Team
Our team has a diverse background in design, engineering, product development, clinical research, and business operations for regulated products.
We thrive in dynamic environments and examine projects with a balanced perspective from our collective experience. From years of working with entrepreneurs, inventors, and at start-ups, we understand the dedication and drive behind an idea and utilize our skill sets to be resourceful on a range of projects. We identify and assemble the right resources depending on the nature of the product to launch a concept to market. Meet some of our team members below!
Mariel specializes in first-in-class medical technologies and accelerating products to the clinic. She has managed R&D and Clinical Engineering teams in interventional cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, laparoscopic surgery, and endoscopic gastroenterology.
Mariel is a co-inventor on 37 issued patents and over 40 patents pending. She received a BS and MS in Biomechanical Engineering from Stanford University, with a Master's focus on medical device design.
Beyond the office, Mariel is an avid sports fan and globe trekker. She'll proudly whip a wicked forehand on the tennis court and share stories of her treks in the jungle.
MARIEL FABRO
Managing Partner
Myra combines engineering and business acumen to bring products to market. She has managed product development to clinical and commercialization for wide arrange of products including interventional discectomy, chronic total occlusion atherectomy, image-guided therapeutic systems, embolic protection, and vascular access for structural heart interventions. She is passionate about innovation in women’s health and emerging markets.
Myra is a co-inventor on 6 issued patents and over a dozen patents pending. She received a BS in Biomedical Engineering from UC Irvine, MS in Biomedical Engineering from Purdue University, and an MBA from The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.
When she's not managing product development teams, Myra exercises her right brain in her art and baking, and can also be found backpacking with her family and trusty cardigan corgi.
MYRA FABRO
Managing Partner
Ruth is a mechanical design engineer who has served as the creative lead on first-generation devices in laparoscopic surgery, cardiac surgery, electrophysiology, natural-orifice surgery, and pulmonology.
Ruth was a co-inventor of the world's first approved magnetically-guided minimally-invasive surgical platform. She received a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, with a Master's focus on computer-controlled mechanical devices and product engineering.
When she's not designing in CAD, she's likely crafting a vibrant quilt or chasing after her two boys and quirky shiba inu.
RUTH BEEBY
Principal Design Engineer
Annette is a biomedical engineer specializing in minimally-invasive implantable technologies. She spent much of her career working with start-ups to design and develop devices involving dynamic anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics. Her product portfolio includes innovations in endovascular surgery, interventional cardiology, endoscopic gastroenterology, and remote kidney dialysis. For many of these first-generation products, Annette managed development through a variety of regulatory approvals, including IDE, 510(k), and PMA.
Annette is a co-inventor on 2 issued patents. She received a BS in Bioengineering from UCSD, and a MS and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University, specializing in endothelial wound healing and microvascular hemodynamics.
Aside from solving complex problems, Annette can be found paying homage to her Swiss heritage as she slaloms down the ski slopes or hikes in the great outdoors.
ANNETTE BRANGER
Head of Research
Rachel leads regulatory and clinical operations during all stages of the medical device product lifecycle. Her broad experience ranges from infrastructure set-up in early stage start-ups through executive level management in publicly traded companies. This allows her to be adaptable to the needs of the team, providing strategic oversight or roll-up-your sleeves execution as needed. She has experience in PMA and 510(k) products and therapeutic areas of women’s health, sleep disorders, wound care, imaging, peripheral vascular applications, and neurology. She is also passionate about creating affordable therapies for low-resource, under-served communities and rare diseases in order to strive toward better equity in health care. Rachel received a BA from Stanford University and a JD from UC Law San Francisco.
When she has a few hours to step away from work, Rachel enjoys getting lost in the forest; foraging mushrooms, berries and shellfish in the Pacific Northwest; and volunteering for local community nonprofits.
RACHEL ACUÑA-NARVAEZ
Regulatory & Clinical
Brenna enjoys diving in with clients to support leadership, provide mentorship, and to simply help things get done. She is familiar with early- and late-stage R&D, design control, quality systems, regulatory submissions, and relevant medical device standards, primarily in interventional cardiology, combination device/drug products, and in vitro diagnostics.
Brenna has been recognized for her ability to facilitate communication amongst diverse stakeholders, to write clearly about complex topics, and to bring teams together around a plan. She is an inventor or co-inventor on 14 granted patents and over 30 pending applications. Brenna earned her BS and MS degrees from Stanford University in Mechanical Engineering.
Alongside fun work projects, she enjoys getting outside and spending time with family and friends.
BRENNA LORD
Principal Consultant & Project Advisor
Alice is a versatile product designer with a background in user experience and product management. She has managed design teams in e-commerce and B2B web applications.
Alice also has prior experience in process and manufacturing engineering of medical devices, particularly in cost-reduction and process improvement. She has extensive process engineering experience at contract manufacturers that specialize in regulated healthcare products.
Alice received a BS in Materials Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and an MS in Human-Computer Interaction from DePaul University. She has experience leading complex design teams, and is passionate about business strategics, optimizing workflow, and intuitive innovation.
Outside of design work, Alice enjoys cooking, working on crafting projects, and spending time with her fast-growing twin nieces.
ALICE LEUNG
Product/UX Designer
Cheng has over 15 years of industry experience developing medical devices, optical and electrochemical biosensors, high-volume consumer smartphone sensors, and high-performance analog semiconductors. He has both a product and technology R&D background, with over a dozen issued US patents for developing new technology across the medical device, consumer electronics, and semiconductor industries. Cheng has played integral roles in the launching of several products through safety and medical regulation, with a particular focus on active electronics (circuits, wireless, software/firmware, PCB).
Cheng has Bachelor's and Master's degrees in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Away from the computer screen, Cheng enjoys running, cycling, swimming (occasional triathlon), cooking, and tai chi.
CHENG-WEI PEI
Project Technical Advisor
Doug is a forward-thinking and hands-on leader in the medical device industry, with an extensive 27-year career marked by a consistent record of success. As a seasoned professional, he has demonstrated innovation by spearheading the development of more than 32 unique product lines, and is an inventor on 38 patents within 17 distinct patent families. Doug uses his leadership skills for assembling and motivating cross-functional teams, ensuring they work cohesively towards project goals and meet challenging deadlines. Doug's experiences includes having successfully contributed to the growth of start-ups, mid-size enterprises, and blue-chip companies alike.
Doug holds a Master's degree in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor's degree from Santa Clara University.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Doug finds joy while working at his family's ranch in Montana and otherwise enjoying the outdoors. Additionally, he actively supports his teenage sons' sporting endeavors.
DOUG LORANG
Principal Consultant & Project Advisor