BIOGRAPHIES
| NOEL THOMAS PATTON | FREDERIC J. VAGNINI | GRETA BLACKBURN | JOSEPH M. RAFFAELE |
Noel Thomas Patton, founder of T.A. SCIENCESTM, was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. His boyhood upbringing was a far cry from the breakthrough Biotech business he is engaged in today. Just as T.A. SciencesTM is a hybrid of Traditional Chinese Culture and modern science, so is Noel Patton’s life which has included impressive business success both in America and China.
A graduate of Indiana University (1969) with an Honors Degree in Philosophy, Noel furthered his studies on the East Coast and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School. He maintains an ongoing involvement with Young Presidents Organization (YPO) through its CEO and WPO graduate organizations.
In 1972 Noel purchased Patton Electric Company, the family appliance manufacturing business started by his father in 1945. By the mid 80's Patton Electric and many other US manufactures were facing fierce competition from low cost imports. In 1987 he moved with his family to Hong Kong, China, which was just opening up after Mao’s Cultural Revolution. As always a pioneer, Noel was a presence even in rural China at a time when no small American company had yet ventured into that territory.
As Noel and his family thrived in the adrenalin-charged culture and sophistication of Hong Kong and China, the business flourished. In 1995 Patton Electric Company was sold to a large publicly traded appliance firm. At this time, Noel began to indulge his passion for knowledge of new developments in anti-aging medicine and the latest breakthroughs in biotechnology. In particular, he began to explore the intersection between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western medical science.
In 1999 Noel heard Professor Jerry Shay of the University of Texas Southwest give a speech about a naturally occurring enzyme called telomerase that made human cells "young" again. Meeting Dr. Shay was Noel Patton's introduction to the newly evolving scientific world of Telomere Biology. Noel immediately followed through and contacted leading edge California biotech company Geron Corporation, the industry leader in developing this new scientific frontier. And so began a tremendously positive and rewarding business relationship. Noel and his wife Eve invested in Geron and began helping this California-based firm to expand into Hong Kong. The Pattons were on hand when Geron and the University of Science and Technology in Hong Kong discovered the cellular rejuvenation properties of the single molecule which we now call TA-65. The TA-65 molecule is the active ingredient found in the well known Astragalus plant.
At this juncture, Noel and Eve secured exclusive worldwide rights to Geron's Telomerase Activation (TA) technology for nutraceutical and cosmeceutical products and subsequently set up Telomerase Activation Sciences, Inc. (TA Sciences™) in New York City.
In 2005 the Pattons facilitated a joint venture between Geron and the University of Science and Technology in Hong Kong. This company, TA Therapeutics (TAT), is developing Geron's Telomerase Activation (TA) technology for therapeutic drug applications. While TAT's first drug candidate has the potential to cure a number of serious diseases, TAT expects to file an application with the United States FDA at the end of 2007 with their first indication being a drug for rebuilding the weakened immune system of HIV/AIDS patients.
Noel and Eve currently travel between Hong Kong, California, and New York. In 2007 they opened the T.A. Sciences CenterTM, located on the Upper East Side in Manhattan which will market the first anti-aging products derived from Geron's technology. The T.A. Sciences Center will offer telomerase activating nutraceutical and cosmeceutical products to an exclusive clientele.
Dr. Frederic J. Vagnini is one of the most unique physicians and health educators in the world. After graduation from St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1963, Dr. Vagnini underwent 8 years of post doctorate internship and residency. These years studying surgery, vascular, heart and lung surgery were spent at the Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York and Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York. Following completion of training Dr. Vagnini served in the United States Army as a Lieutenant Colonel and subsequently entered into private practice on Long Island, New York. For the next 25 years Dr. Vagnini practiced as a heart, lung and blood vessel surgeon. He has operated on thousands of patients with heart and blood vessel disease. As his career continued Dr. Vagnini became interested in Health Education, Preventive Medicine and Clinical Nutrition. Because of his vast experience in the area of heart disease and nutrition he became a frequent guest speaker and has appeared numerous times on local and national radio and television.
Dr. Vagnini has extensive media experience with hundreds of radio and television appearances. He presently hosts a live call in show on WOR 710 AM. The show is called "The Heart Show" and airs from 4-5 PM Sundays. Dr. Vagnini formerly hosted a national health show on Fox Television.
In the area of print Health Education Dr. Vagnini has written hundreds of articles in the lay literature and has numerous scientific publications. He also publishes a monthly newsletter "Cardiovascular Wellness Newsletter". This publication covers current health news issues with appropriate commentary. The Wellness Newsletter can be ordered through the Center.
Dr. Vagnini is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
Dr. Vagnini is an active, highly respected member of numerous medical societies, including:
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The American College of Surgeons (Fellow)
The American Society of Echocardiography
The American College of Chest Physicians (Fellow)
The Oxygen Society
The American College of Nutrition (Fellow)
The Holistic Medical Society
The American Medical Association (AMA)
The American Association of Clinical Nutritionists
The Nassau County Medical Society
The American Heart Association
The Presbyterian Hospital Alumni
The National Stroke Association
The Nassau Surgical Society
The International Society for Free Radical Research
The New York Cardiological Society
The New York Lipid Club
The New York Society for Thoracic Surgery
The American Association of Diabetes Educators
The American College of Cardiology (Fellow)
The International Academy of Nutrition and Preventive Medicine
The American Society for Surgical Research (Fellow)
The American Society of Hypertension
The American College of Angiology (Fellow)
The American Society of Bariatric Physicians
Greta Blackburn began her career as a television and movie actress in New York City.
She moved to LA and immediately landed the co-host spot on the NBC pilot "Roadshow" with John Candy, Julie Brown and Rick Overton. Greta then began to guest star in Hollywood on numerous television shows. In commercials, she starred as the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut girl and the bathing beauty for Eclipse sunscreen commercials.
Greta was featured in the super popular sci-fi mini-series "V: The Final Battle" as Lorraine, a good lizard. Greta garnered much attention in the hit movie "48 Hrs." and as Jennifer, the hardhat on Dex's oilfield on "Dynasty" where her character had run-ins with Joan Collins' "Alexis."
After years of success in show business, Greta made a career about-face and found a way to indulge her notoriety as an actress, her love of physical fitness, and her schooling in communications to bring a message of health and fitness to the people of America. She was Editor-In-Chief of Natural Body and Fitness Magazine from 1988-1990. During that time she co-founded Fitness Against Drugs, an anti-drug foundation that promotes physical fitness as an alternative "hip" lifestyle for teens.
She also served as Editor of the LA Times supplement "California Health", sponsored by a large group of independent pharmacies bringing health and information to the Southern California public.
She is currently the founding Editor of Ms. Fitness Magazine. Ms. Fitness promotes physical fitness to women across the world and is "sister" to the widely televised Ms. Fitness USA specials. As a proponent and judge of these contests, Greta serves as an ambassador of health and fitness to females of all ages and backgrounds. Her appearances as host on the televised Ms. Fitness USA and Ms. Fitness World contests are seen by millions of viewers every year on Fox SportsNet.
As a writer on health and fitness issues, Greta has covered topics ranging from ways to help prevent breast cancer to eating disorders to high-tech strategies for fat-burning. She co-authored the book "Cory Everson's LifeBalance".
Greta's work as Founder/Director of Greta Blackburn's FITCAMPS, which took place for over 15 years in locations ranging from Malibu, Maui, and Mexico to Las Vegas served as training symposiums for fitness professionals and other interested men and women from all over the world. Seminars included information on training, nutrition, disease prevention, longevity and other valuable health topics.
Blackburn is also at the vanguard of a burgeoning "Fitness after 50" trend that keeps her busy with speaking engagements and appearances. She has been seen promoting health and fitness products on QVC and The Shopping Channel.
Greta has been seen in appearances on "Soap Talk", "Entertainment Tonight", "EXTRA", "Hard Copy", "Good Day LA", and dozens of other television appearances. She appeared for several seasons as the health and fitness expert for the Home & Garden Channel's "Smart Solutions".
Greta has worked as a spokesperson for various health and supplement companies. She has served on the City of Hope's special advisory board to their "Workout With The Stars Against Aids" and has produced a pamphlet for the Los Angeles Times' California Health supplement called "The Safe Six For Safe Sex" as a free public Aids awareness brochure. She is a founding member of Southern Touch Food Products Health Council, a member of The American Association of University Women, and has been featured in Who's Who of American Women.
Her whole life's career has now culminated in what she considers her biggest role of all: an opportunity to use real science to help people win the race against time. As Lifestyle Coach for The T.A. Sciences Center Greta provides those undergoing the T.A. Protocol the additional benefits of her years of expertise as a health, wellness, and fitness pro.
Joseph M. Raffaele, MD is a member of our Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Raffaele received his B.A. in philosophy from Princeton University and his MD from Hahnemann University Medical School in 1989. He did his residency at The New York Hospital/Cornell University Medical Center and was formerly a adjunct clinical assistant professor of medicine at Dartmouth Medical School while in practice at the Hitchcock Clinic. He is a member of the American College of Physicians, is board certified in internal medicine, and is a diplomat of the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. In 1995, Dr. Raffaele began researching and developing a scientifically-based treatment program and co-founded PhysioAge Medical Group. Since 1997 he has been practicing anti-aging medicine and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy in his clinical practice.
As a physician focused on understanding the science behind the causes of the effects of the aging process, Dr. Raffaele has always had an interest in telomere biology. In 2006, he became involved in the launch of TA Sciences as a member of its Scientific Advisory Board. In conjunction with several top scientists, he helped analyze the data and develop the Patton Protocol, notably by determining the most applicable biomarkers to use in tracking the effects of the molecule in humans. His clinical practice, PhysioAge Medical Group, acts as the clinical arm of TA Sciences. In that capacity, he oversees the administration of all testing, data collection and data preparation for analysis by statisticians. Dr. Raffaele is constantly working with other members of the Scientific Advisory Board to gain insights into the latest data as it becomes available.
