Una S. Ryan, PhD, CEO, AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc

Una S. Ryan, Ph.D., O.B.E. is President and CEO of AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc., a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company developing vaccines and immunotherapeutics for cardiac surgery, cholesterol management, biodefense, travelers, food safety, and global health.  AVANT is developing a portfolio of oral vaccines designed to provide rapid protection following a single dose.  AVANT’s rotavirus vaccine is marketed by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals as Rotarix® in the European Union and over 65 countries.  Dr. Ryan has led the expansion of AVANT’s vectored bacterial vaccines programs, completed three company acquisitions, and established the company’s new manufacturing facility in Fall River, Massachusetts. She is also Research Professor of Medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine and serves on its Board of Visitors.  She is immediate past Chair of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, serves on its Board, as well as the Boards of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the New England Healthcare Institute, the Board of Associates of the Whitehead Institute, and the Board of Directors of IQuum, Inc.  In 2002 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II awarded Dr. Ryan the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to the research, development and promotion of biotechnology.