John Sima, Vice President and Secretary
Mr. Sima has more than 25 years of experience in launching successful science-based companies where he has demonstrated a passion and the highest regard for quality data, responsive timely information, and trustworthy relationships. He currently serves as President and CEO of Cogent Scientific, which he founded in 2005 and has grown the company from 4 to 40 employees.
Prior to starting Cogent Scientific, Mr. Sima held several executive leadership positions with Semafore Pharmaceuticals in Indianapolis, which he helped start. He guided this organization to in-license a PI-3 Kinase pathway inhibitor, an important cell signaling pathway involved in the progression and regulation of several cancers, hematological malignancies and inflammatory/autoimmune disease. He also helped raise $40M dollars over ten years to secure proper financing and oversaw the operations of patents, safety data, manufacturing, and clinical operations.
Mr. Sima began his entrepreneurial career with the founding of SIMALABS International in 1989. He grew this environmental analytical laboratory from one facility in Indiana to four facilities located in North Carolina, Ohio and Indiana. SIMALABS International was one of three laboratories in the State of Indiana that was certified to do Federal RCRA analysis of Federal EPA RCRA Sites. In 2003, SIMALABS was acquired by Microbac Laboratories headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA.
Mr. Sima also has 20 years of non-profit experience. He successfully started a Christian school where he built from in grades 5 through 12.
Mr. Sima and his wife Jill, help put together a School in Managua, Nicaragua, where, they led growth up to 100 special needs students. Mr. Sima was the President of Morning Dove Therapeutic Riding, where he help lead staff and volunteers to support 300 families with Special needs children. Mr. Sima graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.