Esther Welkowsky

Esther Welkowsky joined Elicio Therapeutics as Vice President of Clinical Operations in April 2020. She brings 20 years of clinical research experience across large and small biotechnology companies, including cell therapy, small molecules, and biologic settings.

Most recently, as Executive Director at Allogene Therapeutics, Esther was responsible for building their Clinical Operations department in support of their allogeneic CAR T portfolio of clinical trials. Prior to this, as employee four at Atara Biotherapeutics, she established the Clinical Operations department, which supported both the initial biologic trials as well as the transition to Atara’s allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy trials spanning multiple indications. Earlier, at Cougar Biotechnology and Janssen, Esther was a key contributor to the pivotal prostate cancer study that led to market approval for Zytiga®, as well as the second Phase 3 study that expanded the Zytiga® label to chemo-naïve patients. She has also contributed to research for several other drug products that have received marketing approval including Yondelis®, Avastin®, and Raptiva®.

Esther holds a bachelor of science degree in Microbiology from the University of California at Santa Barbara.