Maria Fardis Ph.D.

Maria Fardis, PhD, MBA, serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Lassen Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company developing innovative antibodies for treating fibrosis, thyroid eye disease, and oncology. Fardis has held significant leadership roles across various organizations, including a position on the Board of Directors at CRISPR Therapeutics and Chair of the Board at Obsidian Therapeutics. As a Venture Partner at Frazier Healthcare Partners, Fardis contributes to strategic initiatives within the biotechnology sector. Previously, Fardis was the President and CEO of Iovance Biotherapeutics, where a substantial increase in market valuation occurred during tenure. Fardis's extensive experience in clinical operations, project management, and regulatory affairs includes key roles at Acerta Pharma, Pharmacyclics, and Gilead Sciences. Educational achievements include a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, an MBA from Golden Gate University, and a summa cum laude B.S. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.