Sherry Cao is a seasoned leader in computational science with over 20 years of experience driving innovation and digital transformation in the biopharmaceutical industry. As the Vice President of Computational Science at Affinia Therapeutics, she leverages her deep expertise in immunology systems biology, scientific informatics, and data-driven decision making to accelerate the development of cutting-edge gene therapies.
Experience Summary
Current Role
In her current role as VP of Computational Science at Affinia Therapeutics, Sherry is responsible for leading the company's computational biology and informatics teams. She oversees the development and implementation of advanced computational platforms and data analytics strategies to support the discovery and optimization of novel gene therapy candidates. Under her leadership, Affinia has achieved significant advancements in the application of systems biology and machine learning to enhance the understanding of complex immune responses and accelerate the translation of research insights into viable clinical programs.
Career Progression
Prior to joining Affinia Therapeutics, Sherry held several senior leadership positions at AbbVie, where she drove the integration of computational biology and informatics across the company's immunology and drug discovery portfolios. As the Group Head of Immunology Systems Computational Biology, she built and led a high-performing team that leveraged cutting-edge computational approaches to uncover new biological insights and inform the design of targeted therapeutics. Sherry also previously served as the Group Head of Scientific IT Informatics at AbbVie, where she spearheaded the development of next-generation data management and analytics platforms to support the company's research and development initiatives.
Earlier in her career, Sherry held a Director role at Genzyme Sanofi, where she led the development and implementation of innovative computational workflows to accelerate drug discovery and development. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University, where she gained valuable expertise in systems biology and computational modeling.
Academic Background
Sherry holds a Ph.D. in Computational Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where her research focused on the application of machine learning and mathematical modeling to the study of complex biological systems. She is a recognized expert in her field and has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals.
Areas of Expertise
- Computational biology and systems biology
- Immunology and immune system modeling
- Bioinformatics and data analytics
- Scientific informatics and digital transformation
- Cross-functional collaboration and team leadership
Professional Impact
Throughout her career, Sherry has made significant contributions to the biopharmaceutical industry by driving the integration of computational approaches to accelerate drug discovery and development. Her work has led to the identification of novel therapeutic targets, the development of predictive models for disease progression and treatment response, and the optimization of clinical trial design and patient stratification strategies. Sherry's innovative mindset and collaborative leadership style have been instrumental in fostering a culture of data-driven decision making and continuous improvement within the organizations she has served.
Conclusion
Sherry Cao is a highly accomplished computational scientist and business leader with a proven track record of driving innovation and digital transformation in the biopharmaceutical industry. Her deep expertise in immunology systems biology, scientific informatics, and data analytics, coupled with her strategic vision and collaborative leadership style, position her as a valuable asset in the development of cutting-edge gene therapies at Affinia Therapeutics.
