Katharine D'Aquino

Drug Discovery Project Manager

Spring House, Pennsylvania, United States

About

• Broad experience across multiple therapeutic areas, including obesity, diabetes, MASH, kidney diseases, cardiometabolic, oncology, inflammation/immunology, and musculoskeletal • Deep expertise in pharmacology, drug discovery, and early stage development • Proven leadership in managing and guiding complex cross functional project teams, with a strong focus on strategic planning, collaboration, and high performance • Experience in evaluating external innovation, encompassing search and evaluation and due diligence • Demonstrated success in stakeholder engagement and influence, driving programs toward critical decision points • Recognized for agility, effective multitasking, and fostering productive team based collaborations • Strong interpersonal, client management, and communication capabilities

Experience

  • Sr Principal Operational Scientist at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
    Apr 2026 - Present · 3 mos

    Cardiopulmonary - Aging & Metabolism Provides scientific leadership for translational research in thrombosis, sarcopenia, and cardiometabolic diseases, while also delivering key operational support. ·   Lead and provide expertise in in vitro and in vivo studies supporting cardiometabolic and cardiopulmonary research. ·   Contribute to target identification, validation, and preclinical strategy development in areas such as HFpEF, Group 2 PH, vascular dysfunction, thrombosis, and age‑related muscle loss and weakness. ·   Partner with disease area leaders and project teams to develop mechanistic hypotheses and experimental plans aligned with Cardiopulmonary priorities. ·   Support project management for aging‑focused cardiopulmonary programs, ensuring clear milestones, timelines, and decision points. ·   Organize and support internal and external meetings.

  • External Innovation Project Manager at Novo Nordisk
    Aug 2024 - Apr 2026 · 1 yr 9 mos

    Global Drug Discovery, Diabetes, Obesity & MASH TA • Identify and assess external opportunities in diabetes and obesity. • Act as the scientific bridge connecting the Therapeutic Area, External & Exploratory Innovation, and Search & Evaluation/BD teams, ensuring rigorous due diligence and guiding strategic investment and partnership decisions. • Offer scientific guidance as an advisor to partnered project teams. • Program management of partnered project teams.

  • The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (10 yrs 11 mos)
    • Senior Scientist
      Aug 2017 - Aug 2024 · 7 yrs 1 mo

    • Scientist
      Oct 2013 - Aug 2017 · 3 yrs 11 mos

  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School/Children's Hospital Boston
    Mar 2006 - Sep 2013 · 7 yrs 7 mos