Commercial Consultants

To augment our Board’s expertise, the Centre has assembled an International Advisory Board with key members from North American business and commercialization sectors lending their wide expertise to aid in success to consult on future development opportunities and business plans. Finally, CSii has built a robust Commercialization Committee with experienced members from the CSii Board, International Advisory Board, MDA, and guests invited from industry, finance and venture capital firms.

Dr. Knudson is founder, President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of EnteroMedics Inc., which was established in late 2002 to develop and commercialize a new therapeutic platform for treating a wide range of acute and chronic diseases that are mediated by the vagal nerves. Prior to this, he served as the President at Johnson and Johnson Professional Diagnostics, following Johnson and Johnson's 1986 acquisition of Arden Medical Systems. He founded Arden in 1983 and was its Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer.

Dr. Knudson has also held positions in Research and Development Management at Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc., (CPI-Guidant) and as a partner of an early stage venture capital firm. His inventions have been the basis for the founding of nine companies, in several of which he served as founding Chief Executive Officer. Prior to their successful acquisition, Dr. Knudson founded and served on the Board of Directors of Arden Medical Systems, Inc., Integ, Inc., HeartStream, Inc., InControl, Inc, and was a Member of the Advisory Board at Artesian Capital. He was a member of the faculty of the University of Washington School of Medicine and is also a Fellow of the American Heart Association.

Dr. Knudson was the recipient of an Individual Post-doctoral Fellowship Award from the National Institutes of Health. Dr.Knudson is the holder of over 40 United States patents. He holds a Ph.D. in Cardiovascular Physiology from Washington State University and a B.S. degree in Biology from Pacific Lutheran University.

Dr. H. Douglas Barber obtained his B.Sc., from the University of Saskatchewan with Great Distinction, winning the Governor General's Gold Medal, and a M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering. As an Athlone Fellow and NATO Scholar he received his Ph.D. from Imperial College, University of London in 1965.  He began employment in 1965 in a new microelectronics initiative at Canadian Westinghouse, Hamilton, Ontario.

In 1973 he was one of the founders of Linear Technology Inc., later known as Gennum Corporation, which designed, manufactured and marketed microcircuits. In 2000, when Dr. Barber retired as President and CEO, Gennum had grown profitably at 21% per year since 1973 and employed 650 people. He retired as a Director in 2007. At McMaster University Dr. Barber was a part-time Engineering Physics Professor, and in 2001 was appointed Distinguished Professor-in-Residence. He is a past Chair of the Board of Governors is now an Honorary Governor.  Dr. Barber has received three honorary doctorates that recognize his engineering and entrepreneurial achievements. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2007 and he received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Saskatchewan in 2008.

Dr. Barber is involved in numerous advisory committees and corporate directorships. He is presently a director of Micralyne Inc., AllerGen NCE Inc., The Institute of Quantum Computing, and is Chair of the Photovoltaic Innovation Network Board of Directors. Dr. Barber is also Chair of the Board of Directors for the Centre for Surgical Innovation and Invention. Dr. Barber was a past director of DALSA Inc., NetAccess Systems Inc. and past member of the IRAP Advisory Board.

Dr. Barber speaks frequently on business, technology, learning, innovation and economic development.

Dr. Knudson is founder, President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of EnteroMedics Inc., which was established in late 2002 to develop and commercialize a new therapeutic platform for treating a wide range of acute and chronic diseases that are mediated by the vagal nerves. Prior to this, he served as the President at Johnson and Johnson Professional Diagnostics, following Johnson and Johnson's 1986 acquisition of Arden Medical Systems. He founded Arden in 1983 and was its Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer.

Dr. Knudson has also held positions in Research and Development Management at Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc., (CPI-Guidant) and as a partner of an early stage venture capital firm. His inventions have been the basis for the founding of nine companies, in several of which he served as founding Chief Executive Officer. Prior to their successful acquisition, Dr. Knudson founded and served on the Board of Directors of Arden Medical Systems, Inc., Integ, Inc., HeartStream, Inc., InControl, Inc, and was a Member of the Advisory Board at Artesian Capital. He was a member of the faculty of the University of Washington School of Medicine and is also a Fellow of the American Heart Association.

Dr. Knudson was the recipient of an Individual Post-doctoral Fellowship Award from the National Institutes of Health. Dr.Knudson is the holder of over 40 United States patents. He holds a Ph.D. in Cardiovascular Physiology from Washington State University and a B.S. degree in Biology from Pacific Lutheran University.

Dr. H. Douglas Barber obtained his B.Sc., from the University of Saskatchewan with Great Distinction, winning the Governor General's Gold Medal, and a M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering. As an Athlone Fellow and NATO Scholar he received his Ph.D. from Imperial College, University of London in 1965.  He began employment in 1965 in a new microelectronics initiative at Canadian Westinghouse, Hamilton, Ontario.

In 1973 he was one of the founders of Linear Technology Inc., later known as Gennum Corporation, which designed, manufactured and marketed microcircuits. In 2000, when Dr. Barber retired as President and CEO, Gennum had grown profitably at 21% per year since 1973 and employed 650 people. He retired as a Director in 2007. At McMaster University Dr. Barber was a part-time Engineering Physics Professor, and in 2001 was appointed Distinguished Professor-in-Residence. He is a past Chair of the Board of Governors is now an Honorary Governor.  Dr. Barber has received three honorary doctorates that recognize his engineering and entrepreneurial achievements. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2007 and he received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Saskatchewan in 2008.

Dr. Barber is involved in numerous advisory committees and corporate directorships. He is presently a director of Micralyne Inc., AllerGen NCE Inc., The Institute of Quantum Computing, and is Chair of the Photovoltaic Innovation Network Board of Directors. Dr. Barber is also Chair of the Board of Directors for the Centre for Surgical Innovation and Invention. Dr. Barber was a past director of DALSA Inc., NetAccess Systems Inc. and past member of the IRAP Advisory Board.

Dr. Barber speaks frequently on business, technology, learning, innovation and economic development.