Kate Zhang

Kate Zhang joined Hopewell as Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Zhang brings more than 25 years of experience across all phases of drug discovery, pre-clinical R&D and translational science at biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

Prior to Joining Hopewell, Dr. Zhang served as Vice President of Biological Development at Editas Medicine, where she led the cross functional teams employing breakthrough CRISPR-based in vivo and ex vivo gene editing technology, bringing AAV gene therapy in ophthalmology and autologous cell therapies in hematology from program inception to three successful IND submissions. She also led the research teams to develop preclinical multiplex gene edited iPSC derived natural killer cell (iNK) programs for oncology indications, as well as a dual AAV CRISPR/Cas9-based ‘Knockout and Replace’ strategy to treat RHO-adRP.

Previously, Dr. Zhang was the Senior Director of Global R&D Platforms and Global Pharmaceutical Development at Genzyme and Sanofi. As the portfolio head of global translational science, she was responsible for rare genetic diseases including rare nephrology and hematology. Dr. Zhang contributed to the approval and commercialization of Cerezyme, Fabrazyme, Myozyme/Lumizyme, Thyrogen, Cerdelga, Lemtrada and Zenpozyme. During her tenure, she also was the global science lead for diagnosis, screening and monitoring of lysosomal storage diseases.  

Dr. Zhang began her career as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at NIH. She has co-authored more than 70 peer-reviewed scientific articles and co-invented multiple issued U.S. patents. She received her B.S. from Tsinghua University, China, her M.Sc. from the Chinese Academy of Science and her Ph.D. from Queen’s University, Canada.