Rachel Salzman

Dr. Rachel Salzman is a passionate advocate for advancing therapies where novel platforms such as genetic and cellular therapies hold promise. Dr. Salzman co-founded SwanBio Therapeutics in 2017, after serving as the Chief Science Officer (CSO) of The Stop ALD Foundation since 2001. For over 15 years she has provided drug development advice to biopharmaceutical executives working in the rare disease space where complex biological and business issues intersect with serious unmet medical need.

The Stop ALD Foundation is a non-profit Medical Research Organization dedicated to employing entrepreneurial approaches and innovative methodology towards effective therapies, cures, and prevention of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), an often-fatal neurodegenerative disease. As CSO she made critical contributions in driving forward the world’s first ex vivo lentiviral gene therapy clinical trial conducted in non-HIV infected patients. This program is now in a pivotal trial, having contributed to the successful development of a gene therapy company.

Dr. Salzman has been an active member of ASGCT (American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy) for over 15 years and has served in a leadership capacity on multiple committees and task forces designed to advance the state of gene and cell therapy in both the US and EU. Her contributions were recognized when she received the Sonia Skarlatos Public Service Award in 2015. She currently serves as an elected member of the Executive Board of Directors and was the inaugural Chair of the Government Relations Committee.

Dr. Salzman received a D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) from Oklahoma State University and a B.S. in Animal Science from Rutgers University.

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