Edwards, John
John Edwards brings over 30 years of experience in discovery, development, and global commercialization of biopharmaceuticals. He was involved in the development or commercialization of ten FDA-approved biologics and has had successful exits at eight of the ten biotech companies he helped to build, including Tilos Therapeutics, Siamab Therapeutics, Exonics Therapeutics, Adnexus Therapeutics, F-star Therapeutics,

John Edwards
Executive Chair

John Edwards
Executive Chair
Martin, Alex
Alex Martin brings over 30 years of experience building companies and closing transactions in the biopharmaceutical industry. He was most recently Chief Executive Officer of Palladio Biosciences, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company which was acquired by Centessa Pharmaceuticals (CNTA), and previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Realm Therapeutics (RLM) which was acquired by ESSA

Alex Martin
Chief Executive Officer

Alex Martin
Chief Executive Officer
Knowles, Julius (Jay)
Jay Knowles joined Mass General Brigham Ventures in 2014 as a Partner. Previously, Jay was Chief Executive Officer of X-BODY Biosciences, which was acquired by Juno Therapeutics. Prior to X-BODY, he was at Novartis in charge of the Platforms team for Strategic Alliances, responsible for global technology and drug discovery collaborations. Jay was also President

Julius (Jay) Knowles
Partner, Mass General Brigham Ventures

Julius (Jay) Knowles
Partner, Mass General Brigham Ventures
Jay Knowles joined Mass General Brigham Ventures in 2014 as a Partner. Previously, Jay was Chief Executive Officer of X-BODY Biosciences, which was acquired by Juno Therapeutics. Prior to X-BODY, he was at Novartis in charge of the Platforms team for Strategic Alliances, responsible for global technology and drug discovery collaborations. Jay was also President of Novalar Pharmaceuticals, Vice President of Business Development at Novacea, and Director, R&D Planning at Vertex Pharmaceuticals. He represents Mass General Brigham Ventures on the boards of Apres Therapeutics, Keros Therapeutics, SwanBio Therapeutics, and Triplet Therapeutics. Jay earned his M.B.A in Finance from Wharton Business School, an M.Sc. in Chemistry from UC Berkeley, and a B.A. with Distinction in Chemistry from Carleton College.
Hafler, Jason P. , PhD
Jason P. Hafler is the Managing Director of Sanofi Ventures. Prior to joining Sanofi in 2014, Jason was the Director of Corporate Development at RaNA Therapeutics, a company co-founded by his previous firm Atlas Venture. While at Atlas, Jason was an Associate in the Life Sciences group. Previously, he was a Flagship Ventures Entrepreneurial Fellow,

Jason P. Hafler, PhD
Managing Director, Sanofi Ventures

Jason P. Hafler, PhD
Managing Director, Sanofi Ventures
Jason P. Hafler is the Managing Director of Sanofi Ventures. Prior to joining Sanofi in 2014, Jason was the Director of Corporate Development at RaNA Therapeutics, a company co-founded by his previous firm Atlas Venture. While at Atlas, Jason was an Associate in the Life Sciences group. Previously, he was a Flagship Ventures Entrepreneurial Fellow, and consulted for the technology transfer company at the University of Cambridge while performing his doctoral research. Before his time at Cambridge, Jason was an analyst at JSB Partners LP, an investment banking firm. Jason’s active investments include Abcuro, Amathus Therapeutics, Escient Pharmaceuticals, Expansion Therapeutics, Glycomine, Q32 Bio, ReCode Therapeutics, Rome Therapeutics and Navitor Pharmaceuticals. Jason graduated with honors from Bowdoin College and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge.
Kariv, Tomer
Tomer is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pontifax. He serves as an active board member of many of the funds’ portfolio companies, assuming a special responsibility for strategic planning. Among other positions, Tomer serves as the chairman at Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, board member in Cathworks, Keros Therapeutics, Ocon Healthcare, ARMGO and V-Wave. During the

Tomer Kariv
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Pontifax

Tomer Kariv
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Pontifax
Shah, Rajeev
Rajeev Shah has been a Managing Partner at RA Capital Management since 2004. Raj is active in both public and private investments in companies developing drugs, medical devices, diagnostics, and research tools. He is also active in the firm’s outreach efforts, speaking frequently both at industry events and in classrooms. He previously worked as a

Rajeev Shah
Managing Partner, RA Capital Management

Rajeev Shah
Managing Partner, RA Capital Management
McCarthy, Donnie
Donald McCarthy is Vice President at Samsara Biocapital. Prior to joining Samsara, he was a Partner at Global Founders Capital where he founded and invested in multiple therapeutics companies. Previously, Donald served as a Senior Fellow in Entrepreneurship at Life Science Angels where he helped source and evaluate new deals and was a Managing Director

Donnie McCarthy, PhD
Vice President, Samsara BioCapital

Donnie McCarthy, PhD
Vice President, Samsara BioCapital
Deptula-Hicks, Darlene
Ms. Deptula-Hicks currently serves as F-star’s Chief Financial Officer. In addition, Darlene has operated Crimson Advisors, a strategic and financial consulting services company, and has served as acting Chief Financial Officer for Northern Biologics as well Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of T2 Biosystems. Previously she was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial

Darlene Deptula-Hicks
Chief Financial Officer,
F-star Therapeutics

Darlene Deptula-Hicks
Chief Financial Officer,
F-star Therapeutics
Ms. Deptula-Hicks currently serves as F-star’s Chief Financial Officer. In addition, Darlene has operated Crimson Advisors, a strategic and financial consulting services company, and has served as acting Chief Financial Officer for Northern Biologics as well Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of T2 Biosystems. Previously she was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Pieris Pharmaceuticals and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Microline Surgical. Darlene currently also serves on the board of directors and as audit committee chair of Aerami Therapeutics and previously served on the board of directors and as audit committee chair of Giner Life Sciences, Xentic Biosciences, and IMCOR Pharmaceuticals. Darlene received an M.B.A. from Rivier University and a B.S in Accounting from Southern New Hampshire University.
Berger, Dietmar
Dietmar Berger is currently the Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Development at Sanofi, where he oversees the clinical portfolio of Sanofi across all therapeutic areas. With over 20 years of experience in leadership positions across both large pharmaceutical companies as well as innovative biotech companies, Dr. Berger brings extensive expertise in clinical development

Dietmar Berger, MD, PhD
Observer, Chief Medical Officer
and Head of Global Development at Sanofi

Dietmar Berger, MD, PhD
Observer, Chief Medical Officer
and Head of Global Development at Sanofi
Dietmar Berger is currently the Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Development at Sanofi, where he oversees the clinical portfolio of Sanofi across all therapeutic areas. With over 20 years of experience in leadership positions across both large pharmaceutical companies as well as innovative biotech companies, Dr. Berger brings extensive expertise in clinical development and advancing programs all the way to market approval to Abcuro. As a trained hematologist and oncologist, Dr. Berger has extensive experience in therapeutic areas of high relevance to Abcuro’s programs. Prior to Sanofi, he was Global Head of R&D at Atara Biotherapeutics, an off-the-shelf cell therapy company. Previously he held senior positions in clinical development at Amgen, Bayer and Genentech where he served as the Senior Vice President of Global Clinical Development, Hematology/Oncology. Dr. Berger holds an M.D. and Ph.D. from the Albert-Ludwigs University School of Medicine in Freiburg, Germany, where he still maintains an adjunct faculty position.
Xu, Yajun
Yajun Xu is currently president of Hongsen Investment Group. She also serves as Senior Advisor for Shangbay Capital, co-founder of Epimab, and board member and advisor on numerous biotech companies in U.S. and China. Previously, she was Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Shangpharma, Executive Vice President of Biology and Pre-Clinical Service at Chempartner

Yajun Xu, PhD
Observer, President, Hongsen

Yajun Xu, PhD
Observer, President, Hongsen
Yajun Xu is currently president of Hongsen Investment Group. She also serves as Senior Advisor for Shangbay Capital, co-founder of Epimab, and board member and advisor on numerous biotech companies in U.S. and China. Previously, she was Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Shangpharma, Executive Vice President of Biology and Pre-Clinical Service at Chempartner in Shanghai, China. Prior to Joining Shangpharma, Yajun was Director of Inflammation at Millennium Pharmaceuticals and Senior Scientist at BASF Bioresearch (now AbbVie Bioresearch). She received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Brandeis University and postdoctoral training at Harvard School of Public Health.