Rakesh Verma, PhD, is Operator in Residence, Biologics at Amplify, where he leads strategy and innovation in biologic therapeutics and translational research. With over two decades of experience across immunotherapy, cell therapy, and oncology, he has co-founded multiple biotech companies advancing novel approaches in biologics and cell therapy.
Most recently, Dr. Verma was Founder and Senior Vice President of a stealthmode cell therapy company in South San Francisco, where he led early development efforts, secured Series A funding, and advanced the path to first-in-human studies. Previously, he served as Site Head at Eli Lilly, directing the integration of ARMO Biosciences’ oncology pipeline and shaping strategy for cytokine-based immunotherapies.
He has held senior scientific and executive roles in immuno-oncology, antibody engineering, and translational development. His career has been centered around patients—from his PhD work in medical oncology, where he collaborated with clinical teams and cancer patients, to his ongoing efforts to translate discoveries into impactful therapies. His experience spans IND-enabling studies through early- and late-stage clinical programs. He also advises early-stage NewCos through platforms like UC Berkeley SkyDeck.
His research has been published in The Lancet Oncology, Nature Medicine, Journal of Experimental Medicine, and Blood, and he is an inventor on a patent in immuno-oncology. Dr. Verma holds a PhD in Medical Oncology and additional degrees in toxicology, operations management, life sciences, and computer science.