Organization Profile

Addgene, a non-profit organization, was founded in 2004 as a hub for scientific sharing to promote biological and medical discoveries. Its team brings together the diverse set of backgrounds necessary to realize its goal.

Management

Joanne Kamens, Ph.D., Executive Director

Joanne received her Ph.D. in Genetics from Harvard University, where she studied signaling pathways. She spent 15 years in the Pharmaceutical industry at Abbott Research Center and moved into the biotechnology sector as Senior Director of Research Collaborations at RXi Pharmaceuticals. Joanne also has extensive experience with leadership of non-profit organizations. She founded the Massachusetts chapter of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS), serves on the Board of Directors of Women Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (WEST), and is Director of Mentoring for the Boston chapter of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA). Additional information is available on Joanne's LinkedIn profile .

Kenneth Fan, Director of Business Development and Finance

Kenneth is a co-founder of Addgene and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from Tufts University and his Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy, with a focus on international technology management, from the Fletcher School at Tufts. Prior to Addgene, Kenneth was an investment banking analyst at Credit Suisse’s Technology Group in Palo Alto, CA.

Melina Fan, Ph.D., Director of Scientific Outreach

Melina is a co-founder of Addgene and received her Ph.D. in Cell Biology from Harvard University, where she studied diabetes and metabolism. She has worked at Genetics Institute in Cambridge, MA, and Sequana Therapeutics in San Diego, CA. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from MIT.

Lianna Swanson, PhD., Director of Biology

Lianna joined Addgene as a Senior Scientist in 2008. She received her B.A. in Biology from Technion Israel Institute of Technology and her Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Cell Biology from Northwestern University.

Board of Directors

David E. Brook, J.D.

Mr. Brook is the founding principal in the intellectual property law firm Hamilton, Brook, Smith, and Reynolds, P.C., in Concord, Massachusetts. Mr. Brook has over 35 years of experience working with university and corporate clients on intellectual property matters.

Benjie Chen, PhD

Benjie is a co-founder of Addgene and received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from MIT. His research focused on computer systems and networks. Benjie was Addgene's Director of Technology for 7 years, and is now Chief Software Engineer at Ginkgo Bioworks. He also holds an S.B. and a Masters in Engineering from MIT, both in Computer Science.

Constance Cepko, Ph.D.

Dr. Cepko is a Professor in the Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the National Academy of Science. Dr. Cepko received her Ph.D. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, working with Phillip Sharp on the assembly of the adenovirus capsid.

David Root, Ph.D.

Dr. Root is the Director of the RNA Interference platform and project leader of The RNAi Consortium (TRC) at the Broad Institute. He oversees the development and production of RNAi libraries, the development of RNAi screening methodologies, and the execution of RNAi-based mammalian genetic screens. Dr. Root received his Ph.D. degree in Physical Chemistry from Stanford University.

Judy Tsai Chuk, Ph.D.

Dr. Chuk is a Market Research Manager for Genzyme Corporation’s Biosurgery business unit, where she directs market research and market analytics efforts. Prior to Genzyme, she has worked in the life sciences practice of L.E.K. consulting, a strategy consulting firm that advises executives in pharma and biotech industries. Dr. Chuk received her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences in Public Health from Harvard University, where she studied mechanisms of obesity and diabetes.

Also on the board: Dr. Melina Fan, Kenneth Fan.

Scientific Advisors

Joyce Brinton

Prior to retiring in 2005, Ms. Brinton was the Director of the Office for Technology and Trademark Licensing at Harvard University, and was the President of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) (1995).

Ira Mellman, Ph.D.

Vice President at Genentech and Founder at CGI Pharmaceuticals.

Bruce Spiegelman, Ph.D.

Professor in the Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School.

Man-Sun Sy, Ph.D.

Professor in the Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University.

Robert Weinberg, Ph.D.

Professor in the Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.