Goutham Narla, MD, PhD
President of the Board
Dr. Goutham Narla is the president and co-founder of the Young Scientist Foundation. Dr. Narla is a practicing medical geneticist who specializes in the care of high-risk cancer patients. He has over 15 years of experience running a translational cancer research laboratory and has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers in the field. He has mentored a number of high school, college, and graduate students over the years. He is currently the Chief Scientific Officer at Rappta Therapeutics, where he contributes in advancing genomic medicine by leveraging his expertise in genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology. He is also a Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics, the Louis Newburgh Research Professor of Internal Medicine, and the Assistant Director of Training and Education, Rogel Cancer Center at the University of Michigan and Chief of the Division of Genetic Medicine at Michigan Medicine, where he leads efforts in integrating basic, clinical, and translational genomic research.
Dr. Narla’s commitment lies in advancing scientific discovery and improving patient care through the application of genomic technologies and collaborative expertise, reflecting his dedication to impactful research, healthcare innovation, and mentoring the next generation of young scientists.
Dr. Narla’s commitment lies in advancing scientific discovery and improving patient care through the application of genomic technologies and collaborative expertise, reflecting his dedication to impactful research, healthcare innovation, and mentoring the next generation of young scientists.
Andrew Castaldi
Treasurer
Andrew L. Castaldi is the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Co-Founder of The Young Scientist Foundation. Andrew has over 25 years of experience in both Finance and Healthcare Operations, and currently is the Chief Operating Officer of a medical specialty platform. He received his B.A. in Accounting from Iona University and M.B.A. in Finance and Operations Management from Baruch College. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Analisa DiFeo, PhD
Secretary
Dr. Analisa DiFeo is the vice president and co-founder of The Young Scientist Foundation. Dr. DiFeo is a Professor of Pathology and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan. Throughout her career, she has been driven to make original and impactful contributions in cancer research, with a primary focus on ovarian cancer. Her work spans the full continuum of translational research, from in-depth analyses of patient samples, to functional studies of genetic drivers of cancer progression, to the development of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at overcoming these drivers and ultimately improving patient survival. Central to this work is an extensive biobank of patient-derived tumors, cell lines, organoids, and xenografts, which enables her lab to study cancer initiation, resistance, and therapeutic vulnerability in clinically meaningful ways. Her commitment to this field is reflected in over 80 peer-reviewed publications, numerous federal, foundation, and industry grants, and service on national review panels.
Equally important to Dr. DiFeo is mentoring the next generation of scientists under the motto “Pass your Passion.” She has trained more than 60 clinical and basic scientists, served as Associate Director of the Graduate Program in Cancer Biology and Director of the Cancer Biology T32 Training Grant at the University of Michigan, and co-founded The Young Scientist Foundation (YSF), where she also serves as Chair of the Board of Scientific Advisors.
Equally important to Dr. DiFeo is mentoring the next generation of scientists under the motto “Pass your Passion.” She has trained more than 60 clinical and basic scientists, served as Associate Director of the Graduate Program in Cancer Biology and Director of the Cancer Biology T32 Training Grant at the University of Michigan, and co-founded The Young Scientist Foundation (YSF), where she also serves as Chair of the Board of Scientific Advisors.
In Memoriam
Floyd Cardoz
Vice President of the Board
Chef Floyd Cardoz is a celebrated Indian-American chef in New York City, India, and throughout the world. Cardoz attended culinary school and began his career in his native Bombay, India, and after studying in Switzerland at Les Roches, he moved to New York City to work under Chef Gray Kunz at the venerable Lespinasse.
In 1997, Cardoz partnered with Union Square Hospitality Group’s Danny Meyer to open Tabla, a contemporary Indian restaurant celebrating his groundbreaking cuisine that expertly married the exotic flavors and spices of his native land with Western techniques. He later moved on to open North End Grill and White Street in downtown Manhattan and The Bombay Canteen in Mumbai, India. In the summer of 2016, Cardoz opened Paowalla, a casual modern Indian restaurant in Soho, NY, which celebrates his Goan-Indian Heritage and showcases his seamless integration of Indian flavors and techniques with local ingredients.
Cardoz’s first cookbook, One Spice, Two Spice (William Morrow, October 2006) includes his favorite recipes while demystifying Indian flavors, and his second cookbook, Floyd Cardoz: Flavorwalla (Artisan, April 2016), was published in spring 2016. Cardoz is a four-time James Beard Award nominee and regularly works with Share our Strength, City Harvest, C-CAP: Careers through Culinary Arts Program, and Madison Square Park Conservancy, among others. In 2012, Floyd won Season 3 of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters.
In 1997, Cardoz partnered with Union Square Hospitality Group’s Danny Meyer to open Tabla, a contemporary Indian restaurant celebrating his groundbreaking cuisine that expertly married the exotic flavors and spices of his native land with Western techniques. He later moved on to open North End Grill and White Street in downtown Manhattan and The Bombay Canteen in Mumbai, India. In the summer of 2016, Cardoz opened Paowalla, a casual modern Indian restaurant in Soho, NY, which celebrates his Goan-Indian Heritage and showcases his seamless integration of Indian flavors and techniques with local ingredients.
Cardoz’s first cookbook, One Spice, Two Spice (William Morrow, October 2006) includes his favorite recipes while demystifying Indian flavors, and his second cookbook, Floyd Cardoz: Flavorwalla (Artisan, April 2016), was published in spring 2016. Cardoz is a four-time James Beard Award nominee and regularly works with Share our Strength, City Harvest, C-CAP: Careers through Culinary Arts Program, and Madison Square Park Conservancy, among others. In 2012, Floyd won Season 3 of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters.
Glen de Vries
Board Member
Glen de Vries is President and Co-Founder of Medidata Solutions, the leading provider of infrastructure for clinical research globally. Glen has worked to create better business outcomes for Medidata’s clients, and better therapeutic outcomes for the patients they serve, in over 4,000 clinical trials run by pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies, as well as academic medical centers around the world. In addition to his work at Medidata and with the Young Scientist Foundation, Glen serves as the Chairman of the Board of Dancing Classrooms, cultivating essential life skills in children though the practice of social dance.