Learn more about our team at Extherid Biosciences and find out and how we accelerate drugs and medical devices through the preclinical trial stage
What we do
At Extherid, we believe ex vivo tissue models are the key to predicting clinical outcomes. Our expertise in preclinical modeling will prepare your project for clinical success.
How we work together
We work with you to develop cost-effective protocols that employ our models to reach your drug development milestones. After meeting with you to determine your needs, we draw on our expertise, work experience in industry and academia, and targeted literature searches to craft an individualized model specific to your needs.
Marnie L. Peterson, PharmD, PhD
CEO and CSO (Founder)
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Dr. Peterson is an expert in experimental therapeutics, antibiotic resistance, and microbial pathogenesis. She has 20+ years of experience in the development of new therapeutics for infectious diseases. Her experience encompasses bench-to-bedside translational applications based on preclinical research. Before establishing Extherid Biosciences, Dr. Peterson was a tenured faculty member at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology. At the University, she successfully established a research program and led multimillion-dollar research projects with the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and various foundations and industrial partners. She holds a significant patent portfolio for her discoveries, one of which served as the basis for the establishment of a clinical stage start-up company, Hennepin Life Sciences. In 2014, the Minnesota Business Magazine selected Dr. Peterson as a Change Agent finalist for the Leaders in Health Care Awards. She earned a PhD in Infection from the University of Birmingham Medical School, United Kingdom and PharmD and BS degrees from the University of Minnesota.
Zach Siler, MA
Research Scientist, Procurement Manager
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Zach manages inventory and optimizes growth conditions for microbial cells and host tissues. He has a BS in Microbiology from the University of Wyoming and an MA from Midwestern University in Biomedical Sciences.
David Crawford, PhD
Research Scientist
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David has had a wide-ranging scientific background, and prides himself on the context and detail this brings to his experimental and project designs.
David grew up in Jackson, and later attended Michigan State University, where he earned BS degrees in Biochemistry and Chemistry, with a minor in Spanish. His undergraduate research included work in Pharmacology, Biology, and Ecology.
David earned a PhD in Chemical Biology from Colorado State University, where his primary work was in engineering and characterizing novel RNA-binding proteins (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acschembio.6b00145, https://academic.oup.com/nar/article/46/13/6401/5046099). He also worked on enzymatic nanoparticle formation (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4785824/) and developing novel library screening methods (manuscript in preparation).
David is excited to be back in Jackson, and especially enjoys hiking, skiing, and pub trivia events.
Catherine Wright, PhD
Research Scientist
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Dr. Catherine Wright came to Extherid with a background in biological chemistry. She is originally from New Mexico, and she has an undergraduate degree in biochemistry and a PhD in chemistry from the University of New Mexico. In her graduate work, Catherine used cloning to engineer dimerizing proteins into molecular switches that could be used to control signal transduction pathways and protein translation. She also used tissue culture and microscopy to visualize stimulation of signal transduction and protein dimerization in real time (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4849874/).
Catherine was lured to the Teton area by her love of snow, rivers, and mountains. Before joining Extherid, Catherine spent several years working as a quality control expert for local microbreweries in Jackson. She continues to pursue her passion for beer and outdoor adventures when she is not developing and implementing innovative molecular assays and tissue models
Sarah Rogers, PhD
Research Scientist
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Dr. Sarah Rogers is an expert at handling and experimenting with diverse cells and tissues, from fine dissection to imaging and quantitative analysis. Sarah joins Extherid Biosciences with a PhD in neuroscience and translational therapeutic testing experience in the development of novel cell systems for testing compounds. Her work contributed to the basis for clinical trials of the neurodegenerative disease familial dysautonomia and a first-author paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Sarah has enjoyed exploring life in diverse research environments, ranging from the farmlands of the Red River Valley to the waters of Yellowstone Lake, the bush of Tanzania, and the foothills of the Bridger Mountains. Sarah received clinical histotechnologist certification for her tissue work, and she prides herself on her steady dissecting hands. She enjoys teaching and mentoring and has received top reviews from undergraduate STEM students. Originally from the sacred Black Hills of South Dakota, Sarah has a BA in biology and Spanish from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and a PhD from Montana State University.
After spending the last decade in Montana, Sarah and her family have settled into their new life at the base of the Tetons. Sarah is eager to continue her science career at Extherid. When Sarah is not in the lab, she is most likely riverside with her daughter, baby dog, and husband.
Our Workflow
Quality, ethical, and sustainability standards
We are dedicated to the procurement of ethically sourced tissues.
- Farm to lab bench: we work with local farmers and can obtain tissue from organically raised animals.
- Porcine tissue comes from pigs raised in accordance with USDA guidelines and slaughtered for human consumption.
- We keep sustainable practices in mind and are committed to minimizing our impact on the environment by reducing waste and reusing/recycling laboratory supplies whenever possible.
- We follow ASTM International standards when applicable.
Why Jackson?
Jackson, Wyoming's natural beauty, low population density, and no income tax are a welcome alternative to the high-traffic urban biotech clusters in California, Massachusetts, and Texas. Established in 2016, Extherid Bioscience has quickly attracted advisors, talent, and investors who are passionate not only about their work but also about the Jackson way of life. From local farmers to the school system and the regional hospital, the community of Jackson has welcomed and supported Extherid's growth. We are happy to call this area our home.