California Biotech Insights

Derrell Porter, M.D. is the CEO of cTRL Therapeutics, a company transforming the cell therapy space by developing autologous cell therapies for patients with solid tumors. Derrell also currently sits on the boards of Passage Bio, Acumen Pharma and Portal Innovations. He has over 20 years of experience in the biopharma space, bringing deep interdisciplinary expertise in the development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics in immuno-oncology, rare disease and cell and gene therapies. He has previously served as founder and CEO of Cellevolve Bio, working with partners to bring cell therapies through late-stage development and commercialization with a focus on neglected diseases. Prior to that, he has held various leadership roles at Atara Bio, Gilead Sciences, AbbVie, and McKinsey & Company, among others. Derrell earned his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, his M.B.A. from The Wharton School, and B.S. in Neuroscience from UCLA.

Ranjan “Ron” Batra is the Chief Scientific Officer at Dyne Therapeutics, a biotech company developing therapies for people living with serious neuromuscular diseases. He joined Dyne from Lexeo Therapeutics, where he was vice president of discovery research and translation. A leading expert in RNA biology and therapeutics, he has developed cutting-edge treatments for genetic diseases. Previously, he served as a senior vice president of R&D at LocanaBio, where he advanced RNA-targeted therapies for rare disorders including Duchenne muscular dystrophy and myotonic dystrophy. His work earned him the Biocom Catalyst Award (2019), Endpoints News 20 Under 40 (2021), and recognition as one of San Diego’s Top 25 Health Care Leaders (2022). Before LocanaBio, he worked at Verily Life Sciences and conducted pioneering research at UC San Diego and the University of Florida with more than 35 publications and patents. Ron earned a PhD in genetics from the University of Florida, where he studied RNA biology and gene therapy for neuromuscular diseases.

Dr. Kartik Krishnan was named Chief Executive Officer of OncoNano Medicine in 2024, having previously served as OncoNano’s President, Head of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer since joining the company in 2022. Kartik is an accomplished biotechnology executive focused on corporate excellence and execution. He has over 20 years of hands-on experience in developing experimental cancer therapeutics as an investigator and sponsor. Prior to joining OncoNano, Kartik served as Chief Medical Officer of Arcus Biosciences where he oversaw a diverse portfolio of biologics and small molecules across multiple phases of development, ranging from first-in-human to Phase 3. Prior to Arcus, he held clinical development and pharmacovigilance roles at Astex, FivePrime Therapeutics, BioMarin, Genentech, Roche and Amgen. Kartik previously worked in academia, holding a faculty position at the University of Arizona with both clinical and primary research responsibilities. Kartik received his bachelor’s degree in history (with Distinction) from the University of Virginia and completed his Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy in cellular, molecular and biophysical studies at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. He trained in pediatrics at the University of California, Los Angeles, and in pediatric hematology and oncology at Johns Hopkins University and the National Cancer Institute.