Meet The Team
Gary Berman
Chief Executive Officer
Gary Berman is an accomplished healthcare executive with over 20 years of experience building and scaling innovative biopharma companies. He is currently Chief Executive Officer of Tavo Biotherapeutics and serves as a board member and strategic advisor to several biotech and digital health companies. Gary has held key leadership roles across multiple organizations, including COO of Geneo United, where he led growth initiatives culminating in its acquisition by Lumenis, and President of Equinox Ophthalmic, where he drove commercial strategy for novel eye care therapies. Earlier, as Chief Business Officer at Breathe Technologies, he helped secure significant funding and guided the company through its acquisition by Hillrom. He also held corporate development and M&A roles at Ovation Pharmaceuticals, contributing to its acquisition, and began his career in management consulting. Gary earned his BA in Economics and Finance from Washington University in St. Louis and is known for aligning science, strategy, and execution to drive lasting value in the life sciences sector.
Lukas Scheibler, PhD
Chief R&D Officer
Dr. Lukas Scheibler is the Chief Research & Development Officer at Tavo Biotherapeutics and is a seasoned R&D leader with over two decades of experience in ophthalmology and pharmaceutical innovation. He most recently served as Chief Innovation Officer at Apellis, where he oversaw all research and development activities from discovery through human proof of concept. Before joining Apellis, Lukas was Head of Clinical Development at Alcon, where he led the global clinical trial strategy and execution across a broad portfolio of ophthalmic therapies. He began his career at Novartis in ophthalmology R&D, where he played a central role in the in-licensing and European approval of Lucentis, one of the first anti-VEGF therapies to transform retinal disease treatment. Lukas holds a PhD from the University of Lausanne and completed postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School. He is recognized for combining scientific rigor with strategic insight to accelerate innovation and deliver impactful therapies to patients.
Graham Cooper
Chief Financial Officer
Graham Cooper is the Chief Financial Officer of Tavo Biotherapeutics. Prior to Tavo, Cooper was the CFO for Receptos, which he joined prior to its IPO. At Receptos, he played a key role in managing through a dramatic growth phase and raising capital, culminating in its $7.8 billion sale to Celgene. He has also served as CFO and COO of Assembly Biosciences, developing innovative antiviral therapies for HBV, as well as other private and public biotechnology companies. Prior to his operating roles, Cooper held positions of increasing responsibility at Deutsche Bank Securities, including Director, Health Care Investment Banking. He began his career at Deloitte & Touche and was previously a CPA. He currently serves on the board of Beam Therapeutics (BEAM) and as chairman of the board of Kezar Life Sciences (KZR). Mr. Cooper received a BA in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Joel Thompson
VP - Strategy
Joel Thompson is a biotech executive with deep ophthalmology experience and a track record of shaping strategy across clinical, commercial, and investor-facing areas. He is VP of Strategy at Tavo Biotherapeutics, advancing neuroinflammation therapies targeting the root causes of vision-threatening diseases. Thompson’s career spans ophthalmology and consumer goods, with a decade of experience founding and advising eye care companies. He brings an integrated view of the landscape, supported by strong relationships with top clinicians, KOLs, and industry leaders. Previously, Thompson was in management consulting at McKinsey & Company, advising clients from Fortune 50 firms to PE-backed startups on product launches, growth initiatives, and corporate strategy. He holds a BA from Augustana University and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business