Alexandre Costa Alencar

Head of Cancer Research Programs

As Head of Cancer Research Programs, Alexandre advises the Board of Directors in steering the Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research funding areas. Together with his team, he manages the portfolio of active grants, and the design and implementation of new programs and partnerships. Alexandre is passionate about patient engagement and impact measurement initiatives.

Paola Atzei

Senior Scientific Program Manager

As Senior Scientific Program Manager, Paola is responsible for developing the focus area of therapy optimization. She focuses on the areas of de-escalation and repurposing of drugs in pediatric and geriatric oncology to support better patient outcomes with minimal toxicity. Paola holds a Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD in neuroimmunology and a master’s degree in pharmaceutical biotechnology. Additionally, she completed a diploma in project management. In her free time, Paola likes to travel and spend time outdoors with her two kids and husband.

Zoraide Granchi

Senior Scientific Program Manager

As Senior Scientific Program Manager, Zoraide drives the implementation of the science of early detection and intervention focus area. Zoraide holds a master’s in biotechnologies and a PhD in Stem Cell Biology. She works closely with her colleagues and the Head of Cancer Research Programs in organizing the selection process for new applications, managing the active grants portfolio and supporting the many patient involvement initiatives of RTFCCR. Zoraide loves dancing, baking and having fun with her 3 kids and partner.

Karolina Werynska

Scientific Program Manager

As Scientific Program Manager, Karolina drives the active grant portfolio of clinical cancer research, supports development of new focus areas, and helps with many patient involvement initiatives of RTFCCR.  Karolina holds a PhD in drug discovery and a master’s degree in biomedicine. After completing her PhD, she worked in Global Medical Affairs in a pharmaceutical company in Basel. In her free time, Karolina likes to read indiscriminately all genres, Alpine hiking, and enjoy good food.

Beat Thürlimann

Foundation Board Deputy Chairman

As deputy board chairman, Beat utilizes his wealth of knowledge in foundation laws. He has served as Head Physician of the breast cancer department at the St. Gallen Cantonal Hospital since 2008 and is passionately committed to advancing cancer research.

Hermann Schulin

Foundation Board Member

Hermann is a lawyer by profession, and an expert in both Swiss and German law. He also has expertise in the general parts of Swiss Code of Obligations, and in particular, the law of contract and unjustified enrichment. During his illustrious career, he served as a junior lawyer and assessor for the Federal State of Hessen, held positions at the ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich, and worked as an associate professor at the Universities of St. Gallen and Bern.

Wendy Selig

Foundation Board Member

Wendy is an independent consultant providing strategic counsel to dozens of patient advocacy organizations and life-science companies. She has served as President and CEO of the innovative Melanoma Research Alliance, and as a senior executive for the American Cancer Society (ACSCAN). She brings an extensive network of deep contacts, and more than 30 years of experience in defining and implementing collaborative strategies, working at the top levels of government and within the leadership of the nonprofit health sector.

Steven Rosen

Foundation Board Member

Steven currently serves as the Provost and Chief Scientific Officer; Director at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and Beckman Research Institute; and Professor of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. He completed his medical degree at the Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, Illinois. Throughout the years he has held various positions in cancer treatment and research and co-authored more than 450 publications.

Hubert Bertsch

Foundation Board Member

Hubert is an Austrian entrepreneur and international businessman. He is the owner and CEO of Bertsch Holding GmbH founded in 1925 with several companies in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). When Hubert took over the family business, he reorganized the companies allowing each division to focus on their core competencies and creating a strong solid foundation for expansion. He also enlarged the companies’ sphere of activities and continues to create relations with multiple foreign countries and businesses.

Alexandros Papachristofilou

Advisory Board Member

Alexandros is Senior Physician of Radiation Oncology at Basel University Hospital. He studied medicine at the Technical University of Munich and Ludwig-Maximilians University. Alexandros is an active clinical researcher and a former Research Fellow at Paul Scherrer Proton Therapy Institute (PSI).

Annie Ellis

Advisory Board Member

Annie contributes patient and caregiver perspectives during grant selection and strategic decisions for clinical cancer research activities and champions meaningful patient engagement and inclusion of patient partners in research projects. Annie is a survivor of breast cancer and recurrent ovarian cancer as well as a caregiver. She provides peer support through SHARE Cancer Support and the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance’s (OCRA) Woman to Woman program.

Annie serves as research advocate in several capacities with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), including Chair of the Council of Research Advocates (NCRA), past Co-Chair of the Patient Advocate Steering Committee and a member of the Gynecologic Cancer Steering Committee. Annie also serves with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ASCO, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, the International Gynecologic Cancer Society and OCRA to provide the patient perspective during meetings, grant review, and/or development of guidelines.