XIAOBO WANG

San Diego,CA

Summary

Hands-on Executive Director-level preclinical research and development leader with extensive experience in large animal surgical models, translational inner ear drug delivery, GLP/IND-enabling studies, and in vivo pharmacology. Proven expertise in designing, optimizing, and executing complex preclinical studies from model development through dosing, tissue collection, data review, and study reporting. Highly experienced with cynomolgus monkey, sheep, cat, rat, guinea pig, chinchilla, neonatal mouse translational animal models. Large animal experience includes trans mastoid surgical access to the round window membrane in cynomolgus monkeys for AAV delivery to the inner ear, and Transtympanic dosing of test articles in cat, sheep, and rat models for inner ear Toxicity, PK, and PD studies. Strong background in GLP study execution, IND-enabling studies, surgical model development, protocol-driven study performance, technical troubleshooting, and cross-functional collaboration with sponsors, CROs, veterinarians, QA, and research teams. Contributed to multiple translational inner ear therapeutic programs, including work supporting the successful FDA approval of OTIPRIO.

Overview

years of professional experience

Work History

Owner / Independent Preclinical Consultant

Cochlearis Innovations LLC

San Diego, CA

01.2024 - Current

Provide hands-on preclinical consulting and technical execution for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies developing inner ear therapeutics, gene therapies, and local drug delivery approaches.
Lead and execute preclinical in vivo feline studies supporting GLP, IND-enabling, PK, PD, toxicity, and efficacy programs. (Spiral Therapeutics)
Designed and optimized a feline intratympanic dosing model for delivery to the round window membrane to support inner ear PK, PD, and toxicology studies.
Executed neonatal mouse inner ear delivery studies via PSCC, Utricular approach, including P0–P5 AAV gene therapy, RNA therapeutic, and local compound delivery. (Insmed Inc.)
Trained Insmed colleagues on inner ear tissue dissection, including extraction of the utricle, immunohistochemistry staining, confocal imaging, data interpretation, and application of results to guide upcoming study design and execution.
Provided technical troubleshooting for dosing accuracy, surgical access, injection parameters, delivery systems, and post-procedure outcomes.
Collaborated closely with sponsor teams, CRO staff, veterinarians, QA, and technical personnel to ensure high-quality study execution and documentation.
Supported protocol development, procedural documentation, study planning, tissue collection, and data interpretation.

Project Scientist / Data Analyst III

University of California, San Diego – Department of Cell & Developmental Biology

08.2024 - 10.2025

Conducted preclinical AAV gene therapy efficacy and toxicity studies using a mutant Esp8 mouse model.
Performed AAV-PHP.eB gene transduction studies in neonatal P0–P3 mice and evaluated inner ear toxicity.
Conducted confocal microscopy and immunohistochemistry to assess synaptic integrity and cochlear function.
Performed quantitative image analysis and contributed to experimental design for auditory neuroscience research.

Director, Pharmacology

Corti Therapeutics

Cambridge, MA

02.2023 - 11.2023

Directed IND-enabling pharmacology and efficacy studies for cisplatin-induced hearing loss (CIHL) using guinea pig models.
Oversaw collaborations with CROs to generate preclinical data supporting gene therapy IND submissions.
Managed study execution, data quality, and interpretation of PK/PD and safety findings.

Principal Scientist / Lead Principal Scientist, Preclinical Research

Otonomy, Inc.

San Diego, CA

01.2008 - 01.2022

Served as a key scientific and technical leader in preclinical inner ear drug delivery and translational development programs, supporting multiple clinical and IND-enabling programs.
Led and executed preclinical studies for inner ear therapeutics across multiple animal models, including mouse, rat, guinea pig, chinchilla, cat, sheep, and non-human primate models.
Developed and optimized surgical and local delivery approaches for inner ear PK, PD, efficacy, and toxicity studies.
Performed and supported large animal inner ear procedures, including Transtympanic and surgical delivery approaches targeting the round window membrane.
Supported GLP and IND-enabling studies through hands-on dosing, tissue collection, documentation, endpoint assessment, and data review.
Contributed to preclinical development programs including local delivery, sustained-release formulations, ototoxicity models, hearing protection, tinnitus, auditory synaptopathy, and gene therapy-related research.
Designed and performed cochlear and vestibular tissue collection, including cochlear whole mount, cryosectioning, utricle macula, and organ of Corti preparations.
Conducted and supported auditory functional assessments, including ABR and DPOAE studies.
Performed immunohistochemistry, fluorescence imaging, confocal microscopy, and quantitative analysis of cochlear and vestibular tissues.
Trained and mentored research staff on surgical procedures, tissue processing, histology, imaging, and inner ear model techniques.
Worked closely with cross-functional teams including pharmacology, formulation, toxicology, clinical development, QA, and external CRO partners.

Education

Doctor of Medicine, M.D. -

Shandong Medical University

China

Skills

GLP and IND-enabling preclinical study execution
Large animal surgical model development
Cynomolgus monkey, sheep, cat, guinea pig, rat, and mouse models
Trans mastoid surgical access to round window membrane
Transtympanic dosing to round window membrane region
Inner ear drug delivery, PK, PD, toxicity, and efficacy studies
AAV gene therapy, RNA therapy, and local therapeutic delivery

Neonatal mouse inner ear delivery, including P0–P5 pups
FDA-approved product support, including OTIPRIO
Study design, protocol development, and technical troubleshooting
Perioperative workflow, anesthesia coordination, and post-procedure assessment
Surgical documentation, deviation reporting, and study data review
Cross-functional collaboration with CROs, sponsors, veterinarians, QA, and technical teams
Staff training, surgical technique transfer, and model optimization

EARLY CAREER

ENT Physician — China
13 years
Practiced as an ENT physician with clinical experience in ear, nose, and throat diseases.
Developed strong anatomical, surgical, and clinical understanding of the auditory and vestibular systems.
Built foundational expertise that later supported translational inner ear drug delivery and preclinical surgical model development.

Timeline