Rob is an EIR and was trained as a cellular immunologist. He has over 28 years of cross-functional drug development experience in oncology and autoimmune diseases spanning discovery research to product launch. Most recently, he was the CSO for Viridian Therapeutics where he was responsible for the overall development and execution of R&D strategy from discovery to proof-of-concept clinical studies. Previously, he was Head of Global Program Leadership for the non-oncology therapeutic areas at EMD Serono/Merck Kga and co-led the development and execution of the R&D strategy for Neurology and Immunology (N&I). Prior to that, Rob held various positions of increasing responsibility at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Amgen, and Corixa Corporation. He obtained his undergraduate degree and Ph.D. In Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Virginia. He completed his post-doctoral training at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI).