Bruce Riser

Dr. Riser is the founder of BLR Bio a company focused on the development and commercialization of its platform technology to diagnose, prevent and treat chronic kidney disease, skin scarring, and the complications of diabetes. The technology came out of his academic laboratory at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFUMS) where he remains an Adjunct Professor of Physiology and Biophysics.  It is based on their discovery that the matricellular protein CCN3 is a natural inhibitor of fibrosis and scarring, and it includes target-designed small peptide mimetics as well as a matched diagnostic/theranostic.

Prior to founding BLR in 2013 he was, since 2002, the Director of R&D and Scientific Affairs in the Renal Division of Baxter Healthcare, while also leading the fibrosis program at RFUMS. He has 20-plus years leading productive worldwide academic/industry collaborations, working from both sides. Within Baxter he led multiple R&D teams and recently published extensive work describing the novel use of pyrophosphate as a preventative and treatment for vascular calcification associated with kidney disease.