RA Capital

BRIGID O’BREIN, PhD

Managing Partner

Brigid O’Brien joins RA Capital as a Managing Partner, Planetary Health. Brigid's primary responsibility at RA is to lead investments in private companies that are developing innovative solutions to address climate change and environmental sustainability. Prior to joining RA, Brigid was the Head of Venture Investments for BHP Ventures, the internal venture capital unit within the world’s largest mining company, where her investment mandate was to help the decarbonization of BHP’s operations and to improve the sustainability of resource extraction. Brigid was responsible for starting the venture fund and led investments in multiple sectors, including advanced analytics platforms, biomining and bioremediation, novel chemical leaching, long-duration energy storage, traceability of products, carbon removal, and green steel. Prior to BHP, Brigid was at In-Q-Tel (IQT), the strategic investment arm of the CIA and the US Intelligence Community; she co-founded IQT's Australian subsidiary, served as its Managing Director, and built an international program to support a global innovation initiative through investing in the Asian-Pacific region. Brigid holds a BS in Chemistry (Hons) from the Commonwealth Honors College at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2002) and a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Johns Hopkins University (2009).

KYLE TEAMEY

Managing Partner

Kyle Teamey joins RA Capital as a Managing Partner, Planetary Health. Kyle's primary responsibility at RA is to lead investments in private companies that are developing innovative solutions to address climate change and environmental sustainability. Prior to joining RA, Kyle was a Partner at Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV), where he led investments and served on company boards that span the utilities, energy storage, chemicals, agriculture, automotive, recycling, and consumer products sectors. Prior to BEV, Kyle was a Principal at In-Q-Tel, the strategic investment arm of the CIA and US Intelligence Community, where he invested in early stage manufacturing, materials, energy, computing, and defense companies. Kyle was also the CEO and co-founder of Liquid Light, developer of a proprietary process to make major chemicals from CO2, which was sold to Avantium in 2016. Kyle also recently retired as a Colonel in the US Army Reserve after 24 years of service. He holds a BA in Environmental Engineering from Dartmouth College (1998), an MA in International Finance and Energy Policy from John Hopkins University (2008), an MS in Materials Science from Columbia University (2012), and a Masters of Strategic Studies from the Army War College (2020).

WALTER DAUKSHER

Junior Associate

Walter Dauksher is a Junior Associate within the Planetary Health division of RA Capital Management. Walter's primary responsibility at RA Capital is to create competitive landscapes of biotechnology and planetary health. Walter has a BS in Biology from Davidson College and a MS in Genetics from University of Georgia.

ELENA FORCHIELLI, PhD

Associate

Elena Forchielli is an Associate within the Planetary Health division of RA Capital Management. Elena's primary responsibility at RA Capital is to create competitive landscapes of biotechnology and planetary health. Prior to RA, Elena gained analyst and research experience through roles with Alira Health, Mandarin Capital Partners, LifeLineLab S.r.l. and Novus Biologicals. Elena has a BA in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology from University of Colorado, Boulder and a PhD in Molecular, Cellular Biology and Biochemistry from Boston University.

JAIMIE KIRKPATRICK

Research Assistant

Jaimie Kirkpatrick is a Research Assistant at RA Capital Management. Jaimie's primary responsibility is to conduct research and analysis for competitive landscapes of drugs and medical devices across a range of disease indications and capabilities. Jaimie previously held roles as data analyst at Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Anne Arundel Medical Center Department of Medicine. Jaimie holds a BA in Biology Boston College, with Minors in Medical Humanities and Sociology, and a Master of Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health.

DANIEL SLESINSKI

Associate

Daniel Slesinski is an Associate within the Planetary Health division at RA Capital Management. Daniel’s primary responsibilities include creating competitive landscapes of climate change solutions and analyzing investment opportunities across climate technology and applied biotech. Previously, Daniel spent time working at ARPA-E and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, and has published research examining potential early markets for fusion energy as well as techno-economic synergies between direct air capture and advanced nuclear. Daniel has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University and a MS in Energy Policy & Climate from Johns Hopkins University.

PIETER BOELHOUWER

Partner and Managing Director

Pieter Boelhouwer is a Partner and Managing Director of Strategy and Operations at RA Capital Management. Pieter’s primary responsibility at RA Capital is to lead major strategic initiatives and drive operational excellence across the firm. Pieter holds a BA from Trinity College and a JD from Yale Law School. Pieter previously worked as a consultant with McKinsey & Company, where he managed a variety of healthcare engagements, including pharmaceutical mergers, biotech product launch plans, OTC product rationalization, and hospital acquisitions. He held senior management positions at two successful start-up companies that were acquired and he has over 14 years of experience investing in the global healthcare sector, both as a Partner and Managing Director at Matrix Capital Management and as a General Partner and Managing Director at Ayer Capital Management, a healthcare-focused hedge fund. He also gained extensive legislative and public policy experience early in his career as a Legislative Aide to former United States Senator David Boren, and as a Domestic Policy Advisor to former Vice President Al Gore. Pieter has been recognized as one of the outstanding leaders in the U.S. through his selection as a White House Fellow, and he currently serves on the Board of Directors of the White House Fellows Foundation.

ADISON BECKER

Executive Assistant

Adison is an Executive Assistant RA Capital Management. Adison’s primary responsibilities are to coordinate calendars, events, and company meetings for the Investment Team. Adison previously held posts as an Administrative Assistant and Office Manager at Dyer Brown Architects and as an Executive Assistant to the Principal and Office Manager at bKL Architecture. She has a BA in Communication Studies from University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

BRIAN BENNETT

IT Operations Manager

Brian is a IT Operations Manager at RA Capital Management. Brian's primary responsibility at RA Capital is to manage the firm's IT Operations needs. Brian previously worked at the Kraft Group LLC, where he led their system admin, network, and desktop engineering groups. Brian has a B.S. in Business Administration in Management Information Systems from Northeastern University.

MATT BEVERLY, PhD

Senior Software Engineer

Matt Beverly is a Senior Software Engineer at RA Capital Management. Matt’s primary responsibility at RA Capital is to help guide internal software development to support competitive landscapes of drugs and medical devices across a range of disease indications and capabilities. Matt has a BA in Biology with minors in Mathematics and Physics from Ithaca College, a Master of Science in Bioinformatics from Northeastern University, and a PhD in Molecular Biology with a specialization in quantitative biology from Brandeis University. Matt comes to RA from Localytics where he served as a Senior Software Engineer for the past two years. Prior to Localytics, Matt served as software engineer at Mathworks.

JEFF BREAY

Head Trader

Jeff Breay is a Head Trader at RA Capital Management. His responsibilities include managing the portfolio’s public equity positions, monitoring market, sector, and individual equity dynamics, and maintaining relationships with broker/dealer counterparties. Jeff holds a BA in Economics and Psychology from Georgetown. Prior to joining RA Capital, Jeff worked for over 10 years as an institutional equity sales trader, primarily at KCG Holdings, Inc., where he managed the Boston office.

AMBER BROWN

Special Projects Operations Manager/Chief of Staff

Amber is Special Projects Operations Manager/Chief of Staff at RA Capital Management. Her primary responsibilities are to provide strategic administrative support and to assist the co founder in various external and internal projects She previously held Senior Executive Assistant roles at Genuity Science and Charles River Laboratories, and served as Director of Operations at Gloucester Graphics, Inc. Amber has a dual BA concentration in International Business & Modern Languages from Northeastern University and studied abroad at American University of Paris.

CHRIS CALIRI

Chief Information Officer

Chris Caliri is the Chief Information Officer at RA Capital Management. Chris’ primary responsibility at RA Capital is to oversee the firm’s information technology program, including operations, development, and security. He holds a Master’s degree in Software Engineering from Brandeis University and a BA in Psychology from Providence College. He worked previously as the Director of Business Systems at Bain Capital Credit, and as a Senior Systems Analyst at eSecLending, LLC.

MICHAEL CALORE

Director of Investor Relations

Michael Calore is the Director of Investor Relations at RA Capital Management. Michael’s primary responsibility at RA Capital is to start and maintain relationships with current and potential investors. He was previously a marketing manager at Brighton House Associates, assisting with fundraising campaigns for a diverse group of investment managers, including private equity, venture capital, real estate, and hedge funds. He holds a BS in Finance from Providence College.

HARVEY CHAN

Controller

Harvey is a Controller at RA Capital Management. Harvey’s primary responsibility is to oversee all accounting related activities for the firm. Harvey most recently served as Assistant Controller at Charles River Ventures. His prior posts include Fund Accountant at Nautic Partners and HLM Venture Partners. Harvey holds an MS in Finance from Bentley University McCallum Graduate School of Business and a BS in Corporate Finance and Accounting from Bentley University.

LORENA CHEN, CPA

Fund Controller

Lorena Chen is a Fund Controller at RA Capital Management. Lorena's primary responsibility is to oversee all accounting related activities for the firm. She has spent the last five years as a Senior Finance Associate at Great Hill Partners. Prior to GHP, Lorena served as an Assurance Senior at EY. Lorena has dual degrees from Beijing Foreign Studies University: a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. She also has a Master's in Accounting from Boston College and is a CPA.

SAMUEL CHOWDHURY

Software Engineer

Samuel Chowdhury is a Software Engineer at RA Capital Management. Sam’s primary responsibility is to help guide internal software development to support competitive landscapes of drugs and medical devices across a range of disease indications and capabilities. He holds a BS in Computer Engineering and a Minor in Mathematics from Northeastern University.

LAURA CLOSE

Executive Assistant

Laura is an Executive Assistant at RA Capital Management. Laura’s primary responsibilities at RA Capital are to coordinate calendars, events, and company meetings for the TechAtlas division. Laura has a BS in Human Services; Clinical Concentration and a Minor in Disabilities Studies from the University of Delaware. Laura previously worked at WinterWyman where she served as a Senior Associate.

ERIN CLUTTER

Head of Graphics

Erin Clutter is the Head of Graphics at RA Capital Management. Erin’s primary responsibilities at RA Capital are to manage the design and creation of all internal and external documents and resources for the company, including competitive landscapes of drugs and medical devices for disease indications and capabilities, set brand standards, and oversee internal and external marketing efforts. Erin holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Massachusetts College of Art & Design. She worked previously in desktop publishing and as a freelance designer.

ANDREW COSTENOBLE

Software Developer

Andrew is a Software Developer at RA Capital Management. Andrew’s primary responsibility is to help guide internal software development to support competitive landscapes of drugs and medical devices across a range of disease indications and capabilities. He holds a BS in Computer Science from Northeastern University.

EBONY COTTERELL

Payroll and Benefits Manager

Ebony is the Payroll and Benefits Manager at RA Capital Management. Her primary responsibilities are to manage payroll and benefit programs for the company. Ebony previously worked as Payroll and Benefits Manager at Not Your Average Joe's, where she led open enrollment, reporting, payroll, and benefits management for the company. Prior to Not Your Average Joe's, Ebony held roles in payroll and human capital management, as well as banking at Solex HCM and Rockland Trust Bank. Ebony is both a SHRM-Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and an APA-Certified Payroll Professional (CPP).

DAVID CROWE

Director of Treasury

David is Director of Treasury at RA Capital Management. David’s primary responsibility is to oversee the development and implementation of treasury functions for the firm. Most recently, David served as Director of Operations at Corbin Capital Partners, LP. Prior to that, David worked as Director of Operations for Wingspan Investment Management, LP and held operations positions at Brencourt Advisors and Silver Point Capital, LP. David holds a BS in Economics with a minor in Business Administration from University of Colorado Boulder.

THOMAS CULMAN

Engagement Associate

As Engagement Associate at RA Capital Management, Thomas Culman leverages qualitative and quantitative skills to manage a variety of educational, outreach, and advocacy-oriented projects. Prior to this role, Tom conducted research and analysis for competitive landscapes of drugs and medical devices across a range of disease indications and capabilities as a Senior Research Assistant. Tom holds a BS in Health Sciences with a minor in Journalism from Northeastern University. He worked previously as a Patient Coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital.

JOHN DiNAPOLI

Systems Administrator

John DiNapoli is the Systems Administrator at RA Capital Management. John’s primary responsibility at RA Capital is to provide technical assistance and support for issues related to computer systems, the network, and server environments. John holds a BA in Sociology and Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He previously worked as a Help Desk Manager at Toast.

MATT FERESTEN

Business Systems Analyst

Matthew Feresten is a Business Systems Analyst at RA Capital Management. Matt’s primary responsibilities at RA Capital are to gather team input to help guide internal software development to support competitive landscapes of drugs and medical devices across a range of disease indications and capabilities, and to provide software training and coordinate with outside technology vendors. He holds a BS in Biology from the College of William and Mary, where he studied the impact of ecological fragmentation on the prevalence of ticks and their bacterial pathogens.

CAT FLAHERTY

Executive Assistant

Cat is an Executive Assistant at RA Capital Management. Cat’s primary responsibilities at RA Capital are to coordinate calendars, events, and company meetings for the Investment Division. Cat previously held posts as an Executive Assistant at Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation and Bain Capital. She has a BA in Liberal Studies from Endicott College and a Certificate in Interior Design from Parsons School of Design.

CANDICE GALVEZ

Executive Assistant

Candice Galvez is an Executive Assistant at RA Capital Management. Her primary responsibilities are to support our Venture Team by coordinating management agendas, calendars, and external events. Candice has a BS in Mass Communications from Emerson College. Candice previously worked as the Director of Executive Office and Administration at Flywire. Prior to Flywire, she worked as an Executive/Personal Assistant at Spark Capital.

ERNESTO GONZALEZ

Business Systems Manager

Ernesto Gonzalez is a Business Systems Manager at RA Capital. Ernesto’s primary responsibility at RA Capital is to coordinate various technology related initiatives across the company and oversee their initiation, planning, and execution. He previously held roles as VP Product Manager - Data Services at Charles River Development (a State Street Company) and Senior Business Analyst in Capital Markets at Bain Capital Credit and State Street Global Exchange, DataGX. He holds a BA in History from University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Master's of Urban Affairs from Boston University.

EMILY GREEN

Visual Identity Designer

Emily Green is a Visual Identity Designer at RA Capital Management. Emily’s primary responsibility at RA Capital is designing and overseeing the brand management for RA Capital's internal and external communications as well assisting with the brand identity for portfolio companies founded through RA Capital's incubator, RA Ventures. Emily holds a BS in Graphic Design from James Madison University.

LUCAS GUEVARA

Compliance Counsel

Lucas Guevara is a Compliance Counsel at RA Capital Management. Lucas’ primary responsibilities are to advise on regulatory matters and assist in the development, implementation, and testing of the compliance program. Lucas holds a BA in Criminal Justice and Philosophy from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in NY, a JD, Privacy Concentration, from Northeastern University School of Law, and is admitted to practice law in MA. Lucas previously held Law Clerk positions at The Community Builders, Inc. and at Nixon Peabody LLP.

DAN GUGLIELMO

IT Operations Associate

Dan Guglielmo is IT Operations Associate at RA Capital Management. Dan’s primary responsibility at RA Capital is to provide technical assistance and support for issues related to computer systems, the network, and server environments. Prior to RA, Dan spent three years in Systems Engineer and Technical Consultant roles at Withum Smith + Brown, where he provided cloud and hybrid implementation guidance for clients within industries such as healthcare, construction, and fitness. Prior to external consulting and engineering, he gained experience in Helpdesk Specialist and Systems Administrator roles at Withum and Edelstein and Company, LLP. Dan studied Network Communications & Information Services at Lincoln Technical. He holds Microsoft 365 and Microsoft certifications as Messaging Administrator Associate, Teams Administrator Associate, Teamwork Administrator Associate, and Azure Administrator Associate.

NIKKI HECHT

Human Resources Manager

Nikki is a Human Resources Manager at RA Capital Management. Nikki’s primary responsibilities at RA Capital are to assist in full cycle talent management and recruiting. Nikki previously worked as a Human Resources Manager, Office Manager and Executive Assistant at the State Services Organization in Washington, DC. She has also held roles in Marketing and Client Services at West, Lane & Schlager and CBRE respectively. Nikki has a BA in Communication Studies from Christopher Newport University and is a HRCI-certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR).

BENJAMIN HICKS

Venture Operations Associate

Benjamin Hicks is a Venture Operations Associate at RA Capital Management. Benjamin’s primary responsibilities at RA Capital are to coordinate various projects across the Venture Team and oversee their initiation, planning, and execution. He holds a BA in Neuroscience with a minor in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Colorado College. Benjamin previously worked in clinical research as a Site Operations Associate for a contracted research organization specializing in Ophthalmology.

LE HO

Business Systems Analyst

Le Ho is a Business Systems Analyst at RA Capital Management. Le’s primary responsibility is to coordinate various technology related initiatives across the company. She previously held roles as a Senior Business Analyst at Cambridge Associates and a Systems Analyst at Wellington Management Company. She holds a BA in Public Administration with a minor in International Affairs from Texas State University.

SHANNON HOLT

Receptionist and Facilities Administrator

Shannon is a Receptionist and Facilities Administrator at RA Capital Management. Shannon's primary responsibilities are to manage the front desk and office facilities. Shannon has a BA in Special Education and English from Bridgewater University and a MS in Elementary Education from Boston College.

MARIAGRACE HOULLAHAN

Executive Assistant

Mariagrace Houllahan is an Executive Assistant at RA Capital Management. Her primary responsibilities are to support our Venture Team by coordinating management agendas, calendars, and external events. Mariagrace has a BS in Sociology from Suffolk University. Mariagrace previously worked as an Executive Assistant at MPM Capital. Prior to MPM, she worked as an Executive Assistant at Charles River Ventures.

BRENDAN JOYCE

Tax Director

Brendan is a Tax Director at RA Capital Management. Brendan’s primary responsibility is managing all aspects of the tax function. Brendan 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.

TYLER KOWALSKI

Interactive Designer

Tyler Kowalski is an Interactive Designer at RA Capital Management. Tyler’s primary responsibility at RA Capital is designing and maintaining the RA Capital website and assisting in the creation and design of interactive platforms at RA Capital and it's portfolio companies founded through the firm's incubator, RA Ventures. In addition, he designs graphics for all internal and external materials. Prior to RA Capital, Tyler worked as a freelance graphic designer. Tyler holds a BA in Finance from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a certificate in Interactive Design from Rhode Island School of Design.

SRI MAHENDRA

Senior Software Engineer

Sri Mahendra is a Senior Software Engineer at RA Capital Management. Sri’s primary responsibility at RA Capital is to help guide internal software development to support competitive landscapes of drugs and medical devices across a range of disease indications and capabilities. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications from Anna University, and a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Northeastern University. He previously worked as a Software Engineer for several companies, including Autodesk, the Advisory Board Company, and Maveric Systems.

KATIE MAHER, PhD

Senior Compliance Officer

Katie Maher is a Senior Compliance Officer at RA Capital Management. Katie’s primary responsibilities are to advise on regulatory matters and assist in the development, implementation, and testing of the compliance program. She holds a BS in Biology from Pennsylvania State University and a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her doctoral work integrated molecular and genetic strategies to study the mechanism by which dopamine modulates neuronal activity in both individual neurons and neural circuits.

KATE MCKENNA

Compliance Coordinator and Paralegal

Kate McKenna is a Compliance Coordinator and Paralegal at RA Capital Management. Kate's primary responsibility is to work with both the Legal and Compliance Teams in support of their programs. Her contributions involve engagement with teams across RA Capital, including the processing of CDA's. Kate previously served as Health Law Assistant at Mintz. Prior to Mintz, Kate held a Paralegal role at Loughran & Corbett, Attorneys, Inc. Kate holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Bridgewater State University and is a certified Paralegal in Massachusetts.

BRITTANY McKINNON

Executive Assistant and Recruiting Coordinator

Brittany McKinnon is an Executive Assistant and Recruiting Coordinator at RA Capital Management. Brittany’s primary responsibilities at RA Capital are to coordinate calendars, events, and company meetings for the Operations division as well as assist in all of the firm’s recruiting efforts. Brittany previously worked as a Delivery Specialist at Randstad Technologies. She holds a BA in Communications from Bryant University.

TOM MICHALIK, CFA, CAIA

Senior Operations Analyst

Tom is a Senior Operations Analyst at RA Capital Management. Tom’s primary responsibility is to support all aspects of trade and treasury operations. Tom has more than nine years of operations experience. Most recently, Tom served as Director of Operations at TPRV Capital, LP. Prior to that, Tom held an Operations Supervisor role at Bracebridge Capital, LLC and operations positions at Harvard Management Company and State Street Corporation. Tom has a BA in Business Administration from St. Anselm College and earned both his Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designations.

CHRIS MORRISON

Editor

Chris Morrison is an Editor at RA Capital Management. Chris’s primary responsibility at RA Capital is to cover the biotech and pharma industry. Chris has a BS in Neurobiology and Behavior from Cornell University and a MA in Journalism from New York University. Prior to RA, Chris was at Elsevier Business Intelligence, where he served as Writer/Editor and eventually became the Editor in Chief for Biopharmaceuticals and Consumer Products.

JOEY O'NEILL

Investor Services Associate

Joey O’Neill is an Investor Services Associate at RA Capital Management. Joey’s primary responsibility is to manage workflows for investor transaction processing and investor reporting in collaboration with the fund's administrator. Joey previously served as Private Client Associate at Bernstein Private Wealth Management. Prior to Bernstein, Joey held a Consultant role at FactSet. Joey holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from American University and is FINRA-certified in Series 7, Series 63 and Securities Industry Essentials.

CRAIG RANDALL

Assistant General Counsel (RA Capital), RAVen Counsel

Craig Randall is Assistant General Counsel at RA Capital Management and Counsel at RA Ventures, RA Capital's incubator for new companies. His primary responsibilities are to advise RA Capital on private investments, coordinate with portfolio companies regarding deal structures and terms, and counsel RA Ventures on new company formation. Craig holds a BA in Political Science from Bridgewater State College and a JD from Boston College Law School. Prior to RA Capital, he represented emerging companies and venture capital investment funds at two international law firms. Craig is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

SARAH REED

General Counsel

Sarah Reed is the General Counsel at RA Capital Management. Sarah joined our team from MPM Capital where she served as the COO & General Counsel. Prior to MPM, Sarah was the General Counsel for Charles River Ventures and before that, at Palomar Medical Technologies. Sarah began her legal career with Foley, Hoag, & Eliot LLP. Sarah earned her BA from Harvard College in East Asian Studies and her JD from Harvard Law School. Sarah is the only lawyer to have received the NVCA’s Outstanding Service Award, for her leadership role in conceiving of and spearheading the NVCA Model Legal Documents. Sarah teaches a course at Harvard Law School on venture capital fund formation.

ERIC ROSE, MAcc, CFA, CPA

Chief Compliance Officer

Eric is the Chief Compliance Officer at RA Capital Management. Eric previously served as Director, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, Americas at Aberdeen Asset Management. Prior to joining Aberdeen, Eric worked as a Compliance Examiner at the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Eric holds a MAcc from Bentley University and a BS in Finance from George Mason University.

RYAN RUSSELL

Fund Accountant

Ryan Russell is a Fund Accountant at RA Capital Management. His primary responsibilities are to assist with accounting, financial reporting and investment valuation. Prior to RA, Ryan was at KPMG where he was a Senior Associate. Prior to KPMG, Ryan worked at Morris and Morris, P.C. as a Staff Accountant. Ryan has a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and Sports Management from Isenberg School of Management at University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

JESSICA SAGERS, PhD

Head of Engagement

Jessica Sagers is Head of Engagement at RA Capital Management. Jess's primary responsibility is to direct a concerted effort to analyze, design, and shape internal and external narratives. She works with RA’s newcos to develop optimal pitch decks and public messaging, authors articles, and runs the firm’s internal and external business courses. Jessica manages RA's Innovator Resources and co-founded RApport, our biotech communications platform. She is on the Steering Committee for No Patient Left Behind, a non-profit focused on reforming American healthcare to make medicines affordable to patients and promote innovation. Jessica holds a BA in Linguistics from Brigham Young University and a PhD in auditory neuroscience from the Division of Medical Sciences at Harvard University. Her graduate research investigated novel small molecule approaches to treating vestibular schwannoma and neurofibromatosis type 2.

MICHAEL SAULNIER, CPA

Chief Financial Officer

Michael is the Chief Financial Officer at RA Capital Management. He oversees the firm's financial functions, including middle office operations, accounting, valuation, tax and financial reporting. Prior to RA, Michael was a Special Projects Manager at Baupost, LLC where he led a large project to transition the business model to utilize third party fund administration, including management of the implementation. Prior to Baupost, he spent over five years as a Controller at Centerbridge Partners, LP, where he was responsible for accounting and valuation for the credit fund business, as well as the management company (US and Europe) and associated functions. In addition, Michael served on the firm's Luxembourg Board of Directors where he was responsible for accounting and financial reporting. Michael held leadership positions at Citigroup Hedge Fund Services in both Fund Accounting and Product Management before joining Centerbridge. Prior to Citigroup, he held various accounting and analyst roles at EY, Morgan Stanley, BBH, and Deloitte. Michael has a BS in Business Administration from Boston University with concentrations in Finance and Accounting.

BRETT SCHELLER

Compliance Officer

Brett Scheller is a Compliance Officer at RA Capital Management. Brett’s primary responsibilities are to advise on regulatory matters and assist in the development, implementation, and testing of the compliance program. Brett holds a BS from Washington University, St. Louis and a JD from Duquesne University School of Law and is admitted to practice law in PA. Brett previously served as a Clerk for the Washington County Court of Common Pleas in PA.

EMILIE SCHLEER

Senior Investor Relations Manager

Emilie Schleer is the Senior Investor Relations Manager with the Operations Team at RA Capital Management. Emilie’s primary responsibility at RA Capital is to manage current and potential investor relationships. Prior to joining RA Capital, Emilie was a Vice President of Investor Relations at THL Credit. Emilie has previously held similar roles at FLAG Capital Management and Bain Capital. She holds a BS in Finance from Elon University and an MBA from Babson College.

JAMES SCHNEIDER

Deputy General Counsel

James Schneider is the Deputy General Counsel at RA Capital Management. James’ primary responsibilities are to advise RA Capital on public and private investments, coordinate with portfolio companies regarding deal structures and terms, and provide counsel and oversight on regulatory matters. James holds a BS in Journalism from Boston University and a JD from Boston College Law School. He previously worked as a corporate attorney at Foley Hoag LLP and Cooley LLP. James is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

KATHRYN SPENCER

Executive Assistant

Kathryn Spencer is an Executive Assistant at RA Capital Management. Kathryn's primary responsibilities at RA Capital are to coordinate calendars, events, and company meetings for the TechAtlas division. Kathryn previously held roles as Executive Assistant and Office Manager at Kojin Tx. and Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals. She also gained administrative and client services experience in roles she held at Life Time Athletic, EF Education First, and at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital ICU. Kathryn has a BS in Exercise and Health Science from the University of Massachusetts Boston.

DING SUN

Senior Software Engineer

Ding Sun is a Senior Software Engineer at RA Capital Management. Ding’s primary responsibility at RA Capital is to help guide internal software development to support competitive landscapes of drugs and medical devices across a range of disease indications and capabilities. He holds a BS in Computer Science from The University of California, San Diego, and worked previously as a Software Engineer at IBM and Fidelity Investments.

PHI THACH

Executive Assistant

Phi Thach is an Executive Assistant at RA Capital Management. Phi's primary responsibilities at RA Capital are to support the Operations team by coordinating calendars, events, and company meetings. Phi previously worked as an Executive Assistant at Relay Therapeutics. Prior to Relay, she worked as an Executive Assistant at Bullhorn, Inc. Phi holds an Associate in Science Business Administration from Middlesex Community College.

TJ WARWICK

Senior Fund Accountant

TJ is a Senior Fund Accountant at RA Capital Management. His primary responsibilities are to assist with accounting, financial reporting and investment valuation. Prior to RA, TJ was at KPMG where he was a Senior Audit Associate. Prior to KPMG, TJ worked within the AP/Office Admin function with the Boston Red Sox. TJ has a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Northeastern University.

BETHANY WRIGHT

Senior Finance Associate

Bethany is a Senior Finance Associate at RA Capital Management. Her primary responsibilities are to assist with all finance operations related to the Firm. She previously worked as a Finance Associate at the MFA Companies. She holds a BS in Corporate Finance & Accounting and an MBA from Salem State University.

MARIO BARRO, PhD

Venture Partner and Head of Vaccines

Mario is a Venture Partner and Head of Vaccines at RA Capital. In his Venture role, Mario is focusing on early-stage investment and company creation. As Head of Vaccines, he is leading the RA vaccine team to support our evidence-based investment strategy. Mario is responsible for partnering with several of our portfolio companies as Board Member or Technical Advisor. Mario has more than two decades of experience in vaccinology, virology and immunology in large pharma, government, academy, and biotech settings. Prior to joining RA Capital, Mario was Associate Vice President for Advanced Research at Sanofi Pasteur and Head of the team executing a strategy for integrating influenza vaccine development with machine learning and antigen design. Mario held a Project Director position at BARDA working on Universal Flu Vaccine and leading the technical selection and completion of multiyear/multi million vaccine development programs. Mario received postdoctoral training at the NIH and Mount Sinai School of Medicine in innate immunity and bioinformatics, earned a PhD in microbiology at University of Chile and a MS in Nuclear Physics.

ALLY BOERTZEL

Executive Assistant

Ally Boertzel is an Executive Assistant at RA Ventures (RAVen). Her primary responsibilities are to coordinate calendars, events, travel and meetings for the Venture Partners and Entrepreneurs-In-Residence within RAVen. Ally brings to RAVen nearly a decade of administrative experience. Most recently, Ally spent over five years at Akebia Therapeutics (previously Keryx), where she held Commercial Team Administrator/Internal Meetings Specialist, Sales Team Administrator/Training Specialist and Senior Administrative Assistant roles. Prior to Akebia, she gained Administrative and Resource Management experience at Wellington Management and Signature Consultants, respectively. Ally coached Women's Lacrosse at Muhlenberg College in PA. Prior to her stint coaching, she received her BS in Psychology with a Minor in History from Union College in NY.

NATALIE CAMACHO

Executive Assistant

Natalie Camacho is an Executive Assistant at RA Ventures (RAVen). Her primary responsibilities are to coordinate calendars, events, travel and meetings for the Venture Partners within RAVen. Natalie brings to RAVen more than six years of Administrative experience. Prior to RAVen, Natalie served as an EA for three years at Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech), a Boston agency supporting business formation and growth in the state's technology sector. Prior to MassTech, Natalie held varying Administrative roles at Northeastern University, Framingham Public Schools, and Bright Horizons Family Solutions. Natalie holds a BA in Psychology from William Paterson University and a MA in Psychology from Seton Hall University.

HABIB DABLE

Venture Partner

Habib Dable is a Venture Partner at RA Ventures (RAVen), focusing on advising and supporting newcos, portfolio companies and executives within RAVen. Habib brings to RAVen nearly three decades of experience as a strategic leader in Big Pharma and emerging Biotech. Prior to joining RAVen, Habib spent five years as President and CEO at Acceleron Pharma. In this role, he propelled the company to the next stage of growth and increased shareholder value by altering the course of this formerly research-based company to prioritize innovation, speed to commercialization, and culture transformation. While at Acceleron he successfully launched the company's first blockbuster asset - REBLOZYL® - and brought in the company's lead drug - Sotatercept - prior to Acceleron's eventual sale to Merck in 2021. Prior to Acceleron, Habib held various leadership roles at Bayer AG during his ~22-year tenure with the company. As President, U.S. Pharmaceuticals at Bayer, he directed a multi-billion-dollar portfolio of products across multiple therapeutic areas (cardiovascular disease, hematology, neurology, oncology, and women's health). Prior to that, he held roles as Executive Vice President, Global Head Specialty Medicine and Vice President, Ophthalmology/Global Launch Team Head, EYLEA®. Habib received his BBA in Marketing & Finance and his MBA in International Business from University of New Brunswick. He completed the Executive Program at Stanford University, Graduate School of Business, as well as the Executive to Leader Institute at Korn/Ferry International. Habib has earned his Director Professionalism® Certificate from the National Association of Corporate Directors.

CONY D'CRUZ

Venture Partner

Cony D'Cruz is a Venture Partner at RA Ventures. Prior RA, Cony was Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer at Schrödinger for eight years, responsible for business development involving strategic collaborations and new company formation as well as software sales in the US and Japan. Prior to Schrödinger, Cony was President Chief Business Officer at Proteros responsible for all commercial activities. Prior to Proteros, Cony was Senior Vice President, Business Development, North America for Evotec and was responsible for managing all commercial activities of Evotec in North America. In these commercial roles, he initiated innovative discovery deal structures with venture companies, research foundations, and large integrated deals with pharmaceutical companies. Prior to Evotec, Cony worked at IGEN, where he was responsible for the marketing strategy of the life sciences division; in addition, he was involved in investor presentations and fundraising. Prior to IGEN Cony worked for Corning in the US and in Europe. At Corning, he held a number of sales and marketing roles with increasing responsibility; in his last position at Corning, Cony was responsible for marketing at a new business unit focused on high-throughput screening and molecular biology products. Cony received a BSc in Applied Biology from the University of London and an MBA from The Open University, Milton Keynes UK.

MILIND DESHPANDE, PhD

Venture Partner

Milind Deshpande is a Venture Partner at RA Capital, and President & CEO of Nayan Therapeutics, a RA Capital portfolio company. Milind has more than 25 years of leadership and operational experience through all stages of drug discovery and development. He is the co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Spero Therapeutics, and past President, CEO and member of the Board of Directors of Achillion Pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining Achillion, Milind was Group Leader at Bristol-Myers Squibb for all early stage discovery programs in infectious diseases and neuroscience. He is the co-inventor of first-in-class HCV NS5A inhibitors, which led to the approval of DaklinzaTM, the first marketed drug in its class. Milind has co-authored more than 80 scientific articles, is co-inventor on 30 patents, and is a frequent speaker at international scientific conferences. He received his doctorate in Organic Chemistry from Ohio University, and was a Fellow and Instructor in Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine. Milind attended the residential Executive Program at The Wharton School of Management.

JAMIE DONOVAN

Executive Assistant

Jaime is an Executive Assistant at RA Ventures (RAVen). Jaimie's primary responsibilities are to coordinate calendars, events, and company meetings for RA Venture Partners and EIRs. Jaimie previously held roles in non-profit and medical settings and worked at Goldman Sachs where she was an Executive Assistant. Jaimie has a BS in Marketing Management from Coastal Carolina University.

RAMIN FARZANEH-FAR, MD

Venture Partner

Ramin Farzaneh-Far is a Venture Partner at RA Capital where he works closely with RA’s Venture Team to evaluate drug discovery platforms and initiate novel therapeutics programs. He was Chief Medical Officer of Ra Pharmaceuticals from 2016 until it was acquired by UCB in 2020. Ramin is an experienced clinical trialist and previously led global clinical development programs at Akebia Therapeutics and Gilead Sciences. A trained cardiologist, he has held academic faculty positions at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Ramin completed his internal medicine residency at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston and trained in cardiovascular medicine at UCSF. He holds BA and MA degrees in immunology from the University of Cambridge, an MD from University College London, and an MAS in clinical research from UCSF.

COSMAS GIALLOURAKIS

Venture Partner

Cosmas Giallourakis is a Venture Partner at RA Ventures, focusing on new company creation. Cosmas brings to RAVen over a decade of leadership experiences at the interface of basic science, drug development and clinical care. Prior to RAVen, Cosmas was an Entrepreneur in Residence at Third Rock Ventures and was part of the teams that built Asher Bio (cell targeted biologics for oncology/autoimmune diseases) and Septerna (GPCR focused drug discovery) as well as other NewCOs in development. In addition, Cosmas has co-founded companies including Design Pharma (synthetic bio) and a company in stealth focused on RNA based genetic medicines. Prior to this, Cosmas was a Director at Takeda Pharmaceuticals where he was responsible for developing multiple partnerships and platforms on emerging technologies, along with leading drug development teams in cell and gene therapies. Before transitioning to industry, Cosmas was a faculty member at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where he had an active gastroenterology clinical practice and ran a lab whose research centered on fundamental aspects of RNA and epigenetics. Cosmas’s academic research has been published in journals such as Cell, Science, and Nature. Cosmas received his BS in Physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his MD from Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital and completed his clinical gastroenterology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School as well post-doctoral training with Frederick Alt, an HHMI investigator, in molecular immunology.

EMILY GRANSKY

VP, Recruiting

Emily Gransky is VP of Recruiting at RA Ventures (RAVen). In this role, Emily works closely with senior leaders, Venture Partners and Managing Directors within the Venture Team at RA Capital and within RAVen. Her primary responsibility is leading and executing full cycle recruiting across all newcos and portfolio companies. Prior to RAVen, Emily worked as Director, Talent Acquisition, at Generation Bio, leading hiring across all functions and building out systems to support that growth. Prior to this, she served as Director, Talent Acquisition and Operations at Flagship Pioneering, a role in which she built talent systems to support the growth of 30+ pre-series B biotech startup companies. Prior to Flagship, Emily held roles as Associate Director, Head of Global Talent Acquisition and Associate Director, Recruiting Operations & Analytics at bluebird bio. While in these roles, Emily helped Bluebird grow from 300 to 1000 employees. Emily has her BS in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in NY.

KEVIN GROSSELIN, PhD

RA Ventures Associate

Kevin Grosselin is RA Ventures Associate at RA Ventures (RAVen). Kevin's primary responsibilities is to research early-stage projects in collaboration with RAVen team members, Venture Partners, and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence. Prior to RA, Kevin was a postdoctoral associate at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and an EMBO fellow. Kevin has a ME in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from Chimie ParisTech in France, a MS in Biotechnology from the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, and a PhD in Physics and Chemistry from Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University in France.

REZ HALSE, PhD

President, RAVen

Rez Halse is President of RAVen, also known as RA Ventures, RA Capital’s company creation incubator. Rez’s primary responsibility is to lead early-stage private investments in, and oversee the creation of, new companies developing therapeutics and other medical technologies. Rez brings to RA over 20 years of experience working in the life-science industry. Prior to RA, he served in a dual role at Merck Research Laboratories (MRL). He was Vice President of Merck business development and licensing where he led BD activities in the US (West Coast), Europe, and Asia Pacific region, as well as President of MRL Ventures where he led equity investing in early-stage therapeutics companies. Prior to Merck, he was a Partner with the Partners Innovation Fund, the corporate venture arm of Mass General Brigham hospital (formerly Partners HealthCare), where he invested in Seed/Series A therapeutics-focused companies. Rez has also held roles at Novartis, a virtual R&D company (BVD), and Xcellsyz Ltd, a UK-based start-up. Rez holds a BSc in biochemistry and PhD in cell biology from Newcastle University, UK.

NATHANIEL BROOKS HORWITZ

Venture Partner

Nathaniel is a Venture Partner at RA Ventures (RAVen), focusing on new company creation. Prior to RAVen, Nathaniel served as Principal on the Venture Team at RA Capital Management. He serves as a Board Director for GentiBio, New Equilibrium and Superluminal. He previously served as the Founder & CEO of Nivien Therapeutics. Nathaniel graduated from Harvard University with a BA in Molecular and Cellular Biology.

EMILY MINKOW

Venture Partner

Emily Minkow is a Venture Partner at RA Ventures. Prior to joining RA, Emily was Chief Business Officer of Prevail Therapeutics from the company’s inception in 2017 until its acquisition by Eli Lilly in 2021. At Prevail, Emily led business functions including business development, strategy, commercialization, public relations, patient advocacy, and intellectual property, and co-led financings generating $250 million in proceeds, including the company’s IPO in 2019. Previously, Emily spent over seven years at Celgene Corporation in positions of increasing responsibility in business development, marketing, operations, and as Principal to the Chairman and CEO. As Executive Director of Business Development at Celgene, Emily was responsible for all aspects of deal evaluation, negotiation, and execution for licensing deals, mergers and acquisitions, and collaborations, with a focus on immune-inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. As Director of Global Marketing, she provided global leadership for the launch of Otezla for the treatment of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Emily started her career in strategy consulting at Frankel Group. She received a BA from Princeton University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

ROBERT NICOL, PhD

Venture Partner

Robert Nicol is a Venture Partner at RA Ventures (RAVen), focusing on company creation. Prior to RA, 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.

MEGHAN PETROWSKI

Senior Business Operations Manager

Meghan Petrowski is a Senior Business Operations Manager at RA Ventures (RAVen). Her primary responsibilities are to coordinate with all of RAVen’s operational teams to manage and execute critical operations, implement projects across functions, and assist in recruiting efforts for RAVen. Meghan previously worked as an Executive Assistant at Silversmith Capital Partners and as the Associate Athletic Director at the Academy of Art University. Meghan has a BA in American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley and played on the women's lacrosse team.

ANGELA PONTIUS

Vice President of Clinical Operations

Angela Pontius is Vice President of Clinical Operations at RA Ventures (RAVen). Angela's primary responsibilities at RAVen are to lead development and oversee implementation of best practices in clinical strategies in RA's newcos and portfolio companies. Angela previously held roles as Senior Director of Clinical Operations and Patient Advocacy at Vigil Neuroscience and at Ra Pharmaceuticals. Angela also gained experience in prior roles as Clinical Trial Manager at Roche, Sarepta, and other companies, and Clinical Research Coordinator at Tufts Medical Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Angela has a BA in Pre-Medicine and French Studies from the University of Minnesota.

KAT RIESEN

VP, Finance

Kat Riesen is the VP, Finance at RA Ventures (RAVen). Kat’s primary responsibility is supporting newcos, portfolio companies and executives within RAVen, focusing on strategic finance. Prior to joining RAVen, Kat was a Partner at van den Boom & Associates where she provided accounting and finance services including new company formation through IPO and public company accounting support, SOX compliance implementation, and financial modeling to several public and private life science companies. Before entering the life science space, Kat held various accounting roles in the retail industry and started her career at Ernst & Young. Kat has a BS in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting from the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management. She is a CPA.

GERALD SEWACK, PhD

Vice President of Scientific Operations

Gerald is Vice President of Scientific Operations at RA Ventures (RAVen). In this role, Gerald is responsible for evaluating new technology and novel biology to originate and support the generation of new companies in collaboration with RAVen’s Venture Partners and EIRs. He also supports select RAVen portfolio companies in active strategic operating roles and serves as Board Director for GIVax, Summation Bio, and Astro Therapeutics. Prior to this, Gerald was Director of Scientific Operations for RA Capital. He worked previously at Global Prior Art, an intellectual property analysis firm, as a Partner and the Director of the Life Sciences Division. Gerald holds a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Harvard Medical School. His research investigated chromatin structure and transcription factor binding.

NADIM SHOHDY, PhD

Entrepreneur in Residence

Nadim Shohdy is an EIR at RA Capital. In this role he works closely with the RA Ventures team to evaluate and incubate early stage therapeutic programs. Nadim has 11+ years’ experience in commercializing drug discovery across diverse indications and modalities. Prior to joining RA, Nadim was at NYU School of Medicine as Associate Dean of Therapeutics Alliances, a drug discovery accelerator that de-risks academic research towards partnerships with biopharma, investors, and nonprofits. Under his leadership, Therapeutics Alliances advanced 40+ projects, including 11 projects partnered with biopharma or new startups such as Repare Therapeutics and GliXogen Therapeutics. Prior to co-founding Therapeutics Alliances, Nadim worked in NYU’s Industrial Liaison technology transfer group, and was a Research Analyst at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. Nadim completed his BS in Biology at Stony Brook University, received his PhD with Distinction in Microbiology at Columbia University, and was an NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow studying the cell biology of HCV in the laboratory of Nobel Prize winner Charles M. Rice at the Rockefeller University.

JOEL C. BARRISH, Ph.D.

Advisor

Joel is currently President and Chief Scientific Officer at Jnana Therapeutics, a company focused on unlocking hard-to-drug targets, including solute carrier proteins (SLCs). Prior to Jnana, Joel served as Chief Scientific Officer at Achillion Pharmaceuticals, where he led discovery efforts on Factor D inhibitors for the treatment of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria and C3 Glomerulopathy. Most of Joel’s career was spent as a medicinal chemist in pharma, where he capped a 28-year career at Bristol-Myers Squibb by spending the last five years as Vice President and Head of Discovery Chemistry, working across all therapeutic areas. In that role, Joel worked with teams responsible for advancing more than 40 compounds into clinical development, including Sprycel (dasatinib), which he co-invented. While at BMS, Joel and his colleagues made notable advances in the area of kinase inhibitor drug discovery, particularly in immunology and oncology. He is a co-author on over 130 peer reviewed publications and is a co-inventor on 40 issued U.S. patents. Prior to moving to BMS, he spent five years at Hoffmann La-Roche as a research scientist. Joel received his doctorate in Organic Chemistry from Columbia University and his bachelor’s in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania.

VIRGINIA BURGER, PhD

Advisor

Virginia Burger, co-founder and CEO of New Equilibrium Biosciences, is passionate about combining computational and experimental approaches to create new and better medicines. Virginia completed a Ph.D. through a joint Carnegie Mellon-University of Pittsburgh program in Computational Biology, where she developed network models for interpreting biological processes and patented a computer vision algorithm that was used by a university spinout for cancer prognosis. As an NSF and Swiss NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at MIT, she focused her research on a class of undrugged proteins, termed intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), and performed both biophysical and computational experiments to discover druggable conformations of IDPs. She also supervised a team that created publicly available tools for interpreting experimental data on IDPs. In addition to her research, Virginia served as the Community Building Chair for MIT’s Postdoctoral Association and participated in MIT’s Translational Fellows Program, where she began customer discovery for the company that is now New Equilibrium. Virginia then worked for two years at XtalPi, Inc., an algorithm-driven pharmaceutical technology startup. As a Senior Scientist and the Director of Scientific Collaborations, she was the lead scientific contact for establishing pharmaceutical partnerships during XtalPi’s period of rapid growth. In August 2019, Virginia started New Equilibrium with the goal of designing drugs that would target IDPs and cure disease.

MIKE CLOONAN

Advisor

Mike is President and Chief Executive Officer of Sionna. He is a respected biotech leader with over twenty years of biopharma experience across global organizations. Most recently he served as Chief Operating Officer at Sage Therapeutics leading all the business functions (commercial, medical affairs, government affairs, business development, technical operations, strategy and program management) and G&A functions. During his four years with Sage, he helped lead the growth of the organization through multiple capital raises, the launch of the company’s first product, and execution of a transformational, multi-billion collaboration.

Prior to Sage, he had a 14-year tenure at Biogen in various business and commercial roles. His most recent role at Biogen was as Senior Vice President, U.S. Commercial, where he was the general manager of the MS, hemophilia, and SMA franchises. Prior to Biogen, Mike worked at Bain & Company as a consultant specializing in healthcare. Mike earned his MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration

DANIEL GRAU

Advisor

Daniel Grau, an experienced biotech entrepreneur and operating executive, currently serves as CEO and Director at Avilar Therapeutics, a leading extracellular protein degradation company. He is also an Advisor to HotSpot Therapeutics and recently served on the Board of Directors at Research Alliance Corporation I (merged with POINT Biopharma) and at TetraGenetics (acquired by AbCellera). Prior to Avilar, Mr. Grau was CEO at Sojournix, President at Heptares Therapeutics (acquired 2015), CEO at Cortria (acquired 2010), and COO at CombinatoRx (IPO 2005). He also served as member of the Product Advisory Board at Concert Pharmaceuticals and as an Advisor to Nimbus Therapeutics. Early in his career, Mr. Grau worked with multi-national pharma companies including Pharmacia, Pharmacia & Upjohn, and Eisai as a management consultant focused on corporate strategy, M&A, and new product launch. Prior to management consulting, Mr. Grau was Director of Marketing & Business Development at a clinical information technology startup. Mr. Grau earned his BA with High Honors from Davidson College, where he was awarded a Dana Honor Scholarship and elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and his MPhil, MA, and MAR degrees from Yale University, where he was awarded the Day Graduate Prize and was the recipient of a Mellon Fellowship in the Humanities.

SADIK KASSIM, PhD

Advisor

Sadik Kassim is a scientist and executive with extensive experience in the biotechnology industry with a specific focus on cell and gene therapy bioprocessing and translational research. Currently, he serves as Chief Technology Officer at Danaher, with a focus on new genomic medicines. Most recently, he was Chief Technology Officer at Vor Bio where he built the technical operations team responsible for process development, analytical development, supply chain and manufacturing support of a CRISPR gene-edited HSPC product and oversaw the company’s CAR-T efforts. Prior to Vor, Sadik served as Executive Director at Kite Pharma and led the development of manufacturing processes for autologous CAR-T and TCR-based cell therapies. As the Chief Scientific Officer at Mustang Bio, Sadik managed the foundational build-out of the company’s preclinical and manufacturing activities. Earlier in his career, he was Head of Early Analytical Development for Novartis’ Cell and Gene Therapies Unit and worked on research teams at the National Cancer Institute with Dr. Steven Rosenberg, the University of Pennsylvania Gene Therapy Program with Dr. Jim Wilson, and Johnson and Johnson’s Immunology Discovery group. Sadik and his teams have contributed to the successful BLA and MAA applications for three of the commercially available CAR-T therapies: Kymriah®, Yescarta®, and Tecartus®. Sadik holds a bachelor of science degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from Tulane University, and earned his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from Louisiana State University.

SOPHIE PAPA, FRCP PhD

Advisor

Sophie is Chief Medical Officer at Enara Bio, a company focused on novel targets for cancer immune therapy drug discovery. She is a Clinical Reader at King’s College London with a laboratory working on translational adaptions to CAR T cell engineering to optimize clinical utility. Prior to joining the team at Enara Sophie was a medical oncologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London, UK (GSTT). She has twenty years of oncology experience with a strong focus on skin cancers, especially malignant melanoma. Sophie led the cell therapy program, working with teams across the Trust to build capabilities to deliver industry and academically sponsored complex cell therapy trials for solid tumor cancer patients. Sophie was a principal investigator in the Early Phase Trials Team at GSTT and has extensive experience in the delivery of early to late phase oncology trials. She has published over fifty papers in peer reviewed journals.

Sophie received her doctorate in CAR T cell therapy from King’s College London, her pre-clinical medical degree from St John’s College, University of Oxford, and her clinical medical degree from Imperial College London, where she won the Norman C Lake prize for Surgery. In 2013 was awarded a Medical Research Council Clinical Scientist Fellowship. Sophie is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, London, UK.

MICHAEL ROSENZWEIG DVM, PhD

Advisor

Michael is Executive Vice President at Capstan Therapeutics. In his most recent role as Entrepreneur In Residence at RA Ventures (RAVen), Michael worked closely with the Venture Team to evaluate drug discovery platforms and initiate novel therapeutic programs. Michael has more than two decades of experience in immuno-oncology and immunology research in both large pharma and biotech settings. Prior to joining RA, Michael was Associate Vice President at Merck Research Labs. In this position, he played a critical role in building Merck’s oncology pipeline into one of the most robust in cancer immunotherapy, focusing on a modality-agnostic strategy with a broad biology of targets and Keytruda combination strategies. He was also responsible for initiating the transition of the autoimmunity strategy from one based on systemic immunosuppression to a targeted immunomodulation approach. Prior to his time at Merck, Michael held discovery leadership roles at Immunext and Tolerx. Michael earned a DVM at the University of Pretoria and a PhD in Immunology at the University of Pennsylvania.

PATRICK TROJER, PhD

Advisor

Patrick joined TRIANA Biomedicines in December of 2021 as President & CEO and Board member after a successful career at Constellation Pharmaceuticals where he served as the company’s CSO. As a founder and member of Constellation’s executive team Patrick materially contributed to several successful financing rounds and deals, including a crossover round, an IPO and the ultimate acqusition of the company. Patrick was instrumental to building Constellation‘s discovery platform, establishing a portfolio of competitive clinical candidates and drove the maturation of the company‘s development efforts, leading to one PhIII and two PhII assets and three additional clinical candidates. Prior to this, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at NYU Medical School in the laboratory of Dr. Danny Reinberg, exploring the functional downstream consequences of changes to the histone posttranslational modification landscape on processes that require access to DNA, including the regulation of gene expression. Patrick received his PhD in Natural Sciences, specifically Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, from the Leopold-Franzens University, Innsbruck, Austria.

JESSE CHEN, PhD

Jesse Chen is an EIR at RA Capital. In this role he works closely with RA’s Venture Team to evaluate various drug discovery platforms and initiate novel therapeutics programs. Jesse has more than a decade of discovery research and management experience, from early discovery through preclinical development. Prior to joining RA, Jesse was Senior Director of Discovery at Kymera Therapeutics. As the first and founding member of Kymera’s scientific team, Jesse was responsible for building the company’s industry-leading targeted protein degradation platform and pipeline, and he helped secure the company’s Series A and B financings as well as a partnership with Vertex. Jesse also held research leadership roles at Moderna Therapeutics and Millennium Pharmaceuticals, where he was responsible for developing novel platforms and leading discovery programs. Jesse earned his Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from MIT and was a Harvard Origins Research Fellow.

BEN DAKE, PhD

Ben Dake is a Venture Associate at RA Capital Management. Ben’s primary responsibility at RA Capital is to identify compelling assets to help facilitate new company creation or investments in emerging seed-stage companies. Ben has also mapped competitive landscapes with a focus on cardiovascular diseases and regenerative medicine as a member of the Cardio-Renal Team within the TechAtlas division of RA Capital. Ben holds a BS in Biology and an MS in Virology from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and a PhD in Cancer Biology from the Tufts University School of Medicine. His doctoral research focused on breast cancer metastasis. Ben previously worked as a Research Assistant in a Neuroinflammation lab at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, and was an Internet Application Developer at the Gallup Organization.

DANIELLE FELDMAN, PhD

Danielle Feldman is the Director of Corporate Development at Aliada Therapeutics. Most recently, she was as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at RA Ventures and was a Scientific Co-Founder and Associate Director of Corporate Development at Athenen Therapeutics (merged into Eliem Therapeutics; ELYM). Previously, Danielle was an Associate at RA Capital, and worked in IP and tech licensing at Seven Bridges Genomics and the MIT Technology Licensing Office, respectively. Danielle received her PhD in Neuroscience from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

VIKRAM SHEEL KUMAR, MD

Vikram Sheel Kumar is a Venture Partner at RA Capital where he is applying software to develop drugs and new ventures. He is co-founder and CEO of Clear Creek Bio, an RA Capital portfolio company. Vikram studied engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi before earning a BS in Operations Research with honors from Columbia University. He holds an MD magna cum laude from Harvard-MIT, Program in Health Sciences and Technology, where he was a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow. He was named an MIT Technology Review 100 innovators under 35 for his MIT Media Lab social enterprise, Dimagi, that has impacted millions with its mobile data collection platform. Vikram trained in clinical pathology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital where he was chief resident.

JAMES McARTHUR, PhD

James McArthur is an Advisor for RA Capital Management. James was most recently the founder, Chief Executive Officer, and served as a Board Director for Imara, a public company developing therapies for sickle cell disease and β-thallasemia. He was also the co-founder and President of Research and Development of Cydan, a rare disease accelerator. James has over 25 years of industry experience in creating and building biotechnology companies including experience as a co-founder of the lysosomal storage diseases company Vtesse acquired by Sucampo/Malinkrodt, co-founder of the clinical stage neuroendocrine company Tiburio, Board Director of the ocular gene therapy company Nightstar acquired by Biogen, and as founding Chief Scientific Officer of the rheumatology therapy company Synovex/Adheron acquired by Roche. Prior to these companies, James held senior research leadership roles in the gene and stem cell therapy companies Cell Genesys, Phylogix, and Somatix Therapy. James was an entrepreneur in residence at HealthCare Ventures, an advisor to Kurma Ventures, and is on the Scientific Advisory Board and Board of Directors of the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), a patient advocacy group. James was a post-doctoral fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of California, Berkeley. He worked with Dr. David Raulet and Nobel Laureate Dr. James Allison before which he received a PhD in Molecular Oncology and BSc in Biochemistry from McGill University in Montreal.

TIMOTHY NOYES, MBA

Timothy Noyes is an Advisor for RA Capital Management.  RA Capital and CEO of Arcuate Therapeutics. In this role he works closely with RA’s Venture Team to evaluate various drug discovery platforms and initiate novel therapeutics programs. Timothy is a veteran biotech leader with deep experience in growing companies and bringing innovative therapies to market. Prior to joining RA Capital and Arcuate Therapeutics, Tim was President and CEO of Proteon Therapeutics, a company focused on developing novel therapeutics to improve the lives of patients with kidney and vascular diseases. Tim was hired as the fourth employee at Proteon and built a team that brought an innovative biologic for blood vessel remodeling from pre-clinical through two Phase 3 clinical trials. Before joining Proteon, Tim was the COO of Trine Pharmaceuticals and he held several management positions with GelTex Pharmaceuticals prior to its acquisition by Genzyme. Tim was responsible for building the commercial team at GelTex and launching Renagel, a novel treatment for patients with kidney failure that grew to a $1B franchise . After the acquisition, Tim was named President of Genzyme’s Renal Division and GelTex Pharmaceuticals. Tim began his career at Merck & Co., serving in multiple commercial roles in its cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and managed care divisions. Tim received his A.B. from Harvard College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

SOUMYA RAY, PhD

In his most recent role as Entrepreneur In Residence and Head of Computation at RA Ventures (RAVen), Soumya Ray supported the creation of two RAVen-incubated newcos. He continues advising both in a consultant capacity. Additionally, he is the interim CTO and Board Observer at New Equilibrium Bio. He works closely with RA's Investment Team on novel drug discovery platforms with emphasis on computational chemistry and machine learning. Soumya has more than two decades of experience in structure-based drug design and molecular modeling both in the areas of small molecules and biologics across multiple target classes and indications. Soumya completed his postdoc at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and held an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience role at Harvard Medical School Neurology Department where he contributed to the Harvard Neurodiscovery Center’s (HNDC) academic drug discovery initiative as a modeler and drug hunter. Many of the assets he contributed to within HNDC have been out-licensed to various Cambridge and Boston-based startups and biotech firms for further development. Soumya spent time as an EIR at IncTank Ventures, where he worked on multiple company creations. After his stay at IncTank Ventures, he joined Schrödinger’s Drug Discovery Application Group and through various roles ascended to a Research Leader within the organization. After leaving Schrodinger in 2018, Soumya founded 3-Dimensional Consulting, a boutique Physics Based and Machine-Learning focused computational chemistry consulting firm that provides scientific support for early-stage drug discovery and company formation within various Boston-based venture firms including: Atlas Venture, 3rd Rock, MPM Capital, and RA Capital. Soumya has contributed to over 75 drug discovery programs ranging from small startups to large pharma, leading to nine development candidates currently in various stages of clinical trials. He has over 20 academic publications, inventorship on numerous patents, and serves as reviewer for multiple journals and NIH grants committee. Soumya obtained his PhD in X-ray Crystallography and Biophysics from the Indian Institute of Science while working as visiting research scholar at Rockefeller University.

ALONSO RICARDO, PhD

Alonso Ricardo is an Entrepreneur in Residence at RA Capital, where he works closely with RA’s Venture Team to evaluate drug discovery platforms and initiate novel therapeutics programs. Prior to joining RA Capital, Alonso was Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Ra Pharmaceuticals until it was acquired by UCB in 2020. At Ra Pharma, Alonso held various leadership roles where he initiated and led the scientific efforts for the company in multiple preclinical and clinical programs; working in a wide set of therapeutic areas and using different molecular modalities. In this role, he gained broad expertise across all phases of drug discovery, early development, and clinical research. Alonso completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Florida and his post-doctoral work as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellow at Harvard University and the Massachusetts General Hospital. Alonso was also a chemistry professor at the Universidad de los Andes in Colombia.

ADAM ROSENBERG

Adam Rosenberg is an Advisor for RA Capital Management. Adam was most recently President, CEO and member of the Board of Directors of Rodin Therapeutics until its acquisition by Alkermes in 2019. Adam has 20+ years of industry experience in building healthcare and technology companies, including as CEO and co-founder of Link Medicine, a company focused on developing disease-modifying neurodegenerative therapies and as CEO and co-founder of Teleos Therapeutics, an innovative neuroscience drug discovery platform company. Adam has led and advised companies in diverse areas such as digital health, materials and diagnostics, and has served as Director on the board of multiple venture-backed companies. Adam was also an advisor and investor in “A Late Quartet”, an entrepreneurial feature film centered on a cellist diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener and Christopher Walken. Adam received his JD from the University of Virginia School of Law, and his BA from Whittier College.

J. MICHAEL RYAN, MD

Michael Ryan is an EIR at RA Capital. He most recently served as Chief Medical Officer for Rodin Therapeutics, where he led all clinical development activities from first-in-human through patient studies until the acquisition by Alkermes. He has held multiple senior level clinical development positions including Chief Medical Officer at Asceneuron SA and Neurodegeneration Therapeutic Area Head at Novartis. Michael received his undergraduate degree at Georgetown University and his medical degree at the Medical University of South Carolina. He completed an internship in Internal Medicine and residency in Psychiatry at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center. Dr. Ryan was also a fellow in Geriatric Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. He was a faculty member at the University of Rochester School of Medicine prior to joining Merck Research Laboratories in 2004.