Company Profile – ZogniQ (ZPL) Polarized Light Therapy

ZOGNITION, LLC

OUR TEAM

Innovation at the intersection of medical science, intelligent software, and practical care

Zognition identifies, develops, and commercializes technology-enabled solutions for meaningful gaps in medical, ophthalmic, and wellness markets.

About ZogniQ ®

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Founded in 2020 by John R. Choate and Peter Pham, MD, Zognition, LLC is an innovation focused incubator created to identify, develop, and commercialize technologies that address meaningful gaps in the medical, ophthalmic, and wellness markets. The company bridges gaps in patient care by leveraging advanced systems, software, imaging, artificial intelligence, and technology enabled platforms that support more informed, consistent, and personalized user experiences.

FOUNDER LEADERSHIP

John R. Choate

Co-Founder

John R. Choate is an accomplished medical device and pharmaceutical executive with more than 40 years of experience in U.S. and international healthcare markets. Beginning his career at Alcon Laboratories, he progressed through leadership positions at Alcon and Medtronic Neuro, developing extensive expertise in medical technology commercialization, product development, strategic partnerships, and global market expansion.

In 1999, Mr. Choate led the medical division at Microvision, helping secure more than $80 million in Department of Defense funding to develop advanced medical device technology for military and field applications. In 2003, he founded Advanced Pharma International, a company focused on acquiring and licensing over-the-counter and pharmaceutical products and developing probiotic products for adults and children throughout North America, Asia, and the European Union.

In 2013, Mr. Choate co-founded BlephEx and co-invented several patented ophthalmic devices for the treatment of blepharitis. Now marketed worldwide, these technologies demonstrate his ongoing commitment to addressing unmet clinical needs through innovative patient-care solutions.

Throughout his career, Mr. Choate has generated more than $2 billion in combined revenue and funding and has been awarded multiple U.S. and international patents. He has consulted for Chinese pharmaceutical and medical device companies, served on the boards of healthcare and industrial nanotechnology businesses, and advised private equity firms focused on the U.S. and Asian medical device and pharmaceutical sectors.

Peter Pham, MD

Co-Founder

Dr. Peter Pham brings a physician-scientist and technology innovation perspective to Zognition. A practicing ophthalmologist in Houston, Dr. Pham graduated summa cum laude with a degree in chemistry and earned his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He completed his ophthalmology residency at the Doheny Eye Institute in Los Angeles, where he co-developed an early online visual field system for glaucoma and macular degeneration. This pioneering work in remote patient care helped establish the foundation for Remon Health, a company focused on managing complex diseases through enterprise-scale telemedicine technology.

Dr. Pham has also advanced natural health solutions through his patented okra polysaccharide complex platform, Zokrex, developed as a natural alternative for addressing inflammation. The Zokrex platform is used in Zocular products and has been positioned as a clinically proven alternative to tea tree oil for treating ocular Demodex without the stinging and discomfort often associated with tea tree oil. Through his leadership as CEO and founder of Okra LLC, Dr. Pham has demonstrated the ability to translate scientific innovation into practical, market-ready healthcare products.

A COMPLEMENTARY PARTNERSHIP

Together, Mr. Choate and Dr. Pham provide Zognition with a distinctive foundation: medical device commercialization experience, ophthalmic clinical insight, pharmaceutical and natural-product innovation, telemedicine expertise, intellectual property development, and practical market execution. This combined background shapes Zognition’s disciplined approach to identifying unmet needs, developing differentiated technologies, and building platforms that connect science, software, and real-world patient and consumer applications.

LEADERSHIP & OPERATIONS TEAM

The team supporting secure and efficient execution

Denis Galkin

Chief Information Security Officer and HIPAA Security Officer

Denis is an experienced information security and risk-management leader with a background in information security governance, healthcare compliance, and the development of security strategies designed to protect sensitive information. At Zognition, he serves as Chief Information Security Officer and HIPAA Security Officer, guiding the company’s cybersecurity, privacy, and regulatory-compliance initiatives. His work includes security risk assessments, policy development, and coordination with technical teams to support secure systems and responsible data management. Denis brings a thoughtful, risk-based approach that aligns information security with business priorities, supporting Zognition’s continued growth, technological advancement, and innovation.

Ivy Caranguian

Operations Manager

Ivy is an operations management professional and Certified GoHighLevel Administrator with a background in business operations, project coordination, and workflow automation. Her experience spans CRM administration, digital marketing support, event logistics, and partner and supplier collaboration. She brings experience in managing people and coordinating across departments to ensure clear responsibilities, aligned priorities, and timely project execution. At Zognition, Ivy takes a structured, collaborative approach to operational growth, simplifying processes, strengthening communication, and connecting teams with effective systems. Her combined expertise in operations and automation supports the company’s continued growth and advancement of innovative medical, ophthalmic, and wellness technologies and solutions.

Jayant Sharma

Team Lead – Mobile Application Developer

Jayant is a mobile application development professional with over 10 years of experience across healthcare, fintech, e-commerce, and streaming. His expertise includes Android development using Kotlin and Jetpack Compose, cross-platform applications with React Native and Flutter, and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity through BLE/GATT. His healthcare experience includes applications involving protected health information and HIPAA considerations. As a team lead, he brings technical knowledge and development coordination to building practical mobile solutions. At Zognition, his background in mobile technologies and connected devices supports the development of the ZogniQ™ platform, contributing to the company’s vision for intelligent software and technology-enabled user experiences.

Vikas Chauhan

Senior Full Stack Developer

Vikas is a Senior Full Stack Developer with more than 3.5 years of experience specializing in the design, development, and deployment of secure, scalable, and production-ready software systems. His technical expertise spans Java, Node.js, Python, JavaScript, and TypeScript, with strong proficiency in Spring Boot, React.js, Next.js, and Express.js. He works across MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Cassandra, and Redis, and has experience building event-driven systems using Apache Kafka. His cloud and DevOps background includes AWS, GCP, Docker, CI/CD, cloud deployment, and server management. He applies security practices such as TLS/SSL, KMS, AES-256, JWT, OAuth 2.0, RBAC, and encryption. His experience also includes microservices, distributed systems, secure REST APIs, AI model training, AI system development, and comprehensive system design. At Zognition, Vikas supports the ZogniQ® platform through backend development, API integration, and database management, helping build the software foundation for connected technology and reliable user experiences.

Anthony Kerfoot

Cybersecurity Expert

Anthony is a veteran cybersecurity expert with more than 30 years of experience designing, building, and administering secure infrastructure environments across the financial, commercial, and healthcare sectors. He specializes in identifying, diagnosing, and resolving complex technical challenges, with extensive capabilities in network and application security, secure development, and comprehensive security testing. His end-to-end understanding of technology enables him to collaborate effectively with technical teams and senior leadership while communicating complex security risks and solutions clearly. At Zognition, Anthony contributes his expertise to strengthening infrastructure security, supporting secure software development, and protecting the technology systems that underpin the company’s continued innovation and growth.

Faisal Shafiq

Regulatory Compliance Expert

Faisal is a Regulatory Compliance Expert at Zognition, LLC, bringing over 10 years of experience in medical device compliance, quality management systems, auditing, and technical documentation. His expertise includes FDA 510(k) documentation, establishment registration, device listing, ISO 13485 implementation, risk management, technical file preparation, and compliance gap assessments.

At Zognition, he supports regulatory activities for the ZogniQ® device, helping align documentation, quality processes, and submission preparation with applicable requirements. His work contributes to regulatory readiness by identifying compliance gaps, organizing technical evidence, and supporting a structured approach to quality and risk management. Faisal brings a practical, detail-oriented perspective that helps connect regulatory requirements with product development, supporting Zognition’s efforts to bring innovative medical technologies to market.

Komal Mehar

Regulatory Compliance and Documentation Specialist

Komal is a Regulatory Compliance and Documentation Specialist at Zognition, LLC, bringing over seven years of experience in medical device compliance, regulatory documentation, product registrations, and quality management support. Her expertise includes FDA 510(k) documentation, establishment registration, device listing, technical file preparation, risk management documentation, and compliance assessments.

As the primary point of contact for regulatory activities, she coordinates daily compliance tasks, maintains regulatory records, and supports submission of readiness for the ZogniQ® device. Working alongside Faisal Shafiq, she helps keep documentation accurate, complete, and aligned with applicable requirements. Komal brings an organized, detail-oriented approach that supports effective coordination across regulatory activities and contributes to Zognition’s development and commercialization of medical technologies.

INNOVATION APPROACH

Zognition’s mission is grounded in ongoing research, thoughtful innovation, and continuous technological advancement. The company actively evaluates emerging science, clinical trends, and published research to guide the development of forward-looking solutions grounded in practical application. This includes continued review of the growing body of low-level light therapy (LLLT) and polarized light research, where specific wavelengths of low-intensity light have been associated in laboratory and clinical research settings with supportive cellular interactions and modulation of inflammatory pathways.

FLAGSHIP TECHNOLOGY: ZogniQ™

Zognition’s flagship technology platform, ZogniQ®, reflects this mission by combining precision polarized light delivery with intelligent digital analysis. The platform integrates advanced machine learning and AI-enabled tools to analyze pre- and post-session 8K images, supporting visual tracking, pattern recognition, and personalized wellness insights over time. By combining light-based technology, high-resolution imaging, and data-driven analysis, ZogniQ® is designed to enhance user experience, consistency, and confidence in modern wellness technology.

VISION

Through ZogniQ® and future innovations, Zognition is building a technology platform focused on bridging the gap between advanced medical science, intelligent software, and practical user-centered care. The company’s broader goal is to support the next generation of medical and wellness solutions by leveraging advanced systems, software, and technology to improve how emerging therapies are delivered, tracked, and understood.