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A world where cancer and other intractable diseases are conquered by treatments we create so that patients can live long, fulfilling lives.
To harness the power of macrocycle therapies to create effective treatments for cancer and other serious illnesses while minimizing the negative effects patients experience with conventional therapies.
Every member of the Circle Pharma team is essential to our collective mission.
John Josey, Ph.D., served as the President, Chief Executive Officer, and member of the Board of Directors at Peloton Therapeutics from 2013 until its acquisition by Merck in 2019. From 2011 to 2013, he was President and Chief Scientific Officer at Peloton, and from 1998 to 2011, Vice President of Discovery Chemistry at Array Pharma.
John received a B.S. in chemistry from Colorado State University, a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin, and an M.B.A. from the University of Colorado. He did post-doctoral research at the California Institute of Technology. In addition to being a board member at Circle Pharma, John is also a board member at Nura Nio and Atavistik Bio.
John Josey, Ph.D., served as the President, Chief Executive Officer, and member of the Board of Directors at Peloton Therapeutics from 2013 until its acquisition by Merck in 2019. From 2011 to 2013, he was President and Chief Scientific Officer at Peloton, and from 1998 to 2011, Vice President of Discovery Chemistry at Array Pharma.
John received a B.S. in chemistry from Colorado State University, a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin, and an M.B.A. from the University of Colorado. He did post-doctoral research at the California Institute of Technology. In addition to being a board member at Circle Pharma, John is also a board member at Nura Nio and Atavistik Bio.
David J. Earp, J.D., Ph.D., has served as the President & CEO and a member of the board of directors of Circle since October 2013. Previously, David held various roles at Geron Corporation (NASDAQ:GERN), including chief patent counsel, chief legal officer and senior vice president of corporate transactions, building a broad IP portfolio and playing an integral role in numerous partnering, licensing and collaboration deals. He led the spin-out of Geron’s nuclear transfer technology into StART Licensing, Inc., and its subsequent acquisition by Viagen Corp. (Austin, Texas). He served on the boards of StART and Viagen, including as executive chairman of Viagen and led the sale of the company to TransOva Genetics (subsequently acquired by Intrexon, now Precigen, NASDAQ:PGEN). David was also a member of the board of directors of TA Therapeutics Ltd. (Hong Kong, PRC) and of Sienna Cancer Diagnostics (Melbourne, Australia) which he helped take public prior to its consolidation with BARD1 Life Sciences Limited (now INOVIQ, ASX:IIQ). Earlier in his career, he was a partner at the intellectual property law firm Klarquist, LLP (Portland, Oregon).
David received his B.Sc. (with first-class honors) in microbiology from the University of Leeds, his Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Cambridge, and his J.D. (magna cum laude) from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College. He was a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of California, Berkeley / USDA PGEC.
David J. Earp, J.D., Ph.D., has served as the President & CEO and a member of the board of directors of Circle since October 2013. Previously, David held various roles at Geron Corporation (NASDAQ:GERN), including chief patent counsel, chief legal officer and senior vice president of corporate transactions, building a broad IP portfolio and playing an integral role in numerous partnering, licensing and collaboration deals. He led the spin-out of Geron’s nuclear transfer technology into StART Licensing, Inc., and its subsequent acquisition by Viagen Corp. (Austin, Texas). He served on the boards of StART and Viagen, including as executive chairman of Viagen and led the sale of the company to TransOva Genetics (subsequently acquired by Intrexon, now Precigen, NASDAQ:PGEN). David was also a member of the board of directors of TA Therapeutics Ltd. (Hong Kong, PRC) and of Sienna Cancer Diagnostics (Melbourne, Australia) which he helped take public prior to its consolidation with BARD1 Life Sciences Limited (now INOVIQ, ASX:IIQ). Earlier in his career, he was a partner at the intellectual property law firm Klarquist, LLP (Portland, Oregon).
David received his B.Sc. (with first-class honors) in microbiology from the University of Leeds, his Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Cambridge, and his J.D. (magna cum laude) from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College. He was a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of California, Berkeley / USDA PGEC.
Matthew P. Jacobson, Ph.D., is a co-founder of Circle Pharma and a member of Circle’s Board of Directors. Matt is a leading authority in computer-aided drug design, computational structural biology, and biophysics and the author of more than 200 research publications. He is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at UCSF, and in addition to Circle Pharma is a co-founder of companies including Global Blood Therapeutics, Relay Therapeutics, Terremoto and Nine Square Therapeutics. Matt is also a venture partner at Apple Tree Partners.
Matt earned his Ph.D. in physical chemistry at MIT and completed post-doctoral research at Oxford and Columbia. As a faculty member at UCSF, he received the NSF CAREER Award, an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship, and several UCSF School of Pharmacy teaching awards. He has served on the editorial boards of several journals, including Biochemistry, PLoS Computational Biology, and Structure.
Matthew P. Jacobson, Ph.D., is a co-founder of Circle Pharma and a member of Circle’s Board of Directors. Matt is a leading authority in computer-aided drug design, computational structural biology, and biophysics and the author of more than 200 research publications. He is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at UCSF, and in addition to Circle Pharma is a co-founder of companies including Global Blood Therapeutics, Relay Therapeutics, Terremoto and Nine Square Therapeutics. Matt is also a venture partner at Apple Tree Partners.
Matt earned his Ph.D. in physical chemistry at MIT and completed post-doctoral research at Oxford and Columbia. As a faculty member at UCSF, he received the NSF CAREER Award, an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship, and several UCSF School of Pharmacy teaching awards. He has served on the editorial boards of several journals, including Biochemistry, PLoS Computational Biology, and Structure.
Dr. Kelsey has extensive experience in oncology clinical development. He currently serves as president, head of research and development and chief medical officer at Revolution Medicines (NASDAQ:RVMD), and previously held roles including president of Onkaido Therapeutics, the oncology-focused unit of Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA), senior vice president of new products at Medivation (acquired by Pfizer (NYSE:PFE)), executive vice president and chief medical officer at Geron Corporation (NASDAQ:GERN), vice president of oncology at Genentech (part of the Roche Group) and medical director at Pharmacia / SUGEN (acquired by Pfizer). Dr. Kelsey has had key roles in the development of many oncology therapeutics including Sutent, Perjeta, Kadcycla, Erivedge and imetelstat.
Dr. Kelsey received his medical degrees from the University of Birmingham in the UK and trained as a hematologic oncologist at Barts and The London Hospital where he was a clinician-scientist focused on leukemias and lymphomas.
Dr. Kelsey has extensive experience in oncology clinical development. He currently serves as president, head of research and development and chief medical officer at Revolution Medicines (NASDAQ:RVMD), and previously held roles including president of Onkaido Therapeutics, the oncology-focused unit of Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA), senior vice president of new products at Medivation (acquired by Pfizer (NYSE:PFE)), executive vice president and chief medical officer at Geron Corporation (NASDAQ:GERN), vice president of oncology at Genentech (part of the Roche Group) and medical director at Pharmacia / SUGEN (acquired by Pfizer). Dr. Kelsey has had key roles in the development of many oncology therapeutics including Sutent, Perjeta, Kadcycla, Erivedge and imetelstat.
Dr. Kelsey received his medical degrees from the University of Birmingham in the UK and trained as a hematologic oncologist at Barts and The London Hospital where he was a clinician-scientist focused on leukemias and lymphomas.
Dr. Walter Moos has been a managing director of Pandect, a venture capital firm, since 2018. He brings more than three decades of experience in executive roles in biotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations. Walter has served as chairman/CEO of ShangPharma Innovation, president of SRI Biosciences (Stanford Research Institute), chairman/CEO of MitoKor (Migenix), and vice president at Chiron (Novartis) and Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis (Pfizer).
Over the course of his career Walter has served on numerous boards and as an advisor to government, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and he has held faculty positions at several major universities, including serving as a professor of pharmaceutical chemistry at the University of California San Francisco since 1992. He has been a consultant to industry in North America, Europe, and Asia, and has worked as an advisor or committee member for organizations including the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Walter has co-founded several scientific journals, co-authored and edited a number of books, and has published and patented widely. He holds an A.B. in chemistry from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California Berkeley.
Dr. Walter Moos has been a managing director of Pandect, a venture capital firm, since 2018. He brings more than three decades of experience in executive roles in biotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations. Walter has served as chairman/CEO of ShangPharma Innovation, president of SRI Biosciences (Stanford Research Institute), chairman/CEO of MitoKor (Migenix), and vice president at Chiron (Novartis) and Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis (Pfizer).
Over the course of his career Walter has served on numerous boards and as an advisor to government, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and he has held faculty positions at several major universities, including serving as a professor of pharmaceutical chemistry at the University of California San Francisco since 1992. He has been a consultant to industry in North America, Europe, and Asia, and has worked as an advisor or committee member for organizations including the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Walter has co-founded several scientific journals, co-authored and edited a number of books, and has published and patented widely. He holds an A.B. in chemistry from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California Berkeley.
Thilo Schroeder, Ph.D., is a partner at Nextech Invest, an oncology-focused venture firm. With a passion for precision medicines in cancer, he has been instrumental in growing and shaping Nextech since 2012. Thilo serves on the boards of Revolution Medicines, Circle Pharma, Cargo Therapeutics, Atavistik Bio, MOMA Therapeutics, Exo Therapeutics, and Alterome Therapeutics, and has previously held board positions at companies like Blueprint Medicines and Peloton Therapeutics (acquired by Merck).
Thilo began his biotech career at Micromet (acquired by Amgen) while studying at Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg. He conducted research at the University of Sydney and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Zurich, focusing on protein engineering and the development of Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins (DARPins).
Thilo Schroeder, Ph.D., is a partner at Nextech Invest, an oncology-focused venture firm. With a passion for precision medicines in cancer, he has been instrumental in growing and shaping Nextech since 2012. Thilo serves on the boards of Revolution Medicines, Circle Pharma, Cargo Therapeutics, Atavistik Bio, MOMA Therapeutics, Exo Therapeutics, and Alterome Therapeutics, and has previously held board positions at companies like Blueprint Medicines and Peloton Therapeutics (acquired by Merck).
Thilo began his biotech career at Micromet (acquired by Amgen) while studying at Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg. He conducted research at the University of Sydney and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Zurich, focusing on protein engineering and the development of Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins (DARPins).
Mr. Evangelista joined The Column Group in 2012 and has almost two decades of venture capital industry experience. Previously, he was with Three Arch Partners, and prior to that, Lightspeed Venture Partners. He began his career working for several large money management firms including Fisher Investments and Barclays Global Investors.
Mr. Evangelista is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in the state of California and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the California Society of CPAs.
Mr. Evangelista joined The Column Group in 2012 and has almost two decades of venture capital industry experience. Previously, he was with Three Arch Partners, and prior to that, Lightspeed Venture Partners. He began his career working for several large money management firms including Fisher Investments and Barclays Global Investors.
Mr. Evangelista is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in the state of California and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the California Society of CPAs.
Dr. Kaelin is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Kaelin was awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, with co-recipients Sir Peter J Ratcliffe and Dr. Gregg L. Semenza, for discoveries related to the mechanisms by which cell sense and respond to oxygen levels. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine and the Association of American Physicians, and has been a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator since 1998. Dr. Kaelin’s research seeks to understand how mutations affecting tumor-suppressor genes cause cancer and to lay the foundation for new anticancer therapies. Dr. Kaelin has received numerous recognitions for his work, including the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, the Princess Takamatsu Award (AACR), the Science of Oncology Award (ASCO) and the Canada Gairdner International Award. Dr. Kaelin obtained his undergraduate and MD degrees from Duke University and completed his training in internal medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he served as chief medical resident. He was a clinical fellow in Medical Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, during which time he was a McDonnell Scholar.
Dr. Kaelin is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Kaelin was awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, with co-recipients Sir Peter J Ratcliffe and Dr. Gregg L. Semenza, for discoveries related to the mechanisms by which cell sense and respond to oxygen levels. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine and the Association of American Physicians, and has been a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator since 1998. Dr. Kaelin’s research seeks to understand how mutations affecting tumor-suppressor genes cause cancer and to lay the foundation for new anticancer therapies. Dr. Kaelin has received numerous recognitions for his work, including the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, the Princess Takamatsu Award (AACR), the Science of Oncology Award (ASCO) and the Canada Gairdner International Award. Dr. Kaelin obtained his undergraduate and MD degrees from Duke University and completed his training in internal medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he served as chief medical resident. He was a clinical fellow in Medical Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, during which time he was a McDonnell Scholar.
Dr. Ashworth is the President of the University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology / Oncology at UCSF and Sr. Vice President for Cancer Services with USCF Health. He previously served as the Chief Executive of the Institute of Cancer Research in London. Dr. Ashworth is a translational biologist whose research is focused on understanding tumor genetics to develop improvements in the treatment and care of cancer patients. He contributed to the identification of the BRCA2 breast cancer susceptibility gene and the development of PARP inhibitors for cancer treatment. Dr. Ashworth is an elected member of the US National Academy of Sciences and the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and a Fellow of the Royal Society. His work has been recognized with awards including the European Society of Medical Oncology Lifetime Achievement Award, the Drexel Prize in Cancer Biology, the Basser Global Prize, the Meyenburg Foundation Cancer Research Award, the David T. Workman memorial Award of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Center and the Genetics Society Medal. Dr. Ashworth received his doctorate in biochemistry from University College, London.
Dr. Ashworth is the President of the University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology / Oncology at UCSF and Sr. Vice President for Cancer Services with USCF Health. He previously served as the Chief Executive of the Institute of Cancer Research in London. Dr. Ashworth is a translational biologist whose research is focused on understanding tumor genetics to develop improvements in the treatment and care of cancer patients. He contributed to the identification of the BRCA2 breast cancer susceptibility gene and the development of PARP inhibitors for cancer treatment. Dr. Ashworth is an elected member of the US National Academy of Sciences and the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and a Fellow of the Royal Society. His work has been recognized with awards including the European Society of Medical Oncology Lifetime Achievement Award, the Drexel Prize in Cancer Biology, the Basser Global Prize, the Meyenburg Foundation Cancer Research Award, the David T. Workman memorial Award of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Center and the Genetics Society Medal. Dr. Ashworth received his doctorate in biochemistry from University College, London.
Dr. Stillman is the President and CEO of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) in New York and previously served as the Director of the NCI-designated CSHL Cancer Center. He is a biochemist and cancer researcher who has made seminal discoveries related to the eukaryotic DNA replication cycle, including the discovery of the Origin Recognition Complex (ORC), a key protein that initiates the process of making chromosomes competent for duplication. His work has provided insights into the complexity of cell replication and has implications for understanding genomic instability and tumor heterogeneity in cancer. Dr. Stillman is an elected member of the US National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Australian Academy of Science, a Fellow of the American Association for Cancer Research, and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He has received multiple awards including the Alfred P Sloan Prize, General Motors Cancer Research Foundation, the Basic Science Award from the Society of Surgical Oncology, the Herbert Tabor Research Award, the Canada Gairdner International Award, the Heineken Prize for Biochemistry and Biophysics and the Order of Australia. Dr. Stillman received his doctorate from the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University.
Dr. Stillman is the President and CEO of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) in New York and previously served as the Director of the NCI-designated CSHL Cancer Center. He is a biochemist and cancer researcher who has made seminal discoveries related to the eukaryotic DNA replication cycle, including the discovery of the Origin Recognition Complex (ORC), a key protein that initiates the process of making chromosomes competent for duplication. His work has provided insights into the complexity of cell replication and has implications for understanding genomic instability and tumor heterogeneity in cancer. Dr. Stillman is an elected member of the US National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Australian Academy of Science, a Fellow of the American Association for Cancer Research, and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He has received multiple awards including the Alfred P Sloan Prize, General Motors Cancer Research Foundation, the Basic Science Award from the Society of Surgical Oncology, the Herbert Tabor Research Award, the Canada Gairdner International Award, the Heineken Prize for Biochemistry and Biophysics and the Order of Australia. Dr. Stillman received his doctorate from the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University.
Marites is on the purification/analytical chemistry team at Circle Pharma where she focuses on research and small molecule analysis. Previously, Marites led the Bioanalytics team at Amyris, optimizing LC/MS protocols for proteins and small molecules and successfully delivering a DARPA project with a team to analyze over 500 molecules in yeast. She was also a Senior Technologist at Sandia National Laboratories where she conducted ligand binding experiments, crosslinking structure elucidation, and novel protein digestion methodologies. Marites earned her B.A. in Molecular Cell Biology with an emphasis on Biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.
Marites joined Circle Pharma in 2024.
Marites is on the purification/analytical chemistry team at Circle Pharma where she focuses on research and small molecule analysis. Previously, Marites led the Bioanalytics team at Amyris, optimizing LC/MS protocols for proteins and small molecules and successfully delivering a DARPA project with a team to analyze over 500 molecules in yeast. She was also a Senior Technologist at Sandia National Laboratories where she conducted ligand binding experiments, crosslinking structure elucidation, and novel protein digestion methodologies. Marites earned her B.A. in Molecular Cell Biology with an emphasis on Biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.
Marites joined Circle Pharma in 2024.
Dr. Lisa Kopp joins Circle Pharma as our Sr. Medical Director of Early Clinical Development. Lisa has over 16 years of experience leading oncology clinical trials, including over five years of industry experience spanning early and late-phase study leadership. She has extensive experience in protocol development, study implementation, and site/investigator engagement for the successful execution of both adult and pediatric oncology clinical trial programs. Prior to joining Circle Pharma, Dr. Kopp held previous clinical development Medical Lead positions of increasing responsibility leading global early-phase clinical trials at Day One Biopharmaceuticals and Arcus Biosciences.
Prior to joining the industry, Dr. Kopp served as a pediatric hematologist-oncologist and held the position of Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Arizona for over eight years. She led oncology clinical trials and provided specialized care for pediatric and young adult oncology patients, focusing on sarcomas. She continues to provide care for pediatric and young adult patients with solid tumors at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Lisa Kopp joins Circle Pharma as our Sr. Medical Director of Early Clinical Development. Lisa has over 16 years of experience leading oncology clinical trials, including over five years of industry experience spanning early and late-phase study leadership. She has extensive experience in protocol development, study implementation, and site/investigator engagement for the successful execution of both adult and pediatric oncology clinical trial programs. Prior to joining Circle Pharma, Dr. Kopp held previous clinical development Medical Lead positions of increasing responsibility leading global early-phase clinical trials at Day One Biopharmaceuticals and Arcus Biosciences.
Prior to joining the industry, Dr. Kopp served as a pediatric hematologist-oncologist and held the position of Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Arizona for over eight years. She led oncology clinical trials and provided specialized care for pediatric and young adult oncology patients, focusing on sarcomas. She continues to provide care for pediatric and young adult patients with solid tumors at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Nu Wang, Ph.D., joins Circle Pharma as a Sr. Scientist, Analytical Chemistry with over 12 years of professional experience in Analytical Chemistry, specializing in Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry. Before joining Circle Pharma, Nu was an Analytical Chemist at Amyris and Zymergen, where she supported multiple molecule engineering programs in yeast and E.coli. While at Amyris and Zymergen, Nu Wang developed various sample preparation assays and analytical assays to separate, purify, quantify, and identify molecules by utilizing LC-MS/MS, LC-UV/DAD, LC-CAD, SFC-PDA, GC-MS, GC-FID, and Ion Chromatography. Previous to this, Nu was a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab where she worked on building an automated high-throughput metabolomics analysis pipeline in yeast. Nu received her Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, under the mentorship of Prof. John Ward and Prof. Paul Boswell. Her work there focused on cell membrane transporters and metabolite identification, which was achieved by constructing a retention time database that could be shared, utilizing simulations of chromatographic behaviors to predict the retention times of more than 1000 metabolites.
Nu Wang, Ph.D., joins Circle Pharma as a Sr. Scientist, Analytical Chemistry with over 12 years of professional experience in Analytical Chemistry, specializing in Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry. Before joining Circle Pharma, Nu was an Analytical Chemist at Amyris and Zymergen, where she supported multiple molecule engineering programs in yeast and E.coli. While at Amyris and Zymergen, Nu Wang developed various sample preparation assays and analytical assays to separate, purify, quantify, and identify molecules by utilizing LC-MS/MS, LC-UV/DAD, LC-CAD, SFC-PDA, GC-MS, GC-FID, and Ion Chromatography. Previous to this, Nu was a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab where she worked on building an automated high-throughput metabolomics analysis pipeline in yeast. Nu received her Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, under the mentorship of Prof. John Ward and Prof. Paul Boswell. Her work there focused on cell membrane transporters and metabolite identification, which was achieved by constructing a retention time database that could be shared, utilizing simulations of chromatographic behaviors to predict the retention times of more than 1000 metabolites.
Ben Tsao, PharmD, joins Circle Pharma as Director, Clinical Scientist. Prior to joining Circle Pharma, Ben held the position of Director, Clinical Scientist at Day One Bio, where he made substantial contributions to a pivotal global Phase 3 study in pediatric neuro-oncology. As a lead clinical scientist, he was instrumental in the development and implementation of study protocols, closely collaborating with cross-functional teams to initiate and manage trial activities. Ben possesses extensive expertise in protocol development, as well as the initiation and maintenance of clinical trials. Ben embarked on his career in the biopharmaceutical industry as a Clinical Scientist Fellow at Allergan (later acquired by AbbVie), where he contributed to various late-phase neurology and psychiatric development programs. During his tenure at AbbVie, he spearheaded the development of pediatric studies for cariprazine, aimed at addressing pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders. In 2021, Ben transitioned to Day One Biopharmaceutical, where he played a pivotal role in the global Phase 3 tovorafenib, pediatric low-grade glioma program (LOGGIC/FIREFLY-2), advancing treatment options for children facing unmet medical needs. Ben Tsao holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and earned his Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of North Carolina, Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
Ben Tsao, PharmD, joins Circle Pharma as Director, Clinical Scientist. Prior to joining Circle Pharma, Ben held the position of Director, Clinical Scientist at Day One Bio, where he made substantial contributions to a pivotal global Phase 3 study in pediatric neuro-oncology. As a lead clinical scientist, he was instrumental in the development and implementation of study protocols, closely collaborating with cross-functional teams to initiate and manage trial activities. Ben possesses extensive expertise in protocol development, as well as the initiation and maintenance of clinical trials. Ben embarked on his career in the biopharmaceutical industry as a Clinical Scientist Fellow at Allergan (later acquired by AbbVie), where he contributed to various late-phase neurology and psychiatric development programs. During his tenure at AbbVie, he spearheaded the development of pediatric studies for cariprazine, aimed at addressing pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders. In 2021, Ben transitioned to Day One Biopharmaceutical, where he played a pivotal role in the global Phase 3 tovorafenib, pediatric low-grade glioma program (LOGGIC/FIREFLY-2), advancing treatment options for children facing unmet medical needs. Ben Tsao holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and earned his Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of North Carolina, Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
Emily Rivas joins the Circle Pharma team as an Administrative Assistant supporting our EA. With over 10 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and tech industries supporting executive level staff, she has developed strong administrative abilities as well as project management and team building skills.
Emily Rivas joins the Circle Pharma team as an Administrative Assistant supporting our EA. With over 10 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and tech industries supporting executive level staff, she has developed strong administrative abilities as well as project management and team building skills.
Stacey Mendoza joins the Circle Pharma team as an Administrative Assistant supporting our Executive Director, Head of People. Having previously held positions in retail, accounting, and non-profit industries, she has developed strong administrative skills and grown accustomed to fast-paced environments. Stacey graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in Sociology and has previous work experience in Human Resources.
Stacey Mendoza joins the Circle Pharma team as an Administrative Assistant supporting our Executive Director, Head of People. Having previously held positions in retail, accounting, and non-profit industries, she has developed strong administrative skills and grown accustomed to fast-paced environments. Stacey graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in Sociology and has previous work experience in Human Resources.
Eleonor is a seasoned Executive Assistant and Office Manager with over 20 years of experience and a track record of strong performance in fast-paced, high-pressure environments. Having held positions in semiconductor, biotech, and fintech start-ups, Eleonor is able to tailor her approach to meet the needs of any organization. From managing executive calendars and providing general staff support, to handling matters related to HR and facilities, Eleonor handles challenges with ease. Prior to Circle, Eleonor worked as an Executive Business Partner at Credit Karma supporting Tax, Savings, and Product Design executives and directors.
Eleonor is a seasoned Executive Assistant and Office Manager with over 20 years of experience and a track record of strong performance in fast-paced, high-pressure environments. Having held positions in semiconductor, biotech, and fintech start-ups, Eleonor is able to tailor her approach to meet the needs of any organization. From managing executive calendars and providing general staff support, to handling matters related to HR and facilities, Eleonor handles challenges with ease. Prior to Circle, Eleonor worked as an Executive Business Partner at Credit Karma supporting Tax, Savings, and Product Design executives and directors.
Luzviminda joins Circle Pharma as a Lab Technician. Luz was most recently at Merck where she also worked as a Lab Technician. Luz has previous experience working at both Genentech and Boehringer Ingelheim as a Manufacturing Inspector. Additionally, Luz brings Quality Control and Production experience from her time at Genemed Biotechnologies.
Luzviminda joins Circle Pharma as a Lab Technician. Luz was most recently at Merck where she also worked as a Lab Technician. Luz has previous experience working at both Genentech and Boehringer Ingelheim as a Manufacturing Inspector. Additionally, Luz brings Quality Control and Production experience from her time at Genemed Biotechnologies.
Paul Vindiola is a seasoned Warehouse and Material Handling professional with over 30 years of experience and a track record of strong performance in fast-paced environments. Having held positions in pharmacy, retail, printing and biotech organizations, Paul is excited to bring his expertise to the Circle Pharma team.
Paul Vindiola is a seasoned Warehouse and Material Handling professional with over 30 years of experience and a track record of strong performance in fast-paced environments. Having held positions in pharmacy, retail, printing and biotech organizations, Paul is excited to bring his expertise to the Circle Pharma team.
Marites is on the purification/analytical chemistry team at Circle Pharma where she focuses on research and small molecule analysis. Previously, Marites led the Bioanalytics team at Amyris, optimizing LC/MS protocols for proteins and small molecules and successfully delivering a DARPA project with a team to analyze over 500 molecules in yeast. She was also a Senior Technologist at Sandia National Laboratories where she conducted ligand binding experiments, crosslinking structure elucidation, and novel protein digestion methodologies. Marites earned her B.A. in Molecular Cell Biology with an emphasis on Biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.
Marites joined Circle Pharma in 2024.
Marites is on the purification/analytical chemistry team at Circle Pharma where she focuses on research and small molecule analysis. Previously, Marites led the Bioanalytics team at Amyris, optimizing LC/MS protocols for proteins and small molecules and successfully delivering a DARPA project with a team to analyze over 500 molecules in yeast. She was also a Senior Technologist at Sandia National Laboratories where she conducted ligand binding experiments, crosslinking structure elucidation, and novel protein digestion methodologies. Marites earned her B.A. in Molecular Cell Biology with an emphasis on Biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.
Marites joined Circle Pharma in 2024.
Dr. Lisa Kopp joins Circle Pharma as our Sr. Medical Director of Early Clinical Development. Lisa has over 16 years of experience leading oncology clinical trials, including over five years of industry experience spanning early and late-phase study leadership. She has extensive experience in protocol development, study implementation, and site/investigator engagement for the successful execution of both adult and pediatric oncology clinical trial programs. Prior to joining Circle Pharma, Dr. Kopp held previous clinical development Medical Lead positions of increasing responsibility leading global early-phase clinical trials at Day One Biopharmaceuticals and Arcus Biosciences.
Prior to joining the industry, Dr. Kopp served as a pediatric hematologist-oncologist and held the position of Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Arizona for over eight years. She led oncology clinical trials and provided specialized care for pediatric and young adult oncology patients, focusing on sarcomas. She continues to provide care for pediatric and young adult patients with solid tumors at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Lisa Kopp joins Circle Pharma as our Sr. Medical Director of Early Clinical Development. Lisa has over 16 years of experience leading oncology clinical trials, including over five years of industry experience spanning early and late-phase study leadership. She has extensive experience in protocol development, study implementation, and site/investigator engagement for the successful execution of both adult and pediatric oncology clinical trial programs. Prior to joining Circle Pharma, Dr. Kopp held previous clinical development Medical Lead positions of increasing responsibility leading global early-phase clinical trials at Day One Biopharmaceuticals and Arcus Biosciences.
Prior to joining the industry, Dr. Kopp served as a pediatric hematologist-oncologist and held the position of Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Arizona for over eight years. She led oncology clinical trials and provided specialized care for pediatric and young adult oncology patients, focusing on sarcomas. She continues to provide care for pediatric and young adult patients with solid tumors at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Nu Wang, Ph.D., joins Circle Pharma as a Sr. Scientist, Analytical Chemistry with over 12 years of professional experience in Analytical Chemistry, specializing in Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry. Before joining Circle Pharma, Nu was an Analytical Chemist at Amyris and Zymergen, where she supported multiple molecule engineering programs in yeast and E.coli. While at Amyris and Zymergen, Nu Wang developed various sample preparation assays and analytical assays to separate, purify, quantify, and identify molecules by utilizing LC-MS/MS, LC-UV/DAD, LC-CAD, SFC-PDA, GC-MS, GC-FID, and Ion Chromatography. Previous to this, Nu was a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab where she worked on building an automated high-throughput metabolomics analysis pipeline in yeast. Nu received her Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, under the mentorship of Prof. John Ward and Prof. Paul Boswell. Her work there focused on cell membrane transporters and metabolite identification, which was achieved by constructing a retention time database that could be shared, utilizing simulations of chromatographic behaviors to predict the retention times of more than 1000 metabolites.
Nu Wang, Ph.D., joins Circle Pharma as a Sr. Scientist, Analytical Chemistry with over 12 years of professional experience in Analytical Chemistry, specializing in Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry. Before joining Circle Pharma, Nu was an Analytical Chemist at Amyris and Zymergen, where she supported multiple molecule engineering programs in yeast and E.coli. While at Amyris and Zymergen, Nu Wang developed various sample preparation assays and analytical assays to separate, purify, quantify, and identify molecules by utilizing LC-MS/MS, LC-UV/DAD, LC-CAD, SFC-PDA, GC-MS, GC-FID, and Ion Chromatography. Previous to this, Nu was a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab where she worked on building an automated high-throughput metabolomics analysis pipeline in yeast. Nu received her Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, under the mentorship of Prof. John Ward and Prof. Paul Boswell. Her work there focused on cell membrane transporters and metabolite identification, which was achieved by constructing a retention time database that could be shared, utilizing simulations of chromatographic behaviors to predict the retention times of more than 1000 metabolites.
Ben Tsao, PharmD, joins Circle Pharma as Director, Clinical Scientist. Prior to joining Circle Pharma, Ben held the position of Director, Clinical Scientist at Day One Bio, where he made substantial contributions to a pivotal global Phase 3 study in pediatric neuro-oncology. As a lead clinical scientist, he was instrumental in the development and implementation of study protocols, closely collaborating with cross-functional teams to initiate and manage trial activities. Ben possesses extensive expertise in protocol development, as well as the initiation and maintenance of clinical trials. Ben embarked on his career in the biopharmaceutical industry as a Clinical Scientist Fellow at Allergan (later acquired by AbbVie), where he contributed to various late-phase neurology and psychiatric development programs. During his tenure at AbbVie, he spearheaded the development of pediatric studies for cariprazine, aimed at addressing pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders. In 2021, Ben transitioned to Day One Biopharmaceutical, where he played a pivotal role in the global Phase 3 tovorafenib, pediatric low-grade glioma program (LOGGIC/FIREFLY-2), advancing treatment options for children facing unmet medical needs. Ben Tsao holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and earned his Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of North Carolina, Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
Ben Tsao, PharmD, joins Circle Pharma as Director, Clinical Scientist. Prior to joining Circle Pharma, Ben held the position of Director, Clinical Scientist at Day One Bio, where he made substantial contributions to a pivotal global Phase 3 study in pediatric neuro-oncology. As a lead clinical scientist, he was instrumental in the development and implementation of study protocols, closely collaborating with cross-functional teams to initiate and manage trial activities. Ben possesses extensive expertise in protocol development, as well as the initiation and maintenance of clinical trials. Ben embarked on his career in the biopharmaceutical industry as a Clinical Scientist Fellow at Allergan (later acquired by AbbVie), where he contributed to various late-phase neurology and psychiatric development programs. During his tenure at AbbVie, he spearheaded the development of pediatric studies for cariprazine, aimed at addressing pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders. In 2021, Ben transitioned to Day One Biopharmaceutical, where he played a pivotal role in the global Phase 3 tovorafenib, pediatric low-grade glioma program (LOGGIC/FIREFLY-2), advancing treatment options for children facing unmet medical needs. Ben Tsao holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and earned his Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of North Carolina, Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
Emily Rivas joins the Circle Pharma team as an Administrative Assistant supporting our EA. With over 10 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and tech industries supporting executive level staff, she has developed strong administrative abilities as well as project management and team building skills.
Emily Rivas joins the Circle Pharma team as an Administrative Assistant supporting our EA. With over 10 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and tech industries supporting executive level staff, she has developed strong administrative abilities as well as project management and team building skills.
Stacey Mendoza joins the Circle Pharma team as an Administrative Assistant supporting our Executive Director, Head of People. Having previously held positions in retail, accounting, and non-profit industries, she has developed strong administrative skills and grown accustomed to fast-paced environments. Stacey graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in Sociology and has previous work experience in Human Resources.
Stacey Mendoza joins the Circle Pharma team as an Administrative Assistant supporting our Executive Director, Head of People. Having previously held positions in retail, accounting, and non-profit industries, she has developed strong administrative skills and grown accustomed to fast-paced environments. Stacey graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in Sociology and has previous work experience in Human Resources.
Eleonor is a seasoned Executive Assistant and Office Manager with over 20 years of experience and a track record of strong performance in fast-paced, high-pressure environments. Having held positions in semiconductor, biotech, and fintech start-ups, Eleonor is able to tailor her approach to meet the needs of any organization. From managing executive calendars and providing general staff support, to handling matters related to HR and facilities, Eleonor handles challenges with ease. Prior to Circle, Eleonor worked as an Executive Business Partner at Credit Karma supporting Tax, Savings, and Product Design executives and directors.
Eleonor is a seasoned Executive Assistant and Office Manager with over 20 years of experience and a track record of strong performance in fast-paced, high-pressure environments. Having held positions in semiconductor, biotech, and fintech start-ups, Eleonor is able to tailor her approach to meet the needs of any organization. From managing executive calendars and providing general staff support, to handling matters related to HR and facilities, Eleonor handles challenges with ease. Prior to Circle, Eleonor worked as an Executive Business Partner at Credit Karma supporting Tax, Savings, and Product Design executives and directors.
Luzviminda joins Circle Pharma as a Lab Technician. Luz was most recently at Merck where she also worked as a Lab Technician. Luz has previous experience working at both Genentech and Boehringer Ingelheim as a Manufacturing Inspector. Additionally, Luz brings Quality Control and Production experience from her time at Genemed Biotechnologies.
Luzviminda joins Circle Pharma as a Lab Technician. Luz was most recently at Merck where she also worked as a Lab Technician. Luz has previous experience working at both Genentech and Boehringer Ingelheim as a Manufacturing Inspector. Additionally, Luz brings Quality Control and Production experience from her time at Genemed Biotechnologies.
Paul Vindiola is a seasoned Warehouse and Material Handling professional with over 30 years of experience and a track record of strong performance in fast-paced environments. Having held positions in pharmacy, retail, printing and biotech organizations, Paul is excited to bring his expertise to the Circle Pharma team.
Paul Vindiola is a seasoned Warehouse and Material Handling professional with over 30 years of experience and a track record of strong performance in fast-paced environments. Having held positions in pharmacy, retail, printing and biotech organizations, Paul is excited to bring his expertise to the Circle Pharma team.
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