Technology Pioneer 2015 by Thomas W Chalberg

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Technology Pioneer 2015 by Thomas W Chalberg

Thomas W Chalberg of Avalanche Biotech discusses gene therapy to improve and preserve the sight of people with serious eye diseases with an unmet medical need.

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About Thomas Chalberg

Recognized as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the biotechnology sector, Thomas Chalberg is the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Avalanche Biotechnologies, Inc., a developer of AAV-based gene delivery technology for ophthalmology. In this role, he oversaw several collaborations and licensing transactions with universities, biotechnology companies, and pharmaceutical partners, including the collaboration with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, which was recognized as "Breakthrough Deal of the Year" by Allicense. Thomas Chalberg has also received awards and recognition from the Foundation Fighting Blindness and the World Economic Forum his contributions to biotechnology.

During his time with Avalanche, Tom Chalberg orchestrated the development of key intellectual property, including as a key inventor on several issued and pending patents relating to Avalanche's BioFactory technology. Thanks to a pair of National Institutes of Health Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer grant awards, he grew the company from a small startup to a large biotechnology firm with over 75 full-time employees. Tom Chalberg also led the company through several rounds of financing totaling more than $330 million, including a highly successful IPO in 2014.

Earlier in his career, Thomas Chalberg worked as a group product manager with Genentech, where he developed strategic plans and competitive strategies for the Lucentis division, and was a former board member with DigiSight Technologies in Portola Valley, California. Thomas Chalberg began his career as an operations research consultant with ZS Associates in San Mateo, California.

Thomas Chalberg received his AB in biochemistry from Harvard College and PhD in genetics from Stanford University School of Medicine, where he was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Predoctoral Fellow. Thomas went on to obtain an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, focusing his studies on biotechnology and entrepreneurship.