Thakker has published 169 papers and book chapters, co-edited two books, delivered 185 invited lectures, and is an inventor on several patents.Thakker served as a Co-Editor of Medicinal Research Reviews and served on the editorial boards of several scientific journals and on scientific advisory boards of several biotech companies. Thakker co-founded a university startup company, Qualyst, Inc., Analytical Solutions, Inc., Tergus Pharma, and Sphaera Pharma. He has served on the Board of Qualyst, Tergus Pharma, and Sphaera Pharma USA, and is on the Board of MBF Therapeutics and Med Aditus International. He is a recipient of the Sato Memorial Award from the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Institute for Chemical Technology, Bombay University, and is a Fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.
After spending over four decades across the largest biomedical research institute in the world, the leading regulatory agency, a global pharmaceutical company, and the nation’s top ranked pharmacy school (UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy), Thakker decided to spend the next phase of his life serving underserved patients in sub-Saharan Africa and improving their access to affordable, high-quality medicines.
In December 2019, he founded Med Aditus International, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to establish a manufacturing entity for much needed medicines, train the workforce and to mobilize talented individuals with a passion for service.
Paul W. Maffuid, Ph.D., serves as the Chief Scientific Officer of Med Aditus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MAP).
Maffuid has more than 35 years of drug discovery and development leadership experience including small molecule, peptide, and protein therapeutics. He established company infrastructures for transitioning programs from discovery into successful clinical development. His oversight in pharmacology, drug metabolism, drug safety evaluation, process chemistry, formulation development, analytical development, drug characterization, drug substance manufacturing, drug product manufacturing, clinical development and regulatory resulted in significant commercial value including acquisitions and licensing deals.
Maffuid created company processes to speed translation of discovery candidates by establishing regulatory discussions of program safety, pharmacology, and chemistry attributes prior to application.
Maffuid also has experience in exploiting new approaches to design and build cGMP pharmaceutical manufacturing and testing facilities, which included modular facility for the manufacture of drug substance, parenteral and oral drug products, and open format analytical laboratories for efficient testing of products.
Prior to joining MAP in 2023, Maffuid served as President at Biopharmalogics and as Chief Data Officer at Aayam Therapeutica. He was CEO of Sphaera Pharma and served as Executive Vice President at MabVax Therapeutics and at
AAI Pharma.
He received a Bachelor of Science from St. Michael’s College, VT, a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego.
Farzana Sunderji brings over 20 years of global healthcare leadership to Med Aditus. She oversees dual-market operations in Kenya and the United States.
At Med Aditus, Sunderji leads supply chain innovation, regulatory alignment, and operational excellence—ensuring that every process upholds the company’s commitment to equity, sustainability, and impact.
Med Aditus is her fourth startup venture—and each has evolved into a successful, scalable enterprise. With a talent for translating bold ideas into structured, executable operations, she brings the energy and precision required to navigate complex healthcare systems and emerging markets.
Before joining Med Aditus, Sunderji served as Chief Operating Officer at My 1Health, a global digital health platform linking patients from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East with leading hospitals worldwide. There, she led cross-border operations that empowered over 60,000 individuals to access timely, quality care. She also spearheaded the development of a telemedicine infrastructure and built strategic alliances with 33+ top-tier institutions.
Sunderji was Head of Operations at My Dawa—East Africa’s first online pharmacy—where she scaled the business by over 300% and positioned it as the region is leading health e-commerce platform. Her leadership extended to Columbia Africa and Aga Khan University Hospital, where she managed multimillion-dollar healthcare ventures and improved access to quality care through operational transformation.
Sunderji holds a BSc in Pharmacy from the University of Bradford in the UK and has worked as a pharmacist in both the United Kingdom and Kenya.
Sunderji is driven by one belief: when operations are designed with care, they deliver care more effectively. At Med Aditus, she is turning that belief into action—building the operational engine of a healthier, more equitable future.
Avinash Salunke boasts over three decades of expertise in pharmaceuticals.
Throughout his tenure at NuLife Pharmaceuticals, Salunke served as a Medical Sales Representative, and steadily ascending to National Sales Manager in 2019. He has experience in sales, product development, brand management, and marketing operations.
Salunke’s proficiency in spearheading marketing and sales endeavors at a pan-India level propelled him to lead dynamic teams towards organizational excellence. In 2019, driven by a vision for innovation and specialization, Salunke co-founded NVK Pharma—a partnership firm dedicated to offering specialized products for ear, nose, and throat ailments.
At NVK Pharma, Salunke oversees regulatory compliance, procurement, product development, and sales team training. His responsibilities entail coordinating with formulators for production, navigating regulatory approval processes, and fostering strategic partnerships with core specialist doctors.
Salunke serves as an Advisor on the Board of MIMA Institute of Business Management. Salunke’s core areas of expertise have revolved around identifying market opportunities, orchestrating product development initiatives, meticulously managing brands, and nurturing high-performing teams.
Chiara Canzi is responsible for optimizing internal and external communications at Med Aditus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., including website management, print and social media communications, and public relations. Canzi works with the leadership to enhance and convey Med Aditus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. brand and to manage stakeholder relations, and serves as a liaison with the Board of Directors.
Canzi has spent her professional life telling stories. She began as a news reporter with C-VILLE Weekly in Charlottesville, Virginia where she covered local political campaigns and all aspects of city government. As a news reporter, and as Manager of Marketing & Communications at the University of Virginia Licensing & Ventures Group (UVA LVG), Chiara delivered effective marketing strategies for a vast array of customers and constituents. Chiara has expertise in public and media relations, content, and digital communications.
In her role as Manager, Marketing & Communications with the UVA LVG, Canzi crafted communications material for UVA faculty members’ newly discovered and revolutionary innovations. Chiara worked with nascent ventures to produce content, announcing a groundbreaking technology making its entrance onto the world stage. Canzi has worked closely with university administrators to create engagement activities between their constituents and UVA LVG team members. Canzi developed strong relationships with UVA companies and community members through her service as a board member of the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC).
Canzi has worked with nonprofits and has served on several boards, most currently as a board member of the Chapel Hill Public Library Foundation.
Nazeem Mohamed has over 45 years of experience in the global pharmaceutical sector with a strong focus on Africa. He is currently the Pharmaceutical Specialist for the African Development Bank (AfDB). He also advises different organizations as an International Pharmaceutical Consultant.
He serves as Lead Pharmaceutical Consultant for UNIDO (Vienna), driving several projects to support local manufacturing in Africa; Lead Consultant for UNCTAD (Geneva) in Uganda on “Investment framework for local production of antibiotics in light of mitigating anti-microbial resistance;” GIZ representative on the AU-CDC Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) project which developed a road map for a sustainable vaccine industry in Africa; Consultant with Unizima (Belgium) on developing a financial model for a sustainable vaccine manufacturing facility in Africa, and Consultant on a AUDA project on selection of 24 products for manufacturing in Africa.
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