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Prof. Nagy Habib

Professor Nagy Habib – Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO):

A renowned pioneer in gene therapy and a successful entrepreneur. Prof. Habib cofounded MiNA Therapeutics, raising over £100M and advancing novel RNA therapies. He also led EMcision, which achieved a 70× return for investors with its acquisition by Boston Scientific. With 30+ years in translational medicine, over 500 publications (H-index 85), and multiple companies founded, he provides visionary leadership and deep scientific insight to Dawn.

Professor Nagy Habib has been independently ranked among the Top Global Innovators in hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) and liver surgery by AI-driven intelligence platforms.

Featured among the top 10 liver surgery innovators, alongside:

    • Thomas Starzl – Father of liver transplantation (Prof Habib’s Mentor)
    • Henri Bismuth – Modern liver resection techniques (Prof Habib’s Mentor)
    • Christoph Broelsch – LDLT pioneer
  • Performed first-living related liver transplant in Africa & the Middle East (1993)
  • Saturday TIMES Magazine top UK surgeon 2011
  • Invited Speaker, The Henri Bismuth Hepatic, Pancreatic and Biliary Symposium (Jerusalem 2011)
  • Winner of a Takreem Laureate award in 2012 (The Takreem Foundation honours Arabs in the fields of science, education and leadership)
  • Invented the Habib 4x liver resection device (acquired by AngioDynamics Inc 2015)
  • Invited by the Vatican to be introduced to the Pope and to advise the catholic church on the progress of regenerative medicine and its cultural impact (2016)
  • Invented the Habib EndoHPB (aquired by Boston Scientific 2018). This device won an Edison Gold award for Medical Innovation in 2020
  • Founder of EMcision Ltd (medical device innovation), MiNA therapeutics (RNA therapeutics), Apterna (aptamer development), and Dawn Therapeutics (gene therapy)
  • Elected Member of the French Académie Nationale de Chirurgie (2015)
  • Honorary Professorships awarded in Egypt, China, Romania and Greece
  • Published widely in gene therapy, stem cell therapy, oligionuleotide research & surgical techniques
  • American Association of Cell & Gene Therapy (ASCGT) Annual Meeting Invited Scientific Session Speaker (2024)

A Vision Led by a World-Renowned Surgical Innovator

“Innovation is not just invention — it is the courage to translate new science into meaningful human outcomes.”
— Prof. Nagy Habib

A Platform Guided by Proven Translational Leadership

With a global reputation for surgical innovation and translational science, Prof. Habib’s leadership is at the heart of our vision to redefine treatment pathways for liver diseases, cancer, metabolic conditions, and rare diseases.

🌍 His influence is not just academic — it is practical, commercial, and global in impact.

Global Recognition in HPB & Liver Surgery

Professor Nagy Habib has been independently ranked among the Top Global Innovators in hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) and liver surgery by AI-driven intelligence platforms:

📊 ChatGPT – Top HPB & Liver Surgery Innovators (Translational Impact & Innovation)

Rank #1 in the World – Prof. Nagy Habib (from the UK):

  • Inventor of the Habib 4X – a breakthrough radiofrequency-assisted liver resection tool
  • Pioneer of gene therapy trials for liver cancer in the UK
  • Co-founder of MiNA Therapeutics, the leader in saRNA therapy

🔍 DeepSeek – Top 100 Surgical Innovators (HPB & General Surgery)

Rank #1 in the World – Prof. Nagy Habib (from the UK):

Featured among the top 10 liver surgery innovators, alongside:

  • Thomas Starzl – Father of liver transplantation (Prof Habib’s Mentor)
  • Henri Bismuth – Modern liver resection techniques (Prof Habib’s Mentor)
  • Christoph Broelsch – LDLT pioneer
  • Nagy Habib – Habib 4X, early gene therapy leadership

Prof. Farzin Farzaneh

Co-Founder

  • World-renowned gene therapy expert with over three decades of translational research experience.
  • Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Virocell, a pioneering company in viral vector manufacturing for early-phase clinical trials.
  • Former Professor of Molecular Medicine and lead gene therapy researcher at King’s College London.
  • Played a leading role in the first clinical trials of gene therapy for liver cancer and liver diseases in the UK.
  • Member of the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) of the Commission on Human Medicines (MHRA).
  • Contributor to regulatory policy and clinical safety guidelines in genetic medicine and viral vector technologies.
  • Widely published in the fields of oncology, gene transfer, viral vector biology, and immune modulation.
  • Scientific advisor to multiple biotech companies and academic translational consortia across the UK and EU.
  • Champion of scalable, affordable gene therapy platforms for unmet clinical needs in both rare and common diseases.

Prof. John J. Rossi

Scientific Advisor & Founding Collaborator

  • Globally recognised pioneer in RNA therapeutics, with a research legacy spanning over four decades.
  • Professor and Chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at City of Hope, California.
  • Renowned for groundbreaking work on small RNA molecules, including siRNA, miRNA, ribozyme, and aptamer technologies.
  • One of the earliest scientists to demonstrate the therapeutic utility of RNA-based gene silencing.
  • Published extensively in high-impact journals and widely cited across fields including oncology, infectious disease, and gene regulation.
  • Member of numerous editorial boards and recipient of several prestigious awards for contributions to RNA biology.
  • Former collaborator with major RNA biotech firms and NIH-funded gene therapy consortia.
  • Active contributor to translational programmes focused on cancer immunotherapy, viral infections, and genetic diseases.
  • Dedicated to advancing safe, targeted, and durable RNA-based interventions for hard-to-treat conditions.

Prof. Kevin Morris

Co-Founder

  • Internationally recognised expert in epigenetics, non-coding RNAs, and transcriptional gene regulation.
  • Distinguished Professor and Group Leader at City of Hope, California, and Adjunct Professor at Griffith University, Australia.
  • First to discover that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can modulate gene expression at the epigenetic level in human cells.
  • Widely published in top-tier journals in molecular biology, gene therapy, and RNA interference.
  • His research has advanced the understanding of how non-coding RNAs can be harnessed for long-lasting gene silencing or activation.
  • Advisor to several biotechnology companies focusing on transcriptional control and programmable gene expression systems.
  • Actively involved in developing next-generation therapeutics that are durable, reversible, and finely tuned.
  • Speaker at global scientific conferences and contributor to international research consortia on RNA and epigenetic medicine.
  • Passionate about bridging RNA-based science with translational applications in cancer, neurology, and rare diseases.

Prof. Kai-wen Huang

Clinical Advisor & Interventional Oncology Expert

  • nternational leader in minimally invasive interventional oncology, with extensive clinical and academic experience.
  • Professor of Surgery and Director of the Centre for Mini-Invasive Interventional Oncology at National Taiwan University, Taiwan.
  • Serves as President of the Taiwan Academy of Tumour Ablation, advancing novel approaches in cancer intervention.
  • Holds an honorary professorship at Imperial College London, fostering strong UK–Asia academic collaboration.
  • Renowned for developing innovative ablative techniques and precision-guided interventions for liver and pancreatic cancer.
  • Principal investigator in multiple clinical trials and author of numerous peer-reviewed publications on tumour ablation and image-guided surgery.
  • Frequently invited as a keynote speaker at global medical congresses and interventional radiology summits.
  • Advisor to clinical and translational projects bridging device development and real-world patient impact.
  • Committed to applying cutting-edge technologies to improve outcomes for cancer patients globally, particularly in liver-directed therapies.

Prof. Kira Astakhova

Scientific Collaborator & Nucleic Acid Chemistry Expert

  • Internationally recognised specialist in nucleic acid chemistry, bioconjugation, and synthetic biology.
  • Professor of Chemical Biology at the University of Southern Denmark, leading research on oligonucleotide modification and delivery.
  • Expert in designing synthetic RNA and DNA analogues, including chemically engineered aptamers and nucleic acid–peptide conjugates.
  • Her work focuses on targeted delivery, imaging agents, and precision therapeutics for genetic and degenerative diseases.
  • Developed advanced molecular tools for tissue-specific delivery, including to cartilage and joints, validated in preclinical models.
  • Regular contributor to high-impact publications in bioconjugate chemistry, drug delivery, and therapeutic nucleic acids.
  • Invited speaker at international congresses in chemical biology, gene therapy, and molecular engineering.
  • Actively involved in translational research, bridging molecular design with therapeutic application in rare and systemic diseases.
  • Committed to driving next-generation therapies that combine chemical innovation with biological precision.

Prof. Kira Astakhova receives a prize from Jorck's Foundation.

Strategic Advisor – Blockchain Innovation & Digital Health

John Waite

  • John Waite is a recognised authority in blockchain-enabled business transformation, with a specialised focus on applying emerging technologies to solve structural inefficiencies in healthcare systems. With over two decades of experience at the intersection of digital strategy, community engagement, and trust-based systems, he advises organisations on integrating blockchain and AI to enhance data privacy, patient autonomy, and system-level resilience.
  • John has worked extensively with institutional partners to develop GDPR-compliant blockchain frameworks that safeguard sensitive health data while enabling interoperability and decentralised access. As a lead strategist, he has designed and implemented healthcare community initiatives that capture real-time behavioural data to identify the digital determinants of poor health outcomes, particularly among youth populations.
  • He currently leads a Global Youth Development programme that leverages mobile-first digital insights to address early predictors of disease burden and social inequity in healthcare access.
  • John is a graduate of Aston University Business School and is deeply committed to rebuilding public trust in global institutions through transparent, technology-driven models. His work bridges strategic foresight with ethical innovation, ensuring that emerging technologies empower—not exploit—vulnerable populations.
  • As Strategic Advisor, he supports the platform’s mission to scale digital health solutions globally, championing trust, inclusion, and long-term impact.

Dr. Arash Dehkordi

Chief Medical Officer

Medical Doctor | Pure Mathematician (Category Theorist) | Computer Scientist

Dr. Dehkordi is a uniquely interdisciplinary medical researcher whose work spans oncology, cardiology, mathematics, and computer science. He holds degrees in Medicine, Pure Mathematics (Category Theory), and Computer Science, and specialises in molecular oncology and cardiovascular diseases, with a particular research focus on Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM).

He is currently a Research Fellow in the Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine at the University of Dundee, where he conducts clinical research into the genetic and phenotypic characterisation of HCM. In parallel, he serves as a Research Fellow at Imperial College London, collaborating with Professor Nagy Habib on the development of advanced gene therapies targeting pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, liver failure, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

At Imperial, Dr. Dehkordi has contributed to the design and optimisation of RNA aptamer-mediated delivery systems for C/EBPβ siRNA, with applications in oncology and hepatology. He is also working on enhancing the Habib 4X—a revolutionary bipolar radiofrequency device used in bloodless liver resection.

Driven by a mission to bridge clinical medicine with mathematical logic, blockchain technology, AI, and machine/deep learning, Dr. Dehkordi is committed to developing data-driven, precision-targeted interventions in molecular oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic health. His goal is to pioneer new frontiers in the discovery of a vaccine for cancer by fusing medical insight with technological innovation.

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