About Blaze Bioscience

Founded on a mission.
Built around the patient.

Blaze Bioscience is a privately held biotechnology company dedicated to improving the lives of cancer patients. Our focus: giving surgeons the real-time visibility they need to remove more cancer with greater precision.

Our Story

Where the science
began

Blaze Bioscience was founded in 2010 as a spinout from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. The company was built around a discovery made by physician-scientist Jim Olson: a scorpion venom-derived peptide that crosses the blood-brain barrier and accumulates selectively in tumor tissue.

That discovery became Tumor Paint®, a technology that enables surgeons to see cancer in real time during surgery using near-infrared fluorescence. The lead candidate, tozuleristide (BLZ-100), has since been studied in over 250 patients across five cancer types.

Today, Blaze is advancing an investigator-sponsored trial in breast cancer patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery.

"Dedicated to improving the lives of cancer patients by giving surgeons better visibility and patients better surgical outcomes."
Blaze Bioscience Mission

Tumor Paint® Technology

Tozuleristide (BLZ-100) is a chlorotoxin-based, near-infrared fluorescent imaging agent that selectively internalizes in cancer cells, rendering tumor tissue visible during surgery. It has demonstrated a strong safety and tolerability profile across multiple cancer types and patient populations, including pediatric patients.

Leadership

The team driving the mission

An experienced team of biotech, clinical, and operational leaders united by a common purpose: better outcomes for cancer patients.

Steven Daly
Steven Daly, MS, MBA
President & Chief Executive Officer

Steven Daly brings over 25 years of experience commercializing light-activated drugs. He previously led strategy and business development at Light Sciences Oncology, advancing a drug/light combination product through 14 clinical studies, and has held leadership and advisory roles with multiple startups. Steven serves on the boards of POP Biotechnologies and Inmedix Corporation and on the University of Washington's Engineering Innovation in Health advisory board.

Mila Lobanova
Mila Lobanova, MBA, CPA
EVP of Finance and Operations

Senior finance professional and certified public accountant with over 25 years of finance leadership in the biotechnology industry. As Executive Vice President of Finance and Operations, Mila leads financial strategy, corporate planning, and operational execution. Prior to joining Blaze Bioscience, Mila served in senior roles at ZymoGenetics and ICOS Corporation, where she provided financial leadership for major corporate development and strategic initiatives, including development of Cialis®.

Meghan Swardstrom
Meghan Swardstrom, DMSc
SVP of Clinical Development

Accomplished clinical development, quality, and operations leader with 30 years of progressive industry experience. Meghan offers collaborative strategic planning and a forward-thinking mindset, with a focus on team building excellence and achieving organizational initiatives.

Christina Walker
Christina Walker
Head of CMC

With 23 years in pharmaceutical development, Christina has led CMC strategy, process and analytical development, validation, and regulatory submissions across early- and late-stage programs. At Seattle Genetics, she played a key role in process characterization, validation, and global regulatory submissions for Tukysa® (tucatinib), supporting its approval for HER2+ breast cancer. Christina joined Blaze Bioscience in 2020 to lead all CMC-related functions for the company.

Damon Mattson
Damon Mattson
Head of Quality

Seasoned QA/QC professional with over 25 years of increasing leadership responsibility across medical device, pharmaceutical, biologics, and combination product companies. Damon has expertise in the design and implementation of Quality Management Systems compliant with US, Canadian, European, and Japanese regulations, with a proven track record in technology transfers, audits, and harmonizing quality processes across multiple sites.

Key Advisors

Strategic guidance & expertise

Specialized advisors bringing deep expertise in clinical medicine, regulatory affairs, and legal and intellectual property strategy, helping Blaze navigate complex challenges at every stage of development.

Kristi Harrington
Kristi Harrington, MD, PhD
Medical and Surgical Key Advisor

Physician scientist dedicated to improving the lives of oncology patients by expanding the real-time imaging information available to surgeons. Dr. Harrington brings experience as a breast surgical oncologist, clinical researcher, and multi-disciplinary oncology team leader with research training in biochemistry and molecular biology, helping develop solutions that create meaningful advances in surgical oncology care.

Jennifer K. Johnson
Jennifer K. Johnson, MS, JD
Legal and IP Key Advisor

With over 25 years of corporate legal and intellectual property experience in biotechnology, medical device, and agriculture, Jenn has guided companies through all stages of the corporate lifecycle from innovation through commercialization. Previously, Jenn was Head of IP Biology & Traits at Syngenta and, as Chief IP Counsel at ZymoGenetics, led corporate IP strategy through the company's acquisition by Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Lisa Koch-Hulle
Lisa Koch-Hulle, RAC
Regulatory Affairs Key Advisor

Regulatory strategist with over 30 years of experience guiding pharmaceutical and biotech companies through FDA submissions and global market access. Lisa provides hands-on regulatory leadership, shaping submission strategy, managing agency interactions, and aligning regulatory pathways with clinical and commercial objectives.

Scientific Advisory Board

Scientific & clinical advisory board

World-class surgeons and scientists whose expertise in neuro-oncology and fluorescence-guided surgery helps shape Blaze's research and clinical strategy.

Adam Mamelak
Adam Mamelak, MD
Scientific and Clinical Advisor

Professor of Neurosurgery, Director of Functional Neurosurgery, and Co-director of the Pituitary Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Mamelak received his MD at Harvard Medical School.

Chris Loiselle
Chris Loiselle, MD
Scientific and Clinical Advisor

Radiation Oncologist at TIROG Swedish Cancer Institute Radiosurgery Center in Seattle. 2021 Seattle Met Top Doctor Award recipient. Dr. Loiselle received his MD at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

James Olson
James Olson, MD, PhD
Scientific Founder

Pediatric neuro-oncologist at Seattle Children's Hospital, a Full Member of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and a Professor at the University of Washington's School of Medicine. Dr. Olson received his MD at the University of Michigan School of Medicine.

Interested in working with us?

Learn about open positions or get in touch with the Blaze team.