I am a US/UK trained molecular immunologist who has worked in infectious disease, inflammatory disease, molecular and cell biology, neurodegenerative disease and immuno-oncology for over 30 years both in academia and biotech. During my years in academia, my lab focused on basic and applied immunology and I had a broad range of responsibilities including running a research discovery lab and an academic department, commercializing inventions, obtaining external funding and serving on funding and regulatory review bodies. For the past 7 years I have worked in biotech, first through company formation with Smith Therapeutics then in operating companies. At AZTherapies, I led the development of a T cell therapy of Multiple Sclerosis and secured the out-license of this technology for clinical development. At Sigilon Therapeutics I was responsible for research and development. I led the implementation of improvements in platform technology and preclinical development that facilitated the acquisition of Sigilon by Eli Lilly in August 2023. I have extensive experience interacting with industry and investors. With over seven years of experience as a Chief Scientific Officer and a Senior Vice President for Immunology, I am passionate about developing innovative cell therapies to treat rare, chronic, and immunological diseases. I have led the discovery, engineering, and validation of shielded living cell products and CAR-Treg products for various indications, including neurodegenerative diseases.As the Chief Scientific Officer at Halyard Therapeutics, I am responsible for the scientific vision and strategy of the company, which is focused on developing cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. I oversee the preclinical and clinical development of our pipeline, manage the IP portfolio, and collaborate with external partners and stakeholders. I also leverage my expertise in inflammation and immunology research, antibody discovery and engineering, and gene and cell therapy to guide the company's growth and innovation.