Mitchell H. Finer

Mitchell H. Finer, PhD founded Oncorus and currently serves as Executive Chairman and “Chief Coolhunter”. As Chief Coolhunter, Dr. Finer is ever on the prowl for innovative technologies that will increase the probability of success of existing development programs as well as product opportunities that are synergistic with the existing portfolio and will overall improve the success of the business.

Mitch joined MPM Capital as Managing Director in 2015 and is a member of the board of directors of MPM portfolio company Semma Therapeutics. For three decades Mitch has focused in the areas of regenerative medicine, cancer immunotherapy and cell and gene therapy, helping to advance products from conception through phase III clinical programs. Prior to MPM, Mitch served as CSO of bluebird bio, where he was responsible for strategic build of bluebird’s gene therapy business and led the strategic development of the LentiGlobin product from preclinical research through demonstration of long-term therapeutic benefit and safety in beta-thalassemia patients. Mitch continues to serve on bluebird bio’s scientific advisory board.

Prior to bluebird, Mitch served as CEO of Intracel Corporation and Genteric Inc, and as VP Research for Cell Genesys and the Gencell division of Aventis Pharma (now Sanofi). Mitch also successfully co-founded retinal disease gene therapy company Avalanche Biotechnologies.

Mitch received his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Harvard University and a BS in Biochemistry and Microbiology from the University of California at Berkeley. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at MIT.