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about us

Empirico is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that combines unmatched expertise in human genetics-driven target discovery with world-class capabilities in siRNA medicines, across a broad range of common diseases with unmet need.

Our goal is to revolutionize the treatment of common diseases by discovering and developing a new generation of transformative precision medicines.

In pursuit of this goal, we have built an efficient and integrated drug discovery organization, with fully-internal capabilities spanning computational target discovery, in vitro and in vivo target validation, siRNA chemistry, synthesis and screening, and clinical development. We extend the reach of our discoveries, and our internal capabilities, by working with industry partners that have expertise in specific indications or other therapeutic modalities. Empirico is headquartered in San Diego, CA with a major second site in Madison, WI.

Meet the team

Empirico's team has deep expertise and unparalleled experience at the forefront of using human genetics, data science and genomic technologies to discover and develop innovative medicines for patients.
  • Omri Gottesman, MBBS (MD)
    Omri
    Gottesman, MBBS (MD)
    Chief Executive Officer and President
  • Anggie Becorest
    Anggie
    Becorest
    SVP, Head of Operations
  • Shannon Bruse, PhD
    Shannon
    Bruse, PhD
    SVP, Head of Target Discovery and Biology
  • Brian Cajes
    Brian
    Cajes
    SVP, Head of Data Platforms and Engineering
  • David Lewis, PhD
    David
    Lewis, PhD
    SVP, Head of Drug Discovery and Development
  • Bill McLeod, MBA
    Bill
    McLeod, MBA
    Chief Financial Officer
  • Michael Molyneaux, MD MBA
    Michael
    Molyneaux, MD MBA
    Chief Medical Officer
  • David Rozema, PhD MBA
    David
    Rozema, PhD MBA
    SVP, Head of Chemistry and Manufacturing
  • Nicole Aigner
    Nicole
    Aigner
    Laboratory Assistant - Chemistry
  • Lauren Almeida, MS
    Lauren
    Almeida, MS
    Director - Oligonucleotide Synthesis
  • Mandy Anderson, MA
    Mandy
    Anderson, MA
    Senior Director - Human Resources
  • Kina Arce
    Kina
    Arce
    Operations Assistant
  • Ricardo Avila, MS
    Ricardo
    Avila, MS
    Bioinformatics Engineer
  • Eric Bartell, PhD
    Eric
    Bartell, PhD
    Senior Scientist - Translational Genetics
  • Anggie Becorest
    Anggie
    Becorest
    SVP, Head of Operations
  • Erika Bongen, PhD
    Erika
    Bongen, PhD
    Associate Director - Translational Genetics
  • Emma Brandt, PhD
    Emma
    Brandt, PhD
    Senior Scientist - Drug Discovery
  • Shannon Bruse, PhD
    Shannon
    Bruse, PhD
    SVP, Head of Target Discovery and Biology
  • Paul Buske, PhD
    Paul
    Buske, PhD
    Director - Drug Discovery
  • Eric Buss, PhD
    Eric
    Buss, PhD
    Senior Scientist - Drug Discovery
  • Bronson Buxrude
    Bronson
    Buxrude
    Scientist - Oligonucleotide Chemistry
  • Brian Cajes
    Brian
    Cajes
    SVP, Head of Data Platforms and Engineering
  • John Chen
    John
    Chen
    Data Engineer
  • Andrew Cicchetto, PhD
    Andrew
    Cicchetto, PhD
    Scientist - Target Biology
  • Adam Coolman
    Adam
    Coolman
    Assistant LAR Scientist
  • Austin Crinklaw
    Austin
    Crinklaw
    Senior Bioinformatics Scientist
  • John Feltenberger, PhD
    John
    Feltenberger, PhD
    Senior Scientist - CMC
  • Suzanna Gasparian
    Suzanna
    Gasparian
    Associate Scientist - Target Biology
  • Brandon Gonzalez
    Brandon
    Gonzalez
    Senior Full Stack Engineer
  • Linda Goth
    Linda
    Goth
    Senior LAR Scientist
  • Omri Gottesman, MBBS (MD)
    Omri
    Gottesman, MBBS (MD)
    Chief Executive Officer and President
  • Tynan Greene, MS
    Tynan
    Greene, MS
    Data Engineer
  • Claire Herbert, PhD
    Claire
    Herbert, PhD
    Scientist - Oligonucleotide Chemistry
  • Lori Higgs
    Lori
    Higgs
    Scientist - Oligonucleotide Chemistry
  • Sarita Jain, PhD MBA
    Sarita
    Jain, PhD MBA
    Vice President - Business Development
  • David Jakubosky, PhD
    David
    Jakubosky, PhD
    Director - Bioinformatics
  • Jacob Jurisoo
    Jacob
    Jurisoo
    Assistant Scientist - Target Biology
  • Cece Kaiser
    Cece
    Kaiser
    Assistant Scientist - Drug Discovery
  • Narayan Karra
    Narayan
    Karra
    Senior Bioinformatics Data Manager
  • Rebecca Kim
    Rebecca
    Kim
    Associate Director - Research Operations and Alliance Management
  • Jasmine Le, MS
    Jasmine
    Le, MS
    Project Manager - Research Operations
  • Andrew Leverentz, MS
    Andrew
    Leverentz, MS
    Principal Software Engineer
  • David Lewis, PhD
    David
    Lewis, PhD
    SVP, Head of Drug Discovery and Development
  • Maggie Loveland
    Maggie
    Loveland
    Director - Clinical Operations
  • Madeline Luth, PhD
    Madeline
    Luth, PhD
    Senior Scientist - Translational Genetics
  • Pranav Manjapra
    Pranav
    Manjapra
    Data Infrastructure Engineer
  • Greg McInnes, PhD
    Greg
    McInnes, PhD
    Director - Translational Genetics
  • Bill McLeod, MBA
    Bill
    McLeod, MBA
    Chief Financial Officer
  • Katia Mickelson
    Katia
    Mickelson
    Operations and AP Associate
  • Paula Miller
    Paula
    Miller
    Project Manager - CMC Operations
  • Michael Molyneaux, MD MBA
    Michael
    Molyneaux, MD MBA
    Chief Medical Officer
  • Jordan Morrissey
    Jordan
    Morrissey
    Laboratory Assistant - LAR
  • Ava Murphy
    Ava
    Murphy
    Assistant Scientist - Oligonucleotide Chemistry
  • Natalie Nidetz, PhD
    Natalie
    Nidetz, PhD
    Senior Scientist - Drug Discovery
  • Caleb Nienow, PhD
    Caleb
    Nienow, PhD
    Senior Scientist - Analytical Chemistry
  • Carter Norton
    Carter
    Norton
    Assistant Scientist - Oligonucleotide Chemistry
  • Jason O'Rourke, PhD
    Jason
    O'Rourke, PhD
    Director - Target Biology
  • Joshua Ohland, MS
    Joshua
    Ohland, MS
    Quality Manager - Development
  • Goldmay Okpukpan
    Goldmay
    Okpukpan
    IT Operations Manager
  • Emily Peterson
    Emily
    Peterson
    Laboratory Assistant - Chemistry
  • Paula Pham, PhD
    Paula
    Pham, PhD
    Scientist - Target Biology
  • Zach Romer, MS
    Zach
    Romer, MS
    Lead Data Infrastructure Engineer
  • David Rozema, PhD MBA
    David
    Rozema, PhD MBA
    SVP, Head of Chemistry and Manufacturing
  • Will Soma
    Will
    Soma
    Assistant Scientist - Drug Discovery
  • Chelsea Spurley
    Chelsea
    Spurley
    Associate Scientist - Drug Discovery
  • Aidan Stein
    Aidan
    Stein
    Data Infrastructure Engineer
  • Eric Sung, MS
    Eric
    Sung, MS
    Senior Scientist - Target Biology
  • Alison Thomson, MS
    Alison
    Thomson, MS
    Bioinformatics Scientist
  • Aaron Thornton
    Aaron
    Thornton
    Associate LAR Scientist
  • Viva Valentine, MCPM
    Viva
    Valentine, MCPM
    Associate Director - Development Operations
  • Kanika Varshney, PhD
    Kanika
    Varshney, PhD
    Senior Patent Agent
  • Ashley Wakefield
    Ashley
    Wakefield
    Operations Assistant
  • Darren Wakefield, MS
    Darren
    Wakefield, MS
    Senior Director - Synthetic and Analytical Chemistry
  • Megan Walters
    Megan
    Walters
    Scientist - Oligonucleotide Chemistry
  • Casey Winter
    Casey
    Winter
    Associate Scientist - Oligonucleotide Chemistry
  • Shannon Bruse, PhD
    Shannon
    Bruse, PhD
    Co-Founder - Empirico
  • Brian Cajes
    Brian
    Cajes
    Co-Founder - Empirico
  • Anna French, Dphil (PhD)
    Anna
    French, Dphil (PhD)
    Managing Partner - Qiming Venture Partners USA
  • Omri Gottesman, MBBS (MD)
    Omri
    Gottesman, MBBS (MD)
    Co-Founder - Empirico
  • John Hamer, PhD
    John
    Hamer, PhD
    Managing Partner - DCVC Bio
  • Swaroop 'Kittu' Kolluri
    Swaroop 'Kittu'
    Kolluri
    Founder and Managing Director - Neotribe Ventures
  • Dennis Langer, MD JD
    Dennis
    Langer, MD JD
    Independent
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