Meet Vium

About Us

Vium is a translational medicine company focused on improving the success of drug development.  Through the creation of more precise and reproducible disease models, Vium’s digital platform provides physiological biomarkers that enable better decisions on which compounds should be advanced to the clinic.  

Vium’s Digital Vivarium™ and Vium Cloud is the gold-standard in vivo platform combining computer vision, artificial intelligence, machine learning and sensor technology to non-invasively collect and derive insights from digital biomarkers.  The Vium platform continuously captures physiological metrics and behaviors non-invasively, providing more sensitive and  accurate data collection, leading to more replicable studies.  By providing researchers with these continuous, rich data sets, the platform enables them to identify which digital biomarkers, or combinations of biomarkers, are the strongest indicators of disease.  

Founded in 2013, Vium’s team includes experienced scientists and software and hardware engineers, with multi-disciplinary expertise in biology, pharmaceutical R&D, artificial intelligence, algorithm design, hardware devices and in vivo science.  Our customers include pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic researchers and novel therapeutic discovery and development labs.

Leadership

  • Laura Schaevitz, Ph.D.

    Chief Executive Officer and Board Member

    Laura Schaevitz has more than 20 years of experience with In vivo animal studies. As Chief Executive Officer at Vium, she oversees the development of animal models and draws upon her experiences as a molecular and behavioral neuroscientist to direct the application of Vium’s digital metrics to the animal models. In past experiences, Laura utilized a broad spectrum of mouse models including transgenic and nutrition-induced models of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, Rett syndrome, and blindsight. Laura received her PhD in Neuroscience at Stanford University in 2006.

  • Joe Betts-Lacroix

    Chief Technical Officer, Co-Founder, Board Member

    Joe was the primary technical founder of hardware/software startup OQO which entered the Guinness Book of World Records for building the smallest full-featured PC. His experience spans from biotech research to electronics design. Very experienced in invention, prosecution and monetization of intellectual property, he has over 80 Patents granted and pending in fields ranging from biophysics and safety systems to antennas, thermal systems, user interfaces and analog electronics. He has written numerous peer-reviewed publications in fields such as biophysics, genetics, electronics and robotics. Joe holds a Harvard A.B., MIT S.M. and Caltech research fellowship.

  • Ted Ira, MBA

    VP of Sales

    Ted has over 20 years of pharmaceutical and contract research sales and sales leadership experience.  Prior to joining Vium, Ted was the Executive Director of Business Development for SRI International where he led the drug discovery, development, and innovative platform commercial efforts for the Biosciences division.  Previously, Ted held various senior sales roles at Covance in support of their preclinical services business. Ted received a BS in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of San Francisco.

Board Members

  • Laura Schaevitz, Ph.D.

    Chief Executive Officer and Board Member

    Laura Schaevitz has more than 20 years of experience with In vivo animal studies. As Chief Executive Officer at Vium, she oversees the development of animal models and draws upon her experiences as a molecular and behavioral neuroscientist to direct the application of Vium’s digital metrics to the animal models. In past experiences, Laura utilized a broad spectrum of mouse models including transgenic and nutrition-induced models of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, Rett syndrome, and blindsight. Laura received her PhD in Neuroscience at Stanford University in 2006.

  • Joe Betts-Lacroix

    Chief Technical Officer, Co-Founder, Board Member

    Joe was the primary technical founder of hardware/software startup OQO which entered the Guinness Book of World Records for building the smallest full-featured PC. His experience spans from biotech research to electronics design. Very experienced in invention, prosecution and monetization of intellectual property, he has over 80 Patents granted and pending in fields ranging from biophysics and safety systems to antennas, thermal systems, user interfaces and analog electronics. He has written numerous peer-reviewed publications in fields such as biophysics, genetics, electronics and robotics. Joe holds a Harvard A.B., MIT S.M. and Caltech research fellowship.

  • Dr. Annalisa Jenkins, MBBS, FRCP

    CEO, Plaquetec

    Dr. Jenkins has built and led teams advancing programs from scientific research through clinical development, regulatory approval and into healthcare systems globally. She is a member of the European Commission’s Scientific Panel for Health, a science-led expert group tasked with helping to achieve better health and wellbeing for all, and a committee member of the Science Board to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, which advises FDA leadership on complex scientific and technical issues.

  • Jeff Kindler

    Former CEO, Pfizer

    Jeff is a partner at Lux Capital and senior advisor to Paragon Pharmaceuticals, a global investment firm that builds and manages innovative pharmaceutical companies. He serves on the boards of biotech companies, including PPD and Intrexon, and as a member of President Obama’s Management Advisory Board. Jeff formerly served as the Chairman and CEO of Pfizer, Chairman of PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America) and member of the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

  • Peter Hebert

    Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Lux Capital

    Peter co-founded Lux Capital with the idea that in order to have the biggest impact on the future, one should support the most scientifically and technologically ambitious ventures. His goal: to seek out founders developing things most people thought would not work, yet if they did, would become so intrinsic to our way of life that we would someday take them for granted.

    Today Lux supports a wide range of once-impossible-sounding advancements, including 3D printing and imaging, nuclear waste cleanup, machine learning and robots that fly or conduct microsurgery.

    Peter leads Lux’s investments in Accelergy; Auris Surgical Robotics; Everspin Technologies (NASDAQ: MRAM); Flex Logix; G2X Energy; Halo Neuroscience; Lux Research (acquired by Private Equity); Luxtera; Matterport; SiBEAM (NASDAQ: SIMG); Transphorm and Vium. In 2003, Peter led the spin-off of Lux Research. As its founding CEO, he helped build Lux Research into the leading emerging-technology research firm.

    Peter began his career at Lehman Brothers, where he worked in the firm’s top-ranked Equity Research group. He was a Chancellor’s Scholar and graduated cum laude from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, and was the Founding President of its first venture organization, Future Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs. He has been a guest on CNBC and Bloomberg TV, and speaker at Columbia, Cornell, MIT, Stanford, Yale, and the National Science Foundation.

  • Zachary Bogue

    Managing Partner, Data Collective

    Zachary Bogue, co-Managing Partner of Data Collective, brings to bear over 15 years of experience in Silicon Valley as an entrepreneur, advisor, angel investor and attorney. At DCVC, Zack’s investment interests include next-generation space informatics platforms like Planet Labs, where he sits on the board, AI-enabled global risk mitigation systems like Metabiota, and disruptive financial services platforms using machine-learning to serve the unbanked more quickly and fairly, like LendUp and Tala.

    In 2015, the World Economic Forum recognized Zack’s leadership at the intersection of transformative technology and urgent global issues, and named Zack a Young Global Leader. He is active in the Davos community. As an angel investor, he has invested in startups like Square (SQ), Docker, AngelList and Uber. Zack is a co-founder and managing partner of Founders Den, a co-working space and community of experienced technology entrepreneurs.

    Previously, Zack co-founded and ran Montara Capital Partners, a real estate private equity fund, and he practiced law at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Zack serves on the non-profit boards of the East Palo Alto Charter School and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

    Zack graduated with honors from Harvard University in Environmental Science and earned his JD with honors from Georgetown Law School, where he was executive editor for The Tax Lawyer.

  • Armen Vidian

    Operating Partner, Data Collective

    Armen brings the perspective of an entrepreneur and startup co-founder, a product marketer in Fortune 500 healthcare companies, and an investor to Data Collective (DCVC) as an Operating Partner. He leverages these diverse experiences to guide companies in the portfolio in their growth, focusing specifically on those in healthcare and biotech. Armen’s operational experience spans across medical devices, pharmaceuticals, insurance, and compute-driven startups in healthcare. Early in his career, he developed an online pharmacy for one of the first patient health record companies. He then spent several years in product management and early market development for first-in-class technologies at Guidant, Edwards Lifesciences, and Evalve (acquired by Abbott Laboratories).

    After Abbott, he co-founded DCVC company BlueTalon, which was initially focused on enterprise data security for data-driven clinical trial design and population health management. In addition to his operating role, Armen also leverages his unique cross-industry experience in technology and healthcare to identify new high potential startups for investment at the intersection of deep compute/Big Data and the life sciences. Armen holds an M.S. in Management Science from Stanford University and an S.B. in Biomechanical Engineering and a Minor in French from MIT.

Advisors

  • Timothy L. Robertson, Ph. D

    Co-Founder

    Tim co-founded Vium in 2013 and served as the company’s CEO until August 2017. As a physicist and serial entrepreneur, Tim’s vision for transforming the $10 billion preclinical drug development industry laid the foundation for Vium’s core technology, products, science, customer relationships, and team.

    He has more than 20 years of experience in all stages of technology start-up process, from invention and product development to commercialization and monetization. Prior to Vium, Tim was VP of Product Applications at Proteus Digital Health, responsible for management of alliances with global pharmaceutical companies, core technology coordination and software development. He is the holder of more than a dozen US patents and author of more than 40 scholarly publications in diverse fields. Tim has an A.B. in experimental physics and cosmology from Princeton University and Ph.D. in quantum physics from the University of California, Berkeley.

  • Scott J. Dylla, Ph.D.

    Chief Scientific Officer & Co-Founder at Stemcentrx

    Scott Dylla is the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Stemcentrx, where he oversees research and development activities. Scott trained as a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University in the laboratory of Dr. Irving L. Weissman, where he was awarded American Cancer Society and Stanford Immunology fellowships, and was subsequently a Sr. Scientist at OncoMed Pharmaceuticals. In 2005, Scott was recognized by the British Council as one of eight outstanding young US-based researchers in the field of stem cell biology.

  • Clifford Roberts, DVM DACLAM

    Former President, American College of Lab Animal Medicine

    Clifford Roberts, DVM, is the former President of the American College of Lab Animal Medicine (ACLAM) and currently serves as associate vice chancellor of the Laboratory Animal Resource Center (LARC) within the University of California San Francisco Office of Research. A diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Roberts is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the US Army Surgeon General’s “A” Designation in Laboratory Animal Medicine. He received his BS and DVM degrees from Texas A&M University. Roberts previously served as deputy director at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, and as director/commander of the US Army Medical Research Unit in Kenya.

  • David Sinclair, Ph.D.

    Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School

    David Sinclair, Ph.D. is Co-Director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, a Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, Associate Member of the Broad Institute for Systems Biology and co-founder of Sirtris Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Sinclair has received several prestigious awards including a Special Fellowship from the Leukemia Society, a Ludwig Scholarship and an American Association for Aging Research Fellowship. He’s also won the Genzyme Outstanding Achievement in Biomedical Science Award for 2004.