Katharos Labs History

The Story Behind Katharos Labs and the ULTRA FIT™ Mask

Katharos Labs was formed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to commercialize new mask research from the N95 mask working group at the Mass General Brigham hospitals in Boston, Mass., USA headed by Drs. Anthony Samir and Jeff Karp (Katharos Labs co-founders). Joined by three additional co-founders, the team constructed a number of early prototype masks, tested them with many human subjects and iterated upon their design. Initially, masks with only glued periphery wires were used. Then a cough flap was added, then integrated ear loop tensioners and finally a robust ultrasonic-welding process. Throughout the design process, low product cost, mask effectiveness and simplicity of manufacture remained the team's mantra. The result was an innovative, simple, sturdy and low-cost disposable community mask that is scientifically proven to be much more effective at trapping respiratory droplets and aerosols, which are thought to spread SARS-CoV-2 virus and other airborne pathogens

The founders of Katharos Labs have substantial track records of successful medical technology innovation, translation, and commercialization. Our expertise spans across clinical medicine, engineering, materials science, mask engineering, and aerosol science.

	Steven J. Gordon, Ph.D., CEO, Co-Founder. Dr. Gordon is an MIT-trained, serial entrepreneur, having started, run, grown and sold several technology-based companies including an automation company and a DNA sequencing tools company.
	Anthony E. Samir, M.D., M.P.H., Advisor, Co-Founder. Dr. Samir is an Assistant Professor at the Harvard Medical School and co-lead of the N95 mask working group at the Mass General Brigham COVID Innovation Center. He has a clinical practice in radiology at the Mass General Hospital and serves as an advisor for a number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
	Jeff Karp, BEng. PhD., Advisor, Co-Founder. Dr. Karp is a Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and co-lead of the N95 mask working group at the Mass General Brigham COVID Innovation Center. He is a TEDx/TEDMED speaker and co-founder of ten companies.
	Daryl Chulho Hyun, B.S. CTO, Co-Founder. Daryl has been a researcher and entrepreneur in the medical device area for the past 8 years and was a Biodesign Fellow at the University of Oxford.
	Harry (Hank) Miller, MBA, Advisor, Co-Founder. Hank is the President and Owner of Harry Miller Co. in Boston, a 100-year-old manufacturer of textile and other products.