Company
People
Led by Science. Inspired by People
We believe neDNA™, the enzymatic DNA manufactured at TAAV, is paving the way to a new era of gene therapy development. This technology offers an alternative to plasmids for rAAV manufacturing and is designed to transform and accelerate the traditional gene therapy development timelines.
This innovation can only be made possible through the power of science. However, science needs great minds and dedicated hands; science needs passionate people committed to change.
We aim to change patients’ lives. This is what inspires us.
More about neDNA™: Enzymatic DNA Manufacturing.
Leadership
TAAV’s Leadership team is composed of strong, dedicated and qualified professionals focused on driving your rAAV programs to success. Get to know our global management team who guides and inspires our people to deliver exceptional results for our customers bringing a wealth of development, manufacturing and commercial experience from leading life sciences companies.
Jimmy Vanhove
General Manager
Jimmy Vanhove
Jimmy Vanhove brings extensive experience in strategy, operational management, and digital transformation in the biotech/pharma industry. He has held various leadership positions with increased responsibility in manufacturing and strategy consulting at multinational companies like GSK Vaccines, Bayer, and Roland Berger. Before joining Viralgen in 2021, he worked as the chief of staff for Bayer Pharma Product Supply. Jimmy holds a master’s degree in Bioscience Engineering from KU Leuven, and in General Management from Vlerick Business School. He has also received executive training in Digital Transformation at IMD, Lausanne, and Executive Management Development at IESE business school, Barcelona.
Félix Bastida, PhD
Scientific Director
Félix Bastida, PhD
Graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Zaragoza and Doctor in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University (USA), he is an expert in the management of research and development projects and the implementation of biotechnological start-ups. He has specialized in molecular biology, development and commercial production of diagnostic kits (PCR, ELISA), immunology, and virulence factors and pathogenesis of microorganisms. Throughout his career, he has held various positions as a researcher at US universities -Cornell, California-San Diego and Los Angeles- and senior executive and managerial responsibilities in biotechnology companies. He has been Development Director of ArtiVent Innovative Therapies S.L., Research Director of Vacunek S.L. and General Director of the UTE Vacunek-CZV Veterinaria.
Lara Pascual
Financial Director
Lara Pascual
Graduate in Economy and Business Management, Master in International Management, Financial Audit and Management Development by Universidad de Deusto (Spain). With wide experience in financial auditing in different industrial sectors and several years in Financial Department of a multi-national firm, Lara has joined TAAV in 2019 where she currently works as responsible of company financial management.
Lucía San Miguel
Quality Senior Manager
Lucía San Miguel
Graduated in Pharmacy and Master's Degree in Research, Development and Innovation of Medicines from the University of Navarra (Spain). She has served in TAAV as Quality Senior Manager since 2019. She worked for 11 years in Quality Assurance and Quality Control fields in the CDMO biotech industry, including positions as Analytical Services Director and Qualified Person. She has expertise in the implementation and maintenance of Quality Management Systems, in GMP regulations, in the design, construction and qualification of biotechnology companies, as well as in the management of human teams and resources.
Leticia Agúndez, PhD
R&D Senior Manager
Leticia Agúndez
Leticia graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of the Basque Country (Spain) and obtained a PhD in Molecular Microbiology from the University of Cantabria (Spain). During her post-doctoral research work at King’s College London (KCL), she focused her studies on AAV biology. Later, at University College London (UCL), she worked on gene editing and gene and cell therapies for the treatment of retinal disorders. With more than 15 years of experience in basic and translational research, she is an expert in the fields of molecular biology, AAV and gene therapies. Since August 2019, Leticia leads the R&D department at TAAV.
Sergio Cuesta
Manufacturing Senior Manager
Sergio Cuesta
Graduated in Biotechnology from the Valencia Polytechnic University (Spain) and Master’s degree in Health Science Research from the Public University of Navarre (Spain). Throughout his career, Sergio has specialized in the biomedical field and specifically in molecular biology and genetic engineering of human pathogens and the study of virulence factors and pathogenesis. He has worked as a researcher at different groups at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) where he developed strong organizational and leadership skills. Sergio joined TAAV in 2020 and currently leads the areas of neDNA™ production and manufacturing process improvements.
Join Us
If you are passionate about innovation, science and improving people’s lives, you will be a perfect fit to our team of more than 80 enthusiastic and brilliant minds.
Come join our team of experts. Together, we have the power to make it happen.
