Kate Zhang

Kate Zhang serves as the Chief Scientific Officer of Hopewell. Dr. Zhang brings more than 25 years of experience across all phases of drug discovery, pre-clinical R&D and translational science in biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Prior to joining Hopewell, Dr. Zhang was 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. 

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Prior to Editas, Dr. Zhang had a long tenure at Genzyme and Sanofi, serving as Senior Director of Global R&D Platforms and Global Pharmaceutical Development. She was the portfolio head of global translational science responsible for rare genetic disease including rare nephrology and hematology. Dr. Zhang worked in various R&D leadership capacities for the approval and commercialization of Fabrazyme, Myozyme/Lumizyme, Thyrogen, Cerdelga, Lemtrada, and Zenpozyme. She also served as the global science lead for diagnosis, screening and monitoring of lysosomal storage diseases.  

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