Management Team

Sumant Ramachandra, M.D., Ph.D., MBA

Chief Executive Officer and Board Director

Dr. Ramachandra is an experienced biopharmaceutical executive with a track record in building and scaling innovative healthcare companies. Prior to Lutris, he most recently served as Founder of SR Global Health, LLC, a healthcare advisory firm, and currently serves on the Board of Directors at Lyell Immunopharma (Nasdaq: LYEL). Previously, he was CEO and Board Director at ImmPACT Bio USA, leading its transformation into a clinical-stage cell therapy company and its acquisition by Lyell Immunopharma. Earlier, he held executive leadership roles at Baxter International (NYSE: BAX), where he led the global pharmaceutical business; Pfizer (NYSE: PFE); and Hospira (prior to its acquisition by Pfizer), overseeing global R&D across these companies and directed business development initiatives.

Dr. Ramachandra holds an B.A., M.D. and Ph.D. in Immuno-Oncology from Rutgers University, an MBA from The Wharton School, and is a named inventor on multiple patents. He was recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the 100 Most Influential Leaders (2024–2025).

Noa Shelach Ph.D, MBA

Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Noa Shelach is a senior biopharmaceutical executive with over 20 years of experience in drug development as well in VC investments. Prior to Lutris-Pharma, Dr. Shelach held CEO positions in leading private and public biopharmaceutical companies: NextGen Healthcare, Integra Holdings, Campus Bio (Held by: Clal Biotechnology Industries TASE: CBI) and Braintact. In all her roles Dr. Shelach managed all aspects of drug development: technology assessment, pre-clinical and clinical stage development and commercialization. Prior to that, Dr. Shelach held VP R&D position in Keryx Biopharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: KRX), managing the entire company portfolio. Dr Shelach serves as a director member in several biopharmaceutical companies and is a member of NGT incubator investment committee.

John Paul Waymack M.D, Sc.D

Director, Regulatory Affairs

Dr. John Paul Waymack was previously an associate professor of surgery at the New Jersey School of Medicine and Dentistry, and an FDA medical officer.  After leaving the FDA, he worked as a consultant to multiple pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporations.  More recently, he was the founder and is the chairman of the Board of Directors of Kitov Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: KTOV). Dr. Waymack currently serves on a number of boards for multiple biotechnology corporations.

Colleen Johnson M.S, DABT

Director, Pre-Clinical Development

As a board certified toxicologist, Ms. Johnson has been assisting pharmaceutical companies with all phases of nonclinical development for more than 20 years.  Activities include representing clients at FDA, negotiating nonclinical testing strategies, preparing INDs, NDAs, briefing documents, and monitoring studies.  Prior to that she worked in agricultural and industrial chemical product registrations with EPA and litigation support work.

Laura Millichamp Ph.D

Director, Chemistry Manufacturing Control

Dr Laura Millichamp qualified as a Pharmacist, before completing a PhD in the field of topical products. She was a Pharmaceutical Assessor at the MHRA for over 7 years, where she assessed Marketing Authorization Applications and Scientific Advice requests submitted through National and European procedures. Laura then moved into Consulting supporting companies at all stages of product development with strategic and technical advice relating to activities including IND/IMPD data generation and authoring, early access initiatives (PRIME/ODD applications), Scientific Advice procedures, Marketing Authorization Applications and Lifecycle Maintenance.