Our Advisors

Jonathan Yeh
Sue Washer
Sven Kili
Shobha Parthasarathi
Hikaru Saito
Jeff Abbey
Usman “Oz” Azam
Mayra Battilani Becegato
Alexis Cockroft
Panos Chrysanthopoulo
Matthieu Coutet
Stewart Craig
Sonny Dhawan
Irja Elliot Donaghue
James Feliciano
Miguel Forte
Lisa Fox
Yusuke Wada

Alexis Cockroft

Director and Regulatory Consultant, Lex Regulatory Ltd
Linkedin
  • 20+ years in CMC regulatory affairs and dedicated to gene therapy and cell therapy (GCT) products since mid-2011, both as an independent consultant and for GSK• GCT experience includes genetically modified (GM) cell-based products, such as GM T-cell and CD34+ cell products, in vivo viral vectors, non-GM cell therapies and gene editing products• CMC RA experience includes monoclonal antibodies and small molecule drugs• Key achievements include EU approved cell-based gene therapy product (Strimvelis); years working as a consultant culminating in a successful US Biologics License Application for a T-cell-based product and numerous other products through all phases of development• Knowledge and practical experience spans from early phase (first-in-human) to marketing applications and post-authorization with extensive understanding of the requirements for USA and Europe• Expertise spanning science policy (Food Standards Agency), drug discovery (Cambridge Antibody Technology), scientific administration (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute) and discovery research (Zeneca Pharmaceuticals).• Member of Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society, International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy and the Advanced therapy medicinal products Manufacturing Community• Education
    • Ph.D., Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow
    • B.Sc., Biochemistry, University of York

Shobha Parthasarathi

President, InToVis, LLC
Linkedin
  • 25+ years of experience as a life science executive, spanning biotech, pharma and venture capital working at the intersection of science, business, investment, and strategy to advance development of medicines and related products
  • Expert at bridging the non-profit and for-profit sectors, leading and advising at multiple accelerators and investors, and enabling deployment of over $120M into more than 50 startups, catalyzing $6B+ in follow-on funding that has contributed to multiple FDA-approved products, IPOs and acquisitions
  • Currently serves as President of Intovis, LLC, advising academia, pharma, startups and venture funds, and is a committed mentor supporting talent from early career researchers to senior executives
  • Prior experience includes Millennium Pharmaceuticals 
  • Education
    • PhD, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Rutgers University

Sue Washer

Director, BioFlorida
Linkedin
  • 30+ years of biopharma leadership experience, successfully executing capital raises, partnerships and operational growth across pharmaceutical and entrepreneurial settings
  • Supported 7 assets from discovery to clinical data 
  • Raised over $460m in public and private financing
  • Prior experience includes AGTC, Abbott Laboratories and Eli Lilly
  • Education
    • MBA, Marketing, University of Florida, Warrington College of Business
    • B.S., Biochemistry, Michigan State University

Jonathan Yeh

Managing Partner, Saisei Ventures
Linkedin
  • 15+ years of experience as a biotech investor and company builder, advancing cell and gene therapy innovation and supporting teams across venture creation and portfolio management
  • Co-founded 5+ biotech ventures, built from concept to IND or clinic, having raised $300M+ in venture financing
  • Education
    • Ph.D., Experimental Medicine, McGill University
    • MBA, Concordia University

Mayra Battilani Becegato

Founder & CEO, AltrionBio 
Linkedin
  • 17+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, spanning finance, commercial strategy, and cross-functional leadership across Europe, with a focus on advancing cell and gene therapies from pre-launch through commercialization.• Led the regional commercial operations launch of Johnson & Johnson’s first CAR-T cell therapy in EMEA, integrating commercial, medical, supply chain, quality and patient engagement in highly complex healthcare systems• Expertise in advanced therapies, rare diseases, and oncology–hematology, with strong P&L accountability and portfolio lifecycle leadership, including loss-of-exclusivity transitions and multi-billion-euro forecasting• Founded AltrionBio to advise and provide hands-on support to biotech innovators and investors from early development through Phase III on strategy, execution and patient access for advanced therapies and rare diseases• Extensive experience living and working across Latin America and European markets. Passionate about patients and the science of cell and gene therapies, motivated by a simple belief: innovation has no value unless it reaches the patients in need• Education
    • Executive MBA, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
    • BA & MBA in Business Administration, University of São Paulo

Sven Kili

Partner, Saisei Ventures
Linkedin
  • 30+ years of experience spanning clinical practice and biopharma corporate leadership, advancing programs through development, regulatory approval and global launch
  • Led development, approval and commercialization of a cell therapy and gene therapy
  • Advanced three additional cell and gene therapy programs through discovery, clinical development and regulatory approval
  • Prior experience includes Antion Biosciences, GSK, Sanofi, Genzyme and Geistlich Biomaterials
  • Academic Chair of the MSc in Cell & Gene Therapy Manufacture & Commercialisation at University College London (UCL) 
  • Founder and Host of Advanced Therapies Think Tank (AT3), an online series driving open, respectful debate on controversial topics shaping the advanced therapies industry
  • Strong involvement in leading cell and gene therapy industry organizations, including: 
    • 10 years as Chair of the CGT Advisory Committee, BioIndustry Association
    • Chair of Innovation Hubs for Gene Therapies
    • Co-Chair of the Business Development & Finance Committee, International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy
  • Education
    • MRCS, Royal College of Surgeons of England
    • MB ChB, Stellenbosch University

Hikaru Saito

Partner, Saisei Ventures
Linkedin
  • XX years of experience as a biotech investor and scientist, discovering and developing cell and gene therapies, and supporting global venture creation from a pharma and VC perspective
  • [metric per intro paragraph to be added here]
  • Prior experience includes Astellas Venture Management and Astellas Pharma
  • Education
    • Ph.D., Tokyo Institute of Technology
    • M.E., Tokyo Institute of Technology
    • B.E., Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology

Jeff Abbey

Chief Executive Officer, RNatives
Linkedin
  • 20+ years of experience as a biotech executive, leading next-generation biotherapeutics companies through clinical development, equity financing, partnering and pre-commercialization
  • Led Argos Therapeutics from pre-clinical development through pivotal phase 3 trial, raising over $250 million in equity financings, including an initial public offering 
  • Prior experience includes Argos Therapeutics, ImmunOs Therapeutics, and Novadip Therapeutics 
  • Education
    • J.D., University of Virginia
    • MBA, University of Virginia
    • B.A., Brown University

Usman “Oz” Azam

President and Chief Executive Officer, Cue Biopharma
Linkedin
  • 25+ years of experience as a physician-executive leader, guiding immunology and oncology programs through clinical development and execution
  • Led private and public financings and non-dilutive transactions totaling over $250M USD
  • Serves on the Board of CUE Bio and Lupin Oncology, Chairman of the Board ProTgen Inc.
  • Prior experience includes Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, Inspirna, Empyrean Neuroscience and Tmunity Therapeutics
  • Board certified in obstetrics and gynecology in the United Kingdom
  • Education
    • MB ChB, University of Liverpool School of Medicine

Joy Cavagnaro

President, Access BIO
Linkedin
  • XX years of experience as a regulatory and translational science leader, shaping science-based preclinical safety strategies for novel drugs, biologics, and advanced therapies
  • [metric per intro paragraph to be added here]
  • Prior experience includes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)/Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Covance and Human Genome Sciences
  • Education
    • Ph.D., Biochemistry, University of North Carolina
    • B.S., Biology, University of Miami

Panos Chrysanthopoulo

Co-founder, weCANdev Consulting Group 
Linkedin
  • 20+ years of experience as a CMC and product development leader specializing in early-to-clinical-stage biopharmaceutical development
  • His background spans process and analytical development, QbD implementation, process characterization, and external manufacturing strategy across biologics and advanced therapeutic platforms
  • Known for combining strategic perspective with hands-on execution, supporting development teams in translating complex science into robust, scalable and regulator-ready programs
  • Prior experience includes Morphocell Technologies, Artisan Biotechnologies, BlueRock Therapeutics and CCRM
  • Education
    • Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, University of Queensland
    • B.S., Biology/Biological Sciences, University of Patras

Matthieu Coutet

Partner, Sofinnova Partners, Biovelocita Strategy
Linkedin
  • Almost 20 years of experience scaling academic science into biotech companies and guiding teams through capital formation, technology transfer and operations
  • Led 14 seed-stage investments in companies emerging from academic research during his role as Head of the New Venture department at Inserm Transfert and the Managing Partner of Inserm Transfert Initiative
  • Prior experience includes serving as Vice President of Operations and Business Development for two French biotechnology startups, TherAchon (acquired by Pfizer) and Annapurna Therapeutics (merged with Adverum Biotechnology)
  • Board Member of France Biotech
  • Education
    • M.S., Engineering, ESIEE Paris
  •  

Stewart Craig

Chief Technology Officer, Optieum Biotechnologies; Co-founder, Broken Lance Biotech Consulting
Linkedin
  • 40+ years of experience leading development, manufacturing, quality systems and regulatory strategy for cell and gene therapy companies
  • Advised 15+ academic programs and start-ups through company formation, providing hands-on guidance through IND strategy, preparation and submission
  • Advanced programs involving every cell and gene therapy type across 10+ human therapeutic treatment areas or modalities
  • Supported companies that collectively raised >$1 billion in venture, private, IPO and non-dilutive funding
  • Prior experience includes jCyte, ERYTECH Pharma, Orchard Therapeutics, Sangamo BioSciences, StemCells, Inc., Xcyte Therapies and Osiris Therapeutics
  • Education
    • Ph.D., Biochemistry, Newcastle University
    • B.Sc., Biochemistry, Newcastle University

Sonny Dhawan

Associate, Saisei Ventures
Linkedin
  • 10+ years of experience in biotech investing, due diligence research, deal opportunity sourcing and new company creation
  • Conducted 50+ commercial landscape and detailed unmet-needs analyses across 30+ therapeutic areas or modalities
  • Evaluated 250+ early-stage programs for scientific and commercial readiness
  • Prior experience includes Fast Track Initiative Consulting
  • Education
    • Ph.D., Behavioral Neuroscience, University of St. Andrews
    • M.Res, Behavioral Neuroscience, University of St. Andrews
    • B.A., Psychology, York University

Irja Elliott Donaghue

Patent Agent
Linkedin
  • Experienced biotechnology patent agent and IP strategist, supporting early-stage life science innovation across modalities, including cell and gene therapy, immunotherapy and biomaterials
  • Advised companies that collectively raised over $400M in venture or non-dilutive funding
  • Prior experience includes Notch Therapeutics and CCRM
  • Registered Class 1 Patent Agent, College of Patent and Trademark Agents (Canada)
  • Education
    • Ph.D., Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto
    • B.Sc., Engineering Chemistry, Queen’s University

James Feliciano

Venture Partner, Saisei Ventures
Linkedin
  • 20+ years of experience as a pharmaceutical executive in Japan, advancing innovative therapies and guiding global teams to successful commercialization
  • Prior experience includes AbbVie Japan, Pfizer and Merck KGaA Japan
  • Certified executive coach and member of the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches
  • Education
    • MBA, Cornell University, Johnson Graduate School of Management
    • M.A., University of Michigan
    • B.A., Hampden-Sydney College

Miguel Forte

Chief Executive Officer, Kiji Therapeutics; President and Chair, International Society of Cell and Gene Therapy
Linkedin
  • 30 years of experience as a physician-scientist executive, advancing innovative therapies and leading global teams across research, clinical development and commercialization
  • Supported 6 assets from discovery through IND-enabling or clinical entry
  • Advised companies that collectively raised $90M in venture or non-dilutive funding
  • Prior experience includes Bone Therapeutics, Zelluna Immunotherapy, TxCell and the European Medicines Agency
  • Fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine, Royal College of Physicians, London
  • Education
    • M.D., Medicine, University of Lisbon
    • Ph.D., Medicine, University of Birmingham

Lisa Fox

Consulting CTO, Senno Therapeutics; Head of Process Development, Akatsuki Therapeutics; Co-founder, Broken Lance Biotech Consulting
Linkedin
  • 35 years of experience leading CMC, manufacturing, and technical operations for companies developing advanced cell and gene therapies
  • Provided CMC support for more than 20 advanced therapy programs across multiple oncology and regenerative medicine applications
  • Experience with multiple drug product formulations and routes of administration including IV, IP, intra-cranial, spinal cord and sub-retinal
  • Guided 8 early founders through initial company formation to phase-appropriate Tech Ops capability
  • Prior experience includes leadership roles at Orchard Therapeutics, Sangamo BioSciences, StemCells Inc. and Xcyte Therapies
  • Education
    • M.S., Management, Regis University
    • B.S., Medical Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Audrey Greenberg

Venture Partner and Chair, Department of Business Development, Mayo Clinic
Linkedin
  • 20+ years of biopharma and healthcare leadership experience, building and scaling innovative companies through capital formation, strategic partnerships and operations
  • Raised over $500 million as Founder of the Center for Breakthrough Medicines (CBM), and led the company through its acquisition by SK Group
  • Prior experience includes SK pharmteco, Center for Breakthrough Medicines, EQT Group and Morgan Stanley
  • Serves as a board member of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine
  • Certified Public Accountant, Illinois
  • Education
    • MBA, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
    • B.B.A., Accounting and Finance, University of Arizona

Yoshitsugu Shitaka

President and Chief Executive Officer, RealizeEdge Partners
Linkedin
  • 30+ years of experience as a biopharmaceutical scientific leader, driving innovation across discovery research, regenerative medicine and emerging therapeutic modalities
  • Prior experience includes the Forum for Innovative Regenerative Medicine and nearly three decades at Astellas Pharma
  • Education
    • Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo
    • M.Sc., Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo
    • B.Sc., Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo

Yusuke Wada

Senior Associate, Saisei Ventures
Linkedin
  • 10+ years of experience as a scientist and biotech professional, advancing drug discovery and cell therapy programs and supporting new company creation through scientific and technical strategy
  • Guided multiple academic programs through company formation, supporting strategy from discovery through preclinical development
  • Experienced in evaluating early-stage academic and company programs for scientific and commercial readiness, including translational feasibility and venture potential
  • Prior experience includes Astellas Pharma and Universal Cells
  • Education
    • Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka
    • M.S., Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka
    • B.S., Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka