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 was a celebrated Indian-American chef whose culinary influence spanned New York City, India, and the world. Born and raised in Bombay, India, Cardoz began his career after attending culinary school in his native city. He later refined his skills at Les Roches in Switzerland before moving to New York City, where he worked under the legendary Chef Gray Kunz at Lespinasse.
In 1997, Cardoz partnered with Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group to open Tabla, a groundbreaking contemporary Indian restaurant that introduced sophisticated Indian flavors to American fine dining. His innovative approach married the exotic spices of his heritage with Western techniques, earning widespread acclaim including numerous James Beard Foundation nominations for Best Chef. From 1998 to 2010, Tabla became a culinary landmark and receive numerous accolades including 3 stars from Ruth Reichl.
Cardoz continued to push boundaries with ventures such as North End Grill and White Street in Manhattan, and The Bombay Canteen in Mumbai. In 2016, he opened Paowalla in Soho, New York, a casual modern Indian restaurant celebrating his Goan roots and showcasing his seamless integration of Indian flavors with local ingredients.
A passionate educator and author, Cardoz wrote two cookbooks: One Spice, Two Spice (2006), which demystified Indian flavors for home cooks, and Flavorwalla (2016), which shared his signature style and love for bold, approachable cooking. His talent and charisma earned him four James Beard Award nominations and victory on Season 3 of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters in 2011, cementing his status as a culinary icon.
Beyond the kitchen, Cardoz was deeply committed to philanthropy, working with organizations such as Share Our Strength, City Harvest, C-CAP, and Madison Square Park Conservancy. Known for his infectious enthusiasm and warm personality, he inspired countless chefs and made Indian cuisine accessible and exciting for all. But it was the founding of the Young Scientist Foundation with his wife Mrs. Barkha Cardoz, Drs. Goutham Narla and Analisa DiFeo, and Mr. Andrew Castaldi that brought him the most joy.
Chef Floyd Cardoz passed away on March 25, 2020, from complications of COVID-19 after returning from filming Ugly Delicious in India. His legacy lives on through his restaurants, cookbooks, and the many lives he touched in both the culinary and medical and sciences worlds.
In 1997, Cardoz partnered with Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group to open Tabla, a groundbreaking contemporary Indian restaurant that introduced sophisticated Indian flavors to American fine dining. His innovative approach married the exotic spices of his heritage with Western techniques, earning widespread acclaim including numerous James Beard Foundation nominations for Best Chef. From 1998 to 2010, Tabla became a culinary landmark and receive numerous accolades including 3 stars from Ruth Reichl.
Cardoz continued to push boundaries with ventures such as North End Grill and White Street in Manhattan, and The Bombay Canteen in Mumbai. In 2016, he opened Paowalla in Soho, New York, a casual modern Indian restaurant celebrating his Goan roots and showcasing his seamless integration of Indian flavors with local ingredients.
A passionate educator and author, Cardoz wrote two cookbooks: One Spice, Two Spice (2006), which demystified Indian flavors for home cooks, and Flavorwalla (2016), which shared his signature style and love for bold, approachable cooking. His talent and charisma earned him four James Beard Award nominations and victory on Season 3 of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters in 2011, cementing his status as a culinary icon.
Beyond the kitchen, Cardoz was deeply committed to philanthropy, working with organizations such as Share Our Strength, City Harvest, C-CAP, and Madison Square Park Conservancy. Known for his infectious enthusiasm and warm personality, he inspired countless chefs and made Indian cuisine accessible and exciting for all. But it was the founding of the Young Scientist Foundation with his wife Mrs. Barkha Cardoz, Drs. Goutham Narla and Analisa DiFeo, and Mr. Andrew Castaldi that brought him the most joy.
Chef Floyd Cardoz passed away on March 25, 2020, from complications of COVID-19 after returning from filming Ugly Delicious in India. His legacy lives on through his restaurants, cookbooks, and the many lives he touched in both the culinary and medical and sciences worlds.
Glen de Vries
Board Member
Glen de Vries was the President and Co-Founder of Medidata Solutions, the leading provider of infrastructure for clinical research globally. Glen 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 served as the Chairman of the Board of Dancing Classrooms, cultivating essential life skills in children though the practice of social dance, and on the Scientific Advisory Board of Every Cure.
De Vries grew up in New York and showed a passion for computers and science at a young age. He received his undergraduate degree in molecular biology and genetics from Carnegie Mellon University, worked as a research scientist at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, and studied computer science at New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematics.
De Vries was the author of the 2020 book The Patient Equation: The Precision Medicine Revolution in the Age of COVID-19 and Beyond, about the use of data in the future of medicine. On October 13, 2021, de Vries accompanied actor William Shatner and two others on a New Shepard launch vehicle as part of the Blue Origin NS-18 suborbital flight into outer space.
De Vries passed away in a small plane crash on November 11, 2021. We honor his passion for research and mentoring as well as his life and legacy through our mission and our work.
De Vries grew up in New York and showed a passion for computers and science at a young age. He received his undergraduate degree in molecular biology and genetics from Carnegie Mellon University, worked as a research scientist at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, and studied computer science at New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematics.
De Vries was the author of the 2020 book The Patient Equation: The Precision Medicine Revolution in the Age of COVID-19 and Beyond, about the use of data in the future of medicine. On October 13, 2021, de Vries accompanied actor William Shatner and two others on a New Shepard launch vehicle as part of the Blue Origin NS-18 suborbital flight into outer space.
De Vries passed away in a small plane crash on November 11, 2021. We honor his passion for research and mentoring as well as his life and legacy through our mission and our work.