Aiyar named entrepreneur-in-residence

Ram Aiyar, Ph.D., M.B.A., has been selected by BioHealth Innovation Inc. as its first entrepreneur-in-residence at the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Aiyar will help advance fundamental research discoveries to new therapeutics, diagnostics and devices that can be used clinically and commercially.

As the newest EIR, Dr. Aiyar will rely on his extensive experience providing guidance to life science companies in the therapeutic, diagnostic and medical device space and evaluating commercial, scientific, regulatory, and development feasibility. He will work closely with NHLBI scientific, medical, and technology transfer staff members to identify, evaluate, and support the advancement of early-stage biomedical technologies within the NHLBI mission to practical application and public benefit.

Aiyar brings more than over five years of experience in pharmaceutical research and development and two years of healthcare investment experience to his role as CCO at FlowMetric Inc. Dr. Aiyar is also an investment professional at Sofinnova Partners, a healthcare venture capital firm based in Paris. There, Aiyar is responsible for identifying, building and supporting biotech and medtech start-ups.

Prior to Sofinnova, Aiyar worked at Johnson & Johnson in the oncology and immunology space. Most recently, Aiyar was focused on developing and identifying stratified medicine solutions for pulmonary and autoimmune diseases as part of the immunology biomarkers team. At J&J, Aiyar also contributed in identification and development of several novel large molecular compounds in oncology and immunology. Aiyar was a recipient of the Philip B. Hofmann award for “Outstanding Achievement in the field of Research and Development,” the most prestigious award for a scientist at J&J.

Aiyar’s doctoral research used a combination of experimental and statistical methods to differentiate the mechanism of action of three different erythropoietin agonists. Aiyar also completed an investment banking internship at J.P. Morgan in the Healthcare Advisory group. His doctoral research combined with experience at J&J has led to the filing of several international patents and over 20 peer reviewed articles.

Aiyar received an M.B.A. from INSEAD, a Ph.D. and M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Drexel University and a B.E. from Mumbai University.