Introduction
Cure Genetics, is a clinical-stage biotechnology dedicated to developing first-in-class cell and gene therapies for solid tumors and genetic disorders through our innovative AIMS CAR-NKT and VELPTM AAV discovery platforms. Cure Genetics has developed a differentiated pipeline, by leveraging the strength of our proprietary technology platform, in combination with global collaboration and out-license, we actively drive the research & development, and commercialization of innovative drugs. We aim to provide effective treatment measures for patients worldwide with unmet medical needs and to become a benchmark in the global field of cell and gene therapies.
History
Team
Ph.D. from the Department of Biology at Tsinghua University (under the guidance of Academician Rao Zihe), postdoctoral fellow at Yale University in the US, engaged in research on the structure and function of proteins related to DNA damage, repair, and tumorigenesis. Published 13 papers in internationally renowned academic journals (including Nature, its sub-journal Nat.Struct.Mol.Bio, Mol. Cell, etc.). Founded Cure Genetics in 2016, dedicated to developing innovative gene and cell therapies for genetic diseases and tumors. Received several government talent recognitions, including Jiangsu Province Innovation and Entrepreneurship Talent, Gusu Innovation and Entrepreneurship Leading Talent, Suzhou Industrial Park Science and Technology Leading Talent, and also holds a professorship at Suzhou University.
Dr. Shawn He has over two decades of experience in cell therapy research and development, as well as managing R&D teams at leading global biotechnology companies. Before joining Cure Genetics, Shawn served as Executive Vice President of Research and Early Development at Celularity, where he developed a pipeline of novel allogeneic CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapies, and guided R&D efforts for multiple cell therapy products to clinical-stage development. Earlier, Shawn held various positions of increasing scope and responsibility at Celgene Cellular Therapeutics, and his team advanced three cell therapy product candidates into IND-enabling studies with all of them reaching the clinic for different indications. Shawn received his PhD from University of Maryland at College Park.
Dr. Ren is a seasoned expert in cell therapy, boasting over 20 years of experience developing and advancing cell therapy drug candidates from pre-clinical to commercial licensure across US, EU, and Japan. Dr. Ren has led the process and analytical development of multiple allogeneic & autologous cell therapy products over her career, including CAR T cells, TCR cells, NK cells, CAR-NK cells and mesenchymal-like stem cells. Over the course of her career, Dr. Ren has supported multiple IND submissions for cell therapy pipeline products to enable clinical trials and designed and led process & analytical validation programs in support of commercial registration filing. Before joining Cure Genetics, Dr. Ren held management positions in Chimeric Therapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Celgene. Dr. Ren earned her Ph.D. from Ocean University of China.
Bachelor's degree from Tsinghua University, joint Ph.D. from Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University. Currently, the Chief Scientist at Cure Genetics in Suzhou, part-time professor at the School of Pharmacy of Suzhou University, Double Innovation Doctor of Jiangsu Province, Suzhou Industrial Park Science and Technology Leading Talent (Innovation Category), member of the American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT), former scientist at Synthetic Genomics. Applied for >30 patents, 1 major national project, has >10 years of gene editing experience, and research and development experiences include universal CAR-T, xenotransplantation, sickle cell anemia, etc.
Ph.D. from the Department of Biology at Tsinghua University. Dr. Zhu has over 20 years of extensive experience in non-clinical evaluation and project development. She has successfully led IND filing of more than ten projects, including FDA and NMPA. Currently she is responsible for pre-clinical evaluation and development of company projects. She has received government talent recognitions, including Suzhou Industrial Park Science and Technology Leading Talent, and GuSu Urgently Needed Talent. She serves as an executive member of the Drug Toxicology and Safety Evaluation Committee of the Chinese Society of Toxicology, a director of the Chinese Society of Toxicology, and a member of the Drug Toxicology Professional Committee of the Chinese Pharmacological Society.
Dr. Zhou has decades of extensive experience in the AAV gene therapy, showcasing remarkable achievements at the leading academic institutions and renowned companies including Harvard University, Voyager, Luye Pharma. He has led the preclinical research and development of AAV gene therapies targeting a range of indications including ophthalmology, the central nervous system, hematology, and metabolic indications, and advanced to clinical-stage development of multiple gene therapies in China and USA. Dr. Zhou obtained his Ph.D. from Peking University and underwent postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School. He is an honorary member of both the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy and the Society for Neuroscience.
Dr. Lei Zhao received his bachelor’s degree from Nanjing University and PhD from Tsinghua University. He was post-doctoral fellow in Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Physiology. Before he joined Cure Genetics, he was Asso. Prof. in South China University of Technology and scientist in LivzonBio. Dr. Zhao has extensive experience in protein engineering, directed evolution and cancer immune therapy. He builds-up the AAV discovery platform VELPTM and develops novel organ/cell targeting AAV serotypes in Cure Genetics. He also leads 2 collaboration-projects with Boehringer Ingelheim and Frametact. Dr. Zhao has many publications in Angew, PNAS, etc. He was the key-member of “Pearl River Recruitment Program of Talents-Team Project” and also was one of the “GuSu Urgently Needed Talent”.
Scientific Advisory Board
Academician of the Chinese Academy of Science；Former President in Nankai University；Professor in Tsinghua University
Chief Innovation Officer, Versicolor TechnologiesFormer president of R&D in Pfizer；Previous in Wyeth, GSK
SVP & CMO, Inozyme Pharma；Former CMO in Athenex, Kuur Therapeutics, Hospira；M.D. University of Kansas School of Medicine
