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Micro-gRx is led by a real life “dynamic duo” comprised of siblings Dr. Siobhan Malany and former NASA space shuttle engineer LeGrand Malany.

Siobhan Malany, PhD, President

Dr. Malany arrived in Florida in 2011 from California, where she completed a post-doc at The University of California, San Diego in pharmacology. She worked for eight years in the competitive biotech industry advancing novel drug compounds to treat neurological and metabolic disorders.

While working as a researcher in the growing Medical City at Lake Nona, a suburb of Orlando, Dr. Malany was invited to STS-134, the next to last Space Shuttle Endeavor launch at the Kennedy Space Center. While there, she met other scientists involved with science payloads. This sparked an interest in space related science that would trigger a new direction in how Dr. Malany sought funding for her projects. With seed money from Space Florida and CASIS, she founded Micro-gRx in 2014 and focused on microgravity effects on human muscle cells using an automated miniature laboratory called a lab-on-a-chip.

In November 2018, her team participated in NASA’s Cygnus NG-10 misson and launched muscle cell research payload into space aboard Northrup Grumman’s Antares vehicle. The research project is now part of an initiative funded by the National Institutes of Health called the Tissue Chips in Space program. Micro-gRx upcoming missions are slated to take place in 2020 and 2022 on SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle.

Dr. Malany was named one of 2017 Faces of Technology by Florida’s High Tech Corridor and has been featured in The Orlando Business Journal in 2020. She received a Proclamation from the Mayor of her hometown of Springfield, IL for her accomplishments in science (STEM) research.

Dr. Malany is an avid cyclist and former criterium racer. She enjoys “cabining” and mt. biking in the Georgia and Carolina mountains with her husband and two sons. Dr. Malany is currently a faculty member in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Florida.

Contact Siobhan: smalany@microgrx.com

Legrand Malany, Chief Technical Officer

The Micro-gRx technology team is spearheaded by former space shuttle engineer and current NASA space launch system (SLS) engineer LeGrand “Lee” Malany. Lee’s first Micro-gRx assignment was to manage the Cygnus (NG-10) mission. After several pre-launch hardware anomalies and weather delays at Wallops Flight Facility Lee shifted his extensive years of aerospace experience into high gear. He mentored team members and partners to collaborate and successfully get the Micro-gRx payload prepared for launch! On November 17, 2018 at precisely 4:01 AM EST Antares lit up the small town of Wallops, Virginia with 734,000 lbs of thrust. Payload would arrive at the International Space Station (ISS) on November 19, 2018. Incidentally, the mission was launched from Wallops Flight Facility launch pad LP-0A, a NASA project originally designed, managed and inaugurated by Lee when his was the Systems Lead for Innovative Engineering Solutions!

Lee’s invaluable experience comes from a dedicated career offering of engineering and management experience in fluid and mechanical aerospace systems and launch infrastructure. In addition, he provides leadership and direction throughout all aspects of program and project development for both government and commercial aerospace projects. Lee has worked for Aerojet Rocketdyne, Microcosm, INC, Mid-Atlantic Regional Space Port (MARS) and Innovative Engineering Solutions, INC.

According to Dr. Malany, “Lee brings to Micro-gRx, a strong technical background and hands on approach while working with associate team members to overcome the technical challenges associated with the rocket business and implementation of innovative technologies”.

Among Lee’s historical aerospace accolades is the real-time processing and assembly of the solid rocket boosters for NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Lee holds a BS in Engineering Mechanics from Southern Illinois University and is an avid skier, LEGO addict and classic JEEP enthusiast!

Contact Lee: lmalany@microgrx.com