Board Committees

Dr. Jenkins currently provides board level and consulting services to organizations across the life science and healthcare industry. She previously served as President and CEO of Plaquetec Therapeutics and of Dimension Therapeutics, leading efforts to develop novel approaches in coronary vascular and rare diseases that included a significant worldwide partnership for a gene therapy approach to hemophilia A with Bayer Pharmaceuticals.

Prior to these roles, Dr. Jenkins held senior leadership roles at Merck Serono Pharmaceuticals as Global Head of Research and Development and at Bristol-Myers Squibb as Senior Vice President Global Medical.

Dr. Jenkins sits on a number of boards across the public and private sectors and as a trustee of nonprofit organizations globally, including AVROBIO, COMPASS Pathways, MEREO Biopharmaceuticals, AFFIMED, The British Heart Foundation, The King’s Fund, Cancer Research Horizons, Genomics England and Faster Cures at the Milken Institute. As a pharmaceutical thought leader, Dr. Jenkins routinely contributes publicly on leadership with purpose, social entrepreneurship, diversity and innovation.

Dr. Jenkins was commissioned by the British Royal Navy as a Surgeon Sub Lieutenant prior to graduating in medicine from St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in the U.K. Dr. Jenkins served as a medical officer in the British Royal Navy for nine years, achieving the rank of Surgeon Lieutenant Commander.

Karen Smith, MD, PhD, MBA, LLM, has served as a C-suite biotech industry consultant and pharmaceutical executive, member of the board and clinical and scientific advisor during her 20-year career. She has held various roles, including Chief Executive Officer, Chief Medical Officer, and President. She is a company builder and advocate for women in science and diversity in the boardroom. Dr. Smith currently serves on the boards of Sangamo Therapeutics, Aurinia Pharma, Capstan Therapeutics, and Mariana Oncology. Previously, Dr. Smith served on the boards of Talaris Therapeutics, Forward Pharmaceuticals, Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Acceleron Pharma, Antares Pharma, all of which were acquired. Prior to these roles, Dr. Smith held leadership roles at Allergan, AstraZeneca, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Karen Smith, MD, PhD, MBA, LLM, has served as a C-suite biotech industry consultant and pharmaceutical executive, member of the board and clinical and scientific advisor during her 20-year career. She has held various roles, including Chief Executive Officer, Chief Medical Officer, and President. She is a company builder and advocate for women in science and diversity in the boardroom. Dr. Smith currently serves on the boards of Sangamo Therapeutics, Aurinia Pharma, Capstan Therapeutics, and Mariana Oncology. Previously, Dr. Smith served on the boards of Talaris Therapeutics, Forward Pharmaceuticals, Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Acceleron Pharma, Antares Pharma, all of which were acquired. Prior to these roles, Dr. Smith held leadership roles at Allergan, AstraZeneca, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Dr. Jenkins currently provides board level and consulting services to organizations across the life science and healthcare industry. She previously served as President and CEO of Plaquetec Therapeutics and of Dimension Therapeutics, leading efforts to develop novel approaches in coronary vascular and rare diseases that included a significant worldwide partnership for a gene therapy approach to hemophilia A with Bayer Pharmaceuticals.

Prior to these roles, Dr. Jenkins held senior leadership roles at Merck Serono Pharmaceuticals as Global Head of Research and Development and at Bristol-Myers Squibb as Senior Vice President Global Medical.

Dr. Jenkins sits on a number of boards across the public and private sectors and as a trustee of nonprofit organizations globally, including AVROBIO, COMPASS Pathways, MEREO Biopharmaceuticals, AFFIMED, The British Heart Foundation, The King’s Fund, Cancer Research Horizons, Genomics England and Faster Cures at the Milken Institute. As a pharmaceutical thought leader, Dr. Jenkins routinely contributes publicly on leadership with purpose, social entrepreneurship, diversity and innovation.

Dr. Jenkins was commissioned by the British Royal Navy as a Surgeon Sub Lieutenant prior to graduating in medicine from St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in the U.K. Dr. Jenkins served as a medical officer in the British Royal Navy for nine years, achieving the rank of Surgeon Lieutenant Commander.

Dr. Charych is a co-founder and former chief technology officer of RayzeBio, an oncology company focused on targeted delivery of radionuclides. She conceived and led the scientific and operational R&D strategy for RayzeBio, which led to a successful $45M Series A financing and launch in August, 2020, and subsequent Series B, C and D rounds, with capital raised amounting to $418M.

Previously, at Nektar Therapeutics Dr. Charych conceived and led the preclinical and early clinical development of an immuno-oncology pipeline, leading to a $1.8B upfront deal with Bristol Myers Squibb. She also contributed to basic research exploring GPCR receptor biology including the cannabinoid receptor system. At FivePrime Therapeutics, Deborah led a team developing biologics for oncology and autoimmune diseases. While at Chiron Corporation she initiated and led a large proteomics effort to guide oncology target discovery. At Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, she led an academic team as a tenured principal investigator, focusing on new biomaterials.

Dr. Charych has a Ph.D. in Chemistry from UC Berkeley and a B.S. in Chemistry from Carnegie-Mellon University.

Dr. Jenkins currently provides board level and consulting services to organizations across the life science and healthcare industry. She previously served as President and CEO of Plaquetec Therapeutics and of Dimension Therapeutics, leading efforts to develop novel approaches in coronary vascular and rare diseases that included a significant worldwide partnership for a gene therapy approach to hemophilia A with Bayer Pharmaceuticals.

Prior to these roles, Dr. Jenkins held senior leadership roles at Merck Serono Pharmaceuticals as Global Head of Research and Development and at Bristol-Myers Squibb as Senior Vice President Global Medical.

Dr. Jenkins sits on a number of boards across the public and private sectors and as a trustee of nonprofit organizations globally, including AVROBIO, COMPASS Pathways, MEREO Biopharmaceuticals, AFFIMED, The British Heart Foundation, The King’s Fund, Cancer Research Horizons, Genomics England and Faster Cures at the Milken Institute. As a pharmaceutical thought leader, Dr. Jenkins routinely contributes publicly on leadership with purpose, social entrepreneurship, diversity and innovation.

Dr. Jenkins was commissioned by the British Royal Navy as a Surgeon Sub Lieutenant prior to graduating in medicine from St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in the U.K. Dr. Jenkins served as a medical officer in the British Royal Navy for nine years, achieving the rank of Surgeon Lieutenant Commander.

Karen Smith, MD, PhD, MBA, LLM, has served as a C-suite biotech industry consultant and pharmaceutical executive, member of the board and clinical and scientific advisor during her 20-year career. She has held various roles, including Chief Executive Officer, Chief Medical Officer, and President. She is a company builder and advocate for women in science and diversity in the boardroom. Dr. Smith currently serves on the boards of Sangamo Therapeutics, Aurinia Pharma, Capstan Therapeutics, and Mariana Oncology. Previously, Dr. Smith served on the boards of Talaris Therapeutics, Forward Pharmaceuticals, Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Acceleron Pharma, Antares Pharma, all of which were acquired. Prior to these roles, Dr. Smith held leadership roles at Allergan, AstraZeneca, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.