Plasticell Appoints Dr Aaron T. T. Chuang as Chief Scientific Officer

Plasticell has recruited Dr Aaron Chuang to its executive management team in the role of Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). Prior to this appointment, Dr Chuang served as Research Director at the Regenerative Medicine unit of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), where he worked for over 18 years. As Plasticell’s CSO, Dr Chuang takes on responsibility for preclinical therapeutic programmes, scientific oversight of collaborations and alliances, as well as external scientific communications.

Dr Chuang initiated the first stem cell drug discovery programme in GSK in 2004, and was the main driver behind the company’s stem cell R&D, as well as industrial advisor on high profile stem cell initiatives including the UK Stem Cell Initiative, UK Cell Therapy Catapult and the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine.

He was a key player in establishing GSK’s alliance with the Harvard Stem Cell Institute in 2008, and has coordinated all collaborative projects. He was also the lead biologist initiating GSK's cell and gene therapy projects, and the lead scientist in the company's neuro-regeneration and brain repair programme.

Dr Aaron Chuang, Chief Scientific Officer, said ‘I am delighted to be joining Plasticell, especially as I have followed closely the company and its innovative technologies for well over 10 years. Indeed, I have collaborated with Plasticell in a number of exciting initiatives including the spin-out of its sister company Progenitor Therapeutics. There is no doubt that Plasticell's CombiCult® is a game changer in our field and I look forward to helping the company leverage this ground-breaking technology across both cell therapy and cell manufacturing, as well as drug discovery and development’.

Dennis Saw, Chief Executive Officer of Plasticell, said: ‘I am delighted to welcome Aaron to the management team. His scientific background, product development experience and understanding of the industry will be invaluable as we further develop our cell therapy pipeline and expand our network of collaborators.'