viral-vectors
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Joel Schneider
Joel Schneider is the founder, president and CEO of Carbon Biosciences, a Waltham, Massachusetts biotech building gene therapies from parvovirus-derived vectors rather than the more common adeno-associated viruses. He launched the company out of stealth in 2022 with a $38 million Series A led by Agent Capital, pairing his operating background with the science of gene therapy pioneer Robert Kotin. Trained as a stem cell biologist with a Rutgers Ph.D. and a Harvard postdoc, Schneider was the first employee at Solid Biosciences before founding Carbon to push vectors that carry larger genetic payloads, target specific tissues such as the lung, and sidestep the pre-existing immunity that limits current gene therapies. Carbon's lead program targets cystic fibrosis.
Tuyen Ong
Tuyen Ong is a physician-turned-biotech executive who spent four years as CEO of Ring Therapeutics, the Flagship Pioneering company trying to turn anelloviruses - harmless viruses that already live in nearly everyone - into a redosable delivery system for genetic medicines. Trained as an ophthalmologist at University College London with an MBA from NYU Stern, he built his career on gene therapy for rare eye disease at Nightstar, Biogen, PTC, Bausch & Lomb and Pfizer before betting on a virus most scientists had written off as biological junk. In 2025 he co-founded PharmasMarket, a drug-development consultancy.
Ramon Salsas Escat
Ramon Salsas Escat is the Chief Business Officer of GEMMA Biotherapeutics (GemmaBio), the Philadelphia gene-therapy company spun out of Jim Wilson's lab to widen global access to AAV therapies for rare inherited diseases. A chemist by training who earned a PhD in computational and systems biology at MIT and an MBA at IESE, Salsas has led or co-led more than 20 transactions across AAV gene therapies, CNS disorders, oncology and manufacturing platforms, with cumulative deal value north of $4 billion in upfront payments and milestones. He helped build the business engine at Penn's Gene Therapy Program, served as SVP of Business Development at G2 Bio, and now runs business development, alliance management, legal and IP at GemmaBio, where he played a pivotal role in the company's founding and its $34 million seed round.