Strategies for CMOs to Scale Up Effectively as Their Biotech Companies Evolve

Peter Francis is a highly experienced biotechnology executive and an ophthalmologist clinician- scientist with expertise in ophthalmic genetics and retinal disease. He graduated from medical school in the U.K. and undertook residency in London. He obtained his PhD in ophthalmic genetics from University College, London and is fellowship trained in Retina. Peter has almost two decades of experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries where he has led a number of gene therapy products from discovery to early-stage clinical development. Most recently he served as Chief Scientific Officer at 4D Molecular Therapeutics, a leader in AAV-based gene therapy and was prior, their first Chief Medical Officer and Head of Translational Research. Previously, Peter was Chief Medical Officer at RetroSense Therapeutics, the first visual optogenetics company which was successfully sold to a large pharmaceutical company. Peter is a member of the Macula Society, the American Ophthalmological Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He has held academic faculty positions at St. Thomas’ Hospital, London and Casey Eye Institute, OHSU, Portland, OR. He has published about 100 peer-reviewed articles.

Mr James Lewis has over 18 years’ experience as a specialist Contract Recruiter. Mr Lewis has placed over 600 Contractors in over 30 Countries globally. For the last 7 years, Mr Lewis has led the Global Contract Division at Barrington James. Focusing on niche positions, rather than volume recruitment, Mr Lewis has built a team of Market Specialist consultants, who recruit through a personal network rather than a Database and Social Media. The Barrington James Medical Division places CMO’s, Senior Clinical Development professionals, Research Physicians and MSL’s across the Americas, throughout Europe and The APAC Region. Our Network is built on face to face relationships as long term sponsors and members of the BIO International and Bio-Europe community. We have unrivaled global access to the top talent in the Biotech space.

Ajay Sadhwani is an Executive Life Science Professional with over 25 years of clinical research experience. He is a proven leader of cross functional teams and people management of large and small functional groups with a proven track record of successfully leading teams and motivating individuals to perform at their highest level.

Hunter Smith is the Head of Clinical Recruitment at Govig Biopharma and sits alongside a team of 18 tenured recruiters. His education in genetic biology and cellular development coupled with a passion for emerging and revolutionary therapies drive his consultative approach to partnering with the industry's leading organizations. With over 22 years of experience recruiting in the life sciences, the Govig team specializes in establishing and scaling up teams across preclinical, clinical development, clinical operations, medical affairs, pharmacovigilance, and regulatory affairs. Smith's expertise lies largely in VP through C-Suite level searches. Govig deploys organization-specific strategies through a comprehensive approach to recruitment to ensure optimal individual and organizational success.

Dr Gurdyal Kalsi brings more than 20 years of experience in global clinical development, medical affairs, investment strategy and regulatory affairs to Asklepion Pharmaceuticals, LLC. Most recently, Dr Kalsi served as the SVP/CMO of Tissue Gene, where he headed medical, clinical and regulatory development functions in cell and gene therapeutics and helped IPO its lead asset in Knee OA on the KOSDAQ. Prior to his time with Tissue Gene, Dr Kalsi served as Corporate Vice President for Clinical Development & Medical Affairs at Emergent BioSolutions Inc. At MDS Pharma, he was the head of Medical Affairs and Regulatory Affairs. Dr Kalsi held executive leadership positions with ICON plc in clinical development and medical affairs. He began his pharmaceutical career at Lundbeck A/S in Copenhagen, Denmark. Dr Kalsi received his medical degrees in surgery and medicine from Glancy Medical College (GMC), followed by postgraduate training courses in public health medicine at St George’s Hospital in London and Pharmaceutical Medicine postgraduate training at Cardiff University, UK. He is a member of the British Association of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine, Royal Colleges of Physicians.