The Managing Partners of Concept Bio

I am a seasoned life science executive with a strong foundation in developing genetic medicines and a proven track record of leading biotech companies from early-stage discovery to commercialization and acquisition. My expertise extends to initiating and managing strategic partnerships across industry and academia, intellectual property licensing, negotiating transactions, and raising dilutive and nondilutive capital. I am adept at leading global cross-functional teams, leading negotiations, closing transactions, and leveraging my extensive network within the biotech and pharma ecosystem to drive corporate growth and innovation.

I currently serve as the President, CEO, and Director of Duet BioTherapeutics and the President,Immuno-Oncology of Scopus BioPharma, in addition to my role as Managing Partner of Concept Bio.

At Duet BioTherapeutics, I lead the effort in developing targeted bifunctional immunotherapies designed to combat treatment-resistant cancers. These groundbreaking RNA therapeutics reprogram immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, reinvigorating the immune system's natural cancer-fighting capabilities.

Prior to my roles at Duet and Scopus, I was a Consultant at L.E.K. Consulting, a premier strategy consulting firm serving the life sciences sector where I focused on oncology diagnostics and provided strategic insights to top biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

Prior to L.E.K., I served as President, CEO, and Co-Founder of Episona, where I led a team in developing a pioneering epigenetic-based molecular diagnostic test for infertility and other human diseases. Through multi-center trials, my team validated the clinical utility of the test, secured substantial private investment, and cultivated strategic relationships that facilitated the test's international distribution to in-vitro fertility clinics and direct-to-consumer.

Before my move into entrepreneurship, I served as a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California. In this role, I led a gene therapy and vision science laboratory, where I focused on developing optogenetic-based gene therapies for blindness and advancing our understanding of retinal degeneration. My collaborative work with investigators at the University of Florida and MIT yielded patents, scientific publications, and recognition through career awards, including the Coulter Foundation Translational Research Award and The Burroughs Wellcome Fund CASI Award.

I earned a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Southern California and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Washington. My Ph.D. research centered around developing computational models of visual processing in blind patients, leading to patented technologies and the creation of a market approved device for treating retinitis pigmentosa.