Isabel Lauren Jackson, PhD is an experienced health security consultant with specialized expertise in medical countermeasure (MCM) development for known and unknown public health threats. Prior to founding True North BioPharm, Dr. Jackson served as the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology and Director of the Division of Translational Radiation Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) in Baltimore, Maryland. In her role, Dr. Jackson led the development and execution of strategic plans to consolidate, refine, and expand the Division’s core capabilities based on a broad understanding of the MCM enterprise and biomedical contract-research space.

From 2012- 2022, Dr. Jackson oversaw the pursuit and capture of a multi-year, multimillion dollar (>$50 m) translational research portfolio focused on early to advanced stage development of therapeutic interventions to treat acute radiation injury (ARS) and delayed effects of acute radiation exposure (DEARE). Dr. Jackson’s portfolio included a Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Non-Clinical Network Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract award and National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)/National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Medical Countermeasures against Radiation (CMCR) research grant.

As a consultant, Dr. Jackson leverages her expertise in non-dilutive funding pursuit, capture, and management, research and development, and regulatory strategy to assist companies developing threat agnostic, host directed MCMs for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and critical care (e.g., sepsis, ARDS, trauma).

Dr. Jackson received her B.S. in Microbiology from North Carolina State University and Ph.D. in Pathology from Duke University. Dr. Jackson has published more than 65 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and co-authored five book chapters. She is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences and workshops, and has appeared on several podcasts, including Bill Nye’s Science Rules. She currently serves on the American Board of Radiology Radiation and Cancer Biology Committee and Councilor at Large for the Radiation Research Society.

In her free time, Dr. Jackson enjoys traveling, learning new languages, and babysitting her furry niece and nephew, Daisy and Ernie.