Jonathan D. Finn, PhD
Codiak BioSciences, Vice President Discovery Research
What is your current professional status?
Vice President Discovery Research
What is your work setting?
Bio-industry
What is your scientific area of research?
Working on understanding exosome biology and applying exosomes as targeted delivery vehicles for a range of cargos and applications.
Why do you want to be a mentor?
Over the years I have had the opportunity to train with many excellent researchers and I would like to have the opportunity to give back to the research community. I also find teaching a very rewarding experience.
As a mentor, what are you hoping to gain from this experience?
Teaching is a reward in itself. I believe that helping others is one of the most satisfying things one can do, and I hope to help young scientists learn from the experiences that I have had (both positive and negative)throughout my research career.
How important are the following in the selection of a mentee: (1 – 5 scale, 1 = most important, 5 = least important)
a. Compatibility of Scientific Specialties - 2
b. Geographic Location - 4
c. Professional Status / Success - 2
d. Compatibility of Career Path - 2
e. Communication Style - 2
Please provide a biography that describes who you are and what you do in the field of gene and/or cell therapy.
I am a scientist that has been working in the gene therapy field for over 15 years. I believe that gene therapy is the future of medicine and that this new paradigm has the potential to transform patients' lives. I have worked both with a wide range of gene therapy delivery systems (LNP, adenoviral, lentiviral, AAV, and exosomes), as well as numerous disease applications (cancer, hemophilia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation).
I have had extensive experience in both academia (UBC, McMaster University, CHOP) and in industry (Protiva Biotherapeutics, Arthrogen, Intellia Therapeutics). This broad range of experience gives me a unique perspective and has proven valuable when faced with difficult challenges.
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