Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Ben is a vascular biologist, tissue engineer and regenerative medicine scientist by training.  He has spent the past 10+ years in industry leading successful R&D teams and business development efforts focused on developing complex 3D human tissue systems. Prior to co-founding Trestle, Ben served as VP of Research & Preclinical Development at Organovo, where he oversaw preclinical translational research.  In addition to internal R&D programs, he was responsible for management and oversight of Organovo’s external academic collaborations and helped guide and develop Organovo’s IP estate.  Prior to leading preclinical translation efforts, Ben held various R&D leadership and Business Development roles at Organovo.  He led initial R&D efforts focused on use of 3D bioprinting for creation of in vitro tissue models for use in drug discovery, ADME/Tox, and disease modeling.  Ben is an author on more than 20 scientific articles and book chapters, and a named inventor on more than 10 patents.

Ben received his BS in Zoology from the University of Washington, a PhD from the University of Arizona in Physiological Sciences, and conducted postdoctoral training at the Yale School of Medicine in the laboratory of Jordan Pober MD, PhD.  Ben is also a board certified cardiovascular perfusionist.