciences industry. He has an educational background in molecular genetics and vast expertise in the pre-clinical development of vaccines, antibodies and diagnostic products, including CMC and formulation development up to Phase III clinical trials.

His proven track record of managing cross-functional and diverse teams, as well as bringing products forward from the pre-clinical phase into clinical development (up to Phase III), complements the existing expertise on our Management Team.

At Origimm, Frank is responsible for pre-clinical development, an important area within the company. He takes results and ideas from the early stages of translational research right through to the pre-clinical phase, and generates data and results that both support our proof of concept and further lead us into the clinical phase. Frank is very dedicated to his work and is always focused on moving projects forward and overseeing their progression. He has a keen eye for recognizing necessary improvements in the early phases in order to deliver excellent final results.

A senior executive with 20+ years’ experience in leading finance functions and general management (administration, HR and IT). Florian previously held finance management and executive positions in the biopharmaceutical and medical device companies Kedrion International GmbH (human plasma derivatives) and Zimmer Biomet Austria GmbH (medical implants), where he was responsible for financial management and accounting, restructuring and steering subsidiary companies, HR management of employees and commercial issues.

At Origimm, Florian is responsible for the company’s commercial management, internal business operations, administration and company infrastructure. Having experienced both small and mid-sized companies, as well as corporate organizations, he is contributing to the development of our growing organization. With his tech-savviness and his engagement in digitalizing our workflows and processes, Florian is contributing to innovation inside the company.

Barbara has an educational background in organizational change management, organizational behavior and corporate governance. She has obtained extensive work experience in coordinating teamwork in high pressure environments, compliance with operating procedures and installing safety measures.

At Origimm, Barbara is responsible for change management, team development, company culture and organizational structure, steering us in the direction that best suits the company’s current and future needs in an ever-changing environment. She is also the executive assistant to the CEO and supports various strategic development activities. By working in close collaboration with Origimm’s CEO and understanding her vision, Barbara’s task is to ensure that the organization develops in alignment with that vision and future strategic goals.