Enjoys playing music, riding motorcycles, reading literature and traveling
William C. Stafford
Biotech Leader And Biochemist
Summary
Biotech leader and biochemist with 10+ years of international experience spanning drug discovery, basic and translational research, licensing and strategic development. Proven success in leading high-impact programs, developing novel therapies and executing BD&L deals. Recognized for scientific rigor, entrepreneurial leadership, creativity and cross-functional collaboration in-house and externally across the U.S., EU, and Asia.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
3
3
Languages
Work History
Consultant
Vilya
01.2023 - Current
- Executes strategic outreach to evaluate and pursue licensing and partnership opportunities.
- Led strategy and development for target selection and pipeline expansion.
Founder & Consultant
Fulgurite AB
01.2021 - Current
- Providing consultancy services in drug development, including program management, search and evaluation, strategy, due diligence, transition team management, intellectual property, research & development, and experimental biochemistry.
Translational Director
Oxcia AB
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Led mechanism-of-action deconvolution and translational planning for clinical-stage, first-in-class drug candidate.
Consultant-Search and Evaluation Lead
Olema Oncology
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Spearheaded S&E process, resulting in a $438M licensing deal.
- Evaluated novel oncology assets, conducted due diligence, and managed transition team.
- Built network for in-licensing with 200+ biotech firms and academic institutions.
Head of Small Molecule Discovery and Preclinical Development
Oblique Therapeutics AB
01.2016 - 01.2020
- Established and led drug discovery programs up to candidate drug nomination and IND-Enabling studies.
- Managed IP portfolio and global patent strategy.
- Sourced and coordinated CROs across U.S., EU, and Asia for chemistry, formulation, toxicology, efficacy and regulatory efforts.
Program Manager
Karolinska Institutet Innovations AB
01.2015 - 01.2016
- Commercialized PhD research through three patent applications, leading to successful out-licensing.
Researcher
Olema Oncology
01.2007 - 01.2010
- Invented and validated novel compound differentiation assays.
- Screened multiple drug families on an iterative process from biochemical assays to in vivo analytics.
- Established methods and performed LCMS pharmacokinetic analysis and synthetic chemistry validation.
- Developed automated quantitative fluorescent microscopy methods for IHC ex vivo samples.
Research Assistant II
Randy Schekman Lab
01.2006 - 01.2007
- Studied Familiar Alzheimer’s Disease mutation effects on gamma secretase complexation and transport using a radiolabeled translation-coupled budding assay in embryonic stem cells.
Education
Ph.D. - Biochemistry And Medical Sciences
KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET
Stockholm, Sweden01-2015
Bachelor of Arts - Molecular and Cellular Biology with an emphasis in Neurobiology
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
Berkeley, California 05.2001 -
Skills
- Strategy & Leadership: Target selection, search & evaluation, program management, IP portfolio management, transition team management, international communication, study design, creative workshops, problem-solving, team collaboration, time management, experimental training, teaching
- Digital: Cortellis, ChatGPT, Google suites, GraphPad, Data Warrior, Image J, PyMOL, Sci Finder
- Experimental: Hands on experience with yeast, bacterial, and mammalian cell culture, enzyme kinetics, recombinant protein expression and purification, fluorescent microscopy, positron emission tomography analysis, immunohistochemistry, radioactive isotope assay development, gas and high-pressure liquid chromatography, mass spectroscopy, PCR, ELISA, CETSA, tissue processing and analysis, pharmacokinetics, and formulation ICH-GCP training certified Highly familiar with FACs, in vitro immunoassays, ctDNA analysis, transcriptomics, xenograft studies, humanized mouse models, ADMET studies, GLP-tox, CMC, and machine learning
Accomplishments
- Led strategy and development of target pipeline for emerging AI/ML-based drug development company.
- Sourced and supported a $438M oncology in-licensing transaction.
- Led discovery programs from discovery to IND-enabling studies.
- Inventor on several patents.
- Out-licensed own PhD research.
- Invented and validated key differentiation experimentation for novel drug discovery.
Publications
- Publications available on Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=gyBbBAAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
- Patents available upon request
Interests
Timeline
Consultant
Vilya
01.2023 - Current
Translational Director
Oxcia AB
01.2022 - 01.2023
Founder & Consultant
Fulgurite AB
01.2021 - Current
Consultant-Search and Evaluation Lead
Olema Oncology
01.2021 - 01.2022
Head of Small Molecule Discovery and Preclinical Development
Oblique Therapeutics AB
01.2016 - 01.2020
Program Manager
Karolinska Institutet Innovations AB
01.2015 - 01.2016
Researcher
Olema Oncology
01.2007 - 01.2010
Research Assistant II
Randy Schekman Lab
01.2006 - 01.2007
Bachelor of Arts - Molecular and Cellular Biology with an emphasis in Neurobiology
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
05.2001 -
Ph.D. - Biochemistry And Medical Sciences
KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET
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