Viviana Gradinaru

Viviana Gradinaru is a prominent neuroscientist and biomedical engineer who has made significant contributions to the field of neuroscience and gene therapy. She is a scientific co-founder of Capsida Biotherapeutics and serves on its Board of Directors.2

Academic Career

Gradinaru is currently a Professor of Neuroscience and Biological Engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).12 She also holds several leadership positions at Caltech, including:

• Director of the Center for Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience23
• Director of the Richard N. Merkin Institute for Translational Research34
• Allen V. C. Davis and Lenabelle Davis Leadership Chair3

Additionally, she has been selected as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator for 2024.3

Research and Innovations

Gradinaru's research combines neuroscience, protein engineering, and data science. Her laboratory has made significant advancements in:

1. Developing microbial opsins tolerated by mammalian cells
2. Creating viral capsids capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier in adult mammals
3. Advancing optogenetics techniques
4. Improving tissue clearing and imaging methods2

Her work has potential applications in treating neurodegenerative disorders and enabling minimally-invasive repair of diseased nervous systems.2

Background and Education

Born in Vaslui, Romania, to factory workers, Gradinaru developed an early interest in engineering and physics.1 She pursued her education in the United States, earning:

• B.S. from Caltech (2005)
• Ph.D. from Stanford University (2010)12

Achievements and Recognition

Gradinaru has received numerous prestigious awards and honors, including:

• NIH Director's Innovator and Pioneer Awards
• Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
• Outstanding Young Investigator awards from the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy and the Society for Neuroscience
• World Economic Forum Young Scientist recognition2

She has published over 80 papers in top peer-reviewed journals and holds more than 10 granted patents, with additional patents pending.2