PharmOcu (“Pharma-Q”) was founded in 2005 by Kathryn S. Crawford, Ph.D. Dr. Crawford has over 25 years of experience in early stage biotech and pharmaceutical development, holding senior positions in both academia and industry. With vast experience in small company environments, Dr. Crawford has held numerous leadership roles, working closely with company founders to develop and manage independent functional units, build teams, and strategize business development and growth. Dr. Crawford has managed numerous preclinical development programs, with significant involvement in animal studies and disease models. As a key principal investigator and lead scientist, she has been awarded four NIH SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) Phase I grants which were pivotal in building and establishing research and commercialization programs, and has been selected numerous times to serve on NIH SBIR review committees as an expert panelist reviewer. Dr. Crawford has authored over 30 publications in high impact peer-reviewed journals, and has been invited to present her research at numerous national and international conferences. She has earned several research awards, including the Essilor International Presbyopia Research Prize and National Eye Institute fellowship award. Dr. Crawford holds a Bachelors Degree in Zoology and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology, both from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.