DIONE T. KOBAYASHI
Cambridge
Summary
Dynamic leader with a proven track record in investment strategy and project management at Amplify. Expert in translating academic technologies into successful ventures, fostering collaboration, and driving innovation. Adept at early discovery to translational research development, with a strong focus on team leadership and stakeholder engagement.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Therapeutics
Amplify
03.2020 - Current
- Company Overview: Leads Amplify investment team focused on translating high value academic technologies born at MGB.
- Engaged in diligencing, operating, then securing collaborators, investors, and licensees for funded projects.
- Strategic science and commercial resource for MGB Investigators and new value-creating initiatives.
- Initiated and directed the big data informatics and commercial platform development that powers Amplify investments.
- Engages in efforts across MGB Innovation, including founding and launching companies with the Venture team.
- Leads Amplify investment team focused on translating high value academic technologies born at MGB.
- Founding COO of Albamunity, a gene therapy vaccine newco that raised a $30M Series A, April 2020 - August 2020.
- Founding CSO of Violet Therapeutics, a functional connectome platform newco to its $8M seed raise, July 2021 - May 2023.
- Founding CSO of SeNa Therapeutics, a GPCR neuroendocrine newco through its $2M pre-seed, December 2023 - February 2025.
Owner & President
AkeOla LLC
01.2018 - Current
- Expert consultant for rare and CNS disease drug development for VCs and select NewCos.
- Engaged in asset/newco diligence, translational strategy/execution, indication selection, advising fundraising.
Founding Chief Science Officer
1787 Bio/Armatus LLC
05.2019 - 11.2019
- Led asset acquisition and science activities for an emerging gene and cell therapy biotech entity.
VP Preclinical Translation
Cydan Development
11.2014 - 12.2017
- Company Overview: Identified and diligenced therapeutic assets at this VC-backed accelerator.
- Derisked assets, secured funding, and led companies to IND/Series A launch.
- Participated in Cydan II fundraising.
- Co-founded Imara (2020 IPO) in collaboration with Lundbeck, CSO of novel platform companies (Eperia and Afyra).
- Identified and diligenced therapeutic assets at this VC-backed accelerator.
Director Neurology Models
Alector
02.2013 - 04.2014
- Responsible for in vivo translational for Alzheimer's disease and Frontotemporal dementia immunotherapies.
- Mentored junior staff and organized scientific operations.
- Directed external research including antibody discovery via immunization and hybridoma fusion, PK/efficacy studies, and animal models.
- Engaged in early development of Latozinemab as Alector's first scientific hire.
Director
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation
New York
01.2009 - 11.2012
- Operated a research portfolio spanning discovery (Ionis, Novartis, PTC/Roche, Genzyme, et al.), research grants, preclinical pharmacology and animal model production, biomarkers, and clinical biomarker studies.
- Commercialized reagent (SMN ELISA) and biomarker (SMA-MAP) tools.
- Key contributor on regulatory strategy and FDA interactions.
- Participated in the early development of Spinraza and Evrysdi.
Principal Scientist
Rinat, Pfizer Inc.
South San Francisco
03.2006 - 12.2009
- Research Program Leader for Alzheimer's and AMD antibodies that advanced to IND and Phase 2 (Ponezumab, RN6G).
- Led internal teams and collaborations for Alzheimer's, ALS, Charcot-Marie Tooth, Parkinson's, SMA and Tauopathy projects.
- Last hire of Rinat prior to Pfizer acquisition.
Associate Scientist
Elan Pharmaceuticals
South San Francisco
01.2000 - 01.2006
- Formed and led the behavioral pharmacology group that screened small and large molecules for efficacy in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
- Directed generation of new genetic and drug-induced neurodegenerative models.
- Awarded fellowship to simultaneously pursue a PhD in Edinburgh.
Research Associate
Genentech
South San Francisco
01.1999 - 01.2000
- Produced POC efficacy data for neurotrophin-targeted antibodies for inflammatory and neuropathic pain.
- Develop datasets to enable spinoff of Genentech neuroscience assets, including Tanezumab.
Education
Ph.D. - Neuroscience
University of Edinburgh
Scotland, UK01.2005
M.Sci. - Cell, Molecular & Neuroscience
University of Hawai'i At Mānoa
Honolulu, HI01.1999
B.Sci. - Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA01.1996
Skills
- Investment strategy and project management
- Team leadership and stakeholder engagement
- Early discovery to translational research development and collaboration
Academic Training
- PhD, Neuroscience, 2005, University of Edinburgh
- MSci, Cell, Molecular & Neuroscience, 1999, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
- BSci, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, 1996, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Personal Information
Title: PhD
Selected Consulting Experience
- Jackson Laboratory, Senior Advisor, Rare Disease Translational Center, 04/01/24, present
- Pivotal bioVenture, Nan Fung Life Sciences, Advisor, 04/01/18, present
- Caraway Therapeutics (formerly Rheostat), Consultant, 06/01/19, 12/31/23
- Inozyme Pharmaceuticals, Consultant, 03/01/19, 12/31/20
- Third Rock Ventures, Consultant, 01/01/19, 12/31/19
- Myonexus, Consultant, 01/01/18, 03/31/19
- Arkuda Atlas Ventures, Consultant, 01/01/18, 01/31/19
- Anthem Capital Partners, Consultant @ Celexis investment, 06/01/18, 06/30/18
- Audentes, Consultant Preclinical & Clinical, 01/01/14, 12/31/14
- Annexon, Director Neurology Models, 01/01/13, 12/31/14
Board Committee Membership
- Board Member, SeNa Therapeutics, 12/01/23, present
- Scientific Advisory Board, Neucore Inc, 03/01/24, present
- Steering Committee Member, Brain Tumour Research Novel Therapeutics Accelerator, 05/01/23, present
- Scientific Advisory Board, Armatus/Tovero Inc, 08/01/21, present
- Board Member, Rejuveron Telomere Therapeutics, 01/01/22, 12/31/23
- Scientific Advisory Board, Myonexus Therapeutics, 01/01/17, 12/31/19
- Scientific Advisor, Allstripes Inc., 01/01/18, 12/31/23
- Advisor, NF2 Biosolutions, 07/01/19, present
- Advisor, Muscular Dystrophy Association Venture Philanthropy Investment Committee, 01/01/18, present
- Scientific Advisor, Pivotal Life Sciences Venture Capital, 01/01/18, present
- Clinical Advisory Board, Bluefield Project for Frontotemporal Dementia, 01/01/17, present
- Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board, CureCMD, 01/01/14, 12/31/19
- Translational Advisory Committee, CureSMA, 01/01/18, 12/31/20
Affiliations
- Board member, SeNa Therapeutics
- Advisor to the Bluefield Project, Brain Tumor Research New Therapeutics Accelerator, NF2 BioSolutions, Pivotal Life Sciences, Muscular Dystrophy Association
- Scientific advisory board member to Armatus, Neucore
Timeline
Head of Therapeutics
Amplify
03.2020 - Current
Founding Chief Science Officer
1787 Bio/Armatus LLC
05.2019 - 11.2019
Owner & President
AkeOla LLC
01.2018 - Current
VP Preclinical Translation
Cydan Development
11.2014 - 12.2017
Director Neurology Models
Alector
02.2013 - 04.2014
Director
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation
01.2009 - 11.2012
Principal Scientist
Rinat, Pfizer Inc.
03.2006 - 12.2009
Associate Scientist
Elan Pharmaceuticals
01.2000 - 01.2006
Research Associate
Genentech
01.1999 - 01.2000
Ph.D. - Neuroscience
University of Edinburgh
M.Sci. - Cell, Molecular & Neuroscience
University of Hawai'i At Mānoa
B.Sci. - Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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