CEO

Dan Montano started on the floor of the Los Angeles Stock Exchange in 1968 as a floor broker. Over the next 30 years, he managed thousands of stockbrokers as CEO of several securities firms. As an investment banker, Mr. Montano handled the IPOs of over 100 companies from 1968-1998. During that time he also assisted in starting almost 100 new companies to advance new technologies. In 1998, Mr. Montano left investment banking and dedicated himself to advance biotechnology breakthroughs.

Daniel Montano secured his MBA from the University of Southern California in 1974.

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER

Dr. Jack Jacobs has been involved in the healthcare industry for over 25 years and has extensive expertise in supervising drug manufacturing operations and the design and implementation of preclinical animal trials and US FDA-authorized clinical trials. He started a new department of biological chemistry at Merck and for over 20 years worked with Mr. Montano as a chief scientific officer where Dr. Jacobs oversaw FDA-authorized clinical trials in which FGF-1 was tested in a number of medical indications, including coronary artery disease, diabetic foot ulcers, and peripheral artery disease.

Dr. Jacobs received a BS degree from Davidson College and a PhD in molecular biology from Washington University, St. Louis.

VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGIC INNOVATIONS

For the last 20 years, Viktoriya has been involved with biotechnology, handling technology transfer from Ukrainian biotechnologies to the United States, clinical trials, and research of new applications of angiogenesis medicines. Mrs. Montano holds three Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree from prestigious Ukrainian universities. She also speaks 6 languages and has been the personal translator for the first president of Ukraine, President Leonid M. Kravchuk. Mrs. Montano has presented at universities on epigenetics and is dedicated to addressing women’s health issues, which can treated with angiogenesis and neurogenesis.

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

Judy has been a long-standing player in the efforts to develop FGF-1 for cardiovascular and brain disorders. She first joined Dan Montano in 2004, when efforts were focused on studying FGF-1 in patients with severe heart disease and also in diabetics with non-healing foot ulcers. Judy was instrumental in putting together contracts, regulatory filings, and other essential commercial activities to support these efforts. She currently works closely with Dan Montano and Dr. Jack Jacobs to advance FGF-1 in an expanded portfolio of medical indications, including brain disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease. She is responsible for the organization and implementation of the commercial operations that always surround the running of relatively complex clinical studies.

VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION

Thomas O’Brien has been a member of Zhittya’s senior management team for more than eight years; advising on and responsible for corporate matters, contracts, intellectual property, corporate regulatory compliance, international commerce, and global partnering.

His 40 year-career included being a partner at two international law firms: Coudert and Denton. His clients included Chevron, AIG, CNPC, Total, INPEX, Yukos, and Statoil. He worked on major projects in Russia, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and the United Kingdom. He was also the head of the legal department at the Abu Dhabi International Investment House, Managing Director of Caspian Petroleum GmbH, and Lead Transaction Counsel for the FDIC receiverships of Western Savings and Lincoln Savings in Phoenix. He was Vice President General Counsel of Brinderson Corp. in Irvine, California.

BA Honors, Georgetown University, JD Albany Law School, Union University

LAB TECHNICIAN

Megan Kruitbosch holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and is currently pursuing an M.S. in Biotechnology at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her independent research on the protein AKAP11 in neurons, conducted in the lab of Dr. Mitchell Omar, aims to improve the understanding of schizophrenia pathology. With expertise in experimental design, data analysis, and protein work, Megan is committed to advancing human health research and making a positive impact on society.

LAB TECHNICIAN

Tezo Albarran holds a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology from the University of Nevada, Reno. During his undergraduate studies, he worked on the development and optimization of in vitro rubber synthesis, focusing on the Small Rubber Particle Protein (SRPP) derived from Hevea brasiliensis. His work involved successfully expressing and purifying the SRPP protein and utilizing it to create nanodisks in conjunction with DMCP lipids.

After completing his undergraduate degree, his career trajectory shifted toward epigenetics, where he investigated the effects of plasticizers on female fertility. Specifically, he researched the impact of Di-isobutyl Phthalate (DIBP) on steroidogenesis pathways using bovine ovaries as a model system. This research contributed to a better understanding of how environmental chemicals influence reproductive health.

Tezo began his master’s studies in biotechnology in the fall of 2023 and graduated in December 2024. During his graduate studies, he worked at the Nevada Genomics Center, where his responsibilities included operating and maintaining the SeqStudio for Sanger sequencing, quantifying DNA using qPCR, and measuring and interpreting DNA/RNA quality and quantity with Qubit and TapeStation. Additionally, he assisted in preparing sequencing libraries for the Illumina platform, supporting a wide range of genomic research projects.

Before pursuing his studies in biotechnology, he gained medical experience by working as a Patient Care Technician and in phlebotomy. These roles allowed him to develop hands-on skills in patient care and the medical field, further reinforcing his commitment to precision and quality in both clinical and research settings.

Tezo’s multidisciplinary background in molecular biology, epigenetics, medical technology, and genomics has equipped him with a robust skill set to address complex biological questions. He is passionate about integrating his diverse experiences to advance research and clinical applications.

VICE PRESIDENT OF DRUG DEVELOPMENT

Daniel has been involved in the biotechnology industry for 10 years, where he has done extensive work in graphic design and website development. Beyond his technological experience, he assists in the manufacturing of FGF-1 in the United States, Latin America, and Europe.

TECHNOLOGY AND MARKETING MANAGER

Khiry’s business experience stretches across all fields. Khiry started his career in the restaurant industry, where he was able to use his extensive knowledge of employee management and marketing as a way to jumpstart his career in computer coding, social media, and underlying computer and internet analytics. Working in a biotechnology company, Khiry has brought together his advanced knowledge of computer science, managerial skills, and marketing to facilitate and strengthen advertising campaigns and other marketing efforts.

VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING

Sergiy has worked at all levels of a bioechnology company, from basic email-security and social media management to raising hundreds of thousands of dollars an leading multi-million dollar marketing campaigns on Google, YouTube, Facebook, and various other platforms. Sergiy has driven more than 3 million people to discover research being conducted in biotechnology. Sergiy speaks three languages: English, Spanish, and Russian which has helped him facilitate business in a wide range of regions.

Sergiy graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Business Administration and complemented his studies at the Universitat de Barcelona, where he studied Business and Political Economy.