A world leading microbiome team on a mission

We are a multidisciplinary team of research scientists and drug development experts who are at the forefront of microbiome research, looking to discover and develop microbiome-based therapies. The translation of research into the development of innovative and life-saving microbiome-based therapies are further bolstered by BiomeBank’s partnership with world-leading biomedical research organisations. This includes RMIT University, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, and Hospital Networks globally.
“At Biomebank we take an ecosystem wide view of the microbiome. Like other thriving ecosystems found in nature, diversity is crucial for a healthy gut. Our mission is to restore health by helping restore the gut microbial ecosystem.”

– Dr Sam Costello
Managing Director & Co-founder

Directors

Dr Sam Costello co-founded BiomeBank in 2018. He is a recognised leader in the field of microbiome therapies, holding important research publications and patents in the field.

Dr Costello previously worked as a consultant physician and researcher at leading centres in Australia and for microbiome therapeutics companies in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Read his research papers here.

Dr Rob Bryant is a consultant gastroenterologist and leading expert in clinical trials in inflammatory bowel disease.

Rob has published over 80 research papers  with a clinical and research focus on microbiome-based and dietary therapies for inflammatory bowel disease. He is head of IBD service at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and co-founded BiomeBank in 2018.

Read his research papers here.

Investment manager with over 30 years of experience. Held senior portfolio management and business leadership roles in Asia and Australia with Blackrock Asset Management, Ellerston Capital., Goldman Sachs JB Were, and Argo Investments.

He currently, holds several board positions including, Chair of Perks Private Wealth Investment Committee, and Non-Executive Director of Funds SA.

Founder, Director and manager of a number of successful medical devices and life sciences companies including director of Austofix, StratifEYE, Icsion.

He also serves as Trustee of a Charitable foundation.

CEO of the Hospital Research Foundation (THRF), Director of Prostate Cancer, and Director and Vice Chairman of the Fundraising Institute of Australia.  

Paul also sits on the board of governors for THRF group.

The Management Team

Dr Sam Forster is a world leading microbiome scientist, who has pioneered key research in metagenomics and anaerobic culturing of bacteria.
 
Sam has published seminal papers in Nature and Nature Biotechnology detailing culturing of “unculturable” organisms. He has overseen the development of BiomeBank’s world leading bacterial culture collection of more than 26,000 isolates as well as bacterial culturing, identification and characterisation techniques.
 
Kolby brings nearly 20 years of experience in the biotech industry. He’s been involved in developing and bringing multiple products to market in cell therapy, orthopedics, wound care, plastic surgery, and marrow transplant. Prior to joining BiomeBank as COO he was Vice President General Manager overseeing all Operations at PolarityTE and ISTO Biologics. He’s been Co-PI on multiple non-dilutive grant awards from the US Government. Kolby worked as inhouse counsel at a biotech company prior to moving into executive leadership. He earned a law degree from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelors in Biology from Southern Utah University.

Jarek Kopias is a CFO and Company Secretary with over 25 years’ experience in finance and governance roles. He has held executive positions at multiple companies managing their ASX IPO process and finance function. Currently Company Secretary of multiple ASX

Dr Emily Tucker is an infectious diseases specialist physician with expertise in clinical infectious diseases and epidemiology.
 
Dr Tucker established and oversees BiomeBank’s donor screening program. Expertise in infectious diseases best practice guidelines at a national level.

Corey Whittle is a quality manager with more than 20 years’ experience in GMP pharmaceutical quality systems and manufacturing in both the TGA and FDA environments, including over 10 years in leadership positions.


He has passion for creating and leading high performing teams and continuous improvement of quality systems.

Mirjana Rapaic is a regulatory affairs expert with more than 15 years experience in regulatory affairs at multiple Pharma and Biotech companies, including Bayer.
 

She has led the submission and secured the world’s first regulatory approval of BiomeBank’s donor derived microbiome therapy.

Lisa is a microbiologist with a PhD and more than 10 years in industry and academia. Her academic research was in understanding complex microbial ecology.

Lisa established BiomeBank’s culturing workflow and leads the BB265 (defined therapy for ulcerative colitis) and scaffold projects. She contributes to the development of advanced microbiological techniques and methodology.

Garrett is a live biotherapeutic product expert with over 5 years industry specific experience leading live bacterial therapy process development and GMP manufacturing.

He relocated from the US to Australia to join BiomeBank.

Sarah is a PhD scientist with over 5 years experience designing and coordinating clinical trials in North America and Australia.

She has experience with FDA and TGA governed clinical trials and co-ordinating hospital sites on large multicentre studies.

Chelsea is an experienced process development scientist. She spent over 5 years at CSIRO prior to joining BiomeBank in 2019.

Chelsea established BiomeBank’s GMP manufacturing workflow and associated protocols. 

Lori Wakelin is an administrator with more than 20 years experience in the FMCG industry including global companies Diageo and Red Bull prior to joining BiomeBank in 2020.

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