Tech leader Duane Roth hospitalized with brain injury

SAN DIEGO Duane J. Roth, a prominent supporter of San Diego's tech and biotech sector, was hospitalized Sunday with brain trauma after a bicycle accident.

Roth, CEO of Connect, was placed in a medically induced coma at UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest, said David F. Hale, a friend of Roth's.

Tyler Orion, past chief operating officer of Connect, was appointed interim president Monday to support the technology entrepreneurship nonprofit during Roth's recovery.

"The last I heard is that he appears to be stable at this time, and they're going to keep him in this medically induced coma for some time, a few days, and they're hoping he will be improved enough to start to come out of it," Hale said Monday afternoon.

UCSD Medical Center said Roth is a patient, but declined to give any details without family permission. However, Paul Laikind, incoming chair of Connect, said Roth's family confirmed Hale's account.

Ted Roth, Duane's brother, said the family appreciates prayers and good wishes, calling Duane his "best friend." Ted Roth is notable in his own right as president of Newport Beach-based Roth Capital Partners.

Aside from his role at Connect, Duane Roth has long been a well-known and respected veteran of San Diego's biomedical industry. Roth is vice chair of the governing board for California's stem cell research program, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

The bicycle accident happened near Lake Cuyamaca Sunday morning when Roth was cycling with the Challenged Athletes Foundation, Hale said. The injury did not involve a car, he said. Roth crashed into an outcropping hard enough to break his helmet. A piece of his skull was removed to relieve swelling of the brain.

Laikind said Connect's leaders are discussing how to run the organization in Roth's absence.

"I and other members of the board are actively following the situation and will act appropriately to minimize the impact of Duane's absence on the day-to-day operation of Connect," Laikind said in his brief email. Laikind is CEO of ViaCyte, a biotech company developing a treatment for diabetes derived from embryonic stem cells.

Here is the original post:
Tech leader Duane Roth hospitalized with brain injury