James Huang is a founding member of JARO Biosciences LLC. He has extensive operating and business development experience through 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. He has completed multiple business development deals and M&A transactions, as well as created new businesses and launched multiple new products during his career. He joined VIVO Ventures from Anesiva, where he served as president and previously as senior vice president of business development and commercial operations. Prior to Anesiva, he was VP Business Development and Commercial Operations at Tularik Inc prior to its acquisition by Amgen. Mr. Huang was also a product director for diabetes at SmithKline Beecham PLC (now GlaxoSmithKline), and also held various positions in product development, business development, sales and marketing, and research and development at SmithKline Beecham, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Alza (now a Johnson & Johnson company). He received an M.B.A. from Stanford Graduate School of Business and earned a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.

Roberto Cetrullo is a founding member of JARO Biosciences LLC. He has extensive operational, corporate development and multi-cultural experience in the biopharmaceutical and consumer health sectors. He has led the creation of new business franchises and directed global and local launches of new products in multiple therapeutic areas. He has championed the strategic conception, search and negotiation of landmark domestic and international business development deals. He is interested in creating new businesses in novel therapeutic areas and emerging markets.

Roberto Cetrullo began his pharmaceutical career at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), where his work spanned 17 years of increasing responsibility. Through a successful career path, he rose to Vice President, Corporate Development, US Pharmaceuticals.
During his career at BMS, Mr. Cetrullo made critical contributions to the company’s success through his efforts in marketing, global franchise management and corporate development.  He pioneered the creation of the HIV – AIDS business by directing the global launches of keystone products like Videx and Zerit. He led the first acquisitions of the Nutritional Group, the entry into new therapeutic areas through the in-licensing and co-promotion of novel pharmaceutical compounds, and the divestitures of mature products at premium prices. 
Mr. Cetrullo turned his attention to the biotech sector in 2002, joining Human Genome Sciences as Vice President of Business Development.  

In 2003, Mr. Cetrullo joined Altana Pharma, as Vice President and Head of Business Development US to help establish the company’s presence in the US. He worked at Altana until the company’s acquisition by Nycomed Pharmaceuticals in December of 2006. During his tenure at Altana, Mr. Cetrullo led the diversification of the company’s product portfolio through the pursuit of creative deals in selected specialty and novel therapeutic areas.

Roberto Cetrullo received a Master in Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Doctorate Degree in Food Sciences and Technology from the University of Bologna, Italy.

Lavonda Miley, PhD has over 15 years’ experience in new product commercialization and business development in the pharmaceutical industry. She has worked extensively with multidisciplinary and global teams to guide successful strategic product development initiatives.

Dr Miley began her career at Pfizer, Inc working in both the US and Global divisions. During eight years at Pfizer, she helped launch several blockbuster products and advised many of Pfizer’s subsidiaries throughout the world regarding product launch and marketing plans.  After working at Pfizer, Dr Miley entered the area of new product commercialization at Burroughs Wellcome, and worked extensively with multiple clinical groups to prioritize and shape product development plans to optimize commercial success.  After several years at Burroughs Wellcome, Dr Miley was hired as U.S. Cardiovascular New Business Director, at Bristol Myers Squibb, where her responsibilities included guiding new product commercialization plans and assessing new business prospects.  Most recently, Dr Miley was Marketing Director at Altana Pharma where she was responsible for product launch, commercialization planning and business development acquisition screening and assessment.

During her career, Dr Miley has gained significant experience in all facets of commercial development and has worked in numerous therapeutic areas.  Her repertoire includes business development acquisition search and assessment, marketing strategic planning and product commercialization planning and execution. 

Lavonda Miley earned a PhD in pharmacy administration and a BS in Pharmacy from the University of South Carolina. 

James Zhao, MD, MBA is based in VIVO’s Shanghai Office. Prior to joining the firm, Dr Zhao’s professional experiences covered an array of industries including management consulting, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods. He was a senior consultant for the Monitor Group, a worldwide leading management consultancy; he has developed strategies in different functional areas including corporate development, sales and marketing and business process reengineering. In addition, he has completed various due diligence projects to assist major private equity firms and investment banks with strategic decisions regarding investment opportunities. In addition, when he worked for Mead Johnson (a division of Bristol Myer Squibb), he has successfully led strategic initiatives to launch a new pediatric drug, which ultimately became a leading product in China.

James obtained his M.D. from West China Medical University, M.S. in Molecular Biology from Vrige University Brussels, and MBA from Washington University in St Louis, U.S.A. He is a native of China fluent in Mandarin and English.