Yolanda Sanchez, PhD
Translational biologist with 20+ of experience in big pharma and biotech. Experienced leader of drug discovery programs from target identification to early clinical studies.
Skills
About
Scientific, strategic, and people-oriented R&D leader with extensive combined experience in academic and industry settings. Expert in helping biotech teams adopt innovative and pragmatic strategies to advance drug discovery programs.
Extensive expertise in early drug discovery, spanning novel target/pathway identification and validation, lead optimization, candidate selection, IND-enabling studies, human biology translational studies, biomarker strategies, and early clinical studies. Extensive experience in implementation of collaborations and business initiatives, embedding of new technologies, line management and people development. Extensive experience in developing and leading multidisciplinary teams and cross-industry, biotech and academia collaborations. Extensive experience in portfolio prioritization and progression. Track record of delivering innovative approaches enabling the discovery and progression of novel clinical candidates for a number of indications.
Work experience
VP, Respiratory Therapy Area and Head of Discovery Performance Unit
Head of the Stress and Repair DPU at GSK, responsible for the delivery of a portfolio of novel mechanisms for respiratory chronic diseases. The DPU was a multidisciplinary (chemistry, biology, DMPK) and integrated group of scientists, focused on identifying and progressing novel targets for COPD and other chronic respiratory diseases. Specific areas of scientific focus spanned cellular mechanisms of defense against oxidative stress and mechanisms of repair and remodeling in disease, including genetics and functional genomics approaches. This scientific strategy extended to diseases in other therapeutic areas (e.g., renal, skin) where oxidative stress is a driver of pathophysiology.
Founder and Senior Consultant
• Providing scientific, technical, and strategic expertise to early drug discovery programs, including small molecule, synthetic biology, and gene therapy approaches for various indications (respiratory, skin, and renal diseases).
• Growing portfolio (over 12 client companies to date) in the biotech and start-up space.
Senior Partner
Providing scientific, technical, and strategic expertise as well as project management experience to early drug discovery programs, including small molecule and mRNA approaches for various indications (respiratory, oncology).
