biological research institution, where he has served since 1986 and where his work led directly to the invention and development of SPINRAZA. Professor Krainer holds a B.A. in Biochemistry from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Harvard University. We believe that Professor Krainer is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors because of his extensive experience in biopharmaceutical research and development and experience in RNA splicing and antisense therapies.
Garry E. Menzel, Ph.D., has served as a member of our Board of Directors since August 2020. Dr. Menzel is currently the President of RoslinCT, a global contract development and manufacturing organization, since September 2024, and an Operating Partner at GHO Capital Partners LLP, a specialist healthcare advisor, since March 2024. Previously, Dr. Menzel served as President and Chief Executive Officer of TCR2 Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: TCRR), a clinical stage oncology company, from 2016 until its merger with Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: ADAP) in June 2023. Since June 2023, Dr. Menzel has sat on the Board of Directors of Adaptimmune. He is a cofounder of Black Diamond Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BDTX), a clinical stage oncology company, where he has served on the Board of Directors since 2014. From 2013 to 2015, Dr. Menzel served as Chief Financial Officer of DaVita Healthcare Partners (NYSE: DVA), which at the time operated one of the largest networks of kidney dialysis centers and primary care physician practices in the United States. Prior to that, Dr. Menzel served as Chief Operating Officer at microRNA therapy company Regulus Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: RGLS). He began his career in the finance industry, starting as a consultant at Bain & Company and subsequently held global leadership roles running the biotechnology practices at Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse where he advised on more than $100 billion in strategic transactions. Outside of his corporate board positions, Dr. Menzel previously served on the National Board of the Epilepsy Foundation and on the Boards of Directors of the Institute for Systems Biology and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Pharmacy. Dr. Menzel holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from St. John’s College, University of Cambridge, an M.B.A. from Stanford University and a B.S. in Biochemistry from the Imperial College of Science and Technology. We believe that Dr. Menzel is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors because of his extensive executive experience at biotechnology companies.
Julie Anne Smith is a seasoned biotech executive who previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Nuvig Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company developing immunotherapies, from January 2023 to November 2024. Previously Ms. Smith served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of ESCAPE Bio, Inc. from August 2018 to August 2022, President and Chief Executive Officer at Nuredis, Inc. from August 2017 to July 2018, and President and Chief Executive Officer at Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp., a public, commercial stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing treatments for orphan diseases, from September 2012 to October 2016. She joined Raptor in 2012 as Chief Operating Officer until being appointed President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining Raptor, Ms. Smith served in positions of increasing responsibility at Enobia Pharmaceuticals until May 2012, upon its acquisition by Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc, Genzyme Novazyme and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Ms. Smith currently serves as an independent director of Exelixis, Inc., a public genomics-based drug discovery company. She previously served on the board of directors of Audentes Therapeutics, Inc., a genetic medicines company, and as a director on the Health and Emerging Companies Sections of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) board. Ms. Smith holds a B.S. in Biological and Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University. We believe that Ms. Smith is qualified to serve on the Board of Directors because of her extensive executive experience at biotechnology companies.
Jennifer C. Burstein, CPA, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since June 2019. Since March 2021, Ms. Burstein has served as Senior Vice President – Finance Operations at Treeline Biosciences, Inc., a biotechnology company. From January 2018 to February 2019, Ms. Burstein served as Senior Vice President of Finance and principal financial officer at Loxo Oncology, Inc., a biotechnology company, until its acquisition by Eli Lilly and Company. Ms. Burstein previously served as Vice President of Finance and principal financial officer of Loxo Oncology since May 2015. Prior to Loxo Oncology, Ms. Burstein served as Vice President of Finance at Acorda Therapeutics, Inc., a public biotechnology company, from July 2010 until April 2015, where she held several positions of increasing responsibility in Finance from 2006 until being appointed
16