Susan Hayes Henry
Littleton,USA
Summary
Results-driven leader adept at guiding high-performing teams and implementing strategic initiatives to drive business success. Known for fostering collaborative environment and achieving measurable milestones. Exhibits strong leadership and adaptability to changing business needs.
- Managed research and operations of preclinical research departments via contract labs, academic partners, and on-site labs (including vivarium).
- Developed and executed translational strategy for development projects through collaboration with project team, clinical strategy team, executive leadership team, discovery team, KOLs, and contract research organizations
- Mentored scientists in the scientific method and laboratory practices, including study design, safe practices, protocol generation, data analyses, and report writing
- Expertise in oncology (solid tumors, hematologic malignancies), ophthalmologic indications, inflammatory/fibrotic diseases, and rare diseases
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Director, Translational Sciences
Scholar Rock
03.2023 - 09.2025
- Served as the translational lead for Scholar Rock’s oncology asset, SRK-181 (linavonnikbart); drove clinical biomarker strategy, including operational oversight and data interpretation; findings contributed to 3 poster presentations, 1 oral presentation, and submission of 1 manuscript
- Developed, implemented, and oversaw translational pre-clinical research strategies to support programs in multiple disease areas, including neuromuscular, fibrosis, cardiometabolic, and inflammation related studies
- Authored and reviewed invention disclosures, clinical study protocols, regulatory documents (IB, protocols, CSR, DSUR)
- Participated in cross-functional evaluation of SRK-181 to inform future development plans and participated in interactions with FDA to endorse plans
- Developed, established, and managed collaborations with key external and internal stakeholders including CROs, academic partnerships, clinical development, clinical-operations, executive leadership team, discovery team, pharmacology, regulatory affairs, medical affairs, statistics, and business development.
- Communicated scientific progress to management and stakeholders, presented work at both internal and external meetings, as well as BD discussions.
- Led, mentored, and developed translational scientists
Director, Translational Medicine
Syros Pharmaceuticals
06.2020 - 02.2023
- Developed clinical biomarker strategies, oversaw data collection and interpreted data.
- Served as the translational medicine lead for SY-5609, in clinical trials for solid tumors.
- Designed, managed, analyzed, interpreted, and reported in vitro and in vivo studies aimed at informing pharmacodynamic biomarkers, predictive biomarkers, and mechanisms of action for oncology drugs (solid tumors and hematologic malignancies) in various phases of development.
- Worked collaboratively with clinical pharmacologists to assess clinical PK and correlate PK/PD/efficacy.
- Authored and reviewed the translational sections of regulatory documents, non-clinical pharmacology study reports, invention disclosures, ICFs, clinical study protocols, and present translational findings at scientific congresses
- Developed, established, and managed collaborations with key external researchers including CROs, academic and industry partnerships
- Worked in close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders including SY-5609 project team, SY-5609 clinical strategy team, clinical development, clinical-operations, executive leadership team, discovery team, pharmacology, academic collaborators, regulatory affairs, medical affairs, business development, and contract research organizations
- Participated in cross-functional evaluation of pre-clinical and clinical data to inform indication selection
- Aided in efficient advancement of drug candidates from discovery to clinical trial execution by collaborating with cross functional team including discovery and development functions to provide TM strategy and workplans
- Led, Mentored and developed a team of translational scientists
Associate Director, Pharmacology
Aldeyra Therapeutics
09.2019 - 06.2020
- Designed, managed, analyzed, and interpreted pharmacology studies to evaluate efficacy of drug candidates in pre-clinical disease models
- Engaged with KOLs and interacted with external collaborators
- Designed, managed, and analyzed imaging studies to assess inflammation biomarkers
- Key member of the drug discovery team tasked building company pipelines, including indication selection to support systemic and retinal programs.
- Presented study plans and results to team and senior management.
Associate Director, Pharmacology
Acucela Inc. (currently Kubota Vison Inc.)
02.2008 - 09.2019
- Designed, validated, executed, supervised, and interpreted in-vitro and in-vivo studies to evaluate drug candidates, inform indication selection, and define mechanism of action
- Worked cross-functionally with chemistry, toxicology, ADME and clinical to develop screening funnels and evaluate the structure-activity relationship of preclinical candidates
- Executed and developed a wide range of preclinical in vitro and in vivo models to study retinal diseases, inflammation, immune infiltration, and angiogenesis
- Led a collaborative team with industrial and academic partners to optimize the capsid and promoter for retinitis pigmentosa gene therapy vector
- Communicated results across the company (departmental, executive and board of director meetings)
- Evaluated new research opportunities (in-licensed and internal), proposed new research ideas
- Engaged with KOLs and interacted with external collaborators
- Coordinated timing, priority, and personnel for individual studies
- Established milestones to meet company goal proposed departmental and individual goals which aligned with company goals & oversaw performance reviews
- Contributed to patent applications, investigator brochures, and clinical protocols
- Served as biological safety officer, safety committee chair, and IACUC member
- Mentored and developed a team of research scientists
Postdoctoral Fellow, Lab of Thomas Reh, PhD
University of Washington Medical Center
06.2004 - 01.2008
- Wrote research proposals that were funded by the National Institute of Health
- Designed, executed, and analyzed experiments characterizing the role of signal transduction and chromatin remodeling during avian and murine retinal regeneration.
- Supervised and mentored graduate students
Education
PhD - Biomedical Sciences
University of Massachusetts
Worcester, MAB.S. - Chemistry
The College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJSkills
- Team leadership
- Relationship building
- Decision-making
- Critical thinking
- Complex Problem-solving
Timeline
Senior Director, Translational Sciences
Scholar Rock
03.2023 - 09.2025
Director, Translational Medicine
Syros Pharmaceuticals
06.2020 - 02.2023
Associate Director, Pharmacology
Aldeyra Therapeutics
09.2019 - 06.2020
Associate Director, Pharmacology
Acucela Inc. (currently Kubota Vison Inc.)
02.2008 - 09.2019
Postdoctoral Fellow, Lab of Thomas Reh, PhD
University of Washington Medical Center
06.2004 - 01.2008
PhD - Biomedical Sciences
University of Massachusetts
B.S. - Chemistry
The College of New Jersey
Publications
Yap, TA, Sweis, RF, Vaishampayan, U, Kilari, D, Gainor, JF, McKean, M., Barve, M, Tarhini, AA, Bockorny, B, Sonpavde, G, Par, D, Babu, S, Ju, Y, Liu, L, Henry, S, Tiracharali, G, DeWall, S, Quantannani, M, Marantz, J, and Gan, L, Linavonnikbart and pembrolizumab in advanced solid tumors resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors: phase 1 trial results; Submitted.
Kubota, R., Reid, MJ, Lieu, K.L., Orme, M., Diamond, C., Tulberg, N., and Henry, S.H., Comparison of Inhibitor and Substrate Selectivity between Rodent and Human Vascular Adhesion Protein-1, Mediators of Inflammation. 2020, Article ID 3270513.
Kubota, R., Gregory, J., Henry, S. and Mata, N.L., Pharmacotherapy for Metabolic and Cellular Stress in Degenerative Retinal Diseases, Drug Discov. Today. 2020 Feb 25(2): 292-304.
Kubota R, Calkins DJ, Lau JC, Henry SH, and Linsenmeier RA., Emixustat reduces Metabolic Demand of Dark Activity in the Retina, IOVS 2019 Nov 1; 60 (14): 4924-4930.
Bavik, C., Henry, S.H., Zhang, Y., Mitts, K., McGinn, T., Budzynski, E., Pashko, A., Lieu, K., Zhong, S., Blumberg, B., Kuksa, V., Orme, M., Scott, I., Fawzi, A., Kubota, R., Visual Cycle Modulation as an Approach toward Preservation of Retinal Integrity. PLoS One, 2015. 10(5): p. e0124940.
Karl, MO., Hayes, S., Nelson, B.R., Tan, K., Buckingham, B., Reh, T.A., Stimulation of neural regeneration in the mouse retina. PNAS. 2008 Dec 9; 105(49): 19508-13
Lamba, D., Hayes, S., Karl, M., and Reh, T.A., BAF60c is a component of the neural progenitor specific BAF complex in developing retina. Developmental Dynamics. Dev Dyn. 2008 Oct; 237 (10): 3016-23.
Liu, H., Etter, P., Hayes, S., Nelson, B., Hartman, B., Forrest, D., & Reh, T.A., NeuroD1 regulates expression of thyroid hormone receptor α and cone opsins in the developing mouse retina. J Neurosci. 2008 Jan 16; 28 (3): 749-56.
Hayes, S., Nelson, B.R., and Reh, T.A., Notch signaling regulates regeneration in the avian retina. 2007, Dev Biol, 2007 Dec 1; 312 (1): 300-11.
Nelson, B., Hayes, S., Hartman, B., & Reh, T., Signal Transduction in Retinal Progenitor Cells. Signal Transduction in the Retina Ed. Steven J. Fliesler & Oleg Kisselev, CRC Press, Dec 2007. [Invited book chapter].
Hayakawa A, Hayes S, Leonard D, Lambright D, and Corvera S., Evolutionarily conserved structural and functional roles of the FYVE domain. Biochem Soc Symp. 2007; (74): 95-105. [Review].
Hayakawa A., Leonard, D., Murphy, S., Hayes, S., Soto, M., Fogarty, K., Standley, C., Belve, K., Lambright, D., Mello, C., and Corvera, S., The WD-40 and FYVE domain containing protein 2 defines a novel class of early endosomes essential for endocytosis. PNAS. 2006 Aug 8; 103(32): 11923-33.
Hayakawa, A., Hayes, S., Lawe, D.C., Fogarty, K., Lambright, D., and Corvera, S., Structural Basis for Endosomal Targeting by FYVE domains. J. Biol. Chem. 2004 Feb 13: 279 (7): 5958-5966.
Lawe, D., Sitouah, N., Hayes, S., Chawla, A., Virbasius, J., Tuft, R., Fogarty, K., Lifshitz, L., Lambright, D., and Corvera, S., Essential role of Ca++/Calmodulin in Early Endosome Antigen-1 Localization. Mol Biol Cell. 2003 July; 14 (7): 2935-2945.
Hayes, S., Chawla, A., and Corvera, S., TGFbeta receptor internalization into EEA1-enriched early endosomes: role in signaling to Smad2. J. Cell Biol. 2002 Sep 30; 158(7): 1239-49
Dumas, J.J., Merithew, E., Sudharshan, E., Rajamani, D., Hayes, S., Lawe, D., Corvera, S., and Lambright, D.G., Multivalent endosome targeting by homodimeric EEA1. Mol Cell. 2001 Nov; 8(5):947-58.
PATENTS
Bavik, C.O.; Henry, S.H., Kubota, R. and Kuksa, V.K. inventors; Acucela Inc., Assignee. Methods for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy and other ophthalmic diseases. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/967,080, filed Apr. 30, 2018.
Presentations and Posters
Poster: Timothy Yap, Randy Sweis, Ulka Vaishampayan, Deepak Kilari, Ahmad Tarhini, Justin Gainor, Minal Barve, Guru Sonpavde, David Park, Sunil Babu, Rana McKay, Clara Hwang, Amna Sher, Chaitali Nangia, Miso Kim, Jungyoon Choi, Yawen Ju, Lan Liu, Susan Henry, Stephen DeWall, Lu Gan DRAGON Trial: Durable remission rate with the latent TGFβ1 inhibitor linavonkibart (SRK-181) and pembrolizumab in patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor resistant advanced cancers Study 39th SITC (Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer) Annual Meeting, Abstract 726, 2024.
Oral Presentation: Ulka N. Vaishampayan, Randy F. Sweis, Deepak Kilari, Ahmad A. Tarhini, Justin F. Gainor, Minal A. Barve, Guru P. Sonpavde, Meredith McKean, David J. Park, Sunil Babu, Yawen Ju, Lan Liu, Susan Henry, Lu Gan, and Timothy A. Yap, Phase 1 study (DRAGON) of SRK-181 (linavonkibart), a latent TGFβ1 inhibitor, combined with pembrolizumab in anti-PD1 resistant patients with advanced solid tumors: Updated results of expansion part, ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) Annual Meeting, 2024.
Poster: Susan Henry, Stephen DeWall, Ulka Vaishampayan, Amna Sher, Ahmad Tarhini, Deepak Kilari, Randy Sweis, Timothy Yap, Justin Gainor, Minal Barve, John Clark, Lan Liu, Asia McCune, Yawen Ju, Mo Qatanani, Lu Gan, Establishing Proof of Mechanism in Patients: Preliminary Biomarker Data of SRK-181 (a latent TGFβ1 inhibitor) from DRAGON Study 38th SITC (Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer) Annual Meeting, Abstract 726, 2023.
Poster: Timothy Yap, Ulka Vaishampayan, Deepak Kilari, Randy Sweis, Minal Barve, Justin Gainor, Ahmad Tarhini, Raghad Karim, Amna Sher, David Park, Sunil Babu, Rana McKay, Yawen Ju, Lan Liu, Susan Henry, Lu Gan, Safety, Efficacy, and Biomarker Results of SRK-181, a Latent TGFβ1 Inhibitor, in Anti-PD-1 Resistant Metastatic ccRCC Patients, 38th SITC (Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer) Annual Meeting, Abstract 666, 2023.
Poster: Liv Johannessen, Priyanka Sawant, Anthony D’Ippolito, Nan Ke, Ariel Lekovith, Matthew Eaton, Wojciech Dworakowski, Maria Rosario, Susan Henry, Graeme Hodgson, SY-5609, A Potent and Selective CDK7 Inhibitor, Potentiates BTK Inhibitor Activity in Mantle Cell Lymphoma Preclinical Models, 63rd American Society of Hematology, Abstract 1205, 2021.
Oral Presentation: Manish R. Sharma, Babar Bashir, Erika Hamilton, Dejan Juric, Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Debra Richardson, Geoffrey Shapiro, Graeme Hodgson, Nan Ke, Anthony D’Ippolito, Susan Henry, Li Zhu, Maria Rosario, Hino Jolin, David Roth, Virginia Klimek, Kate Madigan, Mike Kelly, Tolerability and Preliminary Clinical Activity of SY-5609, A Highly Potent and Selective CDK7 Inhibitor in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors, ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology) Congress 2021, Abstract 518MO,
Poster: Susan Henry, Liv Johannessen, Priyanka Sawant, Ariel Lekovith, Nan Ke, Anthony D’Ippolito, Matthew Eaton, Wojciech Dworakowski, Graeme Hodgson SY-5609, A Potent and Selective CDK7 Inhibitor, Exhibits Robust Antitumor Activity in Preclinical Models of KRAS Mutant Cancers as a Singel agent and in combination with Chemotherapy, ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology) Congress 2021, Abstract 13P, 2021.
Poster: Liv Johannssn, Priyanka Sawant, Anthony D’Ippolito, Nan Ke, Ariel Lekovith, Matthew Eaton, Wojceich Dworakowski, Maria Rosario, Susan Henry, Graeme Hodgson, SY-5609, A Potent and Selective CDK7 Inhibitor, Potentiates BTK Inhibitor Activity in Mantle Cell Lymphoma Preclinical Models, 63rd American Society of Hematology, Abstract 1205, 2021.
Poster: Susan Hayes Henry, Claes Bavik, Kuo Lee Lieu, Andriy Pashko, Christine Diamond, Kyoko Mitts, Jennifer C Lau, Robert A Linsenmeier, David J Calkins, Ryo Kubota; Emixustat Hydrochloride for the Potential Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2014;55(13):1061. ARVO (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology), 2014.
Poster: ARVO (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology), Fort Lauderdale, FL, May -3-7, 2009.
Poster: Society of Northwest Regional Developmental Biology Conference, Friday Harbor, WA. March 14-17, 2007
Invited Talk: University of Massachusetts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Annual Applicant Open House, Worcester, MA March 3, 2002.
Talk: The American Society for Cell Biology 41st Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, December 8-12, 2001.
Invited Talk: University of Massachusetts Sixth Annual Retreat, Woods Hole, MA, October 2001.
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