New York, NY – September 2nd, 2025 – HITLAB, a leading healthcare innovation and research organization, today announced that Dr. Fernando Gómez-Baquero, Director of the Runway Startup Postdoc Program and the Spinout Programs at Cornell Tech and the Jacobs Technion Cornell Institute, has joined the Breakthrough Alliance (BTA) Board of Directors.

Recognized as one of the most outstanding academic commercialization programs in the nation, Dr. Gómez-Baquero’s work at Cornell Tech focuses on guiding and scaling startup companies, managing a portfolio with significant investments in innovation and entrepreneurship.

With more than 20 years of experience spanning nanotechnology, energy storage, digital health, and technology entrepreneurship, Dr. Gómez-Baquero brings a unique multidisciplinary perspective to the Breakthrough Alliance. He holds a Ph.D. in Nanoscale Science and Engineering from the University at Albany SUNY, in addition to master’s degrees in Nanoscale Engineering and Economics, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Operations Research Industrial Engineering.

His research career has advanced the semiconductor industry and lithium-ion battery development, where he is recognized as a leader in nanoengineered electrode fabrication using semiconductor processes. He has also served as a Board Director of NY-BEST, one of the world’s largest energy storage consortiums.

In addition to his scientific and entrepreneurial expertise, Dr. Gómez-Baquero is a national instructor for the National Science Foundation’s i-Corps program, where he mentors deep-tech entrepreneurs building companies across fields including digital health, clean energy, education, proptech, and cybersecurity.

“I am honored to join the Breakthrough Alliance Board at HITLAB and contribute to its mission of shaping the future of healthcare innovation,” said Dr. Fernando Gómez-Baquero. “By bringing together leaders from across industries, the BTA is creating the partnerships needed to accelerate transformative solutions and ensure technology improves health outcomes worldwide.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Gómez-Baquero to the Breakthrough Alliance Board,” said Stan Kachnowski, Chair of HITLAB. “His deep expertise in scaling innovation, coupled with his leadership at the intersection of science, entrepreneurship, and commercialization, will bring invaluable perspective to our mission of advancing digital health innovation globally.”