Team Bio

Born and raised in Los Angeles, transplanted to the Midwest by way of Berkeley and still loving the elbowroom!

I am the proud father of four children and one grandchild (thus far) and remain relatively sane by playing guitar every day (funk, R&B, pop, AC, call me!), hitting the gym, and writing genre fiction.

My approach to science is unorthodox but not without its rewards. I enjoy testing new, even controversial ideas and developing technology that becomes useful in what I call the “real world” (i.e., that other place, you know, outside the lab: ).

I’ve started several companies and my current focus is Creodyne, llc (est. 2009). My model for translational science (and this is backed up by my mentors who are very successful at both science and business) is that if you want it done you have to do it yourself. Thus, I have happily and transparently tread at the interface of academic research and biotech industry for 20 years.

Eric Henderson

My name is Eric Henderson. I am a scientist and inventor with a new technology for detecting things like viruses (like Ebola, for example), DNA, proteins and other "biomarkers" in the first step toward identifying and curing disease. We do this with a nanomachine made out of DNA, seriously. Instead of using the genetic code to create genes and gene products, we use the genetic code as an “engineering code” to create little devices that are autonomous and self-assemble just by mixing the right pieces together. This process is supering cheap, about eight cents per 20 billion machines, and as simple as “just add salt water and heat then cool” and voila – billions of little automatons ready to do your bidding! This is perfect for all kinds of situations including third world countries, impoverished or resource poor environments and point of care emergency medical service.

I've started a few companies and have learned the invaluable skill of treading in the often immiscible lands of academia and industry. My current startup is called Creodyne, llc and I plan on using that vehicle for this project because experience has taught me that moving technology from academia into the real world can be accomplished MUCH more efficiently when one "does it him/her self". The intellectual property (IP) associated with this project is owned by me (and, therefore, Creodyne) and I established that arrangement overtly to avoid entanglements with my beloved employer, Iowa State University. All of this is 100% transparent and reviewed annually by ISU. No worries : )

Lastly, in my spare time ( ha ha ha ha) I write novels and music, and enjoy as much as humanly possible being a father to my amazing children! I believe strongly in the "pay it forward" karmic view of life and I am always happy to discuss with anyone ideas about making the world a better place.

Divita Mathur

I think there's a whole world out there, you know, at the nanoscale. A wise man said, just because we couldn't see it all this time doesn't mean we just invented it! We can learn a thing or two from natural nanomachines that keep us running so well (enzymes and genes and proteins and all those little molecules that are more sure of their lives than we are of anything!) and make some of our own! And the best part is the most malleable and programmable building material given to us - DNA!

So I am a nanoengineer and I have to refrigerate all my power tools.

I am also a graduate student at Iowa State University in Bioinformatics. But in truth I am an interdisciplinary researcher.