Samarth Kulkarni

Samarth Kulkarni is a prominent figure in the biotechnology industry, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of CRISPR Therapeutics and as a Board Member at Centessa Pharmaceuticals.12

Professional Experience

Dr. Kulkarni has been the CEO of CRISPR Therapeutics since December 2017.1 In addition to his role at CRISPR Therapeutics, he holds several board positions:

• Board Member at Centessa Pharmaceuticals (since March 2021)
• Board Member at Black Diamond Therapeutics (since December 2019)
• Board Member at Repare Therapeutics (since November 2019)13

Prior to his current roles, Dr. Kulkarni was a partner at McKinsey & Company, where he co-led the biotech practice and worked on initiatives in personalized medicine and immunotherapy.2

Education

Dr. Kulkarni's educational background includes:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Washington
• B.Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur1

Expertise and Contributions

Dr. Kulkarni is known for his significant expertise in strategy and operations in the biotech industry.5 He played a crucial role in establishing key collaborations for CRISPR Therapeutics with companies like Vertex and Bayer, and was instrumental in the company's IPO.4

His leadership has been pivotal in advancing CRISPR Therapeutics' gene-editing platform and developing transformative gene-based medicines for serious diseases.4 Under his guidance, CRISPR Therapeutics has been working on breakthrough therapies, including a potential functional cure for beta thalassemia and sickle cell disease.4

Dr. Kulkarni's influence extends beyond his primary roles, as he also serves on the board of directors of the emerging companies section of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization.2