Annahita Keravala

Annahita Keravala brings more than two decades of experience in gene therapy using viral and non-viral vectors, with extensive expertise in discovering novel vector technologies and gene therapy drug development for ophthalmic, systemic and inflammatory diseases. Previously, she was Associate Vice President, AAV Platform at Rocket Pharmaceuticals. At Rocket, she provided strategic, scientific and operational leadership, and oversaw all aspects of discovery research and preclinical development of the adeno-associated virus (AAV) programs, which culminated in a successful Investigational New Drug (IND) application filing. Earlier, Annahita held several positions of increasing responsibility at Adverum Biotechnologies (formerly Avalanche Biotechnologies). Notably, as Director of Adverum’s Novel Vector Technology group, she led the team to discover and optimize novel AAV vectors to support the company’s pipeline and was deeply involved in the development of ADVM-022 for wet age-related macular degeneration. She started her career in the industry as a Scientist at Geron Corporation after being a Research Scientist at Stanford University School of Medicine. An author of multiple patents, she is also widely published in prestigious scientific journals.

Annahita earned a Ph.D. in molecular genetics and biochemistry from the University of Pittsburgh, a M.Sc. in life sciences and biotechnology from the University of Bombay, Bombay, India, and a B.Sc., with Honors in life sciences and biochemistry from St. Xavier’s College, Bombay, India. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Genetics at Stanford University School of Medicine.