Charles Kaplan, Ph.D.

Innovative Department and Strategy Leader with 20 years’ post-graduate and industry experience. Track record of success leading Immuno-Oncology and Autoimmunity programs from target validation through to IND enabling studies, accompanied by peer reviewed publications, patents and achievements in both academia and industry. Multiple leadership roles focused on providing scientific and strategic input into the overall R&D effort as well as the scientific strategy underlying the discovery pipeline for large molecule and engineered cell therapies. This includes target selection, definition of candidate criteria, and the strategy for pharmacological profiling of leads. Possesses strong interpersonal skills with vast experience collaborating with multi-disciplinary research/scientific teams and professionals to achieve group and company goals within program timelines. Strong written/verbal skills including an extensive publication record and presenting to executive management, the Board of Directors as well as at professional conferences. Proven track record of building and retaining Research teams and people management skills through direct line supervision to advance job performance and project development. Areas of expertise: • Immuno-Oncology, Autoimmunity • Immunology (mouse and human), Cell Biology, Molecular Biology • ECD-Fc proteins, monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, engineered cell therapies • Monoclonal antibody and cell therapy IND/CTA filings in Autoimmunity and Immuno-Oncology • Large molecule and cellular therapy drug discovery and development including target identification, validation, lead therapeutic identification/optimization and early pre-clinical development. • Large molecule Immuno-Oncology therapeutics including T cell checkpoint inhibitor and agonist monoclonal antibodies, as well as CD3xTAA bispecific antibodies. • Large molecule Autoimmunity therapeutics including monoclonal antibody and ECD-Fc protein therapeutics targeting co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory receptors expressed by Teff cells, Tregs, Tfh cells and B cells. • Engineered cell therapies for Autoimmunity including autologous and allogenic, synthetic regulatory T cell (synReg) and effector T cell (CAR T and SynNotch) platforms for the suppression or elimination of pathogenic cells.