Our Team
Our team came together with one unshakable mission: to wipe out cancer through the power of research, prevention, and compassion. Each member brings unique strengths, experiences, and passions, but we are united by the same belief—that no one should lose their life or their loved ones to a disease we have the power to defeat. By combining our expertise, our determination, and our commitment to collaboration, we are driving groundbreaking research, expanding access to early detection, and empowering communities with lifesaving prevention tools. Together, we stand as one force of hope, working tirelessly to create a future where cancer is no longer a threat to any family, anywhere.
Thomas Chen is a board-certified neurosurgeon and the Director of Surgical Neuro-Oncology at USC. He is also a tenured Professor of Neurosurgery and Pathology at USC. Thomas graduated summa cum laude from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he also received Bronze Tablet honors and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa national academic honor society. He attended the University of California, San Francisco, and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society. He underwent neurosurgery training at USC and obtained a Ph.D. degree in pathobiology. His thesis was on the role of immunotherapy in malignant brain tumors. He is also a fellowship-trained spine surgeon and one of a few surgical neuro-oncologists in the country specializing in spine cancer surgery. Thomas maintains a busy clinical practice in both surgical neuro-oncology and spine surgery and heads a research laboratory focused on glioma biology. Thomas has published extensively on glioma biology and neurosurgery. He is on the editorial board for The Spine Journal and on the review board for Neurosurgery and Journal of Neurosurgery. He also serves on numerous national neurosurgery committees.
Thomas Chen, MD, PhD
Founder, CSO, Board Director
Amir F. Heshmatpour is the Executive Chairman and President of NeOnc Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTHI), where he drives the company’s mission to transform the treatment of brain cancers through breakthrough science and global partnerships. With over 25 years of executive and board leadership, Mr. Heshmatpour brings a proven track record of building companies, guiding capital markets strategies, and advancing life-changing innovations from concept to commercialization.
In 2005, he founded AFH Holding & Advisory LLC, his single-family office, through which he has led more than $6 billion in transactions across multiple industries, with a focus on biotech and healthcare. Since acquiring NeOnc in 2023 and assuming the presidency in 2025, Mr. Heshmatpour has been instrumental in strengthening the company’s global footprint, accelerating clinical programs, and securing cornerstone partnerships that expand patient access across the U.S., GCC/MENA, and India.
Beyond his corporate leadership, Mr. Heshmatpour is committed to education and philanthropy. He holds a certification in corporate governance from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, where he also serves as a Board Advisor to the Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. In 2024, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of Make-A-Wish Foundation (Tri-Counties, Los Angeles Chapter), reflecting his dedication to improving the lives of families facing critical health challenges.
A strategic visionary and passionate advocate for patients, Mr. Heshmatpour combines financial acumen, entrepreneurial drive, and global perspective to position NeOnc Technologies as a first-mover in the fight against brain cancer.
Chen is a board-certified neurosurgeon and the Director of Surgical Neuro-Oncology at USC. He is also a tenured Professor of Neurosurgery and Pathology at USC. Thomas graduated summa cum laude from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he also received Bronze Tablet honors and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa national academic honor society. He attended the University of California, San Francisco, and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society. He underwent neurosurgery training at USC and obtained a Ph.D. degree in pathobiology. His thesis was on the role of immunotherapy in malignant brain tumors. He is also a fellowship-trained spine surgeon and one of a few surgical neuro-oncologists in the country specializing in spine cancer surgery. Thomas maintains a busy clinical practice in both surgical neuro-oncology and spine surgery and heads a research laboratory focused on glioma biology. Thomas has published extensively on glioma biology and neurosurgery. He is on the editorial board for The Spine Journal and on the review board for Neurosurgery and Journal of Neurosurgery. He also serves on numerous national neurosurgery committees.
Amir F. Heshmatpour
CEO, Executive Chairman,
and President NeCnc
Chris Angelo Word
Founder, CEO Together We Cure
In March 2005, my life changed forever when I was diagnosed with colon cancer. After doctors removed eighteen inches of my colon, I began a difficult journey through radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. But it was during treatment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center that I witnessed something extraordinary: children facing cancer with remarkable courage and determination. Their strength inspired the vision that would transform my life.
After months of treatment, I became one of the fortunate ones—a survivor. With a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to give back, I founded the Lifedriven Foundation in September 2006. Our 501(c)(3) nonprofit is dedicated to supporting cancer research and expanding access to prevention, screenings, and lifesaving information. At the heart of our mission is a passion for inspiring children as they transition from cancer patients to simply enjoying childhood again.
Cancer affects families across the country, touching every community in some way. But hope is powerful. With early diagnosis, proper care, and compassionate support, lives can be saved. Lifedriven exists to make that hope stronger, brighter, and more accessible for all.
Melody Lampkin is a mission-driven Chief Operating Officer known for strengthening organizational systems, developing strategic partnerships, and leading high-impact initiatives such as the LifeDriven Miracles Project. With a strong background in nonprofit operations and community-centered program development, she excels at transforming vision into action through effective planning, streamlined processes, and collaborative leadership. Melody is committed to equity, innovation, and building sustainable programs that expand opportunities and drive meaningful change in underserved communities.
Melody Lampkin
COO, Lifedriven Foundation, Inc
CONTACT TOGETHER WE CURE
Compassion
We are committed to supporting children, adolescents, and their families with empathy, care, and understanding during their most challenging time.
Registered Charity: 06-1789197
9950 Canoga Ave
Unit A4
Chatsworth, CA 91311
Phone: 310-988-8873
