Pharmaceuticals
10 translational medicine experts
These ten professionals have held translational medicine roles inside drug developers, with titles such as head of translational medicine and translational medicine lead. A reader can learn how in-house translational medicine teams connect research to early clinical development.
Professionals to explore
01—10Christine E. Horak
LinkedInExperience: Head of Translational Medicine, Executive Director · Palleon Pharmaceuticals
Former Head of Translational Medicine, Executive Director at Palleon Pharmaceuticals (2022–2024), and Executive Director, Translational Medicine - Oncology at Moderna since 2024. Former Director, I-O Medical Lead, US Medical at Bristol Myers Squibb (2017–2020). The profile describes oncology roles that include biomarker and diagnostic development, translational medicine and clinical development.
Gregory J. Opiteck
LinkedInExperience: Head of Translational Medicine - Vice President · Janux Therapeutics
Head of Translational Medicine - Vice President at Janux Therapeutics since 2026. Former Head of Precision & Translational Medicine - Vice President at Affini-T Therapeutics (2023–2026), Head of Translational Sciences - Vice President at Allogene Therapeutics (2020–2023) and Head of Translational & Precision Medicine - Senior Director at Receptos, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Celgene (2015–2018).
Hong Zhang
LinkedInExperience: Translational Medicine Lead, Translational Medicine and Early Development · Sanofi
Former Translational Medicine Lead, Translational Medicine and Early Development at Sanofi (2021–2025), and Director, Translational Biomarker Lead, Early Clinical Development at Takeda since 2025. Former Translational Research Lead, Translational Oncology, Precision Medicine at AbbVie (2019–2021). The profile describes expertise in translational medicine and biomarker strategy for clinical drug development.
John T. O’Malley
LinkedInExperience: VP, CTX112 Program Leader and Head of Translational Medicine · CRISPR Therapeutics
VP, CTX112 Program Leader and Head of Translational Medicine at CRISPR Therapeutics since 2025. Former Principal Clinical Research Director and Global Clinical Lead, Amlitelimab (2022–2025) and Senior Director Clinical Research (2019–2022) at Sanofi, and Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Brigham and Women's Hospital (2014–2025).
Karin Wåhlander
LinkedInExperience: SVP Global Head Translational Medicine Unit · Sanofi
SVP Global Head Translational Medicine Unit at Sanofi since 2024, and former SVP Global Head of Translational Medicine and Early Develoment there (2024). Former Vice President Medical & Science, Rare Disease & Advanced Therapies, Clinical Drug Development at Novo Nordisk (2022–2024). The profile says this person has built and led departments focused on translational sciences and translational medicine.
Patricia Soulard
LinkedInExperience: Executive Director Translational Medicine Head · Rgenta Therapeutics Inc.
Executive Director Translational Medicine Head at Rgenta Therapeutics Inc. since 2023. Former Director & Translational Biomarker Research Lead of Clinical Immunotherapies at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (2017–2023) and Director, Discovery & Translational Biology at Forma Therapeutics (Now Novo Nordisk) (2011–2016).
Peter Einar Pertel
LinkedInExperience: Global Translational Medicine Head for Respiratory and Infectious Diseases · Novartis Science
Global Translational Medicine Head for Respiratory and Infectious Diseases at Novartis Science since 2018, and former Global Translational Medicine Head for Infectious Diseases there (2011–2018). The profile says that in this role at the Novartis Institute for BioMedical Research this person oversees early clinical development, including first-in-human and proof-of-concept studies.
Sarah S. Donatelli
LinkedInExperience: Director of Clinical Science & Head of Translational Medicine · CG Oncology
Director of Clinical Science & Head of Translational Medicine at CG Oncology since 2026, and former Senior Clinical Trial Scientist there (2025–2026). Former Director, Translational Medicine at Mural Oncology (2023–2025) and Director, Translational Medicine, Oncology at Alkermes (2022–2023). The profile says this person is currently leading translational strategy and operational execution.
Yan Wang
LinkedInExperience: Executive Director, Head of Translational Medicine · Frontier Medicines
Executive Director, Head of Translational Medicine at Frontier Medicines since 2022. Former Sr. Director, Translational Medicine at Alkermes (2019–2022), Senior Director of Translational Research at X4 Pharmaceuticals (2016–2019) and Director of Biology at Verastem Oncology (2015–2016).
Yuting Sun
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director of Translational Medicine · Nuvalent, Inc.
Senior Director of Translational Medicine at Nuvalent, Inc. since 2024, and former Director of biology there (2021–2024). The profile lists building Nuvalent's translational medicine team and overseeing clinical translational biomarker efforts, and describes work in biotech R&D settings from discovery to IND to early exploratory and late registrational clinical trials.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's setting to yours, since building translational medicine at a small biotech differs from leading a unit at a large drug maker. Also decide whether your question is mainly about biomarker strategy, early clinical study design or decision making between research and development, and pick someone whose roles centered on that work.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you decide which biomarkers to build into a first-in-human study?
- 02How do you set go or no-go criteria that link early clinical data to the program's biology?
- 03How should a translational medicine team work with research and clinical development so hand-offs do not slow a program?
Reaching translational medicine experts
How can I contact one of these translational medicine experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 9 companies, including Palleon Pharmaceuticals, Janux Therapeutics and Sanofi, based on profile data retrieved on October 4, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach translational medicine experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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