Marc Long, Ph.D., Heather Brennan, Ph.D. Join MTF Management Team

Marc Long, Ph.D. and Heather Brennan, Ph.D. are now part of the senior management team at the Edison New Jersey-based Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF).

According to the March 16, 2017 news release, Dr. Long, the new vice president of Research and Development, “…has responsibility for all of Research and Development [R&D], including Product Development, Clinical Affairs, Project Management, Research Materials, and Intellectual Property and Grants. Dr. Long previously was Senior Director, R&D Orthobiologics at Stryker Spine. While at Stryker, he held leadership roles in Joint Replacement, Sports Medicine, and Orthobiologics business units…”

“Heather Brennan, Ph.D., has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing where she now has responsibility for both the Orthopedic and Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery domestic markets as well as MTF’s Corporate Marketing. Dr. Brennan joined MTF in 2008 and has held increasingly senior positions at MTF, most recently responsible for the marketing efforts in establishing and promoting MTF’s FlexHD portfolio as a leading tissue graft used in the breast reconstruction market. Prior to joining MTF, Dr. Brennan was director, Project Management at Integra LifeSciences…”

Dr. Long commented to OTW, “My experience managing the Orthobiologics R&D team at Stryker will prove useful in my new role at MTF. We used a central model and worked with several divisions within the corporation. This model is very similar to my role at MTF, where there are also several business units ranging from general orthopedics to plastic and reconstructive surgery and wound care. MTF’s R&D group is collaborative and diversified, with a great knowledge about biologics. There are many opportunities to prioritize what R&D pipeline you are going to work on.”

“While at Stryker I also focused on external technology evaluation to support business development efforts. My role then was to ensure that we had the option to develop internally or, if we didn’t have the expertise in-house, that we could partner with another entity or acquire the technology from the outside. At MTF there will likely be times when our strategy calls for external partnerships. I will do my best to create an environment where we can have the option to either ‘make it or buy it.’”

As for how he plans to start out in his new role, Dr. Long told OTW, “I will begin with making sure we have the right talent and ensuring that we have a structure that is fully aligned with the mission and goals of the organization to save and heal lives. R&D also needs to be aligned with all functions across the organization. You can have the best ideas, but if you can’t transfer them to operations—and do so in a high quality manner—then you will not be successful.”

“One of my primary goals during the first year will be to launch new and innovative tissue forms. We will be identifying which tissues will have the most significant impact on patient care. My other major goal is to create a fully engaged, performing, thriving team that will help take MTF to a new level in the next few years.”