PIPELINE Innovators

CHARTER CLASS:

Clint Batman

Joey Blue

Tim Donnelly

Debra Ellies

Lisa Friis

Jay Humbard

Olga Koper

William Rosenberg

Toby Rush

2008 CLASS:

2008 Innovators

Debra Ellies Founding CEO & President OsteoGeneX Lawrence, Kansas

Debra Ellies is President and Founder of OsteoGeneX, a biotech start-up company located at the Higuchi Biosciences Center in Lawrence, Kan. OsteoGeneX works to identify new leads that will be developed into therapeutics for treating osteoporosis, or low bone mass.

Prior to starting OsteoGeneX, Debra worked as a Senior Research Associate at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. While at Stowers, Debra's basic research led her to discover the function of the genes Wise/Sost in bone density and their mechanism of action. Debra’s efforts led to a federal phase I- SBIR grant, enabling her to take her research to a more advanced translational phase.

Prior to her work at Stowers, Debra conducted basic research on the developmental significance of programmed cell death and managed a laboratory at Ottawa Civic Hospital in Ottawa, Canada.

In addition to her remarkable successes in the laboratory, Debra co-founded the Brian Ellies Esophageal Cancer Prevention Fund, which works to educate the public and promote awareness of esophageal cancer prevention.

Debra holds a BSc in Molecular Biology & Embryology from University of Ottawa, an MSc in Molecular Embryology from University of Ottawa/Loeb Research Institute, and a PhD in Developmental Neurobiology from Guy's Hospital/Kings College London. And when she needs a break, Debra competes as a professional pool player on a team Midwest National Championship team.