Lara has deep expertise leading translational development activities for cell and gene therapies. She combines nuanced understanding of the scientific, clinical and commercial landscapes to drive a company’s strategic decisions. Her scientific development experience includes process design, analytical methods, raw materials, lab operations, intellectual property, regulatory interactions, and outward-facing communications. She has overseen multi-functional, multi-layered teams and has developed plans and strategies with both short- and long-term implications for businesses. Her work has resulted in numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts and presentations at academic and industry conferences, as well as issued patents. She earned a BSE in Chemical Engineering from Princeton and a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from University of Pennsylvania.