Leslie Cousens

Leslie Cousens is a seasoned professional in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors, currently serving as Senior Director, GI Search & Evaluation Lead at Takeda since June 2023. Prior to this role, Leslie spent over eight years at AstraZeneca in various senior positions, including Senior Director of Business Development, Licensing & Strategy for Respiratory & Immunology, as well as Director and Associate Director of Translational Medicine. At EpiVax, Inc., from May 2010 to January 2015, contributions included the development of validation assays and building a grant-funded project portfolio in autoimmune diseases. Earlier experience includes a role as Research Scientist at Roger Williams Medical Center, focusing on bispecific antibody products and cellular immunotherapy. Leslie holds a Ph.D. in Biology and Medicine from Brown University and a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and French from Providence College.