# Edward O. Lanphier II

> Edward O. Lanphier II founded Sangamo BioSciences, now Sangamo Therapeutics, in 1995 and led it as president and CEO until June 2016. A Knox College biochemistry graduate and former Choate science teacher, he built a career in corporate development and biotechnology leadership before moving into board and community service. His public profile now places him in Glen Arbor, Michigan; the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation lists him as a director representing Leelanau County.

- **Role:** Director at Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation; founder and former President & CEO of Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc.
- **Organizations:** Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc., Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, Choate Rosemary Hall, Knox College, Eli Lilly and Company, Synergen Inc., Biotherapeutics, Inc., BioGrowth, Inc., Somatix Therapy Corporation, Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, Glen Lake Association, Gerostate Alpha, University of Michigan Provost’s Advisory Committee, University of Michigan School of Public Health Dean’s Advisory Board
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Choate Rosemary Hall, B.A. in biochemistry, Knox College
- **Known for:** Founded Sangamo in 1995 and led it for 21 years., Led Sangamo’s April 2000 IPO, which raised $52.5 million gross., Assembled university licenses and expanded Sangamo’s intellectual property through its 2001 Gendaq acquisition.

## Career timeline

- **1978–1980** — Taught science at Choate Rosemary Hall, where he met Cameron, a mathematics teacher.
- **Before 1984** — Worked in Eli Lilly’s strategic business planning-biotechnology group.
- **1984–1986** — Vice President of Corporate Development at Synergen.
- **1986–1987** — Vice President of Corporate Development at Biotherapeutics.
- **Before 1992** — President and CEO of BioGrowth, which merged with Celtrix Laboratories in 1991.
- **1992–1997** — Held senior roles at Somatix, including EVP of Commercial Development and CFO.
- **1995** — Founded Sangamo BioSciences in Richmond, California.
- **1997** — Joined Sangamo full-time.
- **2000** — Led Sangamo through its April initial public offering.
- **2001** — Sangamo acquired Gendaq.
- **2012** — Joined the Buck Institute board of trustees.
- **2014–2016** — Chaired the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine board.
- **2015** — Choate dedicated the Cameron and Edward Lanphier Center for Mathematics and Computer Science on March 27.
- **2016** — Retired as Sangamo president and CEO on June 1; became board chairman after the June annual meeting. Appointed Buck Institute president and CEO in October, subsequently described as interim; Eric Verdin was named permanent successor in November.
- **2017** — Left Sangamo’s board following a transition year.
- **2019** — Became Executive Chairman of Gerostate Alpha in May, according to his LinkedIn profile preserved in a 2021 SEC filing.
- **2021–2022** — Listed as Glen Lake Association president in the association’s Spring 2022 newsletter, including photographs of 2021 member recognition events.
- **2023** — A February community news profile reported that Edward and Cameron had made Leelanau County their full-time home.

## Achievements

- Founded Sangamo in 1995 and led it for 21 years.
- Led Sangamo’s April 2000 IPO, which raised $52.5 million gross.
- Assembled university licenses and expanded Sangamo’s intellectual property through its 2001 Gendaq acquisition.
- Edward and Cameron were lead donors for Choate’s mathematics and computer science center, dedicated in 2015.
- Served as chair of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine from 2014 to 2016.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Research check: the Community Foundation’s current board page lists Lanphier as a Leelanau County director; his LinkedIn profile lists Glen Arbor, Michigan. This is a verification date, not an appointment date.
- **2026-09** — Company context, after Lanphier’s 2016–2017 leadership departure: Sangamo completed a $50 million sale of technology platforms and other assets to Lilly on September 4 during Chapter 11.
- **2025-04** — Glen Lake Association’s published 2024 annual report acknowledged Lanphier on its Development Committee and listed the Edward & Cameron Lanphier Family Trust among donors with $100,000 or more in lifetime giving.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-lanphier-92325843

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/edward-lanphier
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-12