About Us - Cell Therapy Solutions
Dr. Geoffrey Stephens
Geoffrey Stephens, PhD, MBA, is a seasoned executive in the biotechnology industry with over 25 years of experience bridging science and business across both large pharma and innovative startups. With deep expertise in immunology, cell therapy, and bioinformatics, he has led cross-functional teams through the full spectrum of drug development — from discovery to IND and commercialization — focusing on areas such as autoimmune disease, oncology, and inflammation.
He began his scientific career with early training at the NIH/NIAID and has since built a proven track record of scientific leadership.
At AstraZeneca/MedImmune, he led biologics discovery teams, advancing multiple programs in the autoimmune pipeline and playing a key role in the development and approval of Benralizumab (Fasenra®) for asthma.
As Head of Process Development at Tessa Therapeutics, he helped drive CD30-CAR-T therapies toward RMAT (FDA) and PRIME (EMA) designation for lymphoma. He also played a pivotal role in enhancing stem cell treatments and their applications in cancer therapy.
At Immatics, he directed Product Science efforts focused on TCR-T cell therapies for solid tumors, contributing significantly to advancements in cell therapy.
Geoffrey also co-founded Cellcion, where he served as Chief Scientific Officer, developing AI-powered tools to decode complex immunological networks. Today, in collaboration with initiatives like the California Network for Cell Therapy, he continues to integrate science and technology to push the frontiers of cell therapy innovation.
Areas of expertise: CAR-T, TCR-T, regulatory T cells, biologics, process development, molecular biology, GMP manufacturing, and advanced data analytics.
Sibylle Hauser
Her international professional career spans over 25 years in the biotechnology industry, including 9 years at Boehringer Mannheim/Roche, along with significant experience in emerging Biotech and contract manufacturing. She has a proven track record in corporate business development, in-licensing, fundraising, strategic planning, and international commercialization, highlighted by a successful US biopharmaceutical product launch. In recent years, her roles have concentrated on capital access and fundraising, particularly in the areas of Cell- and Gene Therapy technologies, as well as Precision Medicine. Currently, at the Open Biopharma Research & Training Institute, she utilizes her extensive experience in the CGT and diagnostic sector. Previously, she served as Executive Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at California Life Sciences, where she connected innovators with Seed and Series A capital, including organizing an Investor Partnering event in 2023. Before this, she was a Strategic Advisor in Life Sciences at Richtr Financial Studio, enhancing her due diligence experience in early-stage funding rounds.
Driven by her passion and expertise in supporting first-time founders in securing capital, she established and chairs the Women In Bio-Entrepreneur Center. From September 2018 to May 2022, she connected over 90 female founders with innovative life sciences technologies across the US, including those focused on stem cell treatments.
She is also a member of the Board of Directors at SiVEC Biotechnologies and serves on the Investment Committee of the Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, further contributing to initiatives such as the California Network for Cell Therapy.
Dr. Savita Nair
Savita Nair, PhD, is a scientific leader in the biotechnology industry, specializing in biopharmaceutical analytical development, particularly in immunoassay strategy and CMC for gene and cell therapies. With over 15 years of experience ranging from early research to commercialization, she has built and led analytical teams at Sangamo Therapeutics, Merck, Atrin Pharmaceuticals, and Fox Chase Cancer Center. Dr. Nair’s work is pivotal in transforming scientific innovation into real-world therapies by driving the development, validation, and regulatory strategy for potency, antigenicity, and identity assays that support product quality and safety. Her expertise includes method development, tech transfer, CRO/CDMO partnerships, and regulatory submissions, particularly in the context of stem cell treatments and the California Network for Cell Therapy. Her passion for science and commitment to empowering others have made her a respected leader both professionally and in her community, earning her the 2023 HBA Rising Star Award in Healthcare Leadership.
Dr. Shesh Sharma
Shesh Sharma, PhD, MBA is a leader in the biotechnology industry and a management consultant with extensive experience in driving business transformation and scaling operations across both high-growth startups and Fortune 100 biotech companies. Over the past decade, he has partnered with early- and late-stage CGT organizations that focus on stem cell treatments, including platforms such as autologous, allogeneic, and iNK (iPSC), supporting programs from preclinical development through to commercialization.
Shesh collaborates closely with executive teams to design fit-for-purpose organizations, architect scalable operating strategies, build and lead high-performing teams, and deploy AI-enabled manufacturing and supply chain capabilities. This approach enhances efficiency, cost discipline, and execution at scale through advanced analytics and automation. His experience encompasses strategic sourcing for both direct and indirect materials, with a spend exceeding $1B and delivering double-digit savings. Moreover, his expertise includes CDMO partnership management and technology transfer, pivotal for enabling reliable, scalable operations. He has a demonstrated ability to align strategy with execution—integrating operations, technology, and procurement with critical business, capital, and regulatory milestones.
In parallel, he supports founders and investors with operational diligence, investor positioning, and fundraising, applying an operator’s perspective to company building. He also contributes to industry thought leadership, sharing insights on CGT commercialization, strategic sourcing, and biotech board composition and governance through initiatives like the California Network for Cell Therapy.
Earlier in his career, Shesh held leadership roles at prestigious consulting firms, including Kearney and PRTM. Currently, he is developing a venture platform dedicated to enabling technologies that simplify the drug development process, cut costs, and accelerate time to market.