Dr. Saxena is an expert in protein structure and function with extensive experience in large and small-molecule drug discovery. Prior to joining Versatope, she was a Director of Protein sciences at Vertex Pharmaceuticals where she worked for 20 years and was responsible for gene expression and biophysical hit validation-optimization of small molecules. While there, she drove the target identification and validation of the lead influenza candidate that was out-licensed to Johnson & Johnson. She has experience with discovery and early development in several areas of research including oncology, neurology, infectious and rare diseases and haemoglobinopathies. Dr. Saxena holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Boston University and has postdoctoral fellowships at Brigham & Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School and Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute/Harvard Medical School.