Board of Directors

Dr. Kenneth R. Chien is a world-recognized leader in cardiovascular science and medicine. Dr. Chien is Director at Massachusetts General Hospital, Cardiovascular Research Center, Charles Sanders Endowed Chair in Medicine, and Adjunct Professor, Harvard Medical School Harvard Stem Cell Institute Professor, The Salk Institute. He has developed new therapeutic strategies for heart failure that have led to numerous patents. These include the discovery of Cardiotrophin-1, the most potent survival factor for heart muscle cells that plays a critical role in preventing the onset of heart failure. In addition, his lab recently identified a defect in SR Ca++ cycling as critical for heart failure progression through the generation of novel double knockout mice. This result has led to the identification of phospholamban inhibition as a novel therapeutic strategy in preventing heart failure progression. In recognition of his lifetime work in molecular cardiac physiology, Dr. Chien was recently elected as a foreign-member of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Evnin is the Managing General Partner of Venrock Associates, a venture capital firm. His previous experience was as a research scientist and business development manager at Story Chemical and Union Carbide. His focus today is largely on biotechnology and related life science companies. He has led financings of several major biotechnology companies over the last twenty-seven years. He presently serves on the boards of Caliper Technologies, Sonic Innovations, Triangle Pharmaceuticals and several private companies, including IDUN Pharmaceuticals, Sunesis Pharmaceuticals and NetGenics. He led Venrock's investment in Athena Neurosciences, Centocor, Genetics Institute, IDEC Pharmaceuticals, IDEXX Laboratories, and Sepracor. Dr. Evnin was awarded his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and also has an A.B. in Chemistry from Princeton University.

Dr. Senyei is a Managing Director of Enterprise Partners Venture Capital. Since 1988, Dr. Senyei has led the firm's life sciences investments, and has served on the Boards of both private and public companies, including: Ligand Pharmaceuticals (OTC:LGND), Corixa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC:CRXA), and Discovery Partners (OTC:DPII). In addition, Dr. Senyei serves on the University of California Irvine Medical School Board of Visitors, and is a member of the UCSD CONNECT Steering Committee. Dr. Senyei was the recipient of the 1998 Jonas Salk Mentor in Medicine Award from the March of Dimes. Dr. Senyei received his M.D. from Northwestern University and completed residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California Irvine, where he served on the faculty prior joining Enterprise Partners.

Dr. Xavier is a Vice President, with Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, Johnson & Johnson’s venture arm. Dr. Xavier is based in New Brunswick, NJ and represents JJDC on the board of a number of its portfolio companies. Dr. Xavier previously worked in business development at BioRexis Pharmaceutical Corporation, King of Prussia, PA (acquired by Pfizer in 2007). While at BioRexis, he assisted the company in raising a $30 million second round of financing. He has worked in business development and strategy at SGX Pharmaceuticals (San Diego, CA; SGXP) and was a project leader at Message Pharmaceuticals (Malvern, PA). Dr. Xavier holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with honors. He holds a B.Tech. from the Indian Institute of Technology (Kanpur, India) and a Ph.D. from the University of Houston both in Chemical Engineering. He was a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Chemistry at John Hopkins University.

Dr. Zsebo is a biopharmaceutical veteran with 23 years of experience in the industry, Dr. Zsebo has been involved in numerous successful ventures. Prior to joining Celladon, she was a Venture Partner at Enterprise Partners Venture Capital, and held executive positions at Remedyne Corporation, Connetics, ALZA, Cell Genesys, and Amgen.