"Paul K. Laikind, Ph.D. has over 28 years of leadership experience in the biotechnology and life sciences industry in San Diego. He currently serves as President, CEO and a member of the Board of ViaCyte, Inc. a leading company in the emerging field of regenerative medicine. A serial entrepreneur, over the course of his career Dr. Laikind co-founded and held top executive and board positions at three San Diego companies that each went public before ultimately being acquired. These include Gensia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. which was ultimately acquired by Teva Pharmaceuticals in a multi-billion dollar transaction, Viagene, Inc., which, like Gensia, was founded upon technology Dr. Laikind helped to create, and Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc. where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer. Just prior to joining ViaCyte, Dr. Laikind served as Chief Business Officer and Senior Vice President of Business Development at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute where he established a number of licensing and strategic partnerships with large pharmaceutical organizations, including collaborations with Pfizer’s Centers for Therapeutic Innovation, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Takeda Pharmaceutical. Dr. Laikind holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of California, Davis, and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego. He also serves as Chairman Emeritus of CONNECT and as a current board member and past Chairman of BIOCOM. "

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