Fernanda Laezza, MD., Ph.D., is a tenured Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology at The University of Texas Medical Branch and the Scientific Founder of IonTX. Inc. In addition she holds a position as Chair of the Mental Health Research Consortium (MHRC) of the Gulf Coast Consortia (GCC) at the Texas Medical Center. Dr. Laezza has over 20 years of training and expertise in neuropharmacology and cellular & molecular neuroscience with special emphasis in electrophysiology of ion channels. Her research & development experience combined with entrepreneurial training in collaboration with the JLABS at the Texas Medical Center equipped her with the skills to provide the foundation of IonTX.