The Team
Who We Are
Robert G. Nagele, PhD
CSO & Co-Founder
Dr. Nagele, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Durin Technologies, is a Professor of Geriatrics and Gerontology at the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging at Rowan University. He obtained his PhD from Rutgers University and post-doctoral training at Rutgers Medical School. For much of the past 20 years, he has focused on the cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with the initiation and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, especially the role of blood-brain barrier compromise and brain-reactive autoantibodies in Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Nagele has published more than 130 research articles in peer reviewed journals, has served as the research thesis mentor for more than 50 PhD, DO/PhD, and MS students, and has mentored numerous medical, graduate, and undergraduate students. Dr. Nagele is the recipient of numerous awards, including a State of New Jersey Senate and General Assembly Joint Legislature Resolution in recognition of his development of a new diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s Disease, the Ginsburg “Alzheimer’s Visionary Award”, the Beehler Research Mentor of the Year Award, the 2016 and 2017 Global Innovator Award from Rowan University, the 2017 Health Institute of New Jersey Research Award, and the 2020 Research Council of New Jersey Edison Patent Award.
Mert Sahin, PhD
CEO
Dr. Sahin joined Durin Technologies as Chief Executive Officer in May 2023. He has held senior leadership roles at several companies in the Life Sciences and Medical Devices industries, from startups to conglomerates. Born in Turkey, Dr. Sahin completed his Ph.D. in neurosciences at the University of Hamburg, Germany, and lived in multiple countries before emigrating to the U.S. Dr. Sahin has published several scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals.
Cassandra DeMarshall, PhD
Director of Research
Dr. DeMarshall is Director of Research at Durin Technologies., with more than a decade of experience in bioinformatics and neurodegenerative disease diagnostics. She received a BA in Cell Biology and Neuroscience from Rutgers University, an MS in Biomedical Science from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and her doctoral degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from Rowan University. Dr. DeMarshall completed her Postdoctoral Fellowship at the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging, at Rowan University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. DeMarshall has published more than a dozen scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, as well as numerous conference abstracts.
Jeffrey Viviano, PhD
Principal Scientist
​Dr. Viviano is the Lead Scientist and Laboratory Manager at Durin Technologies. He received a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Stockton University and a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from Rowan University’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. He has also completed his Postdoctoral studies at the Division of Pulmonary Medicine and Cystic Fibrosis Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Dr. Viviano has produced patent-pending research, several peer reviewed, first-author publications, and dozens of abstracts at international conferences.
