Meet Our Staff

Kurt A. Schwinghammer

Kurt A. Schwinghammer joined FCCC in April 2007 and became VP of the R&D Alliances Office in September 2009. He works closely with the Office of the President including all "C-level" executives to develop a strategy to effectively capitalize on Fox Chase's preclinical and clinical research capabilities. Kurt is pivotal in the development of preclinical and clinical strategic alliances with industry, and the development of all such business relationships. Among countless Kurt’s achievements he established Fox Chase International to initiate and maintain relationships with off-shore hospitals that require greater oncology skills, expertise and training; and serves as an active board member of two Fox Chase start-up companies: Dynamis Therapeutics and Nexus Pharmaceuticals. Read More »

Clarissa Ceruti

Clarissa Ceruti, originally from Italy, joined the Research & Development Alliances team in 2008 as its Associate Director. In her role, she promotes initiatives to reach out to industry and other research institutions; she markets, negotiates and licenses technologies and tangible research materials from the Fox Chase Cancer Center laboratories; she negotiates sponsored research and option agreements with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; and she is currently assisting a FCCC physician in the creation of a new enterprise. Clarissa received her Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Medical School in Torino, Italy, and her M.B.A. from the Simmons College School of Management in Boston, MA.

Inna Khartchenko

Inna Khartchenko is Director of Licensing and Associate Director of the Office of Research and Development Alliances. Inna is a seasoned technology transfer professional with 15 years of experience in technology commercialization and licensing intellectual property. Prior to joining Fox Chase in 2007, Inna was Interim Director of the Office of Technology Transfer at Temple University. She received her MBA degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and her Master’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Saint Petersburg State University. Inna has in-depth knowledge of the technology commercialization process and intellectual property law, extensive experience in marketing technologies, forming R&D collaborative relationships with biotech and pharma companies, negotiating license deals and other technology development agreements, as well as identifying opportunities for creation of start-up companies, advising inventors on early steps of start-up development, and recruiting qualified management for portfolio start-ups.

Sayanti Saha

Sayanti Saha joined Fox Chase Cancer Center in Dec 2008 as a postdoctoral associate after obtaining her PhD from the Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Bangalore, India. Alongside her research on breast cancer and protein ubiquitination, she wanted to learn the business side of science, which led her to join the Research & Development Alliances team as a Business Development Intern in Oct 2010. Since then, she has been working with Clarissa Ceruti and helps in marketing tangible research materials and technologies to industries. She also works closely with Kurt Schwinghammer and has been instrumental in Fox Chase International’s effort to expand in India.

Julie Sharp

Julie Sharp, originally from the United Kingdom, been a member of the Fox Chase family since 2001. She is the Executive Administrative Assistant for the R&D alliances team, and oversees the day to day management of the R&D office. Some of her duties include managing the technology and patent database, filing system and recordation of agreements.

Sharyn Shill

Sharyn Shill joined Fox Chase in 1981. Since that time she has led many administrative initiatives as Administrative Director of Radiation Oncology and prior to that Administrative Manager of both Radiation Oncology and Diagnostic Imaging. Her expertise in technology acquisition negotiation and collaborative commercial R&D, has led to her current role as Director, Technology Assessment, Development & Implementation for the Fox Chase Clinical Enterprise, in the Office of R&D Alliances. Sharyn has attended Temple University, Penn State University and with her concentration in Health Care Administration, has attended numerous continuing education courses on Healthcare Economics. Sharyn has been invited to speak to both industry, internally at Fox Chase, professional groups and other institutions from an administrative and economic point of view, on emerging technology acquisition and the strengths and weaknesses of creative capital asset management. Sharyn authored one of the first articles published about creative service coverage using a third party.

Kelly Smith

Kelly Smith joined the Research & Development Alliances team at Fox Chase Cancer Center as a Contracts Specialist in March 2010. Kelly performs legal and business contract review, budget development and negotiation, and front-end contract administration for clinical trials funded by the Pharmaceutical Industry. Drawing on 10+ years in healthcare contracting, Kelly is focused on driving business results through the execution of effective and meaningful contractual relationships. She possesses a strong client focus, in-depth business acumen and commitment to quality that serves the Fox Chase family well.

Jim Thompson

Jim Thompson, Director of Clinical Trials Contracting, has been a member of the Fox Chase family since 2007. Drawing on diverse skills and extensive experience in the medical device and pharmaceutical industry, Jim is uniquely qualified to assess the needs of both study sponsors and contract research organizations. His expertise in clinical trial planning, finance, and interpersonal skills serve our patients, clients, and institution well. Jim holds an MBA from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, a certificate in pharmaceutical medical writing from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA), and is certified by Model Agreements & Guidelines International (MAGI) as a Clinical Research Contract Professional (CRCP).

Johana Vanegas

Johana Vanegas, originally from the Colombia, received her medical degree in Bogotá, from La Fundación Universitaria Juan N. Corpas in December 2000. Johana first joined FCCC in 2002, and devoted eight years to breast cancer research at the Breast Cancer Research Laboratory. Her interest in business moved her to pursue an MBA at Temple University, and transfer to the Office of R&D Alliances in July 2011, were she holds the position of Business Development Manager. In her new role Johana creates and implements recommendations on business development strategy, acts as a point of contact for introductory meetings with industry, and evaluates opportunities within market dynamics and assesses strategic implications for FCCC.

Marianne Weyhmuller

Marianne Weyhmuller, Sr. Contracts Specialist joined Fox Chase Cancer Center in 1989.  Marianne has been an integral component of the Office of Corporate Alliances for the past 18+ years. She draws on her diverse skills and experience to perform contract review and negotiation in Sponsored Research, Confidentiality, Consulting, Material Transfer, Software and a wide variety of miscellaneous agreements with a clinical and academic focus.