Charles co-founded and is Chief Executive Manager of Michigan Life Ventures (MLV) and Michigan Life Therapeutics (MLT). Previously, he was President/CEO at ProNAi Therapeutics, a cancer therapeutic company. Charles also co-founded and was VP of Pharmacology at Esperion Therapeutics (acquired by Pfizer). Prior to Esperion, Charles participated in the discovery and development of Gemfibrozil (Lopid®), Atorvastatin (Lipitor®), Avasimibe and Gemcabene at Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis. Currently, he licensed Gemcabene from Pfizer and is in clinical development at Gemphire Therapeutics Inc. Through MLV he invests in innovative early stage/start-up companies. Charles received his Biochemistry Ph.D. (1981) from George Washington University.