Our Team.
Meet Our Team
The Lerna Bio management and scientific leadership comprises experienced biotech and life science professionals with comprehensive expertise for drug development and comercialization.
Chief Executive Officer
Kathy He
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Seasoned and insightful biopharmaceutical industry executive with over 20 years of experience in helping to grow multiple global companies, leading many successful strategic collaborations and fundraising events. Extensive US and China cross-border business leadership experience in start-ups and MNCs, including at Kira Pharmaceuticals, Abbisko Therapeutics, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co. and Abbott Labs.
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Chief Scientific Advisor
Sergei M. Gryaznov,PHD
A leader in nucleic acid therapeutics who held key leadership roles in Janssen Pharma (part of Johnson and Johnson family of companies), Geron Corporation and MAIA Bio-technology. Co-author of more than 120 scientific publications and co-inventor on more than 50 issued or pending patents.
Co-founder and Scientific Advisor
Torsten Wuestefeld, PHD
Seasoned scientist with over 2 decades of target discovery experience for liver diseases. Principal Investigator at Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS, A*STAR)
Scientific Advisory Board
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Scientific Advisor
Professor Scott Friedman
Dean for Therapeutic Discovery and Chief of the Division of Liver Diseases, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. A pioneer in the research of chronic liver disease-induced fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell and has received numerous awards for his contributions including the International Hans Popper Award by the Falk Foundation, International Hans Popper the EASL International Recognition Awards, the AASLD Distinguished Award and the American Liver Foundation Distinguished Award
Scientific Advisor
Tony Ho, MD
Veteran entrepreneur-drug developer with extensive experience and track record in biotech and pharma, having been EVP, Head of R&D at CRISPR Therapeutics, SVP and Head of Oncology Integration and Innovation at AstraZeneca, Head of Neurology and Ophthalmology at Merck and Co-Founder and CSO of Neuronyx. Currently Adjunct Associate Professor of Neurology at University of Pennsylvania and Assistant Professor of Neurology at Johns Hopkins University.
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Scientific Advisor
Kai Lin, PHD
Seasoned drug discovery and development expert with over 20 years of experience in biotechs and pharmas such as Novartis, Vertex, Atea, Enanta and Idenix. Contributor to 15 INDs and 2 NDAs, across multiple modalities including siRNA and author of 40+ peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Currently SVP, Head of Research at Aerium Therapeutics. Kai received PhD in Biochemistry from University of Pennsylvania.
Scientific Advisor
Mark Muthiah,
MBBS, FRCP, FAMS
Clinician-scientist expert in NASH, end stage liver diseases and liver transplant, with experience ranging from basic and translational science to clinical trials. Currently Assistant Professor at National University of Singapore, Consultant of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, National University Centre for Organ Transplantation at National University Health System (Singapore). Received numerous awards and grants for clinical and research achievements.
Scientific Advisor
Melissa Palmer,
MD, FAASLD
Internationally renowned Hepatologist and biotech/pharma executive with leadership experience as CMO of Gannex/Ascletis, Head of Liver Disease Clinical Development at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Shire Pharmaceuticals and Kadmon Corporation. Hepatology consultant to more than 60 biotech and pharmaceutical companies, and PI on numerous clinical trials in NASH and other liver diseases. Author of over 100 publications, abstracts, manuscripts, book chapters, a best-selling book on liver disease, guidelines with colleagues from the FDA. Previously clinical professor at NYU Langone Medical Center and director of Hepatology at NYU Plainview with MD from Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
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Scientific Advisor
Professor Stuart Forbes
Chair of Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and Director of the MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Edinburgh University and a Hepatologist Consultant at the Scottish Liver Transplant Unit, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. An expert in liver regeneration and liver diseases who has been researching into cell therapies for liver diseases.