About Us
About Rakovina
Rakovina Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical research company focused on the development of innovative cancer treatments. Our work is based on unique technologies for targeting the DNA-damage response powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). By using AI, we can review and optimize drug candidates at a much greater pace than ever before.
The Company has established a pipeline of distinctive DNA-damage response inhibitors with the goal of advancing one or more drug candidates into human clinical trials in collaboration with pharmaceutical partners.
Leadership
Mr. Oishi is a seasoned capital markets professional with more than 30 years of experience working with public and private growth companies. He is President & CEO of Grand Rock Capital Inc. and a partner at First Growth Equity Partners Inc. He has extensive expertise in equity and debt financings, public listings, mergers and acquisitions, business development, and investor relations. Mr. Oishi has served as a director, senior executive, and strategic advisor to companies across a range of industries, and has participated on audit, compensation, and corporate governance committees. He holds an MBA in Finance and a B.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of British Columbia.
Dr. Mads Daugaard is a recognized world-leader in the field of translational cancer research with strong expertise in DNA-damage response. Dr. Daugaard’s research has been published in top-tier peer-reviewed scientific journals. He has previously co-founded the cancer therapeutics company VAR2 Pharmaceuticals (2012) and the cancer diagnostic company VarCT Diagnostics (2017), and served as CSO for VAR2 Pharmaceuticals (2012-2016).
Dr. Kideckel is a seasoned executive with nearly 20 years of experience across life sciences, capital markets, and corporate advisory. He is the Founder of Kideckel Advisory Group and a Partner at Siskos & Associates, supporting both public and private healthcare companies with CFO, CBO, and financial strategy services. His background includes leadership roles at Johnson & Johnson, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, and ATB Capital Markets. Dr. Kideckel holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Statistics and an MBA from the University of Toronto.
Dr. Langlands is the principal of Langlands & Associates Consulting Inc. and brings over 25 years of experience in the preclinical and clinical development of novel drug candidates. Dr. Langlands has held senior preclinical and clinical research roles at Naegis Pharmaceuticals and Kintara Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: KTRA, formerly DelMar Pharmaceuticals) and Inflazyme Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Langlands was previously Program Authority and Senior Lecturer for postgraduate training in Pharmaceutical Medicine & Drug Development UNSW in Sydney, Australia.
Ms. Seltenrich is a seasoned executive with 25 years of experience in the public biotech sector, with expertise spanning finance, operations, business development, and investor relations. Michelle has a proven track record in corporate strategy, M&A and licensing. She played a pivotal role in securing a partnership with AbbVie, driving a 48% rise in share price during her time as Vice President of Operations at Sirona Biochem Corp. Michelle is skilled in fostering key industry relationships, creating strategic positioning, and streamlining operational processes for success. She holds an MBA from the Segal Graduate School of Business at Simon Fraser University.
Board of Directors
Mr. Holler is currently the President & Chief Executive Officer of Ponderosa Capital Inc., a capital advisory services firm to emerging technology companies. He has expertise in technology, healthcare, investment banking and venture capital and previously served as Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of BC Advantage Funds (VCC) Ltd., a venture capital fund investing in emerging technology companies; as Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., a NASDAQ-listed drug development company; as President & Chief Executive Officer of ID Biomedical Corporation, a Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”)/NASDAQ-listed vaccine development company sold to GlaxoSmithKline plc; and as a founding director of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, a TSX/NASDAQ-listed medical device company. Prior to working in technology and healthcare, Mr. Holler was an Investment Banker with Merrill Lynch Canada and Wood Gundy Inc. (now CIBC World Markets). In addition to serving on the Company’s Board, Mr. Holler previously served as a Director of Theratechnologies Inc., a TSX/NASDAQ-listed biopharma company sold to CB Biotechnology, LLC in September 2025 and a Director of the British Columbia Biotechnology Association from 1992 to 1998, and in 2003 received the BC Biotech Award for Vision and Leadership. Mr. Holler holds an MBA and BA (Econ.) from the University of British Columbia.
Mr. Meshcherekov is a seasoned financial executive and Chartered Professional Accountant with over 20 years of post-designation experience across public practice, private enterprise, and capital markets. His expertise spans fintech, blockchain, and investment management, including executive roles such as CFO of TAAL, a Canadian blockchain infrastructure company. He brings extensive knowledge in cross-border tax strategy, regulatory compliance, and financial governance.
Dr. Kideckel is a veteran of the life sciences and financial sectors, with nearly two decades of combined industry, advisory, and capital markets experience. He is the Founder of Kideckel Advisory Group and a Partner at Siskos & Associates. Previously, he served as Managing Director and Head of Life Sciences at ATB Capital Markets, and has held roles at Johnson & Johnson and Alexion Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Kideckel holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Statistics and an MBA from the University of Toronto.
Prof. Petra Hamerlik, PhD is Chair of Translational Neuro-Oncology at the University of Manchester, where she has established a research team focused on the biology of malignant brain tumours and approaches for their early detection. She previously held a joint appointment as Principal Scientist and CNS Cancer Bioscience Lead at AstraZeneca, where she contributed to the development of brain-penetrant DNA repair inhibitors for targeting primary brain tumours and brain metastases. Prior to AstraZeneca, Prof. Hamerlik was Group Leader for the Brain Tumour Biology laboratory within the Danish Cancer Research Centre and Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen.
Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Brown has been involved in cancer drug discovery and development for more than 35 years. Initially with the Stanford Research Institute at Stanford University where he was involved in drug-screening activities sponsored by the US National Cancer Institute. Dr. Brown has founded or co-founded multiple companies including Matrix Pharmaceutical, Inc. (acquired by Chiron Corp. in 2002), Mountain View Pharmaceuticals, ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Cephalon/Teva in 2011) and Kintara Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: KTRA, formerly DelMar Pharmaceuticals). During his career, Dr. Brown has been involved in the discovery and development of multiple FDA-approved cancer therapies. He currently serves as a member of the National Brain Tumor Society Research Roundtable, as a consultant to DelMar Pharmaceuticals, as Chairman of Mountain View Pharmaceutical’s Board of Directors and is the President of Valent Technologies LLC, which supported the discovery and development of Edison Oncology’s drug candidates. Dr. Brown served as an Assistant Professor of Radiology at Harvard University Medical School and as a Research Associate in Radiology at Stanford University Medical School. He received his B.A. in Biology and Chemistry (1971), M.S. in Cell Biology (1975) and Ph.D. in Radiation and Cancer Biology (1979), all from New York University. Dr. Brown is an inventor of more than 40 issued U.S. patents and applications, many with foreign counterparts.
Dr. Artem Cherkasov is a pioneer in the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) to support novel drug development. Dr Cherkasov serves as Professor in the Department of Urologic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia, Senior Scientist at the Vancouver Prostate Centre and Canada Research Chair in Precision Cancer Drug Design.
Chair of Translational Neuro-Oncology at the University of Manchester and former Principal Scientist and CNS Cancer Bioscience Lead at AstraZeneca where she contributed to the development of brain-penetrant DNA repair inhibitors for targeting primary brain tumors and brain metastases
Dr. Post brings more than 35 years of drug development and leadership experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry spanning companies of all sizes. He currently serves as member of the board of directors and chief scientific officer of Vivace Pharmaceuticals. Previously, he served as chief scientific officer of BioMarin, a publicly held biopharmaceutical firm with a focus on rare diseases. He joined BioMarin when the company acquired LEAD Therapeutics, where he was chief scientific officer where he was responsible for the development of the blockbuster PARP inhibitor talazoparib until it was sold to Medivation, Inc. and ultimately commercialized by Pfizer, Inc. following the $14 billion acquisition of Medivation, Inc.. Positions prior to LEAD included senior vice president of research and development for Onyx Pharmaceuticals and vice president of discovery research for Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Post holds a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin and a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Michigan.
