O2 SCIENCE / OUR TEAM
Many Disciplines.
One Mission.
O₂ Science is a humanitarian medical device company based in Jerusalem, Israel and Austin, Texas. We develop breakthrough technologies to prevent childhood blindness and make safe, precisely controlled oxygen therapy accessible in developing countries.
Our team of engineers, physicians and clinicians are united by compassion to save lives and eliminate neonatal and pediatric medical injustice.
Leadership and Development
Rich Manley
CEO & Founder
Todd Gibson
CTO & Founder
Armie Harper, M.D.
Medical Director & Founder
Amit Barak
Head of Product - Israel
Michael Zeron
Head of Software - Israel
Oron Lazarovich
Lead Engineer - Israel
Peter Coysh
Lead Aerodynamics & CFD Engineer
Brandon Hadfield, M.D.
Director of Neonatology
Tim Farmer M.S.R.C., R.R.T.
Director of Neonatal Respiratory Care
Nimesh Patel, M.D.
Global Clinical Research
Andy Brownback, Ph.D.
HEOR & Behavioral Economist
Global Health Team
Physicians in Mexico and Africa whose clinical insight has helped shape BabySafe O₂ and who are collaborating with us to prepare future clinical studies.
Hippolyte Bwiza Muhire, M.D.
Pediatrician - Rwanda
Ariane Ndayikeje, M.D.
Pediatrician - Rwanda
Dr. Hugo Quiroz-Mercado
Pediatric Retina & Research - Mexico
Dr. Maria Ana Martinez-Castellanos
Pediatric Retina - Mexico
Dr. Paulina Ramirez-Neria
Pediatric Retina - Mexico
Francisco Perez-Vazquez, M.D.
Pediatric Retina - Mexico
Rich Manley
CEO & Founder
Rich Manley
CEO & Founder
Rich Manley is CEO and co-founder of O₂ Science, bringing his entrepreneurial experience to medical innovation for babies in developing countries. He previously led Ripple Ventures, an Austin strategy and branding group focused on impact. Rich also founded ventures spanning media, enterprise technology, and mobile solutions for hospitality and retail brands, including JCPenney and Hilton.Rich Manley is CEO and co-founder of O₂ Science, bringing his entrepreneurial experience to medical innovation for babies in developing countries. He previously led Ripple Ventures, an Austin strategy and branding group focused on impact. Rich also founded ventures spanning media, enterprise technology, and mobile solutions for hospitality and retail brands, including JCPenney and Hilton.
Todd Gibson
CTO & Founder
Todd Gibson
CTO & Founder
Raised as a native in one of the most remote and primitive countries on earth, Todd blends his unique upbringing with a decade of technology leadership to drive strategic innovation and impact for the developing world. Todd has led engineering and product teams globally, spanning digital and physical engineering disciplines with both startups and established companies.
Dr. Armie Harper
Medical Director & Founder
Dr. Armie Harper
Medical Director & Founder
Dr. C. Armitage "Armie" Harper is Chief of Ophthalmology at Seton Medical Center in Austin and a Clinical Associate Professor at the Mitchel and Shannon Wong Eye Institute, University of Texas, Dell Medical School. Dr Harper is a partner at Austin Retina Associates. With 18 locations, Austin Retina is one of the largest Retina practices in the U.S. and the largest practice in Central Texas. He is an internationally-recognized expert on Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), and has been relentless in his drive to help save the sight of premature babies in the US and the developing world.
Amit Barak
Head of Product - Israel
Amit Barak
Head of Product - Israel
Amit Barak is founder and CEO of Taga Innovations and leads O₂ Science’s product development in Israel. He brings over 30 years of experience in industrial design, ergonomics, and medical device engineering. His team has developed over 1,000 products for Medtronic, Boston Scientific, GE HealthCare, and others, earning 90+ international awards, including multiple Red Dot awards.
Michael Zeron
Head of Software
Michael Zeron
Head of Software
Michael serves as the lead embedded systems architect for BabySafe O₂. He is the founder and CTO of Zeron, a smart device development company. His team helped develop SpacePharma’s research laboratories aboard the International Space Station. He brings that experience to the electronics and software at the heart of BabySafe O₂.
Oron Lazarovich
Lead Engineer
Oron Lazarovich
Lead Engineer
Oron leads all mechanical and industrial engineering disciplines for BabySafe O₂. As Lead R&D Mechanical Designer at Taga Innovations, he brings over a decade of development leadership and experience across hundreds of medical device projects. His contributions span robotic surgery systems, assistive communication technologies, and other advanced medical devices, with expertise extending from concept through manufacturing.
Peter Coysh
Lead Aerodynamics & CFD Engineer
Peter Coysh
Lead Aerodynamics & CFD Engineer
Peter Coysh is an aerodynamics engineer and former lead aerodynamicist for McLaren, Mercedes, and Toro Rosso Formula 1 teams. With over 20 years of experience in high-stakes computational fluid dynamics, he has been instrumental in developing BabySafe O₂’s efficient venturi airflow system, bringing precision engineering to the care of vulnerable newborns worldwide.
Brandon Hadfield, M.D.
Director of Neonatology
Brandon Hadfield, M.D.
Director of Neonatology
Dr. Brandon Hadfield is a global health neonatologist serving at Rwanda Military Hospital and Associate Program Director for Rwanda’s Neonatology Fellowship. A published researcher in ROP, sepsis, and neonatal resuscitation, he leads O2 Science’s neonatal clinical strategy and international deployments.
Tim Farmer M.S.R.C., R.R.T.
Director of Neonatal Respiratory Care
Tim Farmer M.S.R.C., R.R.T.
Director of Neonatal Respiratory Care
Tim Farmer leads neonatal and pediatric specialty transport for HCA Central West Texas and serves as O2 Science’s Director of Neonatal Respiratory Innovation, overseeing clinical requirements, validation, and safety. He is a Texas State University faculty member and published author in transport performance and readiness.
Nimesh Patel, M.D.
Global Clinical Research
Nimesh Patel, M.D.
Global Clinical Research
Nimesh Patel is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and Director of Pediatric Vitreoretinal Surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital. A specialist in retinopathy of prematurity, he combines surgical expertise and innovative research with a commitment to protecting the sight of premature babies and children.
Andy Brownback, Ph.D.
HEO & Behavioral Economist
Andy Brownback, Ph.D.
HEOR & Behavioral Economist
Andy Brownback is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Arkansas, specializing in behavioral and experimental economics. He leads O₂ Science’s health economics and outcomes research, evaluating BabySafe O₂’s potential to improve newborn care and reduce costs. His work helps health systems with limited resources make informed adoption decisions.
Hippolyte Bwiza Muhire, M.D.
Pediatrician - Rwanda
Hippolyte Bwiza Muhire, M.D.
Pediatrician - Rwanda
Dr. Hippolyte Bwiza Muhire is a pediatrician at Kibagabaga Level Two Teaching Hospital in Kigali, Rwanda. He has contributed to Rwanda’s national pediatric treatment guidelines and neonatal care training, while mentoring medical students and residents. He brings O₂ Science practical insight into the needs of newborns and the clinicians caring for them.
Ariane Ndayikeje, M.D.
Pediatrician - Rwanda
Ariane Ndayikeje, M.D.
Pediatrician - Rwanda
Dr. Ariane Ndayikeje is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Global Health Equity. She previously led pediatrics and neonatology at Kacyiru Hospital in Kigali, Rwanda, helping develop its neonatal intensive care unit and integrate oxygen management protocols and retinopathy of prematurity screening into care for premature babies.
GLOBAL HEALTH TEAM
John Cropsey, M.D.
Ophthalmology - Rwanda
John Cropsey, M.D.
Ophthalmology - Rwanda
Dr. John Cropsey is Director of Development and Global Ophthalmology at the Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology (RIIO). A recipient of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award, he trains and mentors African eye surgeons. He also directs Eye Love Africa, equipping local ophthalmologists to restore sight in underserved communities.
Dr. Hugo Quiroz-Mercado
Pediatric Retina & Research - Mexico
Dr. Hugo Quiroz-Mercado
Pediatric Retina & Research - Mexico
Dr. Hugo Quiroz-Mercado is a recognized leader and specialist in diseases of the retina, macular diseases, diabetic retinopathy, and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). He is currently a Retinal surgeon with an appointment at Hospital para Evitar la Ceguera en México (APEC) and Medica Sur Hospital. He holds an appointment as a professor at the University of Colorado, Denver.
With over 25 years of practice experience, Dr. Quiroz has held previous appointments as the Director of the Retina Department and Chief of the Experimental Surgery Laboratory at Luis Sanchez Hospital for the Prevention of Blindness, as well as a professor of Ophthalmology at the Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autonoma de Mexico. He specializes in treating patients with severe retinopathy and helping them cope with impending complications.
Dr. Maria Ana Martinez-Castellanos
Pediatric Retina - Mexico
Dr. Maria Ana Martinez-Castellanos
Pediatric Retina - Mexico
Dr. Maria Ana Martinez-Castellanos is an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Retina, at the Asociación para Evitar la Ceguera (APEC) in México City, the largest eye hospital in Latin America. She also serves as a pediatric retina specialist at General Hospital “Belisario Dominguez” in Mexico City and Perinatal Hospital “Monica Pretelini” in Toluca, Mexico. Dr. Martinez-Castellanos is a Mexican board certified ophthalmologist whose clinical practice involves the surgical and medical management of adult and pediatric vitreo-retinal disease.
Dr. Martinez-Castellanos´ primary research interests focus on the pathogenesis and management of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). She works with numerous investigators worldwide to address the growing burden of ROP. Dr. Martinez-Castellanos runs the retinopathy of prematurity prevention program at 5 different hospitals in Mexico City and Toluca, Mexico and is engaged in many clinical projects and collaborations studying ROP.
Dr. Paulina Ramirez-Neria
Pediatric Retina - Mexico
Dr. Paulina Ramirez-Neria
Pediatric Retina - Mexico
Paulina Ramírez-Neria is an Ophthalmologist and retina surgeon and specialist in pediatric retina. She currently is head of Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening Program at the Instituto Mexicano de Oftalmología (I.A.P.) in Queretaro, Mexico. She is a specialist in the detection and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and in the management of extremely premature babies, and their revision in intensive neonatal therapy.
Paulina conducts research across internal medicine, and retinal diseases, including retinopathy of prematurity and diabetic retinopathy among others. Her most recent publication is 'Basis and Design of a Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Effect of Levosulpiride on Retinal Alterations in Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema'.
Francisco Perez-Vazquez, M.D.
Pediatric Retina - Mexico
Francisco Perez-Vazquez, M.D.
Pediatric Retina - Mexico
Knows as 'Frank' by colleagues and friends, he is a second-year Retina fellow in APEC Hospital in Mexico City. After graduating in 2017 from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), he worked 2 years alongside Dr Hugo Quiroz as a retina research fellow. His interest in ROP and prematurity took him into working with Dr Armitage Harper and Dr Hugo Quiroz in screening studies in different pediatric hospitals within Mexico City. After finishing the ophthalmology residency, he plans on continuing his training as a retina specialist with a particular focus on pediatric conditions.
Dr. Perez-Vazquez is an enthusiastic clinician, surgeon and researcher interested in the prevention of blindness in premature newborns through research and collaboration between different organizations.