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committed to foreskin regeneration
for men who want a whole body
We are a non-profit with Supporters In Over 80 Countries

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FOREGEN IS A REGISTERED AND TAX EXEMPT 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED TO RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENT REGENERATIVE MEDICAL THERAPIES FOR CIRCUMCISED MALES.

Our Mission

Foregen’s mission is to heal the physical and psychological damage inherent to circumcision through tissue engineering techniques, which offer outstanding potential to regrow human tissue, especially dermal tissue, lost in trauma.

Because regenerative medicine techniques have not yet been applied to circumcised men, Foregen was formed to initiate novel research and clinical trials.  Dedicated Foregen scientists are transferring well-known, tested, and state-of-the-art techniques to the mission to re-establish normal penile sensitivity with a fully functioning foreskin.
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A unique organization, Foregen’s mission contributes to the growing applications of regenerative medicine and has implications for over one billion people - circumcised men and their partners! Foregen has received countless testimonials and expressions of hope for the potential of regenerative medicine in resolving the damage of circumcision.

Foregen is not an activist organization and has no legislative or political agenda. Rather, Foregen is a pioneering research organization dedicated to creating options and hope for circumcised men.

Our Foundation

Foregen is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded to research and implement regenerative medical therapies for circumcised men. Thanks to an initial cohort of contributing donors, Foregen was created in 2010 with the goal of finding existing institutions to conduct research. In time, we found that the only way to accomplish our goals would be to establish our own scientific team and conduct the necessary research ourselves. After searching carefully for the right people, our scientific team was created and initial research started in 2014. Foregen now operates in both the United States and the European Union. Its head office is in Rome, Italy, where it is a registered charity (Reg. No. 6482, Serie 1T, 2010) and maintains domicile in the United States under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is headed by a board of directors with volunteers and donors from over 80 countries across 6 continents.

Our People

Foregen’s Board of Directors leads the mission with the help of dedicated officers, staff, scientists, and advisers. Founder, Vincenzo Aiello, heads the Board of Directors and is assisted by a vice president and advisory board.

Our Foundation
OUR PEOPLE
OUR MISSION
Leadership
Staff
Scientists
Advisers
President
Vincenzo Aiello
Vice President
Carlo Alberto Cirioni
Chief Science Officer
Eric J. Cunningham
Chief Operations Officer
Tyler J. Drozd
President
Vincenzo Aiello
World-renowned for restoring ancient Roman mosaics and creating new ones, contemporary artist Vincenzo Aiello founded Foregen in 2010– the first company of its kind that promotes foreskin regeneration with stem cells. Two years later, he extended Foregen’s 501(c)(3) status to the US.
As a visionary man with extremely high standards, it took Enzo four years to find the right scientists for the job. Now that he has enlisted the right people, Enzo is confident that Foregen can achieve foreskin regeneration.
Vice President
Carlo Alberto Cirioni

A philosopher and anthropologist, Carlo Alberto Cirioni is a religious scholar and interpreter of ancient Biblical texts. Carlo is a longtime friend of Enzo's and as the vice president, he helps lead the creative direction of Foregen and is a visionary in his own right. Carlo also acts as Foregen’s Chief Financial Officer.


Chief Science Officer
Eric J. Cunningham

Eric J. Cunningham is Foregen’s Chief Science Officer. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering, with a specialization in Cell & Tissue Engineering, and a Master's of Chemical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology’s Armour College of Engineering.
He has experience in a variety of areas in Biomedical Engineering, from the development of imaging phantoms for use in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) devices, to cardiac tissue regeneration and polymeric biomaterials engineering.
Chief Operations Officer
Tyler J. Drozd

Tyler is a driven advocate for genital integrity and pursuing the goal of giving every man back the choice of a whole body. He has considerable international experience, working with people from a variety of countries. After graduating from North Central College with a degree in World Languages - Spanish, German and Chinese, he became a Fulbright Scholar to Germany, where he is currently in his second year.
He wants to continue both his study of language as well as doing anything he can to support Foregen. When his time isn’t occupied with those goals, he can be found working on his art, the other passion in his life.  
Senior Director
Administration
Matthew Serody
Director
Operations
Robert Pitts
Senior Associate
Operations
Jordan Arel
Director
Digital Development & IT
Oscar Perez
Senior Associate
Digital Development & IT
Mason Michalec
Associate
Investigative Journalist
Ryan Jones
Senior Director
Administration
Matthew Serody
As Senior Director, Matthew works closely with other members of the administration, advisors, and outside partners to address Foregen's unique challenges and lead its team of dedicated staff. Previously, he helped to establish Foregen's European financial network, co-authored Foregen's first published paper, and has spoken on behalf of the company to international groups, medical and pharmaceutical conglomerates, and members of the international media.
Matthew is currently finishing his degree at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY where he studies at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management.
Director
Operations
Robert Pitts
Robert is a director in Foregen's all-encompassing operations department. He has managed all of Foregen's public events since 2017, helped establish key connections with Foregen's financial network, and has represented the company before scientific and financial corporations. He is primarily engaged in business networking and managing Foregen's travel needs.
Robert studied Astrophysics at Texas A&M and has now worked in the airline industry for over 7 years - something that has lent him invaluable management and communication skills.
Senior associate
Operations
Jordan Arel
A longtime member of Foregen's team, Jordan is the primary support specialist and is dedicated to engaging in empathetic communications with Foregen's donors and supporters. He has represented and spoken for Foregen and continues to handle the large quantity of inquiries that Foregen receives on a daily basis.
Jordan received his B.A. in Psychology from Naropa University and is currently completing his graduate dual-degree: Master of Business Administration and Master of Social Work at the University of Southern California.
Director
digital Development & IT
Oscar Perez
Oscar is driven and passionate about user experience, design, web design and marketing, and is currently growing his own brand, Dodefy. He is fond of making businesses grow while implementing user research, user engagements and interactions with design. Oscar graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of New Mexico. He is currently expanding his education in user research, user interface and user experience.
As Foregen’s UX & UI Designer, Oscar developed the current website and back end system, and continues to develop Foregen’s digital presence with new content, design, and UX improvements. Oscar enjoys working out, taking long walks with his dog, digital drawing, and playing strategy games. He hopes his work at Foregen will make the dream of making genital integrity a reality for millions of men.
Senior Associate
digital Development & IT
Mason Michalec
Mason is a long-time supporter of bodily autonomy, working to share vital information about male anatomy. He's thoroughly researched circumcision and the purposes of the human foreskin, which motivated him to aid in restoring hope to men around the globe. Since 2019, he has moderated an unofficial Foregen community, and now serves as senior associate at Foregen's Department of Digital Development and IT. His primary goal is to utilize his skills to increase public attention and knowledge of Foregen by further developing the company's digital presence, especially the website.
Mason has studied at Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas, the University of Tartu in Estonia, and will graduate from the University of Debrecen in Hungary in December 2020. His other interests include music production, travel, reading just about anything he finds interesting, and finding new ways to live a greener lifestyle.
independent journalist
Operations
Ryan Jones
Ryan is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and has been a passionate advocate for human rights and genital integrity since 2014, when he first learned about this subject through both his international travels in Germany, Georgia, and Southeast Asia, and while conducting research for his Masters degree at the University of Arizona.

He has written a number of informative articles, and is currently completing his first investigative book about non-consensual neonatal circumcision in America. Inspired by over six years of research into this subject, his work seeks to inform the public with a comprehensive and balanced approach to considering each aspect of the genital cutting conundrum.
Technical Director
Elena Bondioli, Ph.D.
Lead Biotechnologist
Valeria Purpura, Ph.D.
Lead Veterinary Scientist
Angela Palumbo Piccionello, Ph.D., D.V.M.
Technical Director
Elena Bondioli, Ph.D.
Dr. Bondioli is Foregen’s chief molecular biologist responsible for overseeing the success of all of Foregen’s lab and preclinical work. Dr. Bondioli has more than ten years of experience in decellularizing tissues to extract their extracellular molds and then regenerating them for patients, which is the same fundamental scientific process that Foregen’s success depends on.
She has written numerous national and international patents and publications, and is currently the technical director responsible for overseeing the bioengineering and somatic tissue cell therapy department of Regional Cell Bank of Emilia Romagna, a ten-million dollar facility tasked with regenerating skin for burn victims.
Lead biotechnologist
Valeria Purpura, Ph.D.  

Dr. Purpura was a senior diagnostic molecular biologist at Praximedica before becoming Dr. Bondioli’s head biotechnologist at the Regional Cell Bank of Emilia Romagna. She received her Ph.D. in experimental medicine in 2012, studying the molecular mechanisms involved in the modulation of fibroblast and keratinocyte growth factors.
Dr. Purpura is highly experienced in PCR technologies, histomorphological testing, and validating the safety and efficacy of therapeutic biomaterials for use on patients.


Lead Veterinary Scientist
Angela Palumbo Piccionello, Ph.D., D.V.M.

Dr. Palumbo Piccionello is Foregen’s veterinary scientist and supervisor of Foregen’s Phase II Animal Trials. She is a Professor of Surgery and Anesthesiology at the University of Camerino’s School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine. From 2011 to 2017 she served as President of the Italian Society of Veterinary Traumatology and Orthopedics, and she holds both a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree as well as a Ph.D. in Animal Orthopedics.
Foregen’s scientific research relies heavily on mechanical analysis of tissue; Dr. Palumbo Piccionello’s specialization in orthopedics offers a high level of biomechanical expertise which bodes extremely well for Foregen’s needs.


Legal Adviser
Peter Adler, J.D., M.A.
Research Adviser
Ken Drabik, M.S.
Medical Adviser
Robert Van Howe, M.D.
Research Adviser
William Musa, M.S.
Communication Adviser
Elena Steiner, Ph.D.
Executive Adviser
Adam Lavine
Executive Adviser
Shingo Lavine
Legal Adviser
Peter Adler, J.D., M.A.
Peter W. Adler is Foregen's Legal Adviser. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from Dartmouth College (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) in 1973, a Masters Degree in Philosophy from Cambridge University (Honours) in 1975, and a J.D. from University of Virginia School of Law in 1983, where he was Editor of the Virginia Law Review and Virginia Journal of International Law.

Previously, Mr. Adler was the Assistant Vice President of the European Division for J.P. Morgan Chase, Attorney of corporate law in charge of business litigation at Myerow, Resnick, Poirier & Adler, and successfully founded and operated multiple e-commerce startups. He is currently a professor of International Law, International Business Law, Business Law, and International Business at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell, Massachusetts.



Research Adviser
Ken Drabik, M.S.
Mr. Drabik is a Senior Research Technologist at the University of Chicago. He has campaigned for human rights around the world and his expertise led him to assist in the making of the movie Cut, which discusses the issue of male circumcision.



MEDICAL ADVISER
Robert Van Howe, M.D.
Dr. Robert Van Howe is a pediatrician who is currently serving as medical director for the public health departments serving nine counties in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He completed his B.A. in Chemistry and Philosophy at Saint Olaf College in Minnesota, earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Illinois, and completed his pediatrics residency at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Dr. Van Howe also holds an M.S. in Clinical Research Design and Statistical Analysis from the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

He was a clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine before becoming a professor and founding Chief of Pediatrics at the Central Michigan University College of Medicine. For over 20 years he has published several works on the topic of genital integrity and circumcision.
Research Adviser
William Musa, M.S.

William Graduated from Thomas Jefferson University with his MS in Biotechnology.  He has experience in a variety of scientific applications, including the use of animal husbandry for laboratory settings as well as experience with human tissue.  He completed his thesis in a regenerative medicine lab investigating protein pathways related to tissue growth after non-thermal plasma treatments.  


William continued to work with medical diagnostics after graduating, working with tissue histology and PCR based diagnostics.  William has an active interest in advancing the ethics and human rights for those effected by circumcision.
Communication Adviser
Elena Tartaglione Steiner, Ph.D.


Having completed her PhD at Arizona State University’s Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Elena contributes her background in intercultural, strategic, and organizational communication to Foregen's objectives. She has extensive experience as a research assistant at ASU’s Center for Strategic Communication, and contributed media, narrative framing, cultural analysis to public sector initiatives in the United States. Elena was faculty in communication for eight years at Regis University where she also completed her M.A. in International Communication.
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She was managing partner of Global Perspectives Consulting, offering consultation and training in the areas of intercultural communication and competence across public, private, and non-profit sectors. She has lived, worked, or studied in over 20 countries and has working proficiency in German and limited working proficiency in French. Elena is currently researching and developing curricula with a multinational management and technology dual-education organization outside the United States.
Executive Adviser
Adam Lavine


Adam Lavine is a lifelong entrepreneur and innovator who loves to build companies, high-performing teams and projects. He launched his first company Specular International out of college which built and sold digital creation software worldwide. Specular grew to become a top 10 Apple developer with clients including ABC, Industrial Light and Magic with celebrity fans ranging from Herbie Hancock to JJ Abrams. Specular merged with a public company MetaCreations where Adam ran innovation and integrated operations. Adam subsequently launched a mobile technology startup FunMobility in Japan through NTT DoCoMo ventures.
FunMobility built worldwide carrier distribution for over 100 applications with partners including Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile distributing content from studios such as Universal, Marvel, Sanrio generating over $250 million in retail revenue. Adam then worked with Chiquita and Universal to digital items onto 100 million banana stickers to support the release of Universal’s summer tentpole “Minions” which reached over 10 million consumers. Adam then worked with Shingo to support Ethos.io as COO and served as Voyager’s Chief Strategy Officer. He is a venture partner with Emerald Ocean Ventures and also advises and invests in startups and social programs.
Executive Adviser
Shingo Lavine


Shingo Lavine is a successful entrepreneur, business leader and technologist. Shingo started his first company, Ethos.io, at age 19 while studying Computer Science at Brown University. Ethos was a blockchain company building a Universal Wallet that supported over 100 digital assets on top of a proprietary, high-performance blockchain abstraction architecture which today is used to power nearly $500 million in transactions and assets.
The Universal Wallet grew to over 100,000 users, and Shingo subsequently merged Ethos with a Voyager Digital (CSE: VYGR), a Canadian public company with over $70 million in AUM and over 1000% revenue growth where Shingo currently serves as as Chief Innovation Officer and Board member. Shingo is also a venture partner in Emerald Ocean Ventures, a family office that advises and invests in startups and social innovation.