Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Riboway Therapeutics is a biotech startup leveraging AI to decode RNA biology and develop RNA-targeted therapeutics to precisely control protein expression or function. Avery was trained as an RNA biologist and neuroscientist. She has extensive expertise in R&D, investment, business development, and startup leadership within biotech and pharma sectors. Her drug development experience spans diverse modalities, including small and large molecules, ASO, siRNA, CAR-T, TCR-T, and PROTAC programs. Avery has a proven track record of leading groundbreaking projects, closing business deals, attracting top talent, and building high-performing teams.
Founded Riboway in Oct 2024 to acquire all Leverna assets following its closure. Leading capital raise, partnership development, and R&D strategy to advance the lead neurodegeneration program toward IND & Clinical PoC.
Initiated the idea of revolutionizing how targets are drugged and founded Leverna Therapeutics focusing on novel RNA biology discovery and RNA-targeted therapeutics development. Led R&D and all aspects of operations, including securing seed funding, building the team, and strategically allocating resources to drive sustainable growth. Established a robust AI-powered platform for RNA targeting and a pipeline of smart ASO programs for innovative first-in-class and best-in-class solutions for neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases.
Led the license-in of a novel VLP platform-based IO programs from VerImmune (deal closure May 2022). Led incubation of newco focusing on RNA-targeted therapeutics. Managed post-deal collaborations and served as JSC member. Supported Fosun BD projects with scientific evaluations.
Co-led the license-in of a small molecule oncology program (deal closure Feb 2021). Led reach-out efforts into business collaboration models (newco formation or license-in) that suit company strategy; drafted business proposals and NBTS. Responsible for scientific due diligence for all FUSION platform projects and supported deal negotiations with scientific judgments. Conducted scientific evaluation and technology review for early-stage innovative programs at Fosun.
Lead the Cellular and Molecular Toxicity team in supporting predictive and mechanistic toxicology research and IND filings. Developed next-generation human in vitro testing strategy for screening and safety testing of immunotherapeutic drugs, siRNA and ProTACs. Informed drug development and tox model selection by performing deep gene expression characterization and comparative genomics. Led research collaborations with CROs and academic institutions and built a NextGen genomics and in vitro assay lab with automation capabilities. Led toxicogenomics studies and cross-functional effort to build of a primary cell expression atlas (>100 cell types) to support all Amgen research projects. Led development of 2D and 3D liver models for studying nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and drug-induced liver toxicity.
Played pivotal role in founding the TSB group, shaped the group mission and strategies for applying human genetics, in vitro models and systems biology to predictive safety. Developed CRISPR engineering protocol with superior editing efficiency in human iPSC and developed human iPSC-derived hepatocyte model to study target biology and drug toxicity in liver. Identified crucial biomarkers for drug development and clinical trials by proteomic profiling of human serum in genetic variant carriers and serum of drug-treated animal models. Supported IND filing of CAR T cell therapy with in vitro toxicity assessments. Generated Target Liability Assessment for potential drug targets indicated from human genetics to support decision making of Amgen drug pipelines.
Expanded current knowledge of transcriptome >10 fold and discovered novel alternative splicing – epigenetic mechanisms by conducting deep RNA-Seq of mouse and human brain. (PNAS 2015) Discovered novel behavior and electrophysiological defects in the Rbfox KO mice that associate the gene with ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) disease. Identified biological implications of the computationally predicted Rbfox splicing regulatory network inferred by integrative Bayesian modeling. (Cell Reports 2014) Created CRISPR edited ES cell lines and characterized differentiated motor neurons for morphological and neurophysiological phenotypes