Dr Vatsala Naageshwaran Appointed As CEO Of Franklin Biolabs

Franklin Biolabs is a contract research organisation (CRO) focused on genetic medicines. They were founded by gene therapy pioneer James Wilson, MD, PhD, who announced the appointment of Dr. Vatsala Naageshwaran as its new Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Naageshwaran is an accomplished biopharmaceutical executive with over 20 years of experience in advancing technical and commercial operations. She has led cross-functional teams and delivered substantial revenues, helping drive product and service portfolio growth.

Dr. Wilson, Chairperson of Franklin Biolabs, commented, "We are incredibly excited to have Vatsala join our team, whose exceptional combination of business savvy and technical scientific expertise is an immense asset to our growing company. With her decades of experience building high-performing teams and directing results-driven operations, Vatsala is well equipped to lead Franklin Biolabs as it brings transformative therapies to more patients with rare and debilitating diseases."

Before joining Franklin Biolabs, Dr Naageshwaran worked in various roles in biotech, including positions at Myriad Genetics, Astex Pharmaceuticals, and Absorption Systems, a contract research organisation. As Chief Business Officer at Absorption Systems, she led the company’s global business strategy across multiple sectors, including small molecules, medical devices, and cell and gene therapies. Most recently, she was Vice President and head of Business Development for US CGT & Lab Services at Pharmaron, where she supported large pharma and biotech companies in cell and gene therapy development.

Dr Vatsala Naageshwaran, PhD, said in a statement, "I am absolutely thrilled to join Franklin Biolabs and be a part of the groundbreaking work that Dr Wilson and his team are doing at the forefront of gene therapy and healthcare innovation. I accepted this opportunity because I am confident that my experience will help advance the development of innovative therapeutics, which in turn will profoundly impact the lives of patients and their families worldwide."

Dr. Naageshwaran holds a biochemistry and molecular biology degree from Mount Holyoke College and a pharmacometrics degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She completed her doctoral research through a joint program between the University of Helsinki and Eastern Finland. She has been recognised for her achievements, including receiving FDA grants for pharmaceutical drug research and leading Pharmaron’s San Diego site to be named a Top CRO from 2018-2021. Dr. Naageshwaran’s work has been showcased at prominent national conferences, and she has authored several publications in peer-reviewed journals.