Leadership

Erez Aminov is an experienced biotechnology consultant and investor. He is the CEO of Mira Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ) and the founder of Locate Venture Corp. Additionally, Erez is a consultant for Telomir Pharmaceuticals, where he utilizes his vast knowledge and experience to drive growth and success.

Erez’s accomplishments include identifying potential partnerships with major pharmaceutical and medical research centers and a deep understanding of early-stage startup growth and vertical integration. His vast industry network, which includes investment banks, PR and IR firms, and pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing, has proven invaluable in driving startup success.

Erez holds a B.A. in Accounting from Touro University in New York. He also served as a MyMD Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ) senior consultant, providing valuable insights and guidance to support the company’s growth and success.

Outside of work, Erez is a dedicated family man and avid traveler. He loves exploring new cultures and cuisines and believes in giving back to his community through various philanthropic efforts.

Prior to joining MIRA Pharmaceuticals Dr. Kaplin served in a number of positions at John Hopkins University, including Principal Neuro-Psychiatric Consultant to the Johns Hopkins Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence, Director of the Johns Hopkins Ketamine Clinic and the Departments of Psychiatry & Neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, positions he has held at various times from 2002 to present. Since 2019, Dr. Kaplin as Adjunct Faculty at the George Mason University Department of Global and Community Health. Dr. Kaplin served as Co-Founder of numerous healthcare related startups, including, from 2018 to present, REWARD Pathways Inc., a company devoted to addiction treatment development focused on a combined eHealth and medicine approach to curing addiction, and from 2016 to present, Hollinger Kaplin Benjamin & Bond, an eHealth software development company.

Dr. Kaplin’s research focuses on the investigation of the biological basis of immune mediated depression and cognitive impairment by using MS as the model. Dr. Kaplin has also been active for over a decade in the development and application of health information technology to mental health, combining this work with providing neuropsychiatric consultation and ongoing care of patients with MS spectrum disorders. Dr. Kaplin’s original research has been published over 40 times in several different publications, and he has authored or co-authored numerous review articles and textbooks. Dr. Kaplin received his B.S. in Biology from Yale University, graduating cum laude in 1988, and received his M.D. and Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1996.

Michelle Yanez has been our Chief Financial Officer since April 2023, prior to which she served as our Corporate Controller since May 2022. Ms. Yanez is a senior financial executive with over 25 years of experience in public and privately held biotech, pharmaceuticals, and life science companies. Ms. Yanez’ experience includes a broad range of responsibilities in a highly complex and regulated market. She also brings deep corporate governance experience through her work with corporate boards, including audit and finance committees. Ms. Yanez is part-time Corporate Controller at Telomir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held biotech company. From 2002 until its acquisition in 2022, Ms. Yanez held various positions in BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (NASDAQ:BDSI), including the Director of Financial Reporting. In her role, she led financial offerings, managed due diligence for product acquisitions and financings and managed finance documents and filings for the tender offer, Ms. Yanez served as an independent director of Inhibitor Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: INTI), a publicly traded pharmaceutical development company focused on therapeutics for certain cancers and certain non-cancerous proliferation disorders, since December 2022.

Ms. Yanez is a member of the Institute of Management Accountants and a member of the SEC Professionals Group. Ms. Yanez received her MBA from Rutgers School of Business, Cum Laude.

Christos Nicholoudis joined the board of MIRA Pharmaceuticals in March 2023 as General Counsel for the company. A former public defender for the 12th Judicial Circuit for the State of Florida from 2019 to 2022, Mr. Nicholoudis developed invaluable courtroom and trial experience. He has represented clients struggling with substance abuse and his firsthand knowledge of the devastating effects of addiction provides Mira with a unique perspective and deep commitment to its mission. After his employment with the State, Mr. Nicholoudis started his own practice in February 2022, where he handles a wide range of legal matters including contract work, personal injury, real estate, wills trusts and estates and criminal law. Prior to his legal career, Mr. Nicholoudis worked in the hospitality industry where he owned and operated a restaurant in Bradenton Florida from 2012 to 2020 while simultaneously working to develop a 5-star hotel in Mykonos Greece with his family. 

Mr. Nicholoudis is a 2012 graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration where he received a B.S. in hospitality and a 2017 graduate of Stetson College of Law where he received his J.D. He is admitted to the bar in New York, Florida, Texas, and Washington D.C. He speaks English, Greek, Russian and Hebrew and has exceptional public speaking skills. Aside from his scholastic achievements, Mr. Nicholoudis has been an athlete for his entire life. He graduated in 2008 from the IMG sports academy where he spent 10 years playing tennis, ice hockey and golf while also studying music and theater. He is a classically trained tenor who continues to volunteer in local community theater.