COO

The role –

• This is a translational execution leadership role at the intersection of platform science, productization, CMC and GMP readiness, clinical execution, regulatory coordination, ML integration, and organizational scale-up. The COO will work closely with the CEO to convert its platform doctrine into a disciplined operating system delivering clinical proof, platform learning, licensing readiness, and value creation through 2030. This is not a conventional COO role — the successful candidate will be a scientifically rigorous, execution-oriented operator who can build teams, drive cross-functional programs, and turn complex translational science into reproducible, investable, and partnerable outcomes.

Key responsibilities -

• Cross-functional execution engine — build, lead, and scale a high-performing multidisciplinary organization across cell and tissue engineering, exosomes / EVs, translational biology, biomaterials, assays, CMC / process development, clinical operations, and data integration. Recruit and retain top talent. Build a culture of rigor, speed, reproducibility, and accountability.

• • Clinical and commercial program translation — convert platform capabilities into product execution — vertical proof in SJS, VKC, and NK; horizontal translation into tympanum and cartilage. Ensure each program generates clinical value, platform learning, partner ability, and valuation-inflecting milestones.
• • End-to-end roadmap execution — define and operationalize the platform and product roadmap through 2030. Build integrated execution plans across R&D, preclinical, CMC, GMP / tech transfer, regulatory, clinical, IP, and external partnerships. Convert the upcoming US$70M Series C into specific value-creating milestones with tight governance and board / investor operating cadence.
• • Reproducible GMP-compatible systems lead to the development of robust SOPs across platform and product workflows. Ensure technology and process transfer readiness for clinical-grade manufacturing. Build the operational backbone for licensing diligence.

• Data-to-decision operating layer — integrate biological, structural, functional, and clinical data into a coherent translational framework. Work with internal and external ML teams (including the NVIDIA partnership) to support responder enrichment, outcome prediction, and inverse design. Operationalize the doctrine that both the steering wheel and the GPS are commercializable, defensible assets.

• • Platform capability and assay innovation — drive development of novel platform assays and state-space readouts that strengthen product differentiation, causal interpretability, translational signal, and ML learnability. Guide variants from concept through decision gates.

• Cross-functional risk and decision support — bring structure to indication prioritization, sequence of proof, resource allocation, and program continuation / kill / pivot logic. Ensure it scales with operating discipline rather than scientific sprawl.

• • External interfaces — supervise strategic interactions with clinical collaborators, regulatory consultants, CROs / CDMOs, manufacturing partners, and strategic partners. Support business development, diligence, licensing, and investor interactions with technical depth.
• • IP and asset-building — work with leadership and counsel to strengthen IP portfolio. Embed invention capture into the operating rhythm. Build defensible assets in products, platform workflows, assays, and learnable systems.

Required profile -

• • PhD or equivalent advanced training in biological sciences, bioengineering, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, or closely related field.
• • 10+ years of relevant industry experience in translational biotech, advanced therapeutics, regenerative medicine, or cell-based systems.
• • Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams across science, development, and execution. Track record of converting complex R&D into reproducible, scalable, partnerable systems.
• • Strong working understanding across some combination of: cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, tissue engineering, extracellular vesicles / exosomes, translational assays, preclinical development, and GMP tech transfer.
• • Strong execution in ambiguous environments. Thinks both as a scientist and a company builder.

• Excellent communication for scientific, strategic, and investor-facing contexts.

Preferred –

• • Ophthalmology, regenerative medicine, advanced therapeutics, biomaterials, or exosome platforms. Experience with IND/CTA enabling workflows, CRO/CDMO interfaces, ML-enabled platform development, licensing diligence, and startup or scale-up settings.

1. Personal attributes

• • High agency. Calm under pressure. Rigorous but pragmatic. Capable of leading strong scientists without slowing them down. Comfortable with first-principles thinking. Able to impose operational clarity on complexity. Aligned with building a globally significant company.

• Why this role matters: This role will help determine whether it becomes an impressive scientific company — or the company that defines the category of communication-centric, disease-modifying regenerative medicine. The COO will help build the operating system that turns the doctrine into reality.