Unique technology, amazing people
iota Biosciences is made up of a proudly diverse team of exceptional people. We come from different backgrounds and bring different skills, but we all share a passionate belief in the power of innovative bioelectronics to improve health and transform lives. As a team we work collaboratively and cross-functionally, with a strong connection to doctors and patients, to ensure that what we are developing is aligned with their core needs. We continually challenge what’s possible and inspire each other to think differently as we create and design cutting-edge technologies with the potential to change lives.
Speed without compromise
We know that some patients don’t have time to wait. Driven by passion and tenacity, we combine a rigorous focus on quality with the agility and adaptability to keep moving our ideas and innovations forward, fast.
“We have a culture of moving fast and embracing change. iota allows everyone to maintain their individuality while adhering to quality practices.”
Meet our leadership team
Michel Maharbiz, PhD
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Michel cofounded iota Biosciences in 2017. He is a serial entrepreneur and in his spare time loves bouldering, hiking and off-roading.
Gil Mandelbaum, PhD
General Manager, Neurological Therapies
Senior Director, Neuromodulation and BCIs
Michael Woods, MD
General Manager, Urological Therapies
Senior Director, Bioelectronic Medicine
Lusin Markaryan
Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs
Michelle Patruno
Director of Human Resources
Carmela Cusumano
Director of Clinical Operations
Michel Maharbiz, PhD
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Michel cofounded iota Biosciences in 2017. He is a serial entrepreneur and in his spare time loves bouldering, hiking and off-roading.
Until 2021, Michel was a Full Professor and is now an Adjunct Professor, with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Prof. Maharbiz received his B.S. from Cornell University and his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley under nanotechnologist Professor Roger T. Howe (EECS) and synthetic biologist Professor Jay D. Keasling (ChemE). He is a Senior Member of the IEEE (Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society) and a member of the Society for Neuroscience. Prof. Maharbiz is a recipient of the McKnight Foundation’s Technological Innovations in Neuroscience Award (2017), a Chan-Zuckerberg (CZ) Biohub Investigator (2017), a Bakar Fellow (2014) and recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2009).
Gil Mandelbaum, PhD
General Manager, Neurological Therapies
Senior Director, Neuromodulation and BCIs
Gil Mandelbaum is the Senior Director of Neuromodulation and Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), as well as the General Manager of Neurological Therapies at iota Biosciences. He leads teams dedicated to developing, deploying, and commercializing technologies that modulate the brain’s electrical or chemical activity (neuromodulation), interpret brain signals to control external devices (BCIs), or integrate both approaches. His work spans research, product development, clinical trials, and commercialization—driving innovations that improve outcomes in neurological conditions and enable new forms of human–machine interaction.
A neuroscientist by training, Gil holds a dual undergraduate degree in Chemistry and Biology from Tel Aviv University and earned his PhD and completed postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School. With over 15 years of neuroscience research experience, he has developed a wide range of experimental approaches, including pioneering hardware, software, and research systems. His contributions have helped establish a neuroscience research tools company and have been published in leading journals such as Nature Neuroscience. His work has also been featured in Nature Methods and appeared on the cover of Neuron.
Gil is passionate about helping the iota team deliver solutions that directly address long-standing challenges faced by stroke survivors with upper limb impairments - transforming bold scientific ideas into impactful clinical solutions while unlocking scalable neurotechnology applications.
Michael Woods, MD
General Manager, Urological Therapies
Senior Director, Bioelectronic Medicine
Mike is the Senior Director of Bioelectronic Medicine and the General Manager of Urological Therapies at iota Biosciences, initially focused on patients with underactive bladder. Collaboratively leading engineering, manufacturing, clinical operations, project management, regulatory affairs, quality, and pre-market activities, and using his surgical expertise, he is responsible for all aspects of the device program.
Mike is a fellowship-trained, board-certified surgeon who obtained his BSc in cellular biology and MD and surgery degrees from the University of Kansas and an MBA in medical management from the University of Southern California. His career spans clinical surgery, leadership roles in surgery, health systems, healthcare start-ups, medical software and data science, and global pharmaceutical development.
He is excited about helping the iota team bring the Akyva device to market to help millions of patients with underactive bladder lead more normal lives.
Lusin Markaryan
Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs
Lusin Markaryan brings over 20 years of medical device experience in regulatory affairs, quality systems and clinical strategy to iota Biosciences. She has a proven track record of guiding novel technologies through complex regulatory pathways and implementing quality frameworks that support every stage of Class III device development. Prior to joining iota Biosciences, Lusin held senior leadership roles at SetPoint Medical and Medtronic Diabetes. At SetPoint Medical, she directed global regulatory strategy and secured key first-in-human and pivotal study approvals for a pioneering bioelectronic therapy.During her tenure at Medtronic, she led multiple successful PMA submissions - including an original filing - and managed both BIMO and QSIT audits.
At iota Biosciences, Lusin oversees the Quality and Regulatory Affairs organization, driving strategic alignment across development, manufacturing, and clinical functions. Her focus is on accelerating innovation through efficient regulatory execution while ensuring patient safety through a disciplined, risk-based quality framework.
Lusin holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine and a Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC- US & EU).
Michelle Patruno
Director of Human Resources
Michelle is responsible for leading People strategy at iota Bio, with a focus on cultivating a thriving workplace culture that fosters talent and growth.
Michelle is a passionate People Leader with over 15 years of People experience. She has expertise in scaling early technology organizations and a track record of fostering strong workplace cultures and optimizing HR operations. She values trust and empathy to create sustainable solutions to complex people problems. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Global Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
She enjoys camping, hiking with her pup and traveling in her free time.
“I’m inspired by working for an organization with a central mission to develop technology that could dramatically improve patients’ lives and attracting employees that deeply connect to the work we’re doing.”
Carmela Cusumano
Director of Clinical Operations
As Director of Clinical Operations, Carmela leads the team responsible for planning, executing, and managing iota’s clinical programs. She oversees all aspects of clinical trial strategy and delivery, ensuring the ethical, efficient, and high-quality execution of studies that advance iota’s innovative therapies toward patients.
Carmela brings more than 20 years of experience in clinical research, with a focus on medical device development and IDE studies for Class III devices. Her career spans all phases of product development, from early feasibility through pivotal and post-market studies.
Prior to joining iota, Carmela held leadership roles in clinical operations across multiple medical device companies, where she helped guide new technologies from concept to commercialization. She earned her M.S. from Drexel University College of Medicine.