Leadership

George C. Prendergast, PhD, LIMR President and CEO

Dr. George Prendergast was appointed President and CEO of the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR) in 2004. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he was graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in Biochemistry in 1983. He obtained his Master of Science in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University in 1984 and his PhD in Molecular Biology from Princeton University in 1989. Dr. Prendergast is professor, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Jefferson Medical College, and co-leader, Cancer Cell Biology and Signaling Program, Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

With experience in the pharmaceutical industry as well as in academia, Dr. Prendergast is an accomplished cancer researcher recognized for his expertise in cancer biology, signal transduction, and molecular therapeutics. An emergent theme in Dr. Prendergast’s work has been the development of new therapeutics based on modifier genes that strongly affect disease susceptibility and therapeutic response. In his career he has become known as an innovator who has the ability to translate basic research findings toward clinical application, most recently in developing IDO inhibitors as a novel class of drugs to dramatically improve the immune response and therapeutic outcome in cancers treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy.

Dr. Prendergast has contributed over 180 publications in the field of cancer research, and he is an inventor or co-inventor on 50 published or pending patents.

Matt Finley, PhD, MBA, Vice President

Dr. Finley was appointed Vice President in 2024, four years after joining LIMR as Director of Research Administration. He is responsible for the day-to-day administration of all scientific, educational, and operations management. Operations management includes oversight and administration of all infrastructure, physical plant, equipment, operational departments, programs/policies/procedures, training, and entrepreneurial activities in the LIMR biotech company incubator. He will work directly with supervisors, managers and directors within LIMR to build engagement.

His experience ranges from academic and translational science to clinical and industrial roles. Prior to joining LIMR, Dr. Finley held positions of increasing responsibility in biotechnology companies, including Personal Genome Diagnostics, QIAGEN and SABiosciences.

He is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson University where he was graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology in 2004. He earned his PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Temple University School of Medicine in 2009, followed by a cardiac immunology postdoctoral fellowship at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He earned his MBA from the University of Maryland in 2016. 

Sam Diianni, MS, BBA, LIMR Director of Finance

Sam Diianni was appointed Director of Finance at Lankenau Institute for Medical Research in 2023. His experience ranges from higher education in research administration, administrative and operations management, academic finance, healthcare finance and consulting roles.

Before joining LIMR, Diianni held positions of increasing responsibility in higher education and healthcare, including the University of Pennsylvania, Aria Health, Thomas Jefferson University and Huron Consulting Group.

At LIMR, Diianni is responsible for overseeing the development of the annual operating and capital budgets and directing the financial activities of LIMR including general accounting, purchasing, accounts receivable, audits, equipment inventory and space rental. Diianni coordinates with Main Line Health’s accounts payable, payroll, supply chain management and other departments. Additionally, Diianni oversees the expenditure of Institute funds; reviews, interprets and analyzes LIMR financial reports; and presents the reports to the Institute President, the Finance Director of Lankenau Medical Center, the LIMR Board of Trustees and other Main Line Health executives. Diianni also collaborates with physicians and scientists on the financial aspects of their applications for external funding and assists with strategic long-range financial planning for LIMR.

Diianni is a graduate of Temple University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance in 1999. He earned his Master of Science in Organizational Management from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006.