Our team spotlights

Get to know us.

Meet Gabriela Cosma, PhD

Senior Scientist

Can you share a bit about your background and what led you to join Paterna BioSciences?

Throughout graduate school I was involved in many Biotech-related organizations and events, which led me to realize that I relish working in small teams. At the same time, I greatly enjoy the process of scientific discovery, especially when there is a clear application of those discoveries in the near future that would benefit people. Thus, start-up/small biotech companies seemed like the best fit for me. I was fortunate to join Paterna BioSciences as one of the first hires and I have been very happy with that decision ever since!

What is your role at Paterna, and how does your work contribute to the mission of solving male infertility?

At Paterna, I am a senior scientist, where I have worked primarily at the “bench” – conducting hands-on laboratory experiments and research – though I have also helped mentor and train people and assisted with writing Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. I am currently working on in vitro spermatogenesis: taking male germ cells and driving them to become spermatozoa, in vitro. It is incredibly exciting to me to try many different approaches to achieve this.

What aspect of working in the field of reproductive health are you most passionate about?

I am truly hoping that my work will contribute in a small way to helping families experience the joy of having children.

What drives you to innovate in the area of male fertility?

I think when it comes to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), female reproductive health has received the most attention and visibility, and for good reason. Once I became more familiar with the scientific literature in the male infertility space, I was quite surprised to learn how the age and health of the father can influence the health of their offsprings. I think innovating in male fertility can be incredibly beneficial for the whole couple.

Why is fertility and the treatment of infertility so important to you?

I am fortunate to be the mother of two wonderful little girls. However, I have three friends that have been open with me about their struggles with infertility and how difficult it has been for them and their partners. Thus, I would like to be part of the process that can help people conceive where other treatments have failed.

Do you have any published papers or other materials that Paterna could share to highlight your expertise?

As far as my scientific background, my undergraduate degree is in Biochemistry from University of Pennsylvania and my PhD is in Immunology and Microbiology from Thomas Jefferson University.

How does collaboration within the team contribute to the success of Paterna?

Paterna BioSciences has an amazing team! One of our strengths is that everyone is very adaptable and willing to switch gears depending on where our developing science leads us. It would be very interesting to continue some of the incredible scientific discoveries we’ve made along the way, while also keeping our focus on optimizing the process of in vitro spermatogenesis.

What’s unique about the culture at Paterna that differentiates it from other places you’ve worked?

I think everyone simply goes above and beyond helping each other and the team as a whole. For example, we often deal with time-sensitive laboratory testing that requires immediate attention at any hour, day or night. When such a test is announced, there is never a lack of volunteers to handle the process, which can take 6-8 hours of intensive work. This involves reorganizing one’s schedule, coming in extra early (5-6am) or in the evenings/nights, and working very long days. I think it takes special people to make those kinds of sacrifices for “just a job” and speaks to our commitment to Paterna BioScience’s mission. The team’s willingness to adapt and support each other, even at inconvenient times, truly sets Paterna apart from other workplaces I’ve experienced.

What impact do you hope your work will have in the community?

Ultimately, it would be incredible to see that everyone who has a need for Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) to conceive, has access to this service. The data show that 7 in 10 women conceive after SIX cycles, meaning very few couples get pregnant from just one or even a few tries. Thus, couples must pay out of pocket for extra in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Improving those odds would provide economic benefits in addition to reducing the time, energy, and emotional pain of so many couples.

Where do you see the future of fertility treatments going, and how is Paterna positioning itself to lead that change?

Only through in vitro spermatogenesis (IVS) would men with non-obstructive azoospermia (no sperm produced) be able to father biological children. Only through IVS could pre-pubertal boys undergoing cancer treatments be able to preserve their fertility. I believe Paterna BioSciences will help to transform the in vitro fertilization (IVF) field!

What do you enjoy doing outside of ‘the office’?

After living in beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah for two years, which is within driving distance of multiple national parks, my young family and I really caught the bug of hiking and exploring those beautiful sights. Our favorites are Bryce Canyon and Grand Teton.

Share a ‘fun fact’ about yourself!

I used to be a competitive ballroom dancer, which is how I met my husband in college.

If you were describing your job to a five-year-old, what would you say you do at work?

I transfer small amounts of colorful liquids from one container to another; then I look through a microscope and see pretty pictures 😊

Overcoming male infertility.

Our moral and ethical statement: The founders and leadership of Paterna Biosciences recognize that work with stem cells is considered controversial by some. We can restore fertility using the patient’s own stem cells. Our position is that we can solve genetic disorders that cause male infertility and beyond. That is our sole focus. We completely reject and will not pursue this work to enable modifications of heritable social traits. We view that as immoral and will have no part in it.

Disclaimer

THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT IS CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY AND MUST NOT BE DISTRIBUTED TO ANY THIRD PARTY without the express written consent of Paterna Biosciences Inc. (“PATERNA”). THIS PRESENTATION IS FOR DISCUSSION AND GENERAL INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT TAKES NO ACCOUNT OF ANY SPECIFIC INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, FINANCIAL SITUATION, OR SUITABILITY FOR THE PARTICULAR NEED OF ANY SPECIFIC PERSON WHO MAY RECEIVE THIS PRESENTATION, AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AS ADVICE ON THE MERITS OF ANY INVESTMENT DECISION. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED HEREIN REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF Paterna. any financial projections included in the INFORMATION have been compiled by paterna and are based on assumptions supplied by paterna which have not been verified by an outside accountants. therefore, any financial projections are limited to presenting in the form of forecast information the assumptions of paterna and do not include any evaluation of the support for the assumptions underlying the forecast. the financial projections are based upon information available to paterna as of the date of the particular COMPILATION, are subject to material uncertainties, and should not be viewed as a prediction or an assurance of ACTUAL FUTURE performance; hence, no investment decision should be made based solely on any projections included in the information. any financial projections contained herein will depend upon future events, INCLUDING a wide variety of significant business, economic and competitive risks, many of which will be beyond Paterna’s control and accordingly, no assurance can be given that paterna’s assumptions will prove true, that its projected results will be achieved, or that variations between the projections and actual future results will not be material. THIS MATERIAL DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITies DESCRIBED HEREIN IN ANY JURISDICTION TO OR FROM ANY PERSON, NOR DOES IT CONSTITUTE FINANCIAL PROMOTION, INVESTMENT ADVICE OR AN INDUCEMENT OR AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRODUCT, OFFERING OR INVESTMENT. THIS MATERIAL IS INFORMATIONAL ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE USED AS THE BASIS FOR ANY INVESTMENT DECISION, NOR SHOULD IT BE RELIED UPON FOR LEGAL, ACCOUNTING OR TAX ADVICE OR INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS OR FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE. NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY IS MADE THAT PATERNA’s INVESTMENT PROCESSES OR INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES WILL OR ARE LIKELY TO BE ACHIEVED OR SUCCESSFUL OR THAT PATERNA’s INVESTMENT WILL MAKE ANY PROFIT OR WILL NOT SUSTAIN LOSSES. PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. NO AGREEMENT, COMMITMENT OR UNDERSTANDING EXISTS OR SHALL BE DEEMED TO EXIST BETWEEN OR AMONG PATERNA AND ANY OTHER PARTY OR PARTIES BY VIRTUE OF PATERNA FURNISHING THIS PRESENTATION OR ANY PARTY RECEIVING THIS PRESENTATION. PATERNA HAS NOT SOUGHT OR OBTAINED CONSENT FROM ANY THIRD PARTY TO USE ANY STATEMENTS OR INFORMATION INDICATED HEREIN AS HAVING BEEN OBTAINED OR DERIVED FROM STATEMENTS MADE OR PUBLISHED BY THIRD PARTIES. ANY SUCH STATEMENTS OR INFORMATION SHOULD NOT BE VIEWED AS INDICATING THE SUPPORT OF SUCH THIRD PARTY FOR THE VIEWS EXPRESSED HEREIN. NO WARRANTY IS MADE THAT DATA OR INFORMATION, WHETHER DERIVED OR OBTAINED FROM FILINGS MADE WITH THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR FROM ANY THIRD PARTY, ARE ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. EXCEPT FOR THE HISTORICAL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN, THE MATTERS ADDRESSED IN THIS PRESENTATION ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, WHICH CAN BE IDENTIFIED by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “seek,” “should,” “Expect,” “Anticipate,” “project,” “projection,” “pro-forma,” “attempt,” “target,” “develop,” “estimate,” “intend,” “Working to,” “working toward,” “continue,” or “believe” or the negatives thereof or other VARIATIONS thereon or comparable terminology. YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT PROJECTIONS AND FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVE CERTAIN RISKS AND ARE INHERENTLY UNCERTAIN AND ACTUAL RESULTS MAY DIFFER FROM THE PROJECTIONS AND OTHER FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN DUE TO REASONS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE FORESEEABLE. NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY IS MADE AS TO THE ACCURACY OR REASONABLENESS OF THE ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING THE PROJECTIONS AND OTHER FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN. ALL AMOUNTS, MARKET VALUE INFORMATION AND ESTIMATES INCLUDED IN THIS MATERIAL HAVE BEEN OBTAINED FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES THAT PATERNA BELIEVES TO BE RELIABLE OR REPRESENT THE REASONABLE JUDGMENT OF PATERNA AS OF THE DATE OF THIS MATERIAL. NO REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY OR UNDERTAKING, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IS GIVEN AS TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION OR VIEWS CONTAINED HEREIN. PROJECTIONS, MARKET OUTLOOKS, ASSUMPTIONS OR ESTIMATES IN THIS MATERIAL ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, ARE BASED UPON CERTAIN ASSUMPTIONS, AND ARE SUBJECT TO A VARIETY OF RISKS AND CHANGES, INCLUDING RISKS AND CHANGES AFFECTING INDUSTRIES GENERALLY AND THE COMPANY SPECIFICALLY. PATERNA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR MODIFY ANY OF ITS OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN AT ANY TIME AS IT DEEMS APPROPRIATE. PATERNA DISCLAIMS ANY OBLIGATION TO UPDATE THE INFORMATION OR VIEWS CONTAINED HEREIN.



Lab: 1865 West 2100 South Suite 100 Salt Lake City, UT 84119



[email protected]

Pages

Our ‘Why’ About Us The Science Our Progress News Join our Team Contact us

SITE CREDITS