Our Team
Many Backgrounds. Different Perspectives. Persistently Curious.
MEET THE TEAM
DANN HUH, PhD
Senior Director, Genomic Target Validation
RENNY GLEESON
Managing Director, Marketing
CHRIS BROWN, PhD
Associate
ROBERT NICOL, PhD
Venture Partner
BRENDAN JOYCE
Tax Director
SONIA KARTHA, PhD
RA Ventures Senior Associate
DANN HUH, PhD
Senior Director, Genomic Target Validation
Dann Huh is a Senior Director of Genomic Target Validation at RA Ventures (Raven). He is leading target identification by leveraging human 'omics data alongside advanced computational methodologies and innovative approaches. Before joining Raven, he was the Head of Computational Analytics at Biogen, where he focused on bridging data to biology. Through integrative multi-omics analysis, he identified novel targets for neurodegenerative diseases and provided human molecular evidence for target genes. He also led early fluid biomarker discovery and the development of platforms for data integration. During his postdoc training at Harvard University, he also gained expertise in in-vitro and tissue profiling experiments. He holds a PhD in Chemistry from Harvard University and a BS and MS in Chemistry from Seoul National University.
RENNY GLEESON
Managing Director, Marketing
Renny Gleeson is a Managing Director, Marketing at RA Capital Management. He founded the Threatcasting/Futurecasting firm Business Innovation Group (BIG), and served as the Chief Strategy Officer for SciFutures, a science fiction prototyping firm that helps clients envision and action inspired futures. Previously, Renny built and led Wieden + Kennedy Advertising's Interactive Strategy practice globally, launched its tech accelerator and business strategy practices and worked with clients including Samsung, Nokia, Nike, Booking.com, Target, Old Spice, Coca-Cola and Magic Leap. Renny is a published author, thought leader and TED speaker whose work covers the future of brands and advertising, emerging dual-use tech, evolving customer experience, AI/ML; 5G/6G; Future Cities/Energy Grids, digital twinning and A2A (Algorithm-to-algorithm) marketing. Renny holds a BA in Fine Arts from Yale University and a MFA from University of Pennsylvania.
CHRIS BROWN, PhD
Associate
Chris Brown is an Associate with the Planetary Health division of RA Capital Management. His primary responsibility is to create detailed competitive landscapes of planetary health solutions. Prior to RA, Chris worked as a post-doc in the Johnson group at MIT, and he has eight first-author publications in research that spans degradable polymers, energy-efficient catalysis, and low-energy lighting devices. Chris holds an MChem in Organic Chemistry from Newcastle University and a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of British Columbia.
ROBERT NICOL, PhD
Venture Partner
Robert Nicol is a Venture Partner at Raven, focusing on company creation. Prior to Raven, Rob spent 21 years at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, most recently as the Senior Director of Technology Development and a Principal Investigator. His laboratory at the Broad focused on advanced high throughput biotechnology tools including DNA synthesis, single cell analysis, synthetic biology derived biomolecule libraries, and microbiome profiling. Robert has led multiple DARPA, IARPA, and NIH advanced technology development programs. He is also the co-founder of multiple biotechnology companies including HiFiBiO and Design Pharmaceuticals. He served on the Scientific Advisory Boards of multiple companies including DNA Script, Danaher Life Sciences, and CircBio. Robert also led the Sequencing Operations and Technology Development groups at the Broad for over 12 years, implementing industrial process control methods, developing multiple generations of high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies, and establishing an agile learning culture in the organization. Prior to his career at the Broad Institute, Robert was an MIT Leaders for Manufacturing Fellow, and a project manager for Fluor Corporation, where he managed large-scale petrochemical design and construction projects. Robert received his BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Houston. He earned an MS in chemical engineering and his MBA and PhD in engineering systems from MIT.
BRENDAN JOYCE
Tax Director
Brendan Joyce is a Tax Director at RA Capital Management. Brendan’s primary responsibility is managing all aspects of the tax function. He has more than 18 years of experience as a tax professional. Most recently, Brendan served as Tax Director at PwC Asset & Wealth Management. Prior to PwC, Brendan worked as Senior Tax Analyst for Highfields Capital Management LP and held tax and accounting positions at Citi and Investors Bank & Trust / State Street. Brendan holds a MS in Accounting with a concentration in Taxation from Merrimack College and a BA in Economics from University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is an Enrolled Agent, admitted to practice before the IRS.
SONIA KARTHA, PhD
RA Ventures Senior Associate
Sonia Kartha is a Senior Associate at Raven. Sonia's primary responsibility is NewCo creation in collaboration with Ventures Partners and Entrepreneur-in-Residences. Prior to joining Raven, Sonia was an Associate within the TechAtlas division of RA Capital where she worked closely with members of the investment team and portfolio companies to deeply understand competitive landscapes, evaluated investment opportunities in a variety of therapeutic areas across all stages, and advised portfolio companies on program and pipeline strategy. Sonia has a BA in Chemistry and a PhD in Bioengineering, both from the University of Pennsylvania.