Likarda Konnect: Challenges with Cold Chain Shipping of Live Cell Therapies

Dr. Stehno-Bittel is founder of Likarda and serves as the President. She launched the company over seven years ago based on her extensive research and built a dedicated team of scientists at Likarda that advance the science and technology of CSS™ drug delivery and logistical optimization for cell therapy and biologics. That innovative spirit continues with numerous new inventions and awards including Ingram’s Magazine’s “50 Kansans You Should Know” and the Women in Medicine and Science Sirridge award for female role models. Most recently the Women We Admire Organization named Stehno-Bittel one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in the state.

With over 20 years of experience, Marcie Finney has played a pivotal role in educating medical personnel, supporting families, and driving the growth of cord blood applications. As the Executive Director of the Cleveland Cord Blood Center, she has led the organization through significant milestones, secured vital funding, established invaluable partnerships, and fostered the ever-growing expansion of cord blood usage in patient treatment and clinical research.

Her expertise extends to both science and business, as she holds an Executive MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, complementing her Master of Science in Chemistry. Marcie Finney’s passion for health, technology, and business is evident in her influence in shaping national strategies for umbilical cord blood banking and showcases her commitment to the betterment of patient care and medical science. She serves on the Advisory Council on Blood Stem Cell Transplantation (ASBSCT), is on the Executive Committee of the Cord Blood Association as Treasurer, is the co-Chair of the Cord Blood Advisory Group, and as the Secretary of Goodwill Industries of Northeast Ohio and East Central Ohio, she supports programs aimed at removing barriers to employment and promoting independence for individuals in need.